Donahue. The luxe Champagne, cocktail, and dining lounge just opened courtesy of two Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants alums, former beverage director Luca Giovannini and sommelier/cellar master Cesar Varela, as well as restaurateur Noe Landini (Bar Deco, Junction Bakery & Bistro, among others).
“We don’t want to be a speakeasy—we went the opposite direction with a modern, minimalistic design, more of a chill-out lounge,” Giovannini says. The space, when fully open and at capacity, consists of a bar area, dining room, and lounge. A patio set with more lounge furniture is slated to open later this spring. “We want try to bridge the gap between a restaurant and a club for grownups.”
Currently, Donahue’s capacity and hours are limited by DC Covid regulations, though the team—who possess one of Georgetown’s few tavern licenses—eventually want to draw a post-dinner crowd until 2 AM or later. That may mean a mix of new faces and those looking to reclaim their Smith Point youth.
“It [Georgetown] is like a small town in Italy,” says Giovannini, who says members of the Donahue family were some of the restaurant’s first customers. “We have a lot of support and lot of nostalgia.”
Check out their menu and more delicious images on their instagram @donahue_lounge
Neighborhood Retail Group represented the tenant.