Dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés was nothing short of excellent. It’s a spectacle of refined hospitality from the moment you walk in. Sitting on the mezzanine floor offers wonderful views over Waldorf Astoria Washington DC’s lobby, so I highly recommend making the request for your table here. Our server, Nick, was just amazing. He understood every detail of the menu and knew exactly what to suggest. Starting with the cinco jotas jamon iberico here is a must, not only because a full leg of this exquisite ham arrives at the table, but also because you get to witness a master carver at work. Ultra-thin slices of this beautifully marbled and deeply cured jamon are plated in a spiral for you to enjoy with their delicious pan con tomate. It's the only way to wake up the palette. The restaurant is known for their small plates, so I would go heavier on these and lighter on mains.

Opened in 2013, Rose’s is a place that has maintained its hype year after year. It received its first Michelin-star in 2016 and serves up a mix of what I would call “modern-American food with global influence.” What I loved about this restaurant was how casual and approachable it all was. The dining rooms are very low-key and come with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The menu is a “choose-your-own" five-course tasting menu, which is a nice way to order what you want. Some dishes may come as a surprise, such as their coconut ice cream with caviar that’s served as a starter, but go with the flow here and enjoy the moment. Counter seating is advised if you’re dining as two!

For something a little different at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, look no further than Sushi Nakazawa. Located on the [eastern]-most corner of the hotel, this is an experience worth booking in advance. With only 10 counter seats and a few tables, it has a very intimate and cozy atmosphere. I would recommend sitting at the counter for the best omakase experience. Omakase, in Japanese, means “I'll leave it up to you,” and that’s exactly what you do when dining here, as the chefs prepare the day's freshest sushi and sashimi right in front of you. It’s about 20-courses of the finest seafood from across the world. Scallops from Hokkaido, salmon from Norway and wagyu from Miyazaki prefecture in Japan are just a few of the bites I was able to enjoy. My favorites were the torched golden eye snapper nigiri and the Ika squid nigiri — remarkable morsels of perfectly seasoned and tempered rice with thin slivers of the best seasonal fish across the top. For wine and sake lovers, [Sushi] Nakazawa has a truly impressive sake cellar and the sake pairing here is fantastic.

This was on my must-visit list for [Washington] after watching head chef Michael Rafidi win this year's James Beard Award presented by Hilton for Outstanding Chef. He already has one Michelin star at his famed Levantine-inspired restaurant, Albi; but for something more casual, head to Yellow. This is an ultra laidback (also Levantine) cafe and coffee shop that serves up a mix of mezze, wood-fired pita sandwiches and an incredible coffee program. After 4 p.m. they start their Not Pizza service — think Neapolitan pizza but with delicious Middle Eastern flavors and plenty of mouth-tingling spice. This place gets busy, so be there 5-10 minutes prior to 4 p.m. for Not Pizza.

An unforgettable afternoon tea located in the most magnificent lobby at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC. It’s rare to find afternoon tea within a venue quite like Peacock Alley. The building opened in 1899 and served as [Washington’s] General Post Office until 1914 — it’s now a historical landmark and home to one of Waldorf Astoria’s most impressive hotels. I was able to indulge in a selection of the finest teas and cakes that are prepared daily by their in-house pastry chefs. It’s a truly magical lobby to unwind in.

I was recommended this place numerous times and it required booking in advance. Described as a contemporary Korean restaurant, Anju is a spot that really delivers on flavor. They are open for both brunch and dinner, with dinner service providing a slightly more extensive selection of dishes. I only had time to go for brunch, but I have to say, the food was knockout. It’s a great place to start if you want to try delicious and authentic Korean food. The grilled kalbi and eggs is their version of steak and eggs. What a plate. Beautifully grilled short rib that was both tender, flavorsome and moreish. The beef bulgogi loaded tater tots are also a must order. Crunchy, fluffy tots, spicy kimchi, ultra tender and juicy beef bulgogi and a rich, creamy terra beer cheese sauce.