Ama

4.5

(1.1K) reviews

Italian

$$

Capitol Riverfront / Navy Yard

Why We Like It

It’s as close to a trip to Italy as you’ll get in Southeast D.C. The bouncy focaccia recipe is borrowed from a family in Santa Margherita, Italy; the curtains hanging along the wall like art, upcycled from the owner’s father’s Merano hotel. It’s like a love letter from Italy (the name Ama means “love” in Italian, after all) with all the trappings, right down to Ligurian specialties like ravioli stuffed with greens and ricotta in a walnut sauce and braised rabbit stew. A Negroni or a spritz is a must.

Need to Know

We’re open every day. Our caffè opens at 8am for Italian coffee, housemade pastries, and breakfast. Lunch is served daily from 11:30am–3pm, with brunch specials on Saturdays and Sundays. Join us for aperitivo hour from 3–6pm at the bar, followed by dinner service starting at 5pm.

Reservations via Resy are strongly recommended, but we always reserve seats for walk-ins.

Street parking is available. We also recommend parking at Whole Foods across the street or using AC Hotel valet next door.

About Ama

Ama is a mission-driven Northern Italian restaurant just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. We’re open all day—serving Italian coffee, housemade pastries, and focaccia in the morning, a full lunch daily, and weekend brunch. By evening, we become a lively aperitivo bar and dinner destination rooted in heritage cooking and clean, nourishing ingredients. We believe health and sustainability go hand in hand—using no industrialized oils, no refined sugar, and sourcing organically and regeneratively. Everything is made from scratch in our all-electric kitchen.

In just one year, we’ve been named a 2025 DC Sustainability Award winner, recognized by Gambero Rosso as one of the Top Italian Restaurants in the world, and nominated for Best New Restaurant by the RAMW RAMMYs.

Safety Measures

This restaurant has committed to taking certain safety measures to provide a safe, comfortable dining experience.

• Social Distancing
• Contactless Policies
• Cleaning & Prevention
• Staffing & Operations

Address

Ama

885 New Jersey Ave SE
885 New Jersey Avenue Southeast
Washington, DC 20003

Contact

+1 202 830 2505
Website

Location

885 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003