Cork
1720 14th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-265-2675
Nearby Metro Stops: U St./African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo, Dupont Circle
Website: http://www.corkdc.com
This tiny, crowded wine spot could’ve been plucked from many a San Francisco corner. Here in DC, though, it’s a unique standout among the wine-bar pack, both for its esoteric, affordable wine list (there are 50 by the glass) and bartender Tom Brown’s inventive cocktails. The biggest draw: the lovely, seasonally focused small plates—lemony French fries, oil-cured tomatoes on grilled bread—courtesy of former CityZen sous chef Ron Tanaka.