WASHINGTON, DC

2 AMYS NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA [Pizza/Italian]
3715 Macomb Street NW, 202-885-5700; 2amyspizza.com.
Stop by 2 Amys for some authentic Neapolitan pies, but be sure to save room for the dessert specialty: fresh strawberries with sweet red-wine sauce on shortbread with vanilla ice cream.

701 [American]
701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-393-0701; 701restaurant.com.
An excellent pre-theater restaurant where you can fortify yourself with a crispy tempura ahi tuna roll and a 701 Passion martini before catching the newest film in Penn Quarter.

ACADIANA [Cajun/Creole/Southern]
901 New York Avenue NW, 202-408-8848; acadianarestaurant.com.
Between 4:30 and 6:30 P.M. enjoy a lateafternoon snack on the patio and experience the authentic Southern comfort of dishes like the crawfish boil appetizer.

AGRARIA RESTAURANT [American]
3000 K Street NW, 202-298-0003; agrariarestaurant.com.
Go green at eco-friendly Agraria, which offers waterside dining and an all-organic menu.

BLUE DUCK TAVERN [American]
24th and M Streets NW, 202-419-6755; blueducktavern.com.
Unwind while hanging out at one of the chicest hotel restaurants in Washington, DC. Sample the establishment’s exotic cocktails in a lovely courtyard complete with a bubbling fountain as you peruse the fresh organic delicacies on the menu.

BOMBAY CLUB [Indian]
815 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-659-3727; bombayclubdc.com.
A virtual trip to India awaits at Bombay Club, where dishes like Bombay sev puri (unleavened bread with potatoes, mangos, sprouts and onions) enchant the palate. From the patio, enjoy the view of Lafayette Park with a refreshing mango Bellini in hand.

BRASSERIE BECK [Belgian]
1101 K Street NW, 202-408-1717; beckdc.com.
Settle at a table on the spacious patio-esque sidewalk, then decide which of the 126 types of Belgian beer best suits your mood.

CAFÉ ATLANTICO [Nuevo Latino]
405 Eighth Street NW, 202-393-0812; cafeatlantico.com.
Craving a little something to sweeten your day? Indulge in Café Atlantico’s Bour-Berry, made with bourbon, blueberries, and raw blueberry honey. Hungry? Order the guacamole—it’s made tableside.

CAFÉ TROPE [French Caribbean]
2100 P Street NW, 202-223-9335; cafetropedc.com.
Slip into some shade and sip a black-cherry mojito beneath the huge canopy at Café Trope. And while the sun-drenched patio faces the street rather than the beach, the tropical drinks and islandinspired appetizers will make you feel miles away.

HANK’S OYSTER BAR [Seafood]
1624 Q Street NW, 202-462-4265; hanksrestaurants.com.
For rustic seaside charm combined with delicious food (the classic lobster roll is a favorite), try the sidewalk seating at Hank’s, and indulge in a sweet concoction like the Pebble Beach Blanket Bingo.

JALEO [Spanish/Tapas]
480 7th Street NW, 202-628-7949; 2250A Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 703-413-8181; 7271 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, 301-913-0003; jaleo.com.
All three of Jaleo’s locations offer tasty tapas dining. Quench your thirst with a flight of Spanish sparkling wines. One of the best tapas dishes is sandía con tomates, caña de cabra y pistachos—watermelon with tomatoes, goat cheese, and pistachios.

JOHNNY’S HALF SHELL [Seafood]
400 North Capitol Street NW, 202-737-0400; johnnyshalfshell.net.
This Capitol Hill hot spot with live jazz and blues hosts happy hour from 4:30 to 7:30 P.M. Monday through Friday featuring drinks like margaritas sweetened with agave nectar. Finish up with one of their many organic seafood dishes.

LIMA [Latin American]
1401 K Street NW, 202-789-2800; limarestaurant.com.
Combining a chic lounge downstairs with fine dining upstairs, this Latininspired restaurant will enchant your taste buds. The patio opens every afternoon at 4:00 and features such appetizers as Mexican salmon and churrasco salad. Top off a late-summer happy hour with a cilantro margarita..

CAFÉ MILANO [Italian]
3251 Prospect Street NW, 202-333-6183; cafemilano.net.
Savor a summery Bellini (white peach and spumante) beneath the deep-blue umbrellas at this perennially pleasing Georgetown hot spot.

MORTON’S [Steakhouse]
1050 Connecticut Avenue, 202-955-5997; 3251 Prospect Street NW, 202-342-6258; 1631 Crystal Square Arcade, Suite 54, Arlington, Virginia, 703-418-1444; mortons.com.
Get a table on the patio between 4:30 and 6:30 P.M. or 9:30 and 11 P.M. and enjoy $5 appetizers such as the delectable petite filet mignon sandwiches.

PERRY’S [American/Asian]
1811 Colombia Road, 202-234-6218; perryadamsmorgan.com.
Blend in with the hip crowd on this rooftop terrace in Adams Morgan. Sip on a Polly Lemonade (citrus vodka) and take advantage of the $5 small plates and $4 drinks weeknights from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.

RAKU [Pan-Asian]
1900 Q Street NW, 202-265-7258.
Thirsty? Raku’s fanciful drinks include the Fusion (rum, Red Bull, orange juice, pomegranate liqueur), Raku Cooler (passion-fruit lemonade with Smirnoff citrus twist), and Tsunami (Amalito, pineapple juice, Grenadine, and sour mix). Be sure to try the fried baby calamari or tuna tartare.

RISTORANTE PICCOLO [Italian]
1068 31st Street NW, 202-342-7414; piccolodc.com.
Enjoy a bella notte on the second-story patio of this charming Georgetown eatery. Tuck into traditional Italian fare such as prosciutto and melon, accompanied by a bottle of crisp white wine from the extensive list.

SEQUOIA [American]
3000 K Street NW, 202-944-4200; arkrestaurants.com.
Order a mango margarita and watch the sun sink into the water from your patio table.

SETTE OSTERIA [Italian]
1666 Connecticut Avenue, 202-483-3070; setteosteria.com.
Alight on the patio of this Dupont Circle gem and order a glass of sparkling Il Sogno paired with fried calamari or cold cuts.

SURFSIDE [Seafood]
2444 Wisconsin Avenue, 202-337-0004; surfsidedc.com.
A little bit of the beach comes to the District with this new addition to the local dining scene. Head up to the rooftop terrace and enjoy a frosty margarita, accompanied by fresh seafood, rice dishes, or tacos.

OYAMEL COCINA MEXICANA [Mexican]
401 7th Street NW, 202-628-1005; oyamel.com.
Cool off at the end of the day on Oyamel’s patio with a margarita and appetizers and small plates that combine the best of traditional Spanish cuisine with high-end Mexican.

HUDSON [American]
2030 M Street NW, 202-872-8700; hudson-dc.com.
Sip a Shannon Splash, made from agave nectar, muddled strawberry, Christiana vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, soda water, and sour mix on the patio under an umbrella

TENPENH [Pan-Asian]
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-393-4500; tenpenh.com.
Spice up an Indian summer eve at one of the District’s finest Southeast Asian restaurants. To refresh body and soul, we recommend the Asian mojito (made with pear sake) or lychee lemonade.

THE OVAL ROOM [American]
800 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-463-8700; ovalroom.com.
Situated on H Street near the White House, the Oval Room draws DC’s most powerful. While some may visit in hopes of spotting heads of state, others come for the renowned menu. Standout items include the honeydew martini and the sautéed shrimp.

ZAYTINYA [Mediterranean]
701 9th Street NW; 202-683-0800; zaytinya.com.
Adored for its small-plate approach to communal dining, Zaytinya remains a Washington, DC, favorite year after year. The food’s compelling, but don’t forget the drinks; noteworthy is the Pom-Fili, a blend of white wine, triple sec, vodka, and pomegranate juice.