10 Places In Washington, D.C. That Celebrate Women’s Empowerment

Last weekend following a sweeping two-year renovation, Washington, D.C.’s National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened its doors. There’s lots of new updates awaiting, such as a meticulously restored roof and facade of the historic 1908 building that once was a masonic temple; easier accessiblity; and thought-provoking exhibits in expanded spaces like The Sky’s the Limit, which displays 33 large-scale sculptures and installations from 13 women artists around the world including Shinique Smith, Joana Vasconcelos, and Sonya Clark. What’s remained unchanged is the institution’s steadfast mission in championing women in the arts—which it’s done since being founded in 1987 by philanthropist and art collector Wilhelmina Cole Holladay.

While the U.S. has made great strides in advancing gender equality across arts and culture, hospitality, and other professional fields, the work is far from over. Despite being the first female executive chef of the now-closed Galileo (a dining hotspot in the 1980s and 90s), being nominated as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist three years in a row, and currently leading Centrolina and Piccolina—a beloved Italian restaurant and café specializing in regional and rustic Italian cuisine—chef Amy Brandwein still routinely faces sexism and challenges in being taken seriously in the kitchen.

To help shift “the lens through which women are perceived,” Brandwein has an all-women leadership team overseeing her businesses, and has also mentored for The LEE Initiative’s Culinary Education Program, whose goal is to foster more equality in the restaurant industry through continuing education and work programs for women. At the end of the day, Brandwein just wants to “help women succeed on a very high platform” and “make sure they’re taken seriously.”

The good news is that supporting the cause can be as simple as visiting and spending time and money at businesses that are led, staffed by, and created with women expressly in mind. Below are eight more notable spots you should put on your checklist for your next visit to Washington, D.C.

St. James

Restaurateur Jeanine Prime’s highly anticipated follow-up to Cane, her casual eatery specializing in everyday eats from Trinidad and Tobago, St. James celebrates the diverse culinary cultures (African, East Indian, Chinese, Western European) contributing to Caribbean food culture. Staples like callaloo, braised oxtails, and jerk wings are absolutely spot on, as are lesser-known dishes such as the umami-rich Trini-Chinese Chicken basted with oyster-habanero sauce. Wash it all down with a Trinidadian rum cocktail.

Lapis

Stepping into Adams Morgan’s Lapis is askin to entering the home of the Popals, the family behind the beloved modern Afghan bistro. Kitted out with vintage wood chairs, handwoven rugs, soft candles, and personal photos, the spaces exudes warmth and comfort. Fittingly, the food is a deeply personal affair, with all the recipes coming from the family matriarch Shamim Popal. Made lovingly from scratch, even humble-sounding items like qabuli palow (rice pilaf) are downright revelatory with an abundance of aromatic spices, tender carrots, and plump raisins.

The Philips Collection

Taking up residence in a historic Georgian Revival home, The Phillips Collection is America’s first museum of modern art with a uniquely intimate setting encouraging you to take your time with each piece. On view through January 7, 2024, African Modernism in America, 1947-67—two of three co-curators, Perrin M. Lathrop and Nikoo Paydar, are women—is a gripping exhibit examining the complex exchange between African artists and American artists and cultural organizations. Key works include a new commission, Nigeria-based artist Ndidi Dike’s The Politics of Selection (2022), Grace Salome Kwami’s A Girl in Red, and Manyolo Estelle Betty’s Cattle People.

Hotel Zena

You’ll notice provocative creative elements nodding to women’s empowerment everywhere at this 193-key hotel by Viceroy Hotel Group. The exteriors are splashed with colorful murals of female warriors by Miss Chelove, while the reception area flaunts a desk filled with salvaged high-heeled shoes and oversized portrait of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg comprised of 20,000 tampons. The accommodations expand on the theme with their soft hues, gentle curves, and a translucent depiction of the Greek goddess Artemis. Even the hotel restaurant, Figleaf Bar and Lounge, takes a bold feminist turn with menu items such as “She-Ra Salads” and “Zena Ginsburgers,” along with 12,000 protest buttons from marches gracing the walls.

Immigrant Food

“We are a restaurant with a mission.” This simple, but powerful statement by Téa Ivanovic—who made this year’s Forbes 30 under 30 list for Food & Drink—encapsulates everything about Immigrant Food, a “cause-casual” restaurant she co-founded with Peter Schechter. The food celebrates the diverse immigrant cultures that make up America, as evidenced by the best-selling Madam VP Heritage bowl of coconut-curry chicken, turmeric rice, and plantains, and The Think Table, a monthly digital publication covering immigration issues.

Lutèce

While highly lauded Lutèce has all the markings of your usual French neighborhood spot—imagine a cozy atmosphere, thoughtful wine list, and a menu of classics with original creations sprinkled in, including a lovely tahini-smothered charred cabbage—it’s the desserts by pastry chef Isabel Coss that are the talk of the town. Where Coss’ Mexican upbringing and French technique merge, her sweets are anything but predictable. The Black Sesame looks simple enough: a bowl of icy concord grape granita with flecks of black sesame biscuit. One bite is all it takes to conjure up the nostalgia of a childhood favorite, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

The Duck and the Peach

If there’s one restaurant in town that truly walks the talk, it’s Capitol Hill’s The Duck and the Peach. Owned by respected industry veteran and former ThinkFoodGroup COO Hollis Silverman, all of the new American restaurant’s leadership roles, from the general manager to the executive chef, are held by women. On top of that, the entire wine list is owned or made by women, and the ingredients for the unfussy, ingredient-driven dishes (think herby rotisserie chicken, butterhead herb salad, kanpachi crudo) are responsibily sourced from area vendors.

Ice Cream Jubilee

Lucky for us: Victoria Lai left a successful career in law to start Ice Cream Jubilee. The flavors run the gamut from classic (Bold Vanilla, Match Green Tea, Salted Caramel) to original inspired by Lai’s upbringing and travels—Kosterina Extra Virgin Olive Oil is delightfully nutty and fluffy—and can be ordered at one of two locations, or be shipped right to your home via Goldbelly.