José Andrés Opens Bazaar Meat DC
Chef José Andrés is transforming The Bazaar at the Waldorf Astoria into "Bazaar Meat," a new steakhouse in DC's Old Post Office Building. The restaurant will feature large-format cuts and theatrical presentations — Andrés' signature innovative approach to dining.
The transformation of The Bazaar into Bazaar Meat is more than a restaurant refresh; it's the culmination of a 30-year dream for Chef José Andrés, who has coveted a space in the historic Old Post Office building since he first arrived in D.C. in 1993. The original restaurant, The Bazaar, opened in February 2023, offering a blend of Spanish and Americana-inspired dishes. The Old Post Office, a Romanesque Revival landmark completed in 1899, has narrowly escaped demolition multiple times in its history. Before housing the Waldorf Astoria, it was the Trump International Hotel, where Andrés had previously planned to open a restaurant but pulled out in 2015 after controversial comments made by the former president. The building itself is the third-tallest in Washington, D.C., and once housed the city's main post office and a Dead Letters Museum. The new Bazaar Meat concept brings a theatrical, carnivorous experience to the historic location, a concept Andrés has successfully established in cities like Las Vegas and Chicago. The menu is a departure from The Bazaar's broader Spanish-American focus, honing in on a "fire-forward feast for the senses." Diners can expect over-the-top offerings that go far beyond a typical steakhouse. Signature items at other Bazaar Meat locations include cotton candy foie gras, caviar cones, and a spectacular whole roasted suckling pig. The D.C. menu will also feature a jamón bar and an avant-garde take on the Philly cheesesteak. This change is a significant move for Andrés, a chef who has been pivotal in shaping D.C.'s dining scene since opening Jaleo in 1993. His restaurant group, which recently saw a change in CEO, operates numerous beloved local establishments, including the two-Michelin-starred minibar, Zaytinya, and Oyamel. The introduction of Bazaar Meat marks the return of a steakhouse to the Old Post Office building, which was previously home to BLT Prime during its time as the Trump hotel. The beverage program will give a nod to the building's history with cocktails like the "Stamp Collector Sazerac." The Bazaar will serve its final meals on March 11th before the space undergoes its transformation. Bazaar Meat is slated to open later in the same month, bringing a new chapter to both a historic D.C. landmark and the storied career of its most famous chef.
