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    Café Riggs

    4.1 (397 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Café Riggs Photos

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    CAFÉ RIGGS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Café Riggs

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    Eimy B.

    It was my first time here, and unfortunately, I had a disappointing experience. However, I believe most of the issues were due to a mix up with our waitress rather than the restaurant itself. I asked her several questions about the menu. For example, I asked if they had lattes, and she said they did. I then asked for a caramel latte, but she told me they didn't have caramel. When I asked what flavors they did have, she said vanilla, so I ordered a vanilla latte. When it arrived, there was no vanilla, it was just a plain latte. I also ordered my steak well-done, but it came out medium. I couldn't eat my steak and only ate fries. The restaurant itself is beautiful and I believe the food is great. Despite my experience, I would love to come back and try the food again.

    The EasyPeasy
    Joseph F.

    We had breakfast here the first day at the Riggs Hotel. The coffee was delicious and so were our eggs and sausages. My wife was pleasantly surprised that they had soy milk for her. So many hotels we've been to recently only have oat. Our server was friendly and quick to refill our coffee But at night, when this place is hopping, the bar was the only place we could find a table which worked out really well because the bartender, Daniel, made great drinks. I had a perfectly crafted Old Fashion and my wife had a Riggs Spritz which she loved and then he made her another because we said we were celebrating her presentation was over and went well and gave her the drink on the house! We were touched. We went back the next day and I had my Old Fashion and she asked for something a little less sweet but refreshing he told her "I have just the thing and made her a drink called the EasyPeasy. She loved it. It's made with a signature syrup made with simple syrup and snap peas. I asked him for the recipe so I could make it at home for here after we go back to NY and he gave it to me. Excellent hospitality. I complained in my hotel review about there not being even a small dresser to store things like socks and underwear but the hotel is still great and Cafe Riggs was the icing on the cake.

    Croque Madame
    LaKisha B.

    . This may just be my new favorite spot for brunch and lunch! I went today for Restaurant Week and was blown away.I absolutely love the ambiance, shout out to the design team because the vision is definitely visioning! On top of the gorgeous space, they deliver great service, great food, and great music. After such an amazing experience at the restaurant, I'd love to come back for dinner and even plan a staycation at the hotel. I highkey recommend checking this establishment out!

    NY strip steak
    Latifa H.

    We stayed at the hotel for a small staycation amd booked our stay through our credit card whicj classified it s a "premier collection hotel stay". We got a $100 credit from the hotel which we used towards dinner and breakfast the following morning. We loved having dinner here. The ambience was casual upscale but we dressed up anyway. We both got the steak fries with a side of potatoes au gratin and shared a lychee martini. The lychee martini was made of gin and did not taste great but energies else was phenomenal. The drama weee cooked to perfection and the fries were great too. The potatoes au gratin were my favorite. They also had the restaurant week menu for $55 but we wanted bigger steaks so we went with the regular menu. The breakfast was great too. Since we stayed at the hotel, we got complimentary breakfast which would cost about $60. We got to pick a tea/coffee, juice, a breakfast entree, and a side. We both got the blueberry pancakes which were so good they didn't even need the maple syrup and a side of chicken sausages which were seasoned to perfection. The servers on both nights were super friendly and knowledgeable. We will return for brunch sometime.

    Daisa J.

    Café Riggs is definitely a brunch spot to have on your DC list! The beautiful setting, elevated atmosphere, and menu make it a great option for a weekend brunch with friends, a date, or a special occasion. I started with the Petit Plateau, which came with a half-dozen oysters, half-dozen shrimp cocktail, cucumber and caviar, and chips. If you love seafood, this is such a fun way to start the meal and had a great variety of flavors and textures. The Mussels were another favorite -- garlic, chili, white wine, and a baguette for soaking up all that delicious broth. Definitely don't skip the bread! For an entrée, I tried the Steak Frites, featuring a 14 oz NY striploin with béarnaise. You can also replace the steak with an egg your way for $3, which is a nice option if you're looking for something a little lighter. But the standout for me was the Buttermilk Pancakes. They come with blueberries and maple butter, and I can honestly say they were probably some of the best pancakes I've had in DC. Fluffy, flavorful, and absolutely worth ordering. And if you have room for dessert, I'd recommend the cheesecake or crème brûlée. Both are great options to finish off brunch on a sweet note. Overall, Café Riggs is a beautiful spot for a leisurely weekend brunch. Whether you're planning a girls' brunch, date, or just looking for somewhere new to try in DC, I'd definitely add this one to the list.

    Kiana M.

    What a lovely French restaurant. It was my first time as this establishment and I loved it. I was blown away by the aesthetic. As soon as we walked in we enjoyed the tall ceilings, the wonderful classy decor. The restaurant was a bank prior to being a hotel and restaurant. I love the transformation they did. It still looks like a bank but way more fancier. The service was great. We were were immediately greeted by the hostess who took us to our seat. Then the waiter came over. He was very friendly and kind. However, it seemed as though he forgot about us after we ordered our drinks and dessert. Eventually he came back over and checked on us which we appreciated. We were coming from Penn Social where we ate dinner so we just decided to order cocktails and dessert. Both were amazing. I chose the midnight ledger which contained Volcan Reposado, Ilegal Mezcal, Cynar, Melon Liqueur, and my friend ordered Mizu Lychee Martini which contained Citadelle Gin, Lychee Soju, Dry Vermouth. The Martini was very strong but enjoyable. The Ledger was very tasty, and a bit strong. For dessert we ordered the Creme Brulee. It was very tasty however, I really wish it would have come out warm instead of cold. Overall, it was a great experience. I will be back soon possibly to check out their happy hour or maybe have dinner. If you are looking for a fancy fine dining experience Cafe Riggs is the place for you. Cheers!

    Kaya E.

    I've been to Cafe Riggs about 4 times now. And every single visit I fall more and more in love with it. Here's everything I loved, + I typically stop in on Saturdays around noon after I'm done teaching and I'm always seated within a couple of minutes without having made a reservation + there's ample dining room seating, bar seating and then lounge seating + the interior design and architecture is beautiful + the bathroomsssss 10/10 lol I love a bathroom with soap and lotion that smells amazing + staff is really kind and professional + now to the food some of my favorites include their fries, burger, salmon locs breakfast dish and their steak frites breakfast dish + my lychee martini was delicious as well and came out quickly Things I didn't like as much, + the pancakes look like they taste really good but over all they don't knock it out of the park for me unfortunately Overall I will continue to come here again and again. I love the space and the fact that they have a champagne cart. You can come really dressed up or a bit more lax and you will fit right in

    Dining room
    Min Z.

    A nice fine dining restaurant in the Penn Quarters. It was decorated with bright blue red and yellow colors! High ceilings in a historic building. It's always busy so reservation recommended. We liked the tasty mussels and original flavored steak.

    Table
    Gary G.

    I discovered Cafe Riggs on Yelp while looking for nearby restaurants to nearby Fever Hub DC. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised it was within walking distance and appeared to offer valet parking, although I had already found street parking available. It seemed the valet used the street for parking as well given the double parked cars blocking me in as I tried to leave. I had called to make a reservation in advance as the reservation site noted no availability for some reason. No issues with checking in and being seated in a timely manner, even showing up a little early in our case. The restaurant was very open and elegant, situated alongside the Riggs Hotel which has some hidden history to discover. Our server, Clemente, was phenomenal. Very attentive, not overbearing, and answered all our questions. My wife and I split a salad that we loved although felt it could have been more flavorful. It was missing something that we couldn't pinpoint whether it was croutons, tomatoes, etc although we still enjoyed it. I had the Steak Frites which came with french fries and I swapped for creamed spinach that was so delicious. My wife who isn't a fan of creamed spinach ended up eating a good portion. We ordered a side of brussel sprouts that was also good, a little sweet, but well flavored. We followed dinner up with coffee that hit the spot, along with a chocolate dessert that Clemente brought to celebrate our anniversary. It was a lovely evening thanks to Clemente and the team. We will definitely return for another experience.

    Ben D.

    Went cafe riggs with some friends for dinner I thought everything was delicious and service was fantastic. I got the burger which was perfectly cooked and had great seasoning. Well balanced and tasty. Inside is beautiful and has lots of flowers and plants to make it inviting.

    Good menu
    Raven C.

    Great experience. I learned a lot about my taste and French food and French wine. Personally, the Chablis made the escargot better, I prefered the beef and the bougandy/pinot noir separately and not together, the baked alaska was great. The service was the star, when they were out of my prefer drink, I got something else to try. I like the vibe of the music and the flowers. It wasnt too busy so no pressure to leave the table before I was ready. Initially, I wanted to sit at the bar, but it was full. Overall, great experience.

    Bacon
    Ameya B.

    We were staying in this fantastic hotel so would always drop by for breakfast here. The cafe set up was fantastic with high ceilings, bright decor, and a very modern tone in this historic building. Gracie was our server was first day, and while attentive could've put on a slight smile! Breakfast menu for us was fixed because it was included in our room rate and we ordered the Ham & Cheese Croissant which came with a very refreshing arugula salad, Sausage and Eggs, Bacon and Fruit Plate as our sides. Also got unlimited refills on house coffee which could've been slightly warmer! Service was quick and our food arrived within 20 mins as it got ready. Noise levels on the lower end. Overall, great experience and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a fancy brunch spot!

    Jay P.

    We celebrated our anniversary here and Café Riggs made it extra special. The food was amazing, we got the plateau which was jumbo shrimp, oysters,Ceviche, tuna tartare, and caviar with homemade chips. We then shared the Branzino as our entrée. The food was outstanding, the service was exceptional. They gave us a nice booth to celebrate our anniversary and surprised us with dessert and a card! Highly recommend and would definitely would return. Loved the architecture too.

    Escargot at Cafe Riggs.

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    Café Riggs Reviews in Other Languages

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    Café Riggs - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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