A Supersized French Bistro Swings Open Near Amazon HQ2
Bar Colline's rustic-chic interior. Mykl Wu/H2
Located a 14-minute drive away (269 19th Court S.), the new Bar Colline joins offshoots of other familiar favorites like dumpling spot Bar Chinois and Cuban cafe Colada Shop at the foot of JBG Smith's new Grace and Riva apartments.
H2's longtime chef Brendan L'Etoile imports staples from the 5-year-old original, including its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit. The big difference this time around? It's over three times larger, with room for 230 guests along with a big patio decked out in string lights. More space means there's more room in the kitchen to produce extra dishes like chickpea fritters, chilled corn soup, and weekly specials. Hours to start are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The sizable setup also allows for more walk-ins than the first.
Mediterranean seabass at Bar Colline. Mykl Wu/H2
'We have a larger assortment of smaller plates for a quick lunch-type thing for people who can't linger and need to get back to their desks,' Ian Hilton tells Eater. Chinese chef Peter Chang also went the same menu route for his National Landing edition of Baltimore-born NiHao.
'I remember this area full of government contractors hanging out at nondescript buildings,' says Hilton, of the artist formerly known as Crystal City. 'It's gone through major changes and it's nice to see people walking around all the time, even in 100 degrees.' In late 2023, the tech-driven neighborhood welcomed an all-outdoor food hall called Water Park across from HQ2. The Amazon effect 'has brought ancillary businesses in and an assortment of retail,' Hilton says. The area is also now home to sit-down options for Mexican (Taqueria Xochi, Tacombi) and pisco (Peruvian Brothers), but Bar Colline fills somewhat of a French food void. Bar Colline's arrival on Friday, July 11, coincidentally comes just in time for France's annual Bastille Day festivities (Monday, July 14).
A massive private dining room for up to 16 guests is outfitted with its own AV system. Mykl Wu/H2
H2's Parisian cafe game started with Chez Billy Sud a decade ago in Georgetown, followed by Cafe Colline in Arlington and Parc de Ville in the Mosaic District (which is currently closed for renovations). A 50-foot wraparound bar slings spritzes, local beers, and wines, with daily happy hour that includes $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3-6 p.m. Just beyond the dining room, an outdoor patio surrounded with trees seats 40.
Red, white, and rosé pours are just $6 during happy hour. Mykl Wu/H2
Bar Colline is H2's latest large-scale project this year. Its third area outpost of El Rey – its biggest to date, with 300 seats inside and out – debuted along the Navy Yard waterfront this spring. Other El Rey taquerias sit in Ballston and on U Street NW, and its prolific portfolio also includes Players Club, Solace Outpost in Falls Church and Navy Yard, Crimson, American Ice Company, and recently opened golf bar Muni. Compared to red tape he's used to in his hometown of D.C., the opening timeline across the Potomac was relatively seamless – around 18 months from start to finish, he says.
H2 co-owner Eric – yes, that Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation fame – has taken a step back from the DJ touring world to spend more time on the brothers' joint hospitality business. Next up: restoring and redeveloping Potomac, Maryland's Normandie Farm, the nearly century-old landmark leased by H2 in 2022. 'It's a labor of love that's taking a long time to do,' says Ian Hilton. 'We can focus some attention on that after we get Colline on solid ground.'
The dining room has room for over 200 patrons. Mykl Wu/H2
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