Lights Up, DMV! TheList’s Guide to Area Theater, Always Updated
TheListAreYouOnIt's Theatre Guide rounds up what's on stage across the region, from Broadway favorites, touring productions, bold originals, and everything in between. We love black box gems and the big-house blockbusters. The talent here is the real deal, and you know we're not sending you to a show without a plan for what to eat first. Below, every venue paired with the restaurants worth building your evening around, whether you want a proper sit-down before curtain or a plate waiting for you after.
Pro tip: chasing post-show bites? Old Ebbitt Grill's kitchen serves until 1 AM. Curtain down, forks up, people!
The Fruits of Our Labor - through November 1
Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been - October 17 through December 6
Where to Eat
Del Mar by Fabio Trabocchi — Chef Fabio Trabocchi's Spanish seafood room sits right on the Wharf waterfront. Go for the whole roasted branzino or a platter of hand-carved Jamón Ibérico, and you're steps from your seat at Arena Stage.
Limani — Chef Lonnie Zoeller skips the deep fryer entirely and char-grills whole fish to order. The "Limani chips," fried zucchini and eggplant under a blanket of Greek cheese, are worth ordering twice.
Moonraker at the Pendry — The Pendry's rooftop sushi spot trades white tablecloths for skyline views over the Potomac. The Tokyo Fried Chicken during happy hour is a smart pre-show bite, and the bar stays open past most curtain calls.
Philippe Chow — Arena Stage's own official dining partner is steps from the door. Chef-owner Philippe Chow's tableside Peking duck is the move, just budget the 45 minutes carving time and order the second you sit down.
Shows & concerts change regularly.
Where to Eat
Modan — Chef Chico Dator, a Nobu alum, dry-ages his own beef and fish for a modern Japanese menu that runs from an omakase counter to easy à la carte. Order accordingly, depending on how much time you've got before curtain.
Ometeo — Chefs Gabe Erables and Kyle Bailey put a steakhouse spin on Tex-Mex, and the stuffie tamale — a quahog clam tucked into masa — isn't something you'll find anywhere else in Tysons.
Starr Hill Biergarten — No frills, just good German-style pub food and the brewery's own beer on tap. Exactly what you want when you're in and out before a show.
Stellina Pizzeria — Founders Matteo Venini and Antonio Matarazzo run their upscale pizza counter right inside Capital One Center, which makes it one of the easiest pre-show stops on this list.
Wren — Executive chef Yo Matsuzaki's izakaya menu goes from sashimi to tableside hot-stone A5 Miyazaki wagyu, and the kitchen can run late, a rare post-show option in Tysons.
Woody Sez: the Life & Music of Woody Guthrie - October 8 through 25
Where to Eat
Casamara — Coastal Mediterranean cooking inside the SIXTY Hotel, a five-minute walk from Dupont Circle. Go for the housemade pasta, then take the party up to the rooftop bar, open till midnight on weekends.
Chiko — Chef-owners Scott Drewno and Danny Lee's Chinese-Korean mashup is fast, loud, and built for a pre-show counter meal. The double-fried wings and bulgogi rice cakes are the ones to order.
Irongate — Chef Anthony Chittum's Mediterranean menu (Greek, Sicilian, Southern Italian) comes with one of DC's most romantic patios, wisteria vines and all. Save it for a night when you want dinner to be part of the show.
The Pembroke — Inside the Dupont Circle Hotel, the lobster bucatini and swordfish have earned it a Michelin mention, a step up from a quick bite without derailing your night.
Measure for Measure — September 22–November 1, 2026
Hamlet — March 2–April 11, 2027
The Comedy of Errors — May 18–June 27, 2027
Where to Eat
Chiko — The original CHIKO location, blocks from the Folger. Same Drewno/Lee Chinese-Korean menu, same order-at-the-counter speed.
The Duck and the Peach —Executive chef Katarina Petonito's elegant, rustic New American menu turns from café by day to elevated dinner by night. The sumac-rubbed roasted chicken is the kind of dish that makes you linger, so time it right. And do not miss Rochelle Cooper’s desserts.
Paraiso — Chef-owner Geovany Beltran, who grew up in a mezcalero family in Guerrero, Mexico, runs a taqueria worth detouring for. The al pastor tacos on house tortillas are the standard-bearer.
Quill and Crumb — The Folger's own café stays open through intermission, which makes it the most literal pre-or-post-show option on this entire list, soups, sandwiches, and baked goods without ever leaving the building. Plus - the place is beautiful.
Come from Away - through October 18
A Christmas Carol - November 19 through December 31
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - March 13 through May 15, 2027
Where to Eat
Jaleo — José Andrés's Spanish tapas pioneer is a few steps from Ford's. Order a round of small plates and a paella to share, and you'll never miss curtain.
Moon Rabbit — Chef Kevin Tien's reimagined Vietnamese menu earned a spot on the Washington Post's essential dishes list and Pastry Chef Susan Bae is a James Beard Award Winner. Just note the kitchen's closed Sundays, so plan around a matinee accordingly.
Succotash Prime — Chef Edward Lee's Southern-inflected steakhouse brings a little Kentucky swagger to Penn Quarter, hearty enough for a proper pre-show dinner.
The Riggs Hotel — Chef Wolfgang Birk now runs the kitchen at Café Riggs — go big with the 28-gram Golden Kaluga Caviar service (brioche, crème fraîche, chives), or keep it lighter with the Tagliatelle, Crab, Sweet Tomato, and Basil.
Dirty Dancing - September 29 through October 4
Maybe Happy Ending - October 6 through 11
Mama Mia - October 27 through November 15
The Hip Hop Nutcracker - November 17 through 22
Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen - November 24 through December 6
Waitress - December 8 through 13
Hamilton - December 16, 2026 through February 7, 2027
Where to Eat
Café du Parc — Chef Gyo Santa's French bistro at the Willard is built for exactly this: French onion soup and steak frites within walking distance of National, Ford's, and Warner.
Old Ebbitt Grill — The raw bar and jumbo lump crab cakes have made this DC's classic pre-theatre standby for generations. The kitchen runs until 1 AM, so post-show works just as well.
The Occidental — Chef Neil O'Connell revived this historic power-dining room with a menu that swings from crab-stuffed avocado to tableside Bananas Foster. Reserve ahead.
Vue Rooftop at Hotel Washington — Skyline views near the White House, crab cakes and truffle fries on the menu, and a bar that runs late Thursday through Saturday, good for capping the night after the show.
Some Like It Hot — September 18 through November 8, 2026.
Kimberly Akimbo — March 18 through April 25, 2027.
Doubt: A Parable — June 2 through July 11, 2027.
Where to Eat
Brew Belly — A craft-beer gastropub with a Philly cheesesteak the Washington Post called worth the drive to Olney on its own, casual and quick before a show.
Olney Station — Burgers, pub fare, and cocktails, no fuss required. A reliable stop when you just need dinner on the table before curtain.
Salt and Vine — Chef Thomas Zippelli's chef-driven Italian trattoria turns out handmade pastas (squid ink included) and flame-grilled market cuts, worth arriving early for.
Scratch Kitchen — Owner Bernie Rousseau's women-led Latin bistro blends European technique with New World flavor. The pupusas and Peruvian fried rice are a genuinely different pre-show option out here.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - through October 18
Cult of Love - November 18 through December 27
Where to Eat
Aventino — Chef-owner Michael Friedman, brings seasonal Roman cooking to Bethesda with delicious housemade pastas and market-fresh fish, built for sharing before a show.
Cubano's — Classic Cuban comfort food like tostones, ropa vieja, a properly made flan. Very easy and satisfying before curtain.
Mon Ami Gabi — Chef Andrew Fleischauer's classic French bistro just reopened on Bethesda Row, steak frites, onion soup au gratin, escargots de Bourgogne. Make reservations for this one,
The Salt Line — Chef Kyle Bailey's New England-inspired seafood spot does a serious raw bar. The Dancing Molly oysters are a Harris Creek collaboration you won't find elsewhere in Bethesda.
Merrily We Roll Along - through November 1
All The World’s a Stage - October 20 to December 20
Where to Eat
Carlyle — An art-deco New American bistro with bread baked in-house via Best Buns next door. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich is a Shirlington staple for good reason.
Our Mom Eugenia — Eugenia Markesini Hobson cooks the Greek recipes she learned from her grandmother on Zakynthos. Plan on scratch-made, unfussy, and exactly what a neighborhood taverna should be.
Stellina Pizzeria Shirlington — Same Venini-Matarazzo pizza program as their other locations, upscale-casual and reliably good, an easy, quick option in Shirlington's restaurant row.
Wish You Were Here - through November 1
Wilderness Generation - November 18, 2027 through January 3, 2027
Where to Eat
Cork Wine Bar & Market — One of 14th Street's original wine bars, built around small plates and a serious list. A low-key, unhurried way to start the evening.
Jane Jane — An intimate cocktail bar with well-crafted classics, savory bites, and — famously — Cheez-Its instead of bar nuts. A fun, low-key pre-show hang rather than a full sit-down.
Le Diplomate — Stephen Starr's Parisian brasserie has anchored 14th Street for over a decade. The steak frites and raw bar are the reasons it's still packed a decade in.
Mallard — Chef Hamilton Johnson's refined Southern menu (sweetbreads and waffles, anyone?) took over the old Birch & Barley space in 2024 and made it worth a special trip. Beer lover, Churchkey is right upstairs, ready to satiate your toughest beer fiend.
The Score — September 11 through October 18, 2026
Frida…A Self Portrait — October 8 through November 8, 2026
A Midsummer Night's Dream — December 4, 2026 through January 10, 2027
A Raisin in the Sun — January 23 through February 28, 2027
Romeo and Juliet — April 23 through May 16, 2027
Follies — Spring 2027
Where to Eat
Lucky Danger — Chef-owner Tim Ma's Chinese-American flagship comes with crab lo mein and a mahjong lounge attached, good for a livelier pre-show crowd.
Oyamel — José Andrés's modern Mexican small plates and a serious mezcal program make this an easy Penn Quarter go-to before a show.
Rosselli — Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj and chef Carlos Cardona's new Italian spot, open since spring 2026 in the old Modena space, does a Vitello Milanese worth planning your night around.
Zaytinya — José Andrés's Turkish-Greek-Lebanese mezze menu is built for sharing, order a spread across the table and you'll still make curtain.
Sleepy Hollow - November 14 through 22
Where to Eat
Bar Colline — The Hilton brothers' French bistro in National Landing features shareable plates, good wine, an easy pre-show stop close to Synetic.
Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique — Owner Zena Polin curates the Champagne list and bakes the desserts herself, a sweet, sparkling detour before or after the show.
Ni Hao — Chef Peter Chang's tapas-style Chinese menu brings his signature heat to National Landing, order a few plates to share and pace yourselves before curtain.
Water Bar — Part of the National Landing waterpark complex, with a solid raw bar and a crispy shrimp po'boy this place is casual, fast, and easy on the way to Synetic.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk - October 7 through November 1
Where to Eat
Etto — A no-reservations, no-celebrity-chef wood-fired pizzeria on 14th Street. Quick and exactly what you want when you're squeezed for time before a show.
Iron Gate — Chef Anthony Chittum's wisteria-covered patio is one of DC's most romantic settings for Mediterranean cooking, worth the extra time if your evening isn't rushed.
Hank's Oyster Bar — Chef-owner Jamie Leeds' "urban beach food" like oysters, a proper lobster roll is a fast, satisfying stop near Theatre J.
Shows & concerts change regularly.
Where to Eat
Central Michel Richard — The late Michel Richard's bistro classics live on under the current kitchen, and there's a dedicated pre-theatre menu Monday through Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30, about as convenient as it gets for a Warner Theatre show.
The Hamilton — A sprawling American menu (the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is the one people remember) paired with live music of its own — good for a group that can't agree on one thing.
The Henri —A French-Belgian bistro built around a rotisserie and a seasonal, farmer-driven menu, carrying on the vision of the late Chef Frederik De Pue — spacious enough for a pre-show group.
Venus — September 9 through October 4.
Yasmin Elhady: Not Exactly a Nun — September 25 through October 4.
Hanukkah Spectacular — November 14 through December 13.
Ten Grand — February 1 through 28, 2027.
Bobby Robotowitz — March 29 through April 25, 2027.
Love I Awethu Further — June 1 through 27, 2027.
Where to Eat
Centrolina — Chef Amy Brandwein's seasonal Italian kitchen, tucked inside CityCenterDC's Palmer Alley, is a short walk from Woolly Mammoth and worth the James Beard buzz it keeps collecting.
Lucky Danger — Chef Tim Ma's elevated Chinese-American classics come with DC's only public mahjong bar attached — a fun way to open a night at Woolly Mammoth.
Rasika — Chef Vikram Sunderam's James Beard-winning Indian menu is practically next door to the theater. The Palak Chaat and Black Cod are the dishes everyone orders, for a reason.
