minibar by josé andrés is a study in avant-garde cooking and one of the nation’s most exciting dining experiences. An imaginative menu offered in an intimate setting, the creations combine art and science as well as tradition and technique. Here you will be taken on a culinary journey. Each bite is designed to thrill the senses by pushing the limits of what we have come to expect, and what is possible from food.
As the center of culinary research and development for ThinkFoodGroup, minibar is also the creative testing ground for all of José’s concepts and projects. Working alongside José for more than six years, Chef Ruben García leads the Research and Development team with Chef Aitor Lozano, both alumnae of elBullí.
With only six seats and two seatings, six nights per week, a reservation at minibar is in limited supply. And given high demand, can sometimes be difficult to obtain. We apologize in advance for any frustration this may cause, and promise to do our best to ensure the process is fair and democratic.
Reservations are taken via telephone only. Each day at 10 AM we begin accepting reservations for seatings one month away to the date. For example, on the 1st of the month, we are accepting reservations for the 1st of the following month.
Our telephone number, which we share with America Eats Tavern, is 202-393-0812.
For additional questions, please see our FAQ section above.
minibar by josé andrés is a six seat restaurant within a restaurant located on the second floor of America Eats Tavern, 405 8th Street NW in Washington, DC.
It is located one block from the Archives/Naval Memorial station on the Green and Yellow lines, and two blocks from the Gallery Place stop on the Red line. America Eats Tavern offers valet parking after 5 PM for $11.
- Chef José Andrés wins 2011 James Beard Foundation Award, Best Chef for minibar by josé andrés
- minibar ranked number 1 in Washington City Paper’s list of DC’s 44 most powerful restaurants
- minibar included in Bon Appétit’s list of The 11 Toughest Restaurant Reservations in the USA
- Capital File Magazine highlights the creativity behind minibar in the June 2011 issue
- Read The Washington Post’s review of minibar by Tom Sietsema
- Can Food Be Art? The Washington Post’s art critic Blake Gopnik explores this question through the minibar experience
Named “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation in 2011, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, passionate advocate for food and hunger issues, author, educator, television personality and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup. Andrés is credited with introducing Americans to both avant-garde and traditional Spanish cooking. He and his ThinkFoodGroup with partner Rob Wilder are the team responsible for Washington, DC’s renowned dining concepts Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel, and minibar by josé andrés, as well as the celebrated Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. His newest projects include Jaleo, China Poblano, and é by José Andrés at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, America Eats Tavern in Washington, DC, and The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel Miami set to open in spring of 2012. Andrés can be seen on PBS as host and executive producer of Made in Spain. His cookbooks include Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen and Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America. His native Spain awarded him the prestigious Order of Arts and Letters medallion in 2010, making him the first chef to receive this recognition. He was tapped by the Secretary of Commerce to serve on the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Andrés also teaches at Harvard as part of the course “Science and Cooking.” Known for championing the role of chefs in the national debate on food policy, Andrés is a sought after speaker on issues including hunger, food security, nutrition education and childhood obesity. Recently he launched World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit which aims to feed and empower vulnerable people in humanitarian crises around the world.
- What is the minibar? Where are you located?
- Do I need a reservation for minibar?
- How far in advance can I book minibar?
- How do I make a reservation?
- What are the hours for minibar?
- What are the seatings for minibar?
- How many people at each seating?
- There are more than six of us that want to eat at minibar together. Can’t you just add another chair?
- How much is minibar? Does the price include wine?
- Do I have to order the whole minibar menu or can I order a la carte?
- What is the nearest metro?
- Is there parking?
- What is minibar’s dress code?
- Can I bring my own wine? What is your corkage fee?
- Does minibar offer gift cards?
- Where can I find out how much my gift card is worth?
- Can I eat at minibar if I’m a vegetarian or have food allergies?
minibar by josé andrés is a six seat restaurant within a restaurant located on the second floor of America Eats Tavern, 405 8th Street NW. The innovative tasting menu features 25-30 of José and his culinary team’s most imaginative creations. This is food that owes as much to art and science as it does to gastronomy, food that is as much about the brain and eye as it is about the tongue and stomach, food that forces the diner to rethink food and its presentation.
Yes. Dining at the minibar is by reservation only.
Reservations for minibar are taken a month in advance. For example, if you want a seat for the 15th of March, you could reserve that seat on February 15 but not before. Please be advised that the demand for minibar by josé andrés is very high and seats are often booked up the day they are opened for reservation.
Reservations for minibar are released at 10 AM one month in advance, date to date. In other words, reservations for March 15 are released on February 15.
On the rare instances when that rule cannot apply, for example seats for May 31 (April has 30 days), or on the few holidays when the restaurant is closed, then our policy is to take the reservation on the last day possible. For example, we would take reservations for both May 30 and 31 on April 30. If you are uncertain, please call the restaurant more than a month in advance to clarify.
Please note that although the service hours for minibar are only Tuesday through Sunday, we DO accept reservations seven mornings a week for all corresponding Tuesdays through Sundays in the following month.
Demand for minibar by josé andrés is very high and seating is limited, so reservations are typically booked the day they are opened for reservation, often within the first few minutes. Once the seats have all been reserved we do begin accepting names for a waitlist for that specific date.
To reserve, please call (202) 393-0812. We do not accept reservations on-line. For greatest chance of success, we recommend calling as close to 10 AM as possible. We do typically receive a very high call volume at 10 AM so if you experience a busy signal or cannot get through it unfortunately means that all our phone lines are occupied. We recommend that you hang up and call back immediately to try and get through on another line.
We require an email and credit card to guarantee your reservation.
minibar is only open Tuesday through Sunday. Sorry! We are closed on Monday.
We offer two seatings per night, one at 6 PM and one at 8:30 PM Tuesday - Saturday and one at 5 PM and one at 7:30 PM on Sunday.
There are only six seats per seating.
Unfortunately, space is limited and minibar can only accommodate six seats at a time.
The price for minibar is $150 per person. Wine, tax and tip are not included.
Sorry. minibar’s menu is a tasting menu and is meant to be enjoyed a whole. The items are not available a la carte.
minibar is located one block from the Archives/Naval Memorial station on the Green and Yellow lines. We are two blocks from the Gallery Place stop on the Red line.
America Eats Tavern offers valet parking after 5 PM for $12.
We do not have an official dress code - dress tends to be upscale casual.
America Eats Tavern has an award winning wine list that is sure to accommodate all tastes and wallets. Our sommelier Jen Fitzimmons has specifically created an additional minibar wine list designed to partner with the minibar dining experience. If, however, you do have a special bottle of wine you want to enjoy with your minibar experience and prefer to bring your own, you are welcome to do so. Please note we will assess a corkage fee of $25 at minibar.
Yes, gift cards are available for purchase at the restaurant or by fax. Just complete the gift card order form and fax it back to us at 202-393-0555. ThinkFoodGroup gift cards are available here, and can be redeemed at minibar by josé andrés, America Eats Tavern, or any other ThinkFoodGroup restaurant in the DC-area.
Gift cards are now available! Available at the restaurant or by fax. Complete the gift card order form and fax it back to us at (202) 393-0555. ThinkFoodGroup gift cards are available online and can be redeemed at America Eats Tavern, minibar by josé andrés or any of ThinkFoodGroup restaurants. Minimum of $25. Order ThinkFoodGroup gift cards online! Questions?
Please note: a gift card does not guarantee a reservation at minibar by josé andrés. Reservations for gift card holders are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For details on making a reservation, click here.
You can check the balance of your gift card by clicking here.
We always strive to make accommodations for our guests’ dietary needs or restrictions. All dietary restrictions and food allergies for the entire party should be noted and specified during the reservation procedure so that we can best accommodate your needs. In particular cases, a chef may contact you to discuss the restrictions. In the case of potentially life-threatening food allergies or other serious health issues, you should definitely speak directly to a manager or chef in advance and explain your situation. The minibar menu cannot be made to accommodate vegan diners.
Prepare yourself for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that pushes the limits of what’s possible with food.
Each bite is an experience to be savored, pondered, and sometimes puzzled over.
In short supply, but available to the passionate.
In the Penn Quarter neighborhood, the heart of DC.
One of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants in the country.
Renowned chef, entertainer, entrepreneur, artist and advocate.