Marvin (a U Street Newbie) Aims for Style and Soul

Eric Hilton, founder of Washington’s legendary after-hours spot 18th Street Lounge—ESL, for those in the know—has opened Marvin, a much-anticipated new restaurant in D.C.’s U Street neighborhood, named after soul singer and Washington native Marvin Gaye.

Downstairs, Marvin is a classic European bistro, dishing out an unlikely pairing of cuisines—Belgian fare and Southern soul food (moules frites shares a menu with chicken and waffles)—with a swank but laid-back vibe. The expansive dining room seats 72 and is outfitted with dark wood banquettes, wall-length mirrors, and an open kitchen. A giant mural of Gaye looks down upon diners as soul music plays overhead. The small front bar can accommodate about a dozen hungry patrons waiting for tables.Upstairs, the restaurant takes on a different identity, with an intimate and dimly lit lounge offering seating for 50. Flickering candles illuminate the vaulted ceiling and giant antique chandelier. The DJ booth sits next to plush high-backed chairs and round bistro-style tables.

Adjacent from the lounge is a two-tier, open-air deck with an expansive bar that can hold receptions for as many as 100. Though the deck lacks much of a view, it is heated and open year-round. Marvin does not offer a private dining room, but the entire space can be rented for special events.