THe Journey

A refined path through flavor and artistry.

The Journey at Elcielo Washington D.C. is an invitation to explore our world through a shorter yet extraordinary tasting experience by Michelin-starred Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos.

A sensorial journey that blends creativity, Colombian soul, and fine dining artistry — designed for those who wish to savor the essence of Elcielo in a more concise format.

Reserve your table and let yourself be guided through the magic of flavors that define our culinary philosophy.

$189.00 USD per person.

Elcielo Washington D.C. Restaurant

4.4

Based on 378 reviews

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Alejandro Cruz

2 months ago

What an incredible dinner experience. The venue has a warm inviting theme. I felt like I was in a home rather than a restaurant. You forget the that you just walked through an industrial area. I took my wife for her birthday and the food was very delicious. My wife does not eat seafood and they cleverly modified their menu to accommodate her seafood aversion. I definitely recommend getting the birthday add on so that there is something to blow out during the experience. We were both overall happy with the food and experience.

Cons: I preface this by saying this was very expensive experience so I am being overly critical as I expected perfection at this price point. First, it was very cold in dining room. I know it maybe difficult to manage the temperature in a building like that but after the first hour of being blasted directly by the AC it was uncomfortably cold. Secondly and slightly related to the first, it was very difficult to hear the attendants over the AC fans. Just being a little louder would have made it easier to understand what we were eating as the food did not all come in the same order as listed. It was not far off but it would have been more enjoyable if I didn't have the server repeat themselves as it was difficult to hear them. Lastly it was just passive aggressive behavior by the chefs where in an attempt to leave early on a Sunday night they started to mop the kitchen floor while patrons were still eating. So essentially my last courses had a stench of bleach overwhelm my nose as they cleaned the kitchen while several parties were still eating.

UHLAWNTAY

3 months ago

10/10 experience! I was treated The Experience for my birthday and it did not disappoint! From the moment we were seated until we left I was so impressed and delighted by the service me and my mother received.

Alejandro was amazing! You can tell he loves his position and he’s passionate about showing guest a true fine Colombian dining experience. I won’t add too many photos so future guests can be entertained as I was, but keep your camera ready! My mom had the mocktails and I selected the 5 wine pairing. Her drinks were so creative and delicious! Mine were smooth,robust and paired perfectly with my dishes.

Everything was not only deliciously complex, but also aesthetically beautiful!! I’ll be thinking about this meal for the rest of the year! The chefs, staff and venue were all immaculate!

Kevin Kiger

4 months ago

I don’t know what rock I’ve been living under, but I just tried Elcielo this past weekend - and I have certainly been missing out on some of the most amazing food I’ve had in DC in a long time. The restaurant and interior design is beautiful. The staff are friendly and deliver outstanding service. And the food is amazing. We were a table of four and had an outstanding time and delicious dining experience from start to finish. We started with the warm salad, the tree of life, the ceviche, and the wagyu tartare. OMG. The wagyu tartare blew my mind and everyone at the table. It’s one of the most memorable dishes I’ve had in recent history and I’m including recent trips to Lyon (okay, there’s a Blaquette de Veau I can’t get out of my mind, but that’s a different story). I feel like the wagyu tartare changed my life. I’m a better person because I ate it - and I was able to share my feelings with the chef, who visited our table. We also had the New York Strip and potatoes (so fluffy and delicious!!), the lobster and the bison. The bison is apparently one of the specialties and it was jaw-droppingly good. They apparently prepare in by wrapping it in cloth and throwing it in charcoal to cook - a Colombian style - soooooo delicious!!!! All of it was. I highly recommend Elcielo and can’t wait to go back!

Samantha Monteith

7 months ago

We came here for restaurant week, & we’re not disappointed with the food. Every bite was outstanding. I’d highly recommend the tree of life. That was definitely a showstopper and absolutely delicious. The wagu, lobsters, and tuna crudo are also delightful. Our service throughout the meal was also attentive. I’d have given El Cielo a 5 star review but there was some confusion with our bill. The waiter had to come back to our table three times and charged my card twice before getting the amount right. The food was still delightful, but the confusion surrounding the bill and getting charged twice put a slight damper on the evening.

Rosie Yu

7 months ago

Finally checked this spot off my D.C. bucket list for Restaurant Week! Enjoyed tuna tartare, the peanut jam and yuzu hint feels Asian-like cuisine. It’s one of my favorite in the course. The arepas on the side of beef tartare is perfect pairing. Recommended order tree of life! It was the best dish of the night. Cheesy, chewy, and the presentation is so interesting! We tried the Duck Breast and the Atollado Rice, the flavors and sauces were super interesting and the meat was tender, but fair warning, they got a bit too salty by the time we finished the plates. Catch of the Day was okay, but the salad it came with was actually the best part! For dessert, the flan was a solid classic. Rum ice cream was tasty, but to blended well with other chocolate. Overall we like this restaurant, it has such a cool, cultural feel.

Evan Cunningham

8 months ago

Would I recommend? Yes
Winter RW2026:
• *Truffle Bunéulo
• Beef Tartare
•Duck Breast
• Flan
$65 sans $16 supplement (truffle)
Standouts: Truffle Bunéulo! Worth the $16 supplement. Just enough food to feel satisfied, honest cooking and nothing gimmicky/strange.
Service from my waiters Sebastian and Angel were good, polite and courteous, but didn’t want to banter about the dishes much (dined solo).
Easy recommendation, would definitely come back for the full experience tasting menu.

Mahima

8 months ago

We went for restaurant week, spent $100 per person overall. For restaurant week, it’s a good deal but I don’t see myself coming back. The carimañola, truffle buñelo, and warm salad were all great and super flavorful but I’m so glad we also got the tree of life. My favorite course and so delicious. The yucca gnocchi was good but the cream was so heavy and overpowered everything. Dessert was great too. Just not sure it’s worth coming back for vegetarians. Also, service was incredibly slow. There were 5 diners in the whole establishment and we had to wait 20 minutes for our check.

Dulguun Aldar

9 months ago

This was my first time at Elcielo, and I visited in August. We decided to sit at the bar, and the service there was absolutely amazing. Alexandra truly stood out, her attitude was wonderful, warm, and attentive, making the experience even more special.

I’m not from Colombia and had never tried pan de yuca before, but I loved it! It was such a great introduction to new flavors. I loved the Tree of Life , it was beautiful and delicious.

Overall, the experience was incredible, and I definitely want to come back, this time to enjoy the full experience at the tables. Highly recommended.

Rok Palčič

9 months ago

We went to celebrate a friend's birthday and absolutely loved it. The food kept coming and each course presented a take on Colombian cousine from various parts of the country, accompanied by a bit of history and suggestions on how best to enjoy it. Their wine selection is unique and I was happy to see some excellent reds at down-to-earth prices for a restaurant of this caliber (mind you, there's also the other kind). Hard to pick a favorite course, but if I had to, I would say I enjoyed their coffee the most. It was just something special and absolutely delicious, not to mention such an important part of their culture that can only be enjoyed if prepared right. Besides, it gave everyone a bit of extra energy to carey on celebrating afterwards. All in all, a truly wonderful experience, not just from a dining point of view but educational as well.

Dish, Don't Kill My Vibe

10 months ago

Elcielo really hit. I left full and satisfied, which is not something I usually say after a tasting menu. The Tree of Life was unreal — one of those dishes that sticks with you.

The pacing all night was smooth, no drag, no rush. And the service was genuinely impressive. They explained each dish with real personality, not a script, and they even stepped in to help when they noticed my coat kept trying to slide off the back of my chair. Little things like that go a long way.

Unlike an actor who’s had a little work done, this menu had zero filler. Every course was worth it. This is the first Michelin-star spot where I wouldn’t cut a single dish if I came back. I want the whole lineup again exactly as it was.

Elcielo earned that star. 5/5 Vibranium

Eman Alzahrani

11 months ago

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had since coming to the U.S.! 💖✨ The food was absolutely delicious (Michelin star worthy), the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was exceptional💖✨. The girl who served me was extremely kind and made the evening even more enjoyable♥️😍. Highly recommended!✨

Rachel Barker

1 year ago

El Cielo round two! Went four years ago for their epic 20+ course tasting menu - it was incredible and honestly the only Michelin star we've really wanted to revisit. This time we did à la carte: grabbed all the "Columbia Bites" and some old standbys.
Didn't disappoint! Tree of Life and Yucca Gnocchi? Still fire. But that Truffle Buñuelo? Next level. Totally stole the spotlight with its crazy explosive flavor.
Yeah, we'll be back for sure!

Naymar Maxwell

1 year ago

Top notch food! One of my all time favorite restaurants. Try everything! I had mini orgasmic moments with every bite. Certainly not original Colombian food, but really enjoyed the chef's interpretation of traditional meals.

ming ming

1 year ago

Had a great experience at Elcielo DC! The staff were super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. We didn’t do the tasting menu and instead ordered from the ElBistro à la carte menu—so glad we did. Our favorites were the yuca gnocchi, confit mushrooms, black cod, and the bee-wax aged rib eye—absolutely delicious. We also really enjoyed the wagyu tartare, Colombian ceviche, shrimp empanadas, and arepas. For dessert, the cherry blossom cone and Coffee Field were both fun and flavorful. Cocktails (Colga Los Guayos and Chimberito) were creative and well balanced. Highly recommend!

Amanda Hu

1 year ago

We came to El Cielo with low expectations. We weren’t very big fans of Colombian cuisine, nor did we have much experience in it aside from trying local shops and Mita (very disappointing).

Wow, we were blown away! Every dish was presented with finesse and flair. Each bite was great and it had enough Latin American influence in the food to be recognizable but also wasn’t so immersed in that style that it would be daunting for less adventurous diners. I really enjoyed their truffle bite as well as the raw tuna and fish arepas.

While expensive, it was a worthy experience and better than many other Michelin restaurants we have been to. Pay for the extra Birthday experience-it’s a nice addition to the meal.

Gerson Reynoza

1 year ago

An incredible dining experience! The food felt authentic and honored the Colombian ingredients and cooking techniques. Our server Sergio was incredible and took the time to talk with us more on the different ingredients that go into each dish. It is deserving of a Michelin star, but there is definitely room for improvement. We had a mix a up with our drinks, as we had ordered non alcoholic, but received drinks with alcohol and one was a completely different drink (and it looks like we paid full price for the drink instead of a drink without alcohol). Also, the Tree of Life was taken away from us and we were told it would be packed to go, but never we never received it. Lastly, all Michelin starred restaurant that we have been to bring you a final small treat to accompany your bill (to lessen the blow of the price tag), but that was missing hear. Overall, still would recommend this incredible restaurant.

Claudia Rinaldi

1 year ago

This was an amazing experience that merge Colombian inspiration and fusion experience. Every dish was unique and a true gastronomic experience and the presentation highlights the Colombian culture. I can't pick a favorite because they were all incredible, Not surprised the Chef is a Michelin rated!

Yara G

1 year ago

I went for the experience as a table of 3, and quickly my expectations were set very high. The stars of the show are definitely the appetizers and pre-main meal plates. The truffle buñuelo, hiramasa lulo quinoa, aguardiente passionfruit toddy, and the carimañola were my top 4 (in that order) based on how each one was perfected taste wise. I will say, I was a bit disappointed by the quail which I very much looked forward to because I love quail. It just didn’t wow me in any way and had a slight gamy flavor that quail has if washed/cooked in certain ways. The bison and tree of life are also worth mentioning because they were higher up in the ranks of deliciousness. I would definitely come back and order 3+ buñuelos from the a la carte menu along with a couple other new dishes to switch it up.

You start to get full around the time the menu switches over to dessert. Therefore I can’t tell if it’s because we were full but the dessert dishes fell a bit flat. The cherry blossoms were the only dessert I enjoyed. The cholao as a concept was so lovely - bringing together the diverse spirit of Colombia in a dish, however I just didn’t enjoy it. I’m not a fan of artificial candy and since it had pop rocks in it and some jellies I think it was just a bit too candy like. The rose petals are not really anything to be consumed just as a heads up, it’s more like the chocotherapy - just for your senses.

Lastly, we had dietary restrictions on alcohol and pork (which was absent from the menu anyways). I made this known when I made the reservation online, over the phone the day of when the restaurant confirmed with me, and when we were seated and greeted by our server. However we still had a sauce served to us that had alcohol (the sauce from the bison dish) and a dessert that had amaretto. The server explained that the alcohol cooks out however we were aware of that and frankly I find that this is a decision for the customer to make as they might have other concerns/implications. So I was disappointed they still brought them to us when we already flagged it. There was no alternative to the bison sauce however I will say our server and the chef quickly made a substitution and provided us with a different dessert because we couldn’t have the amaretto and guava tart. That was much appreciated. It would have been perfect had that been incorporated into the experience from the start without having to mention it when the guava amaretto was served. But that’s just for the restaurant to note in terms of the larger experience.

They did bring out an edible candle for my birthday which was a lovely touch and nice to note from my reservation details. It was a lovely gesture that shows how charismatic the restaurant and team are. Thank you.

Overall, I would definitely recommend to try once if you can! El Cielo is of the most unique experience menus I have had. Come hungry because there is a good amount of food you’ll be served and you’ll walk out more than satisfied.

Linda A.

2 years ago

What an incredible experience. We tried the 20-course experience. Everything was fantastic. The chocotherapy experience was certainly different but quite enjoyable. The rose petals at the end was also something I’ve yet to experience in other places. The foods were well done and incredibly tasty. I truly enjoyed this restaurant.

Devyn Michelli

2 years ago

I am so late on leaving a review that I am ashamed. We dined here while visiting DC in 2023 and it was the most memorable food moment of my life thus far. I will say, I didn’t have an experience palette before but that was precisely why I chose this restaurant. I wanted to try new foods and more complex flavors, and we got exactly that! This was also my first time dining at a Michelin star restaurant and it was everything I had hoped for and more. It’s honestly hard to describe but the melody of flavors flowed perfectly together. We also got the cocktail package with it which amplified and complimented our dishes even more. I think everyone should try El Cielo and I talk about it often! I can’t wait until the next time I can go back. I attached some of our favorite dishes but not all because I’d hate to ruin any surprises 🙂