A restaurant renaissance continues to unfold in the tony Maryland suburb of Bethesda. With an abundance of shopping options, public art, fountains, and the convenience of the Metro, it’s easy to spend an afternoon walking (and eating) around the tightly-knit
neighborhood.
Bethesda is home to offshoots of D.C. favorites like Vace Italian Delicatessen, Levantine-themed Ala, and Asian restaurant Raku. Bethesda’s cityscape looks a lot different these days, thanks to the relocation of Marriott’s headquarters and booming developments up the I-355 corridor like Pike & Rose. “North Bethesda” — which is essentially Rockville — is home to Greek standby Melina and new steakhouse Bouboulina, as well as Capitol Hill import Caruso’s Grocery. Other reliable D.C. names like Andy’s Pizza, Chercher, and Call Your Mother, as well as NYC imports Pop-Up Bagels, Tacombi, and Maman Bakery, have also planted flags here in recent years. Next up is Daily Provisions: Danny Meyer’s all-day cafe chain that opened in D.C. last year with half-smoke breakfast sandwiches is landing in the base of The Charles apartment building this year. We also have the scoop on a Maryland burrito shop that’s planning to expand to Bethesda, look out for that news in early 2027.
Additions to this list include Dalia’s Falafel, Agora Bethesda, and Takumi Japanese Bistro and Bar.
Here are 15 must-try dining destinations in Bethesda proper.
—Additional reporting by Tim Ebner and Tierney Plumb
Bacchus of Lebanon
7945 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(301) 657-1722
This Lebanese restaurant that turns 50 next year offers a menu full of small cold and hot meze to share, plus fresh salads and mains that include succulent lamb dishes and plenty of kabobs. This is a great place to chat with friends over an order of any of the delicious eggplant dips, soujok (lamb sausage), and deep-fried cheese wrapped in phyllo. The best drink on the menu? The classic mint lemonade, of course. Don’t miss belly dancing shows on Fridays at 8 p.m. The fully enclosed, heated patio is surrounded by glass windows that open up on sunny days.
Mussel Bar & Grille
4903 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-900-2599
Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s Belgian hot spot in Bethesda cooks 1.25-pound portions of P.E.I. mussels in a variety of ways: in white wine with roasted garlic, in a Thai curry, or in a Mediterranean sauce with merguez sausages, goat cheese, and smoked tomato. Add frites with harissa, curry, or malt vinegar aioli for $2 more. The waiters also bring out warm, crusty bread to dip in the salty broths. And of course, there are endless varieties of Belgian beers to sample, too.
M&N’s Pizza
4914 Del Ray Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(301) 656-6262
This pizza shop made Yelp’s Top 100 U.S.Restaurants in 2024 for its “whacky” pies that include Korean, Indian, Thai, Chinese, and even Mexican-leaning toppings. The takeout spot is also famous for the fried dough pizzas, which are best covered in a curry with fresh diced aromatics on top. Add the spicy masala fries and honey pillows, a fried dough dessert covered in honey and cinnamon, to your order. Online orders come out pretty quickly, be prepared to pick up your pies in 30 to 40 minutes.
Cubano’s (multiple locations)
4907 Cordell Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(301) 347-7952
The Cuban eatery and rum bar’s top dish to order is the Cubano sandwich, served in a traditional style with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and thinly sliced pickles. Live music on Fridays brings a taste of Havana to Bethesda.
Oishii Ramen Cafe
4901 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(240) 956-4156
This super stylish ramen shop opened in 2021, bringing Bethesda Japanese snacks like gyoza, karaage, and kakuni buns. Hearty bowls of ramen range from spicy tonkotsu to miso to shoyu styles.
Dalia’s Falafel
7750 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(240) 858-6918
This lunch spot is truly just a tiny counter on the side of a major road in downtown Bethesda, but it’s become a beloved spot for crispy falafel patties, fried chicken schnitzel, fried eggplant, or halal beef kabob sandwiches stuffed with flavorful toppings like spicy carrots, sumac pickled onions, tahini, and spicy green zhoug. Just go ahead and get a deluxe pita for your first visit, but the pitas are endlessly customizable and you can get anything in a rice bowl as well. Don’t leave without an order of fries, fried in seed-oil free fera fruit oil that keeps the potato slices crispy and surprisingly light.
Q by Peter Chang
4500 East-West Hwy #100, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(240) 800-3722
Q stands for Qijian, which means “flagship” in Chinese. It’s here where legendary chef Peter Chang sends out dim sum on weekends and large-format dishes like Beijing duck prepared through a five-step process and served with soft pancakes and a sweet bean sauce. The elegantly designed, 8,000-square-foot restaurant also specializes in Szechuan favorites like seafood served on crispy noodle and delectable spicy mapo tofu.
Pisco y Nazca
7401 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
+13015144830
The newer Bethesda location of this popular spot for Peruvian fare specializes in fresh ceviche, lomo saltado, and chaufa. A weekend brunch also boasts huevos rancheros and lechon hash. Gather around the wraparound bar for glasses of wine starting at $5.50 and $3 off beer, plus $8 sangrias, $10 martinis, and $5 snacks during its daily 4 to 7 p.m. happy hour.
Agora Bethesda
7400 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(301) 888-3371
Husband-and-wife team Betul and Ismail Uslu brought their elegant Mediterranean restaurant to Bethesda this summer, located in the Hyatt Regency right next to the Metro. It’s quite a win for the hotel, with the largest location of the D.C.-based spot sporting gorgeous wooden canopies, a soothing blue-and-white color scheme, and even some urban outdoor seating. The small plates that pull inspiration from Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon range from flaming saganaki and plenty of olive oil-topped dips with fresh pitas to grilled kabobs, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, and tiny manti dumplings in creamy garlic yogurt. This is the first location to serve breakfast, with the menemen’s spicy tomato and egg combination and strong Turkish coffee being immediate standouts.
The Salt Line
7284 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
+12405342894
This is the place to go on Bethesda Row if you are in the mood for freshly shucked oysters and ale. From the blue-and-white booths to photos of fisherman lining the walls, the nautical space screams seafood. Salt Line is also the perfect place to sample coddie — a crispy Maryland favorite featuring salted cod and tender Yukon Gold potatoes. For something more substantial, delve into a Portuguese stew brimming with clams and oysters. A weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), available throughout the entire restaurant, features half-priced priced local oysters and drink deals. The Navy Yard-born raw bar and sustainable seafood restaurant also maintains an area outpost in Ballston.
Aventino Cucina/AP Pizza Shop
4747 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(301) 961-6450
Chef Mike Friedman introduced Bethesda diners to authentic Roman cuisine in 2024 with the arrival of 130-seat Aventino. Highlights include pizza rossa (a traditional flatbread topped with tomato conserva, sea salt, and Sicilian oregano), tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and rigatoni carbonara. Martini hour at the bar (4 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and starting at 3:30 p.m. on weekends) discounts spritzes, Italian cocktails, wine, and snacks, and a three-course weekday lunch deal is $35. Right next door AP Pizza Shop, Friedman’s casual offshoot of D.C.’s All-Purpose, he pays tribute to the NY and New Jersey pizzerias of his youth. Find slices, signature pizzas (including a mix-and-match option made of individual slices), focaccia sandwiches, eggplant Parmesan, Italian-American antipasti, and chopped and Caesar salads.
Bethesda Bagels
4819 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(301) 652-8990
If you are hankering for New York-style bagels, you’ve come to the right place. This family-owned Bethesda staple since 1982 continues to crank out hand-rolled everything, onion, salt, blueberry, cinnamon raisin, wheat, pumpernickel bagels. There’s always a line here in the morning, but that gives you time to peruse the cold cases and check out the other offerings from the chopped liver (there’s even a vegan version), whitefish spreads, herring and a seemingly endless array of cream cheeses from chive, lox, and veggie to blueberry and strawberry, to name just a few. They also make Flagels, flat bagels, and mini-bagels for those interested in fewer carbs.
Takumi Japanese Bistro & Bar
4929 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814, US
(301) 347-7917
If you love sushi, you probably already know about this understated spot a little farther from the popular downtown stretches of Bethesda. Takumi has locations across the DMV, but the quality of the fish flown in from Japan is somehow still remarkable at each location and the Bethesda one is no exception. Stop in for an everyday happy hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m. with $6 basic rolls and specialty rolls starting at $15, plus $6 beers and a $12 lychee martini. A small secret: the prices here are lower than many of their other locations, so go ahead and ball out on the nigiri set ($65) or the sushi and sashimi combo for two ($85), plus some surprising good cocktails like a yuzu-flavored lemon drop ($16).
Bethesda Crab House
4958 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(301) 652-3382
Get cracking on Chesapeake Bay crabs at this seafood standby that opened in 1961. Steamed crabs by the platter come complete with Old Bay seasoning and brown paper-covered tables. Call in advance to make sure it is open and to reserve orders.
Silver and Sons
5362 Westbard Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20816, US
+13015003140
Roving Maryland food truck Silver and Sons BBQ’s first fixed address continues to specialize in chef Jarrad Silver’s Jewish-Mediterranean takes on American smoked meats. The carryout counter with room for six standing patrons debuted in 2025 with an expanded selection of sandwiches stuffed with turkey and slow-cooked brisket, sides like tallow potato chips, desserts, and weekly offerings like wagyu Wednesdays. Weekend brunch includes breakfast sandwiches stacked with smoked salmon and pastrami, plus brisket shakshuka; sausage, egg, and cheese phyllo pie; and sweet options like chocolate babka and monkey bread. They recently unleashed weekend wing specials for game days.
