Cafe Milano

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Washington's Most Storied Table

"When you open a restaurant it is like you are opening your home." That philosophy, expressed by founder Franco Nuschese, has shaped Cafe Milano since he opened its doors in Georgetown in 1992. More than three decades on, the restaurant remains what observers have called Washington's ultimate place to see and be seen — a room where diplomats, politicians, journalists, entertainers, and lobbyists share the same air, drawn by genuine Italian cuisine and the kind of attentive service that makes every guest feel like a regular. Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food guide, recognizes the restaurant with a Fork award, a mark of consistent quality that carries particular weight for an Italian table operating abroad.

The Man Behind the Room

Nuschese was born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast and came to Washington after a career that took him through London and Las Vegas, where he managed restaurants for Caesars Palace and served as Assistant Vice President for Europe and Middle East operations at Caesars World, Inc. That international background is visible in how Cafe Milano operates — with a professionalism that feels European and a warmth that is entirely its own. Culinary Director Franco Sangiacomo leads the kitchen, bringing the same commitment to Italian craft to a menu that spans lunch, dinner, brunch, and an extensive wine list.

A Room That Tells a Story

The interior is a deliberate evocation of a stylish Milan boutique. Framed designer scarves line the walls as a colorful tribute to Italian fashion, while hand-painted ceiling murals celebrate Italian culture. One of the dining rooms is named the Domingo Room, in honor of the world-acclaimed tenor Placido Domingo, whose portrait watches over the space. During warmer months, floor-to-ceiling windows fold open onto a sidewalk patio on Prospect Street, bringing a slice of Mediterranean atmosphere to Georgetown's historic streetscape.

Private Spaces, Public Energy

For those seeking a more intimate setting, the Wine Room on the second floor accommodates up to 70 seated guests, its copper-shingle wall backlit to create a striking backdrop for private dinners and receptions. The Garden Room, lined on three sides by windows, offers a lighter, airier option. Between the main dining room's social energy and these quieter spaces, Cafe Milano handles everything from a weeknight dinner to a significant private event with equal ease.

The restaurant's reach has extended beyond Washington — a second location opened in 2016 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi — but Georgetown remains the original, the one that earned the reputation as a gathering place for the city's most consequential figures. For Italian cuisine in Washington at this level of consistency and character, few addresses come close.