Celebrate Summer at These Restaurant and Bar Pop-Ups Around D.C.

It’s been a wet and gloomy spring, but the sunny skies of summer are on the way here in D.C. It’s time to get out of the house and enjoy everything from savory corn soft serve, Latin American doughnuts, and newly decorated floral patios at summer pop-ups around D.C. The summer is fleeting and so are these pop-ups so be on the lookout for updates to this list.

Upcoming Pop-Ups

Filipino Family Reunion at Daikaya Izakaya

Two former Daikaya Group chefs, Nico Cezar and Kristian Felix, are returning to the group’s izakaya on Wednesday, July 9 for a Filipino pop-up. They’ll be cooking up delicacies like spam and lychee kilawin, fried hamachi kama (yellowtail collar) with a calamansi dipping sauce, braised pig feet (pata paksiw), and a savory corn soft serve covered in parmesan cheese with Daikaya Group head chef Katsuya Fukushima. There will also be some Filipino-influenced sushi on the one-night-only menu from chef Toyoaki Kitamura. Reservations are still available on the day of for the special pop-up. 705 6th Street NW

The International Spy Museum at Dirty Habit

Dirty Habit is hosting a “Bond in Motion: An Evening of Espionage” with the Spy Museum on the evening of Friday, July 11, bringing the museum’s exhibit to life for one night only on the Riviera Royale patio. Dirty Habit will be supplying the snacks and martinis, of course, and participants can even win a free martini if you complete a top secret mission by the end of the night. The free event includes Bond-inspired characters sharing intel, spy games, giveaways, classic clips from James Bond movies playing on the patio, and plenty of photo opportunities. Grab complimentary tickets on Eventbrite. 555 8th Street NW

Chef’s Table at Centrolina

Centrolina’s Chef’s Table series is back, hosting collaborative tasting menu dinners ($150 per person) with chef Amy Brandwein and local chefs, combining her upscale Italian cooking with different cuisines across the D.C. area. The first collaboration dinner is on Wednesday, July 16, featuring chef Yuan Tang of Rooster and Owl. The lineup also includes chef Shamim from Lapis on September 17, chef Pepe Moncayo (Cranes, Arrels) on September 24, and plenty of other exciting dinners extending into the fall. Check out the full lineup and make reservations for the series on Centrolina’s website. 974 Palmer Alley NW

Ben’s Chili Bowl

Around since 1958, Ben’s half-smoke covered in chili and cheese is arguably D.C.’s most recognizable dish that’s seeped in history. After decades of wear and tear, however, the original location on U Street NW will temporarily close at midnight on Monday, July 14, for “essential repairs and upgrades” that are expected to last for four months. In the interim, Ben’s will continue service right across the street, operating as a pop-up in Amsterdam Lounge starting Thursday, July 17 (1208 U Street NW). Ben’s maintains another standalone location on H Street NE, stands in Nationals Park, and retail presence in Giant grocery stores.

Chacho Outpost

Starting Saturday, July 12, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Adams Morgan’s Le Mont Royal transforms its upstairs space into a tropical spicy paradise dubbed “Chacho Outpost” through the end of September. Look for fiery cocktails made with the jalapeño-infused South American spirit all summer long. 1815 Adams Mill Road NW

Ongoing Pop-Ups

Morini Mondays at Cucina Morini

If you haven’t accidentally (and happily) dropped in on one of these special Monday nights at Cucina Morini, chef Matt Adler has been rolling out a pasta deal during slower weeks that includes $10 half-size and $20 full-size versions of every pasta on the menu. It’s a great deal for trying every pasta dish with a couple of friends, including the classic truffle ricotta ravioli covered in prosciutto or the incredibly rich squid ink pasta with a shellfish ragu, at a steep discount. The pasta deal is usually only announced a few days in advance, but this summer the Italian spot is hosting Morini Mondays on July 14, July 21, August 4, and August 11 with plenty of notice. You can book your Monday reservation on SevenRooms. 901 4th St NW

Tonari: Kakigori and Japanese Cheesesteak Mondays

The Japanese delicacy called kakigori is back for the summer season at Tonari. The shaved ice dessert is especially smooth with a decadent texture that is not quite meringue or buttercream, though chef Katsuya Fukushima does cover the desserts in some toasted meringue and fill them with coffee, strawberry, matcha, watermelon, or lemon ice flavors. The special shaved ice is available from 1 to 2 p.m. on weekends this summer and the beloved “Kat’s King of Suteki” pop-up with Philly-style cheesesteaks covered in plenty of unconventional optional toppings and sides is back ever first Monday of the month. 707 6th Street NW

Donisima at The Square

Chef Miguel Guerra, known for Michelin-starred tasting menu spot Mita, is bringing back his Latin American doughnuts with a cult following. Donisima appeared during the pandemic, when Guerra and his dad decided to start an international doughnut shop together while over 2,000 miles apart. From D.C., Guerra taught his dad in Colombia how to make a family-tested brioche dough recipe over FaceTime and they ended up opening two locations in Medellín and three locations in D.C. Guerra shut down the doughnut shops to focus on Mita, but now he’s bringing back favorites like guava and cheese, hazelnut-covered Amor al Chocolate (chocolate lover), and arequipe (dulce de leche) doughnuts at The Square’s churro and soft serve stand, Junge’s. Massive doughnuts are $5, except for the basic glazed at $4.50, and a flight of four mini doughnuts is $10 for curious guests that want to try an array of flavors. The pop-up may turn into a more long term residency in The Square, Guerra tells Gistrush.com. Junge’s is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.1850 K Street NW

Half-Smokin Kimchi Dog at Beresovsky’s Deli

The “Chefs… on a Roll” series at this Navy Yard deli continues with KNEAD Hospitality + Design corporate chef Jonathan Dearden’s newest creation: a bacon-wrapped half-smoke covered in spicy kimchi and chile sauce, all on a toasted brioche bun. The $11.99 half-smoke is available for only the month of July. 1201 Half St SE

Levain Bakery x Dolcezza

New York-based Levain Bakery is partnering with local ice cream chains this summer to sell its signature thick, gooey cookies with scoops of ice cream. Starting in late May, Levain’s Georgetown and Bethesda locations started serving scoops of beloved Dolcezza’s small-batch vanilla bean gelato alongside a hefty cookie for $10.50. The partnership only lasts for the summer. 3131 M Street NW and 4844 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, Maryland

Cork Wine Bar: The Corkyard

This 14th Street restaurant has refreshed its outdoor space just in time for summer, turning into a wine garden with pink-and-white umbrellas, glowing Japanese lanterns, and lush greenery. The patio is also serving summer-only drinks, like frosé, more frozen cocktails, and a specially-curated rosé menu, alongside seasonal bites like crab ricotta fritters and housemade gravlax with seeded focaccia. You may also be able to catch pop-ups of Cork Wine Bar owners Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts’s upcoming Marv’s Dogs in the space, with Chicago-style hotdogs and soft serve. 1805 14th Street NW

Tail Up Goat: Dinner with Friends

Tail Up Goat made the sad announcement that the Michelin-starred Adams Morgan spot is closing at the end of the year in April, but they’re celebrating the restaurant community they’ve built over the past nine years with a dinner series with RESY until then. Local chefs, like Michael Rafidi of Albi and La’Shukran, are on the list alongside famous national spots. Look out for tickets to more summer collaborations, including a July 16 dinner with chef Juan Camilo Liscano from Miami’s Palma and a August 27 dinner with chef Brooks Headley from New York’s Superiority Burger. The full schedule, including rolling Resy reservation links, is on Tail Up Goat’s website. 1827 Adams Mill Road NW

a.kitchen+bar: Summer Nights BBQ Series

This nearly year-old Philly transplant is celebrating local chefs with a Wednesday dinner series that includes four signature dishes (ranging from $18 to $38) from each D.C. veteran. The OpenTable collaboration includes live DJ sets and all proceeds from a $10 entry fee will go towards Southern Smoke Foundation. The chef lineup includes chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno (Anju, CHIKO) on July 10; Amy Brandwein (Centrolina) on July 31; and many more stellar local talent. Menu previews will be popping up on a.kitchen+bar’s Instagram in advance and OpenTable reservations will be available a few weeks in advance of each dinner. 1 Washington Circle NW

Joon: Live Fire Guest Dinners

Everyone wants to play with fire this summer, but chef Chris Morgan has been mastering outdoor grilling for years now and showed off his skills with Live Fire Fridays last year at Joon. This summer, he’s inviting chefs to grill on the Persian marvel’s patio with him on select Thursdays, with a portion of proceeds going towards the James Beard Foundation. The D.C. chef lineup includes Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss (Lutèce and Pascual) on July 9, Kevin Tien (Moon Rabbit) on July 30, and Seng Luangrath (Thip Khao) on August 20. Reservations are available on Resy. 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia