Located diagonally across from the Library of Congress, Sonoma serves as a water cooler of sorts for Capitol Hill staffers. Of course, you’ll need to swap that water for wine, but with a lengthy by-the-glass selection, that won’t be a problem. Despite the name, bottles aren’t limited to California but hail from all over the world, including France, Italy and Spain. Want a little snack with your sip? There’s plenty to choose from, with pâté de campagne, chicken liver mousse and Prosciutto Di Parma. Delicately fried Virginia oysters are served with a sweet Anaheim pepper purée and crumbly bits of bacon jam. If happy hour drinks lead to dinner, more substantial dishes like lamb pappardelle and pan-seared rainbow trout are sure to fit the bill. - MICHELIN guide inspectors