Washington, D.C.’s once-vibrant dining scene is facing a slump as restaurant reservations have sharply declined in recent weeks, coinciding with heightened federal crackdowns and an increasingly tense political atmosphere in the city.
Owners and managers say the downturn is noticeable across popular neighborhoods such as Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and Penn Quarter, where foot traffic has dropped compared to this time last year. According to several operators, private dining events and group bookings have been especially hard hit.
“This city is dead right now,” said one longtime restaurant owner near the Capitol, who asked not to be named out of concern for retaliation. “We rely on people coming in from the Hill, the agencies, the press — but ever since this federal push, no one wants to be downtown. People are nervous, and they’re staying away. I put this squarely on Trump and the climate he’s created.”
While overall restaurant data is still emerging, local booking platforms confirm that reservation activity has softened, with some establishments reporting a 20–30 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Bartenders and servers say weeknight business, once buoyed by political staffers and government workers, has slowed dramatically.
Industry analysts note that D.C. has weathered political transitions before, but the current downturn feels different. The increased federal enforcement presence in the city has made some areas less appealing for diners, and the lingering effects of inflation have already put pressure on the hospitality industry.
“This isn’t just the normal ebb and flow,” said one hospitality consultant. “Restaurants are the lifeblood of D.C.’s culture, but when the political environment gets this heavy, people disengage.”
For many owners, the hope is that the slump is temporary and that the city’s food scene — long one of the most dynamic in the nation — will bounce back. For now, though, Washington restaurateurs say they are bracing for an uncertain fall season, with some openly pointing fingers at the former president for what they see as a chilling effect on their industry.