02-07-2025
What to Eat at D.C.'s Top Tennis Tournament
A record count of Michelin-starred restaurants — seven in all – will serve at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The week-long event at Rock Creek Tennis Center (Saturday, July 19-Sunday, July 27) — the only combined men's and women's 500-level tennis tournament in the world — draws more than 70,000 fans each year to the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (5220 16th Street NW).
After debuting at the then-named Citi Open in 2023, three-Michelin-starred Inn at Little Washington returns with truffle popcorn from chef and proprietor Patrick O'Connell (still only available in the Citi Lounge and suites only, however). Nick Stefanelli of NoMa's Masseria plates Italian cuisine, and chefs Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora of newly starred Mita will serve polished vegetable dishes.
Others offering off-court delights include Albi's James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Rafidi, Spanish celebrity chef José Andrés's cooling gazpacho for the hot tennis nights, and chef Jeremiah Langhorne of The Dabney, who plans to prep his mid-Atlantic catfish sandwiches on sweet potato rolls. Debuting this year is Ben's Chili Bowl, U Street's decades-old institution serving its iconic half-smokes. And Cava, the now-national chain born in the DMV, also brings its Mediterranean bowls to the tournament for the first time.
Held every year since 1969, the pro tournament kicked off a partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investments in 2023 to create the newly named Mubadala Citi DC Open.
This June, D.C. officials announced big plans to assume control of Rock Creek Tennis Center and modernize the area and facility, which is currently owned by the federal government. The city says it wants to work in partnership with the tournament's owner Mark Ein, who has goals of his own to continue to upgrade the annual event.
This year's competitive roster features seven top-10 players across the ATP and WTA Tours, and five Grand Slam champions, including D.C.-area native and World No. 12-ranked Frances Tiafoe. Tickets, starting in the $30s, are still available.
Green turf-lined Market Square remains where the majority of the food action takes place. Returning favorites around the DMV includes King Street Oyster Bar (lobster rolls), Roaming Rooster (hot Nashville fried chicken sandwiches), and Duke's Grocery (Proper Burger). There's also sweets from Dolcezza and Clayboy's Shaved Ice; and Ladurée will offer its macarons at a special stand outside the main stadium. Design Cuisine returns again as the tournament's concessionaire.
The tourney isn't complete without its range of drinks, alcoholic and N/A. Over at the Tequila Lounge, sponsor Mi Campo Tequila teams up with D.C.-born Taco Bamba. Chef and owner Victor Albisu is a longstanding tennis fan, spotted in the stadium for several years. The rock-and-roll Mexican spot – there since 2022 – will offer a range of tacos, grilled guacamole, loaded nachos, and two types of churros. 'We're a big tennis family, and this is one of my favorite events,' says Albisu.
Several returning places for tippling include: wine-centric Kim Crawford Summer Club, Aviation Gin Bar, Ketel One Terrace, and Heineken Beer Garden – all with dedicated drinks and some limited food options.
