A supper club with Latin American cuisine and an afterlife-inspired theme debuts in Clarendon later this month.
The new restaurant and nightlife spot Cielo opens Tuesday, June 16, following two years of preparations at 1137 N. Highland Street. Restaurateur Michael Sina told ARLnow he hopes to offer an upscale, “fully immersive experience” with dining and music, centered around a “heaven and hell” aesthetic.
Plans for a new beer garden in Crystal City appear doubtful as the space has gone back up for lease.
The property at 556 22nd Street S. — which includes several thousand vacant square feet of indoor and outdoor patio space — had re-entered the market as of last week, despite a local chef’s previous plans to open Scapegoat Beer Garden there.
Sports bars and venues across Arlington are gearing up to celebrate the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next week.
The tournament starts next Thursday, June 11, with a lineup of more than 100 games scheduled through Sunday, July 19.
The owner of a longtime gay bar and iconic local business in Crystal City says he’s remaining an “eternal optimist” following one of the restaurant’s toughest financial years yet.
Freddie Lutz, owner and founder of Freddie’s Beach Bar, says the restaurant is still grappling with economic difficulties that drove business down throughout 2025. However, Lutz says he is hopeful as ever as the bar — a hallmark of Arlington’s culinary and cultural fabric — recently celebrated 25 years in business on Restaurant Row at 555 23rd Street S.
A rotating exhibit of art pieces from the Arlington Artists Alliance is coming to an American restaurant in Clarendon through a new partnership.
Westville will be hosting a reception for the new project from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at 2800 Clarendon Blvd. The exhibit, which is expected to change on a quarterly basis, will feature works available for purchase that are aligned with the restaurant’s earthy aesthetic and veggie-forward menu.
A Clarendon barbecue restaurant earned a recent feature on “Signature Dish,” a WETA program highlighting standout cuisine in the D.C. area.
A plate of cedar plank smoked salmon at Smokecraft Modern Barbecue (1051 N. Highland Street) was one of three dishes highlighted on the show’s “BBQ Bonanza” episode this week, where host Seth Tillman “follows the aroma of smoke across the DMV.”
A tasting extravaganza is coming to the food hall above the Rosslyn Metro station next month.
A Taste of Upside, happening from 2-5 p.m. on June 27, will offer samplings from Upside on Moore’s vendors alongside live entertainment and activities.
A popular fried chicken franchise from South Korea is celebrating the grand opening of its first D.C.-area location in Ballston today (Friday).
BHC Chicken, which describes itself as the “No. 1 Korean Chicken Franchise,” plans to offer three free chicken tenders to its first 100 guests from today through Sunday at 875 N. Randolph Street, in the former Hangry Joe’s spot.
A fair in Falls Church next week will pull together local organizations, games and dining specials to raise funds for an Arlington nonprofit.
“Summer Stomp” is expected to draw more than a dozen local businesses and organizations next Thursday at Harvey’s, an American restaurant at 513 W. Broad Street.
Pike Cornerstone has closed its doors for the last time after just over two years in business.
The restaurant and bar, which aimed to create a “home away from home” atmosphere with hearty bar fare, cocktails and a dog-friendly patio, held its “final call” on Saturday. It opened at 2900 Columbia Pike, at the former site of Rebellion on the Pike, in April 2024.
Solset, a new rooftop bar in Clarendon, has opened for business this week, joining the neighborhood’s bustling happy hour scene.
The bar, situated atop the new “supper club“-inspired restaurant, The Boulevard, offers cocktails and “modern American food with a little bit of Asian fusion,” co-owner Nico Karagounis told ARLnow. The restaurant and bar replaced Wilson Hardware, refreshing the 8,000-square-foot space at 2915 Wilson Blvd with a revamped interior and new menu.
A game bar and brewery in Clarendon closed its doors last week after eight years in business, citing high rent and labor costs.
The Board Room’s last day in business at 925 N. Garfield Street was Thursday, owner Mark Handwerger told ARLnow. A 35-year veteran of the D.C.-area bar space, he said that business never fully recovered from the pandemic and struggled with high overhead costs.
