Survivability Rankings for French Restaurant in Washington DC

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Washington DC to open a French Restaurant, from Old Town North (82% survival) to ...

•12 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

  • Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
  • #1 Neighborhood: Old Town North: 82% average survivability for French Restaurant
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 125 of 129 analyzed
  • City-wide average: 78% for French Restaurants
  • Most challenging area: Arboretum at 72%
  • Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~10.7% more expected revenue in Old Town North
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Old Town North leads Washington DC's 2026 survivability rankings for French Restaurant operators with 82% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 83% and the most challenging locations in Old Town North at 79%. The worst neighborhoods include Arboretum with 72% average chance. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a French Restaurant?

Old Town North ranks #1 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Washington DC for French Restaurant survivability, with a 82% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodAt a good addressAverage LocationsBest LocationsChallenging Locations
1Old Town North82.7%80.0% to 83.0%81.0% to 83.0%79.0% to 81.0%
2Downtown82.2%77.0% to 81.0%82.0% to 84.0%72.0% to 74.0%
3Radnor/Fort Myer Heights81.8%78.0% to 82.0%80.0% to 82.0%75.0% to 77.0%
4West End81.8%77.0% to 81.0%80.0% to 82.0%73.0% to 75.0%
5Highland Park-Overlee Knolls81.3%78.0% to 82.0%80.0% to 82.0%77.0% to 79.0%
6Braddock Road Metro81.3%78.0% to 82.0%80.0% to 82.0%74.0% to 75.0%
7Tenleytown81.3%78.0% to 82.0%80.0% to 82.0%76.0% to 78.0%
8Old Town81.3%78.0% to 81.0%82.0% to 84.0%74.0% to 75.0%
9Dupont Circle81.3%77.0% to 81.0%81.0% to 83.0%72.0% to 74.0%
10South Bethesda80.9%78.0% to 82.0%81.0% to 83.0%78.0% to 80.0%

Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.

Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.


Where in or Around Washington DC Would a French Restaurant Make the Most Money?

In Old Town North, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~10.7% more than the average location in or around Washington DC.

On the other hand, in Arboretum, the worst possible location could result in making ~17.1% less than the average location in the city.

Your choice of location is one of the few business decisions you can test against data before you commit. Opening a French Restaurant in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across 129 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new French Restaurant is 78% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The same location can be excellent for one business type and poor for another.


What Should I Consider When Opening a French Restaurant in or Around Washington DC?

When selecting a location for a French Restaurant in or around Washington DC, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Our models show that Revenue Capture Score explains more outcome variance than any other individual metric. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. The analysis behind these rankings spans millions of data points across competition, spending, and mobility. A certain density of competitors signals strong demand and can benefit all businesses. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.


Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a French Restaurant?

Our models highlight the following neighborhoods as top performers: Old Town North, Downtown, and Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Arboretum, Skyland, and Woodlands. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a French Restaurant?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a French Restaurant in Washington DC is Old Town North with 82% average survivability, followed by Downtown and Radnor/Fort Myer Heights. 125 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.


Can a French Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Washington DC?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are French Restaurant Rankings in Washington DC Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Washington DC.


Is a French Restaurant a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?

In Old Town North, StreetSpring forecasts a 80.0% to 83.0% average chance for a new French Restaurant to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for French Restaurant in Washington DC

From a risk-assessment perspective, a French Restaurant tenant in Old Town North carries the lowest risk with average survivability of 80.0% to 83.0%. Downtown presents moderate risk (77.0% to 81.0%), and Radnor/Fort Myer Heights carries comparatively higher risk at 78.0% to 82.0%. Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated weekly.

StreetSpring provides highly detailed forecasts: revealing how long hundreds of business types are likely to last at a specific address.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Washington DC for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Washington DC to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC.


Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Washington DC are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Washington DC

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.