ilili DC
Category: Mediterranean, Waterfront, Upscale
Neighborhood: The Wharf
Price:
Address: 100 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States
✨ Vibe
ilili DC offers a breathtaking "enchanted courtyard" experience, blending lush citrus trees, hanging greenery, and a trickling stone fountain within a sun-drenched glass space that transports guests to the heart of old Beirut.🍸 Best For
Romantic dates, milestone celebrations, sophisticated group brunches, pre-show dinners near The Anthem, and upscale waterfront dining.🔥 Highlights
- Recently recognized as one of the city's best destinations for special occasions, the interior features stunning artisanal details like white dove sculptures and hanging steel bird cages.
- The refined Lebanese menu excels in flavor and presentation, featuring must-try signature dishes such as Brussels sprouts with fig jam, duck shawarma, and the decadent "candy bar" dessert.
- An inventive cocktail program highlights unique Arak-based creations and a curated selection of premium wines sourced directly from Lebanon’s renowned Bekaa Valley.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Reservations are highly encouraged for this high-demand Wharf hotspot, which is conveniently located directly above the District Square underground parking.
- The venue offers versatile private event spaces and full-service catering for everything from intimate dinners to large-scale corporate gatherings.
🔄 Weekly Events
🥂 1001 Nights Brunch
Experience a vibrant Lebanese brunch featuring a $39 prix-fixe menu option or a-la-carte dishes like Shakshuka, Grandma Marie's Lebanese Toast, and signature brunch cocktails.
📰 In the News
The 14 Best DC Restaurants For Special Occasions - Washington DC
ilili DC is recognized as one of the city's most beautiful dining destinations, featuring a lush, glass-enclosed space at the Wharf complete with hanging greenery and a trickling stone fountain. The Lebanese menu excels in celebratory dishes like the mixed grill platter and honeyed knafe, making it an ideal spot for romantic dates or milestone celebrations.
A DC Local Shares The 19 Best Spots For Middle Eastern Food In The City
ilili DC at The Wharf offers a refined Lebanese dining experience featuring traditional hot and cold mezze, such as hindbeh and steak tartare Beirut kibbeh. The menu highlights sophisticated flavors like the samkeh harra seared sea bass, all served within a stylishly designed space that balances natural light with intimate evening ambiance.
ilili DC Recalls the Lush Courtyards of Lebanon
ilili DC at the Wharf channels the charm of Lebanese courtyard gardens through a design that features citrus trees, a central water fountain, and hanging plants. The restaurant’s interior combines sustainable materials with custom artisanal décor, including white dove sculptures and late 19th-century inspired daisy floor tiles, to create a seamless indoor-outdoor dining experience.
The Wharf Welcomes Highly-Anticipated Lebanese Spot ilili
ilili DC brings a sophisticated blend of Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine to The Wharf, featuring a menu that highlights signature dishes like Brussels sprouts with fig jam and kibbeh nayeh. The restaurant’s vibrant interior offers a courtyard-garden aesthetic with fountains and waterfront views, complemented by a beverage program focused on Arak-based cocktails and wines from the Bekaa Valley.
How D.C.’s Hot New Lebanese Restaurant Turned a Glass Cube Into an Enchanted Courtyard
ilili DC is a high-end Lebanese restaurant at the Wharf that features a striking "enchanted garden" interior with citrus trees, a 19th-century French limestone fountain, and hanging steel bird cages. Chef Philippe Massoud’s menu offers modern meze and creative Mediterranean cocktails in a 4,500-square-foot space designed to transport guests to old Beirut.
Recent Reviews from Google
Ilili never disappoints. We started with the classic hummus and added pine nuts, creamy, nutty, and the perfect upgrade. The duck shawarma was tender and full of flavor, and our main entrée, the lamb...
The food was amazing!! From the flavors to the presentations, everything was great! Service was excellent and top notch! Our waitress Bogdana was very sweet and knowledgeable about all of the menu...
I had a nostalgic ♥️moment as I dine in this place today! Memory of the past came to me because, there were flavors and tastes that I remembered and longed for, for years! My stepmother was an...
Went here for an early dinner before a show at the Anthem and it was so lovely! The ambiance is really wonderful and just a nice place to sit and enjoy. The food was delicious and we picked a healthy...
You pay a steep price for the Wharf location. Service was great, but the pretty food was pretty disappointing in terms of taste. Even for free, I would choose Roti, CAVA, or mezeh over Ilili for...
