Lafayette Restaurant at Hay-Adams Hotel: A Unique Fine Dining Experience

Overrated and hopelessly overpriced as breakfast place. Nice ambience but terrible food. I haven’t had an omelette this tasteless in a long time.

It's a beautiful room, in 18th/early 19th century style but with modern additions. The tables are reasonably spaced. Staff are great. We had breakfast and one dinner there: food was good.

I went there for breakfast specifically because its intro said "overlooking Lafayette Square". But not really "overlooking" in the sense of birds-eye view of the garden or the White House, only in the sense of "right next to...."

I ordered a cappuccino, and the mushroom...omelet with roasted avocado and veg. Quite disappointing actually. The cap was only so-so, with course foam. The half-arvo was not very fresh, a big chunk blackened . Food was plain as well, really cannot tell the fine culinary standard the restaurant claims.

I think the most worthy experience would just be the hotel's long heritage, and the attentive service.More omelet with roasted avocado and veg. Quite disappointing actually. The cap was only so-so, with course foam. The half-arvo was not very fresh, a big chunk blackened . Food was plain as well, really cannot tell the fine culinary standard the restaurant claims.

I think the most worthy experience would just be the hotel's long heritage, and the attentive service.

We are 3 meals here while staying at the Hay Adams and each meal was fantastic. The beautiful dining room, elegant atmosphere and delicious food cannot be beaten. The service is excellent as well. The crab cakes are the absolute best I have ever eaten...and the farm to table vegetables are top notch. The best restaurant in DC in my opinionMore and the farm to table vegetables are top notch. The best restaurant in DC in my opinion

This has always been my favorite old school dining destination in the city, and it remains so. I usually don't like eating in hotel restaurants, but this doesn't feel like a hotel restaurant. Many tables have views of the White House. There is plush carpeting,...white tablecloths, and a piano player playing classic pieces.

The menu is simple but classic. Wines are awesome. Kudos for having a large selection of local Virginia wines. Food is excellent.

Service was a little slower last time due to covid staff shortages, but it was still excellent.

Most people are in suits and ties, nice dresses, etc. It's a very romantic and pleasant restaurant. This is a must-visit for me on every trip to Washington.More white tablecloths, and a piano player playing classic pieces.

The menu is simple but classic. Wines are awesome. Kudos for having a large selection of local Virginia wines. Food is excellent.

Service was a little slower last time due to covid staff shortages, but it was still excellent.

Most people are in suits and ties, nice dresses, etc. It's a very romantic and pleasant restaurant. This is a must-visit for me on every trip to Washington.

Lovely birthday breakfast at the Lafayette.
Nice food - avocado on toast, followed by plain pancakes (as it was Shrove Tuesday).
We had a Bellini cocktail, which the server wasn’t sure they could do, but the bar were able to make them.
Very relaxing and...enjoyable mealMore enjoyable meal

I was in DC and looking for a nice place for breakfast. I looked The Capital Hilton breakfast menu which was where I was staying. $20-25 per roughly depending on what you ordered. Then I looked up the menu on-line for the Hay-Adams Hotel. It...was about the same cost, so I figured ... elegant place, roughly same price, why not take a short stroll to sample this establishment's bill of fair.

First, my waiter, Emanuel, was excellent. Very nice, engaging, and on point.

However, the portions were small. Oh, you want an English muffin with your meal? $6. What? I order a $25 breakfast plate and they charge $6 more for bread? I guess that is to keep the riff raff like me from returning.

Needless to say, the five single-serve jars of assorted jams and jellies imported from England left with me.More was about the same cost, so I figured ... elegant place, roughly same price, why not take a short stroll to sample this establishment's bill of fair.

First, my waiter, Emanuel, was excellent. Very nice, engaging, and on point.

However, the portions were small. Oh, you want an English muffin with your meal? $6. What? I order a $25 breakfast plate and they charge $6 more for bread? I guess that is to keep the riff raff like me from returning.

Needless to say, the five single-serve jars of assorted jams and jellies imported from England left with me.

The Lafayette Restaurant in the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., is a high-end restaurant with formal decor, a sophisticated American cuisine and a reputation for being THE destination restaurant in the nation's capital, a place to see and be seen, a perfect backdrop for business...meals and a truly unique fine dining experience. Located at 800 16th Street Northwest, overlooking Lafayette Park and the White House, it is also home to Off The Record, one of the world's best hotel bars. Open from 6:30 to 11, 11:30 to 2 and 5:30 to 10 Monday through Friday and 7 to 11, 11:30 to 2 and 5:30 to 10 Saturday and Sunday, it offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and is a popular gathering place for businessmen, politicians, diplomats and media. My wife and I have stayed at the Hay-Adams on three occasions and, along with the Willard, there is no better accommodation in town. For breakfast, we had steel cut oatmeal, house roasted cherry granola, corned beef hash and smoked salmon. For dinner, we started with wild mushroom and green lentil soup and Maine sea scallops. For entrees, we chose seared Mediterranean Whole Branzino with mashed potatoes and fall vegetables and Pennsylvania veal chops with braised Yukon gold potato, onions, winter radish and veal jus. For dessert, we shared a unique and delicious combination of salted toffee glaze, dark chocolate ganache and Cardamon ginger ice cream and apple pumpkin tart with almonds, Granny Smith chutney and pumpkin ice cream.More meals and a truly unique fine dining experience. Located at 800 16th Street Northwest, overlooking Lafayette Park and the White House, it is also home to Off The Record, one of the world's best hotel bars. Open from 6:30 to 11, 11:30 to 2 and 5:30 to 10 Monday through Friday and 7 to 11, 11:30 to 2 and 5:30 to 10 Saturday and Sunday, it offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and is a popular gathering place for businessmen, politicians, diplomats and media. My wife and I have stayed at the Hay-Adams on three occasions and, along with the Willard, there is no better accommodation in town. For breakfast, we had steel cut oatmeal, house roasted cherry granola, corned beef hash and smoked salmon. For dinner, we started with wild mushroom and green lentil soup and Maine sea scallops. For entrees, we chose seared Mediterranean Whole Branzino with mashed potatoes and fall vegetables and Pennsylvania veal chops with braised Yukon gold potato, onions, winter radish and veal jus. For dessert, we shared a unique and delicious combination of salted toffee glaze, dark chocolate ganache and Cardamon ginger ice cream and apple pumpkin tart with almonds, Granny Smith chutney and pumpkin ice cream.

Classic French cooking techniques, intimate setting and wonderful service. For the more "mature" set.

Went to dinner last night. I went with 2 adult men and the entree portions were meant for children. For entree dishes priced at $40-$50, it’s not ok that after dinner both of them came home to eat as they were still starving. If you...want to come here for dinner, eat beforehand. What they will serve you can be considered a “snack”.More want to come here for dinner, eat beforehand. What they will serve you can be considered a “snack”.

We were walking around The White House and just went to closest reastraunt in this area, and it wasn’t mistake - atmosphere in dining room is amazing, waiters are incredibly nice, friendly, and helpful. Food is delicious (ask for a desert menu and I promise...More

One of my favorite places in DC for breakfast, lunch or dinner. French menu with a lot of very well selected and balanced dishes. Top Quality.

The dining room is gorgeous, excellent for a romantic dinner. The service was wonderful and the food taste was very good. For a healthy adult man (6'3" , 200lbs) the food portions are unfortunately inadequate. My main course consisted of 3 scallops and if I...More

My husband and I traveled to Washington DC for the first time in April, 2021. I surprised him with the trip for his birthday. I really wanted a good view of the White House, because it is barricaded with tall fences right now. We went...More

We had a special treat when we took our friend's advice to eat at the restaurant on the Hay-Adams' 9th floor! It is a fine dining experience and probably the best view of the White House with the Washington Monument and Tidal Basin in the...More

We were looking for a place to have a drink and appetizers, and get a great view. Nothing was available, and some places wanted a minimum charge of $150 to even get a table.
We walked to the Lafayette from our hotel and went up...More

Dinner last night at Lafayette was absolute perfection! The restaurant has been moved from the elegant main floor space to the 9th floor, where they normally host private events. It was a beautiful evening, and our table faced the terrace with a view of the...More

Lafayette Restaurant, located inside the Hay-Adams Hotel's top floor, provides an opportunity for guests to have a great view of the White House. We made reservations in advance for a birthday celebration. Even though we were not accommodated to a window seat, we still were...More

Compact menu. few salads and main. Loved the Snapper and the sea bass. Not a major wow. but descent. Nice view is a bonus. will be back

Must do a major shout out to our waiter, Emmanuel! Talk about personality. We were treated like royalty. He made amazing suggestions for our lunch. I had the scallops and parsnip soup, which were amazing. My friend had the mushroom soup. This restaurant has been...More

A Great Breakfast - Again

We were back to Washington, DC, for a series of meetings for my wife. We were staying at the Hay-Adams Hotel, so had breakfast in the lovely Lafayette, just off of the hotel’s lobby. While I enjoy several other restaurants...More

Lovely Solo Dinner at Lafayette

While in Washington DC in May, my wife had a business dinner, so I was solo for dining, and decided to return to Lafayette in the Hay-Adams Hotel, even though we were not staying there on this trip.

While I...More

My favorite restaurant in DC. The space is elegant. They had a piano player, and everyone was well-dressed. Greeting was warm. Service was excellent. Food was really amazing, Michelin quality dining. Wine list is good, ambiance is wonderful. If you're looking for a special occasion,...More

We dined twice at the Lafayette. Once for Brunch and once for Breakfast. Service is happy and attentive. The Lobster Omelette and the Grits with Poached Egg and Salse were the highlights. Good coffee and a view of the White House.

Group of twelve had lunch at the Lafayette in the historic Hay Adams hotel. Many ordered the crab cakes, which were the best I have ever had. The service was exquisite and the setting was incomparable. Highly recommended.