San Matteo

San Matteo

819 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC

★★★★★4.6(195 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

This Italian restaurant splits its personality beautifully between an intimate front space and a buzzing, energetic back room, making it equally perfect for a quiet coffee date or a lively group dinner. Beyond their standout traditional Italian dishes like zuppa di pesce and house-made pasta, they've built a devoted following for their carefully crafted drinks—whether you're stopping by for a cappuccino and dessert late in the evening or settling in for wine and aperitivos. The warm, accommodating staff and thoughtfully executed food make this a genuine neighborhood gem that feels both elegant and genuinely welcoming.

What to expect

Specialty coffee, with creative signature drinks. A slow-sit spot, good for meetings. Pastries on the menu. Open late. Family friendly.

MeetingsLate nightsSlow sitFamily friendlySpecialty drinksTraditional drinksSignature drinksPastries

Google Reviews

Ashley Henderson
★★★★★2 months ago

This place is low key amazing- great food, lovely atmosphere, nice wine. The zuppa de pesce was flavorful and loaded with fresh gorgeous seafood. My kids loved the pasta and meatballs and I tried it and almost switched my meal- high quality food all around.

Andrea Caruso
★★★★★2 months ago

Great venue with two moods: the front elegant, cozy, warm. The back a large space, bright, packed, and energetic (hard to have a conversation) like a true Italian restaurant. It's a good Italian option in DC. Don't miss the parmigiana di melanzane, a deconstructed…

Rafaella Sousa
★★★★★5 months ago

A friend suggested I try this restaurant, so I decided to visit on a Saturday night. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere felt lively yet cozy, perfect for an evening out. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel comfortable immediately. I am allergic…

MG “Qtmeemz”
★★★★★6 months ago

San Matteo was very accommodating, clean, and the drinks and apps were amazing! The service started off great we were greeted at the front and taken to the dining area which I did not expect to be so large. It was beautifully decorated and was a great vibe. Our waiter promptly…

Rachel
★★★★★a year ago

Only came here late for wine , cappuccino & dessert — but given that I searched the reviews for recommendations and wasn’t finding anything, wanted to leave a review: I had a chocolate tooth - and the chocolate lava cake was hands down the best I’ve ever had - I’ve had far too…

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