Nina May Patio: Complete Guide for Diners & Event Planners.

Nina May is a seasonal, hyper-local American restaurant at 1337 11th Street NW in Washington, DC's Logan Circle neighborhood. It has a licensed outdoor patio (Sidewalk Cafe and Summer Garden permits on record), a year-round covered Pergola event space, and a food-forward menu that leans heavily on sourcing from within about 150 miles. If you're looking for a DC patio that pairs genuine neighborhood character with serious cooking, this is a strong contender.

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Title: Nina May Patio DC: Hours, Menu, Reservations & Outdoor Dining Guide

Meta Description: Nina May patio in Logan Circle, DC: outdoor dining, Pergola events, menu highlights, hours, reservations via Resy, and directions. Updated July 2026.

At-a-Glance Facts

Location and Getting There

Nina May sits at 1337 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, right in the heart of Logan Circle. The GPS coordinates are approximately 38.9084° N, 77.0267° W, which you can drop directly into Google Maps or Apple Maps by searching 'Nina May DC' and it comes right up with outdoor dining flagged in the place card. Apple Maps, Nina May DC place page (hours, phone, outdoor dining) lists the address and phone number and flags 'Outdoor Dining' and 'Accepts Reservations' Apple Maps — Nina May DC place page (hours, phone, outdoor dining).

Public Transit

The closest Metro station is U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo on the Green and Yellow lines, about a 10-minute walk south on 11th Street NW. The Shaw-Howard U Metro (Green/Yellow) is also within walking distance from the south. Several WMATA bus routes run along 11th Street NW and U Street NW, making it easy to get dropped close to the door.

Driving and Parking

Logan Circle is a dense, walkable DC neighborhood, so street parking is competitive, especially on weekends and summer evenings. Metered street parking is available on 11th Street NW and the surrounding blocks, but expect to circle a few times on busy nights. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) is genuinely the most stress-free option if you're coming for a patio dinner and plan to drink. There are no dedicated off-street lots directly adjacent to the restaurant, so budget extra time if you insist on driving. A Google Maps link is available directly from the restaurant's contact page.

Hours and Seasonal Schedule

Nina May's regular hours are not reproduced here because restaurant hours in DC shift seasonally and the most reliable place to confirm them is the official website (ninamaydc.com) or by calling (202) 518-3609. Apple Maps and Google Maps also display their listed hours, but those can lag behind real-world updates, so a quick call before your first visit is worth it.

• Outdoor patio and sidewalk cafe service is seasonal and subject to DC weather — typically available late spring through early fall
• The covered Pergola space operates year-round, making it a viable outdoor-adjacent option even in cooler months
• Holiday hours (Thanksgiving, July 4th, Labor Day) often differ from the regular schedule — check the website or call ahead
• Resy will show real-time availability for any given date, which is the fastest way to confirm the restaurant is open and has seating

Menu and Drinks Overview

Nina May's kitchen is built around hyper-local sourcing, pulling produce from farms within roughly 150 miles of DC. The menu rotates with the seasons, so what's on the Toast ordering page today may look different in November. That said, the structure stays consistent: snacks and small plates to start, composed mains, and a solid dessert section. Cocktails lean classic with restrained, well-sourced variations.

Menu Categories to Expect

• Snacks and shareable starters (rolls, vegetable plates, salads)
• Composed mains featuring proteins, pasta, and vegetarian-forward options
• A Chef's Choice / family-style tasting option ($118+ per person, shared format)
• Desserts (pastry-driven, house-made)
• Cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic options
• Takeout and batched cocktails (to-go batches around $16, available via Toast)

Pricing on the current online menu runs from about $16 for starters to $64 for the Szechuan Pepper Striploin, with most mains in the $28-$32 range. The tasting menu starts at $118. Cocktail pricing is around $16 per drink. These are verified from the Toast online menu as of mid-2026, but menu items and prices do rotate, so check the live Toast menu or the restaurant website before budgeting.

Sample Menu Items (Verified from Online Menu, July 2026)

To get the most current menu, including any specials or off-menu items, check ninamaydc.com or the restaurant's Toast ordering page. You can also email [email protected] or call ahead if you have specific dietary questions.

Signature Items, Dietary and Kid-Friendly Options

The Chicory Caesar Salad and the Ricotta Cavatelli with Little Neck Clams are the two dishes that come up most consistently in press coverage, including a June 2026 Infatuation review that praised both. The Infatuation highlighted the Chicory Caesar Salad, Ricotta Cavatelli with Little Neck Clams, the Lemon & Thyme Roasted Pennsylvania Chicken, and the NM Old Fashioned as standouts in its June 2026 review The Infatuation highlighted the Chicory Caesar Salad and the Ricotta Cavatelli with Little Neck Clams. The Lemon and Thyme Roasted Pennsylvania Chicken is another crowd favorite, and the NM Old Fashioned is the cocktail most reviewers mention by name. If you're doing a first visit and can only order a few things, those four represent a reliable starting lineup.

Vegetarian and Dietary Needs

The menu includes vegetarian-appropriate mains, with the Cauliflower Risotto ($28) being the most clearly vegetarian option currently listed. There are also several vegetable-forward starter and snack plates. However, the public menu does not display a formal allergen or dietary-labeling legend (no vegan/gluten-free icons visible on the Toast page). If you have specific dietary restrictions, call (202) 518-3609 or email [email protected] before your visit to confirm. The kitchen's farm-sourcing focus often means flexibility for guests who ask directly.

Kids at Nina May

Nina May is not marketed as a family dining destination, but the neighborhood-restaurant format and the presence of approachable dishes (rolls, chicken, pasta) means it's not off-limits for families with older kids who are comfortable in a sit-down restaurant setting. There is no dedicated children's menu listed online. If you're bringing young kids, confirm directly with the restaurant whether a kids menu is available or if accommodations can be made.

Atmosphere, Seating and Patio Features

Nina May reads like a classic Logan Circle rowhouse restaurant that spills outside in the warm months. The interior is intimate and textured, and the outdoor seating expands the experience considerably when the weather cooperates. The big draw for patio visitors is the combination of sidewalk cafe seating, a Summer Garden outdoor section, and the Pergola, which is the most versatile of the three outdoor options.

The Pergola

The Pergola is Nina May's year-round covered outdoor space, with a seated capacity of approximately 40 guests. Because it's covered, it functions even in shoulder-season weather and is the primary space used for private events and larger group bookings. For couples or small groups wanting that outdoor feel without being exposed to full sun or rain, this is the sweet spot. It sits separate from the main sidewalk cafe footprint.

Sidewalk Cafe and Summer Garden

The sidewalk cafe and Summer Garden options are licensed outdoor spaces (both appear on the DC ABRA license record), which means proper outdoor bar and dining service. For comparisons of nearby multi-patio layouts, see dos patios smart fit. These are the warmer-season options, typically operational late spring through early fall depending on weather. Expect street-level seating on 11th Street NW, with the neighborhood energy of Logan Circle as your backdrop. Noise level will be moderate, it's a city sidewalk, so conversation is easy but it's not a secluded garden. For a useful international comparison, see Patio do Colegio SP for another intimate, street-level patio experience in São Paulo.

• Patio type: Ground-level sidewalk cafe, Summer Garden, and covered Pergola
• Covered / weather-protected option: Yes, the Pergola operates year-round
• Capacity: Pergola seats approximately 40; full outdoor capacity not publicly listed
• Shade: Building facade and pergola structure provide partial cover
• Heaters / fans: Confirm with the restaurant for current seasonal setup
• Noise level: Moderate, street-level city setting
• Live music / entertainment: Not advertised as a live-music venue; confirm with restaurant for special events

Dress Code and Typical Crowd

Nina May does not publish a formal dress code, and Logan Circle's restaurant scene generally runs smart-casual. Think: what you'd wear to a nice neighborhood dinner in a city, not a tie, not a T-shirt. The typical crowd skews towards young professionals, date-night pairs, and small groups of friends celebrating or catching up. It's popular with the Logan Circle and Shaw neighborhoods' resident base, which trends younger and food-savvy.

Peak crowd times are Friday and Saturday evenings, when the patio fills up quickly and the wait for walk-in tables can stretch. Weeknight dinners, especially Tuesday through Thursday, tend to be more relaxed and easier to get a table without a long lead time on Resy. Sunday brunch or early-evening slots (if available) attract a more leisurely, neighborhood-regular crowd. If you're planning a date night, book at least a few days ahead, especially for summer weekend patio seating.

Amenities and Policies

Here's what's either confirmed or worth confirming directly before your visit:

Events, Promotions and How to Book

Making a Reservation

All reservations go through Resy. You can book directly at resy.com by searching Nina May DC, or use the reservations link on the restaurant's official website. Resy shows real-time availability and lets you select party size, date, and time. For weekend patio seats in summer, booking at least 3 to 5 days ahead is a good rule of thumb. Same-day availability can open up if there are cancellations, but don't count on it for Friday or Saturday. For nearby shopping and event options, check Cia do Terno Shopping Pátio Maceió for current listings and happenings.

Private Events and the Pergola

The Pergola at Nina May is listed as a private event space by third-party event venue platforms, with a seated capacity of around 40 guests. It's described as a year-round covered outdoor room, which makes it useful across seasons. If you're planning a private dinner, birthday, work event, or rehearsal gathering, email [email protected] with your date, party size, and any catering requirements to get a quote. Pricing for private buyouts and food-and-beverage minimums are not publicly listed, so a direct inquiry is the only way to get accurate numbers.

Ongoing Promotions

Nina May does not appear to run a standing happy hour or publicized discount promotion based on current available information. The best place to check for seasonal specials, tasting menu announcements, or event promotions is the restaurant's Instagram account (search Nina May DC) and the official website. Signing up for any newsletter through the website, if available, is another way to catch limited-run offers before they sell out.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

1. Book on Resy a few days ahead for weekend patio seats, especially June through September
2. Take Metro (Green/Yellow line to U Street or Shaw) to avoid parking stress on busy nights
3. If the weather turns, ask about the Pergola — it's covered and seats up to 40, so there's often a covered fallback
4. If you have dietary restrictions, email [email protected] or call before you go — the menu lacks a visible allergen legend but the kitchen sources thoughtfully
5. The tasting menu ($118+) is best suited for tables willing to share and surrender menu control — flag it at booking if you want the full Chef's Choice experience
6. Weeknight dinners are noticeably more relaxed for noise and wait times than weekends
7. Dress smart-casual — you'll fit in whether you're coming from work or from a Saturday afternoon walk around the neighborhood
8. Tipping norms in DC: 20% is the standard starting point for full-service restaurant dining

Reviews and Reputation

Nina May earns consistent praise from DC food media. The Infatuation, in a June 2026 review, highlighted the Chicory Caesar Salad, Ricotta Cavatelli with Little Neck Clams, and the NM Old Fashioned as standout items. Eater DC has covered the restaurant in the context of its Logan Circle identity and its commitment to within-150-miles sourcing, which positions it as a neighborhood anchor rather than a flash-in-the-pan opening. Third-party platforms including TripAdvisor and Apple Maps reflect outdoor dining availability and reservation acceptance, and aggregate review scores on those platforms are worth checking for the most current guest sentiment.

Common praise across reviews centers on ingredient quality, the patio atmosphere in warm months, and cocktail execution. Less common but worth noting: the Logan Circle location means parking is always a friction point, and popular nights on the patio can get tight. If a quiet, spacious outdoor dining experience is what you're after, a weeknight visit or a direct booking inquiry for the Pergola will serve you better than a Saturday-evening walk-in.

Nina May vs. Other DC Patio Options

DC has no shortage of outdoor dining, but Nina May occupies a specific lane: a neighborhood-scale, chef-driven restaurant where the patio is an extension of a serious dining program rather than just added square footage. For another neighborhood patio option and comparison, see smart fit dos patios. For a different vibe, consider Casa do Planalto by Patio 25, a Portuguese-inspired patio that emphasizes casual waterfront-style outdoor dining. If you want a rooftop bar with big views and a party atmosphere, Nina May is not that. If you want a well-sourced seasonal menu, a genuine neighborhood setting, and the flexibility of covered outdoor seating year-round through the Pergola, it's hard to beat in Logan Circle. For financial context when comparing venues, see Sensato Del Patio net worth for an example of how venue valuation can differ from neighborhood-focused restaurants.

For event planners specifically, the 40-seat Pergola is a meaningful differentiator. A lot of DC patios don't offer a covered, bookable private outdoor room at that capacity. If you're comparing venues for a private dinner or small corporate event, that practical detail is worth weighing against the alternatives.

Quick Decision Guide: Should You Go?

Nina May Patio is a great fit if...

• You want a seasonal, locally sourced meal with genuine culinary intention alongside your outdoor seating
• You're planning a date night or a small group dinner in Logan Circle and want a covered patio option
• You're an event planner looking for a private covered outdoor space that seats up to 40
• You'd rather take Metro or rideshare and not deal with parking
• You appreciate a focused cocktail program and are willing to pay mid-to-upscale DC prices for it

It may not be the right call if...

• You need a large, open rooftop with panoramic city views
• You're looking for a casual drop-in bar patio with no reservations and a cheap drink menu
• You have a large group (40+) expecting private outdoor seating without a significant food-and-beverage commitment
• You need guaranteed parking immediately outside the venue

Your Next Steps

1. Book a table: Go to resy.com and search Nina May DC, or use the reservations link at ninamaydc.com
2. Check current hours and menu: Visit ninamaydc.com or call (202) 518-3609 before your visit
3. Inquire about private events: Email [email protected] with your date, party size, and event type to get Pergola pricing
4. Follow for specials: Search Nina May DC on Instagram for seasonal promotions and menu updates
5. Plan your route: Drop '1337 11th Street NW Washington DC' into Google Maps and consider Metro or rideshare for the most seamless arrival