The address is 1228½ 31st St. NW, a half-number that belongs to the newest dinner reservation in Georgetown—and its newest slice of pizza. Neither faces a main street. Alfie's and Flora Pizzeria opened just twelve days apart in September along Congress Court, the alley section of a compound located a short walk up 31st Street from M Street. Over the same stretch, the largest new storefront to open on M Street was a 22,618-square-foot Uniqlo.
In 2026, prime Georgetown frontage on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue largely went to national retail flagships. The neighborhood's most exciting new dining spots opened tucked away behind them—in alleys and courtyards curated by local developers. The next restaurant in line, Bizzeria, also plans an alley entrance. If you live here and want to know what's new for dinner, start by looking for the back entrances.
The Half-Address on 31st Street
Formerly known as Hamilton Court, the compound has been reimagined as the Hamilton Collective—a vibrant cluster of retail, dining, and service businesses spanning 31st Street and Congress Court. Led by Jessica and Ezra Glass alongside partners David and Marc Duber and local investors, the project was created "by locals for locals," as reported by The Georgetowner in June.
The tenant roster highlights why the space feels distinctly different from M Street. The new eateries share the 55,000-square-foot property with local staples including Ultra Violet Flowers, Two Nine sushi, Flor Coffee + Books, Georgetown Preschool, Georgetown Pilates, Georgetown Auto Spa, and Hamilton Health Club. As Jessica Glass told The Georgetowner:
"The best part of our retail here is it's necessary retail. No one here is selling tchotchkes, right? You come here to do things you have to do. Your kids have to go to school. You have to work out. You have to get a cup of coffee in the morning. We have all that here."
Glass also noted that the infill structures across the compound date back to the 1980s.
Alfie's opened on Sept. 2 as a Northern Thai restaurant and natural wine bar from chefs Alex McCoy and Justin Ahn. Originating as a short-lived pop-up by McCoy (the chef behind Lucky Buns), this permanent iteration brings in Ahn of Annandale's Korean fusion spot Incheon. Describing the atmosphere to Washingtonian (as quoted by The Georgetowner), McCoy shared: "This wasn't a restaurant before, but we worked really hard to make this place feel like it had been here for 40 or 50 years."
Key visiting details from Alfie's Resy page:
- Reservations can be booked online, though walk-in space is saved daily on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Parties larger than six and private event inquiries must be arranged via email.
- Because the kitchen relies heavily on fish sauce, strict vegan or vegetarian options cannot be guaranteed.
Flora Pizzeria opened right next door on Sept. 14, marking the brand's second DC location (the original being Flora at the Square, 1850 K St. NW). According to the Georgetown BID, the menu features New York-style slices, full 18-inch pies, and a signature Porchetta pie topped with wild fennel and lemon. It is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Same Developers Run a Second Courtyard
The Glasses also operate Grace Street Collective at 3210 Grace St. NW in partnership with Thyme Holdings. In June, The Georgetowner highlighted Ox & Olive steakhouse as its newest addition. Joining it is Café Tulúm from Mexican restaurateur Juan Dracoulis, which opened Friday, Sept. 4. Eater DC highlights the space as a lush, plant-filled "alleyway respite" serving Mexican small plates infused with Japanese flavors. Menu highlights include roasted octopus, hamachi tiradito with ponzu, scallop ceviche with lotus root, seafood-stuffed chile relleno, fresh oysters, and tuna tostadas.
Operating hours reported at launch include:
- Monday through Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m.
- Fridays from 5 p.m. until midnight
- Weekends from noon until late
- Thursdays closed to the public for private events
If you're planning a Thursday visit, consider scheduling Café Tulúm for another evening, and check their latest schedule before heading out.
That brings the total to two courtyards, one vision, and three brand-new kitchens since late summer—none of which require a front-door entrance on a main drag.
What Took the Main-Street Frontage
Along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, 2026 openings tell a very different story. The Georgetowner's Sept. 17 roundup breaks down the recent arrivals:
Address | Business | What it is |
|---|---|---|
3262 M St. NW | Uniqlo | 22,618-square-foot apparel store, opened Aug. 28 |
1400 Wisconsin Ave. NW | Bombas | The brand's first DC store, opened Aug. 14 |
3328 M St. NW | Adriana Hoyos | Interior design and luxury furniture, part of the 3300 block's design cluster with Cady's Alley |
3040 M St. NW | Kith | Coming, per plans filed with the Old Georgetown Board |
3135 M St. NW | Edikted | Coming, in the former Allbirds space |
Several of these arrivals maintain deep local ties. Bombas co-founder Randy Goldberg is a Georgetown University alumnus, and the store celebrated its launch by gifting custom Crab Socks to its first 150 visitors. Uniqlo marked its debut with lively Japanese taiko drum performances. Even so, the expansive main-corridor spaces transitioning this year were claimed by apparel, footwear, and home furnishings.
Dining spots continue to open along main avenues, though typically in smaller footprints. Flavor Hive, a Northern Virginia food truck favorite, launched its first brick-and-mortar storefront at 3287½ M St. NW in the former Harmony Café space. Meanwhile, Delhi Belly opened at 1560 Wisconsin Ave. NW (at Q Street)—a prominent corner that, as The Georgetowner notes, has hosted a succession of dining concepts including La Jolie Bleue, Bharati, and Oakberry.
That same corner is where Dolcezza Gelato originally got its start back in 2004. Now, the brand is returning to Georgetown just a few blocks south at 1300 Wisconsin Ave. NW in the former Pressed Juicery space. Slated for late fall or early winter, this location will mark Dolcezza's seventh shop overall.
The Next Openings Are Planned Around Back Entrances Too
Bizzeria continues the alley dining trend. Michael Rafidi—owner of Albi, La' Shukran, and the nearby Yellow on Wisconsin Avenue—is bringing the Levantine pizza concept to the rear of 3246 Prospect St. NW, accessible via the alley off Potomac Street. As of mid-September, The Georgetowner listed a target opening of Fall '26.
Skillette, a new cooking school founded by Kelly Singer, will share the 3246 Prospect address. According to its site, opening is slated for early 2027, with class schedules releasing in November.
Spicewalla is opting for prime street-facing real estate instead. Its storefront at 1317 Wisconsin Ave. NW indicates an "Opening this fall/winter" target on its page.
Prospect Street, Down One Dining Room for Now
That same block of Prospect Street unexpectedly lost a beloved staple this month. On the evening of Oct. 18, an electrical panel fire broke out at La Bonne Vache, the classic French bistro located in the 3200 block of Prospect St. NW. As Washingtonian reported, DC Fire and EMS successfully contained the flames to the first floor of the three-story building, and no injuries were reported.
In an Instagram post cited by Washingtonian, the owners shared a resilient message: "Buildings can be repaired, things can be replaced, and we will rebuild and reopen." Co-owners Ari and Claire Wilder have launched a GoFundMe to support their staff during the pause. While no reopening timeline has been announced yet, the team is fully committed to welcoming guests back.
Where This Fall's New Tables Are
Place | Address | How you get in | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Alfie's | 1228½ 31st St. NW | Congress Court alley, Hamilton Collective | Open since Sept. 2; Resy plus daily walk-ins |
Flora Pizzeria | 1228½ 31st St. NW | Congress Court alley, next to Alfie's | Open since Sept. 14; Mon–Sat, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. |
Café Tulúm | 3210 Grace St. NW | Grace Street Collective | Open; announced opening date Sept. 4; Thursdays private events per opening hours |
Bizzeria | Rear of 3246 Prospect St. NW | Alley entrance from Potomac Street | Fall '26 target |
Skillette | 3246 Prospect St. NW | Shared address with Bizzeria | Early 2027 |
Dolcezza Gelato | 1300 Wisconsin Ave. NW | Wisconsin Avenue frontage | Late fall or early winter |
La Bonne Vache | 3200 block of Prospect St. NW | Prospect Street | Closed after Oct. 18 fire; owners plan to rebuild and reopen |
As major national brands occupy main-street storefronts, intimate residential-led courtyards are becoming Georgetown's premier dining destinations. These evolving commercial dynamics play a significant role in neighbourhood appeal and property values. For a tailored, block-by-block analysis of how these changes impact your neighborhood, connect with Corcoran McEnearney to request a Local Market Consultation today.
