Indigo Landing offers a fantastic view of the fireworks.
Georgetown's Pizzeria Paradiso invites hopheads to begin celebrating Independence Day on Monday, July 2nd, with its indoor All-American Beer Picnic; the $60 per person fee buys eight 5.5-oz. choices from among its 12 drafts and featured cask brew, plus unlimited appetizers, pizzas and desserts (6:30–10:30 PM; 202-337-1245).
On Wednesday, July 4th, Indigo Landing, ideally situated for watching the fireworks displayed just across the Potomac River, will be serving a three-course low-country “picnic” dinner; outdoor seating is first come, first served, but you can – and should – make reservations for the dining room, since everyone is welcome to hang out on the lawn after dinner and watch the spectacle (5 PM; $50 per adult and $25 per child under 12; 7 PM, $75 per adult and $37.50 per child under 12; 703-548-0001).
Rosslyn’s Key Bridge Marriott Hotel will host a lavish six-course American dinner with open bar in its Capitol View Ballroom, which will offer an excellent view of the fireworks; seatings are from 6:30–8 PM, but live jazz music and dancing will continue until midnight ($200 per person; for reservations, call 703-524-6400, ext. 1404).
Just steps from the Mall, cool off before the fireworks at Charlie Palmer Steak's Fourth of July celebration, which features an open bar, passed finger foods like kobe-beef hotdogs and lobster corn dogs, a carving station with a roast suckling pig and roast beef, plus summery desserts to top it off (6:30–9:30 PM; $39 per adult; $15 per child 12 and under; reservations required, 202-547-8100).