Del Mar is a light-filled and impeccably designed space in the new Wharf area, a neighborhood that screams high-end luxury. DC is just starting to embrace its waterfront, and this is a chance to try food from one of the city’s most celebrated chefs—Fabio Trabocchi, of DC seafood hotspots Fiola Mare and Sfoglina Pasta House—with the Potomac as a backdrop. Del Mar is a Spanish seafood restaurant, and with chef Fabio at the helm, you can’t go wrong with any fish on offer. I recently went for a celebratory lunch and had a delightful time. I’ve enjoyed the crudo, which came plated with lots of edible flowers, and the paellas are known to be some of the best in the city.

Del Mar has a more-is-more feel to it, which is not the style of restaurant that I’m typically drawn to, but it works, it’s very luxe. It really leaves no detail overlooked, which is obvious in its intricate plating and presentation, and stellar service; everything combines to create a very special restaurant that is done well, from the time you enter to the time you leave.

Many craft-beer trends can be traced to the availability of a new ingredient. It’s fair to say that the modern US craft-beer industry began here in 1972, when Oregon State University in Corvallis released the assertive, disease-resistant Cascade hop. That hop would soon become the backbone of two beers that kicked off the boom: Anchor Brewing Company’s Liberty Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Later, between 1984 and 1986, during a time when there were only about 50 breweries in the entire United States, Portland saw the openings of the now-shuttered BridgePort Brewing, Portland Brewing Co., Widmer Brothers, and Oregon’s first brewpub, McMenamins. Back then, Horse Brass Pub, which opened in 1976 and is still around today, was already favoring local beers and microbreweries over major producers. Today, the region’s seasonal bounties—the city is surrounded by local farmland that’s verdant with hop vines, fruit trees, and wine grapes—provide a ton of inspiration and fresh ingredients. Oregon is well known for its beer and its role as a leader of the cannabis revolution, but the Willamette Valley is also home to some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the country, and local breweries are happy to take cues from them, experimenting with grapes and knowing when to put a good wine barrel to use.

didn’t miss beer, and that I might not even pick up drinking again. Weeks later, of course, I was already timing early dinners at nearby breweries around my breastfeeding schedule. But who can blame me? I’ve got some of the best breweries in the world right at my doorstep, and I can’t go anywhere in this town without running into a hot new brewpub or an old favorite ready with the perfect pour. The search for self-improvement continues in other areas of my life, but good beer is something I don’t have to look for.

When I wrote about Portland’s best new breweries for Serious Eats in 2015, the city had more breweries than any other in the country. While that’s no longer the case (congrats, Chicago!), there’s still a large and ever-growing number here, regularly winning national and international awards and attracting throngs of tourists and regulars, who happily line up to try coveted beers.

Sure, you could pick up a four-pack and sample some local favorites at home while watching Netflix, but true beer fans know that hitting the breweries in person is a must. It means access to beers you’ll never find on grocery store shelves, whether that’s a sour beer or nitro, a fresh-hop IPA (the all-too-brief season starts and ends in autumn), a small-batch one-off, or a special vintage bottle.

Portland has long been at the forefront of brewing trends, and there’s plenty of interesting stuff happening beyond the expected wide range of IPAs offered at most breweries. Read on to find out what breweries should be at the top of your Portland agenda.

I get steamed Maryland blue crabs—they’re local to this region and always served Maryland-style with an Old Bay–style spice blend—and whatever local beer is on offer. They have other things, too…but they’re not why I go there. My DC-native spouse took me to this place before there was really an established food scene in the city, and it’s remained an essential DC spot for this Baltimore girl.

Rose’s Luxury has a great lychee salad with pork sausage, habanero, and peanuts that has a bit of everything: creaminess from coconut, sweetness from the lychee, and savory notes from the sausage and peanuts. The menu’s put together straight off the chalkboards at the weekend farmers market—it’s very seasonal, incorporating whatever’s being harvested at the moment, with loads of flair and creative pairings. I look out for early spring when all the fresh, garlicky greens start popping up in everything on the menu. Bethesda Crab House is an old-school kind of place: brown paper–covered picnic tables on the patio; pitchers of beer; sports on TV; large, tasty crabs to eat, and dozens of crabs in brown bags heading out the door for crab feasts at area homes. The place and its vibe haven’t changed in years, so to any new customers: make sure the host doesn’t seat you on the patio by the dumpster!

Buck’s Fishing & Camping, in northwest DC, has an awesome ambience. It’s a neighborhood place with terrific food and a great vibe—artsy and sort of moody. The decor is meant to conjure an old fishing camp: There are canoes in the ceiling, and big huge plants, and great, dark red lighting. It’s like going to a private dinner for two anytime you go in: it’s very intimate and dark, and it feels like an escape from DC.

I really like their cheeseburger, with great prime beef and a brioche bun. The burger comes with these massive French fries, which I think are cut by hand, and are served with the best aioli I’ve ever had. Buck’s was just listed in Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsma’s hall of fame, because it’s one of those restaurants that’s been able to withstand the test of time. It lives and functions on its own wavelength.

This one is personal to me: Bistrot du Coin. It’s the first place José Andrés took me to have dinner in DC. One night after service, he asked if I was hungry, and took me to this little French bistro in Dupont Circle. It’s authentic—like something you would find in Paris—and as soon as I got there, I felt like it was a really casual, honest, and beautiful restaurant to enjoy a classic French meal. It’s got a good and fun environment. There’s also something romantic about it; I used to take dates here, too.

As for the food, it’s the kind of thing you’d eat at home, they’re not trying to make it too fancy. You can’t go wrong with a really good grilled ribeye, cooked to perfection, served with freaking delicious French fries made from scratch and served with Béarnaise sauce. Meat, butter, and fries: no one goes wrong with that.

From a classic French bistro beloved by José Andrés to an artsy neighborhood joint outfitted with canoes on the ceiling, these places are must-visits for a true DC experience. It’s hard to define Rose’s Luxury as a classic because it always feels so new every time I visit, but it’s definitely a don’t-miss for anyone visiting me in DC. Aaron Silverman and his team define hospitality and really showcase the best of DC, specializing in seasonal New American small plates that bring together influences from all over the globe.

The space itself is cozy and warm, full of little nooks, decorated with plants and string lights. Their staff is smart and engaging; they pay attention to the details and inspire conversation with their service and their dishes. My first visit here, I stood in line for two hours, ordered every single item on the menu, and left feeling like I wanted to get right back in line.

Hollywood East makes the case for going to a shopping mall to eat. It’s just good, solid dim sum. I discovered it when I moved north of the city, near Wheaton, Maryland—meaning, it’s near my house—which has a very large immigrant population and many great restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world. Plus, chef-owner Janet Yu is a longtime friend, and I like supporting women-owned businesses.

It’s always very busy for dim sum; the restaurant has a large, well-run dining room, with roving carts—there always seems to be a new cart in front of you, just when you want to try a new dish. I like the turnip cake, most of the dumplings, and, if my spouse isn’t looking, sometimes I’ll order the chicken feet. It’s hands down one of the best places for dim sum in the city. I’ve enjoyed the crudo, which came plated with lots of edible flowers, and the paellas are known to be some of the best in the city.

I enjoyed Convivial’s brunch recently—the chef there, Cedric Maupillier, puts out a big, beautiful spread. It’s modern and bright inside, and it has a casual feel with a backbone of fine dining—similar to us at Centrolina. I took my mom and she loved it. She felt very entertained because we were going to a hot spot—we weren’t going to a classic brunch, we were going to a hip brunch. It’s definitely a take-your-mom-for-fun kind of place.

The food there is all served à la carte, and it’s really creative and well done. I liked the smoked salmon a lot, which was homemade; it comes with capers, red onions, toasted brioche and crème fraîche. I remember they had a lot of wonderful juices, too, like fresh grapefruit juice. The beef tartare is delicious, served with crispy potato, hard boiled egg, and fresh herbs. But Convivial is best known for its quiche. It is a very artistic quiche—one inch by one foot long! It’s got leeks, onions, and Gruyère, has a crispy crust and it’s served with a nice fresh salad.