Michelin adds 4 buzzy restaurants to its 2026 D.C. guide

Anna Spiegel

A plate of ravioli with orange sauce, cheese shavings, and mint on a blue floral-rimmed dish. A wooden table, with a glass pitcher on the left and a wine glass on the right. — Rye Bunny, which replaced one-star Tail Up Goat, is added to the 2026 Michelin guide. Photo: Courtesy Rye Bunny/Scott Suchman

Michelin just added four D.C. restaurants to its guide — a teaser before the full 2026 awards drop later this year.

Why it matters: The newcomers are now officially Michelin-recommended — and could be in the running for stars or value-minded Bib Gourmand honors when the annual awards are announced.

Driving the news: The new crop is already buzzy, with accolades ranging from James Beard nods to Bon Appétit recognition. They include:

Rye Bunny (Adams Morgan): Chef Jon Sybert and Jill Tyler's casual successor to their Michelin-starred Tail Up Goat.
Maison Bar à Vins (Adams Morgan): The Popal Group's chic nouveau-French wine bar led by Lutèce chef Matt Conroy.
Elcielo Bistró DC (Union Market): A more casual(ish), à la carte spinoff inside Juan Manuel Barrientos' Michelin-starred Colombian restaurant, Elcielo.
Bar Del Monte (Mount Pleasant): Chef Oliver Pastan's popular neighborhood Italian spot for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal plates.

What we're watching: D.C. got no new stars last year, and closures like Gravitas could shrink the city's starred ranks.

That puts more intrigue on whether Michelin promotes any of this year's newcomers when the stars come out.

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Michelin adds 4 buzzy restaurants to its 2026 D.C. guide

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