Martin's Tavern

The overview

Four generations behind the bar in Georgetown

Martin's Tavern has been a Georgetown fixture since 1933, the oldest family-run restaurant in Washington, operated by four generations of Martins. Every president from Truman to George W. Bush has dined here, and Booth 3 is where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953.

Wood-paneled and steeped in political lore, Martin's serves upscale American tavern fare beneath a century of Georgetown history — a genuine Washington institution where the booths come with stories.

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

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Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Martin's Tavern cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Washington since 1933 — 92 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Washington.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Washington has kept Martin's Tavern busy for 92 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Washington regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best neighborhood tavern in Washington DC for 2025 for four generations of Martins running Georgetown's corner booth institution since 1933.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2025

Best Neighborhood Tavern in Washington DC Washington, DC · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation

All awards for Martin's Tavern →

Visit Martin's Tavern

Websitemartinstavern.com ↗

Location1264 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

In business since1933

Find them onFacebook · Instagram · Tripadvisor · Yelp · X

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Martin's Tavern — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: Martin's Tavern
Category: Bar
Founded: 1933, Washington, DC
Location: Washington, DC
Centurion Award: Best Neighborhood Tavern in Washington DC — 2025
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Martin's Tavern cleared the 2025 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Martin's Tavern?

Opened in 1933 and still run by the Martin family, this Georgetown tavern counts a young senator's marriage proposal among its booth lore.

Is Martin's Tavern award-winning?

Yes — Martin's Tavern is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Neighborhood Tavern in Washington DC, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best neighborhood tavern in Washington DC for 2025 for four generations of Martins running Georgetown's corner booth institution since 1933.

Where is Martin's Tavern?

Martin's Tavern is in Washington, DC.