We are a family-owned RESTAURANT GROUP based in Washington D.C.
Popal Family Restaurant Story
From our family’s journey as Afghan refugees to building hospitality homes across Washington, DC—each concept marks a chapter.
As children, Fatima, Omar, and Mustafa fled Afghanistan with our parents following the Soviet invasion. We rebuilt across Europe, shaped by our father Zubair’s career opening luxury hotels worldwide and our mother Shamim’s home cooking—Qabuli Palow and Eggplant Buranee— keeping us connected to our Afghan roots.
Our first restaurant opened in Georgetown serving crepes and good coffee—bringing European café culture to DC from a quaint 19th-century building. Our family comprised most of the staff. In 2020, we closed the chapter and transitioned the space into Lutèce.
Omar’s larger sister concept to Café Bonaparte—classic bistro fare across two stories in Adams Morgan, with a moody interior, a large patio, and a downstairs champagne bar that became a weekend favorite.
Omar discovered an abandoned gym inside a historic former ice warehouse along Georgetown’s Water Street. The space became Malmaison—our French-inspired café, bistro, and event venue—before closing in 2018 to make room for The Berliner.
We encouraged our mother Shamim to trade home cooking for her first professional kitchen—transforming Napoleon into Lapis, named for Afghanistan’s national gemstone. Lapis quickly earned critical acclaim and remains a cornerstone of Afghan dining in DC.
Our homage to our extended family’s immigrant story in Germany—warm days with open garage doors, views of the Potomac, authentic German beers, and homemade sausages.
The lower level of Lapis becomes LaPop—first a cultural salon and coffee shop, later reopening as a bespoke cocktail bar with jazz, vinyl nights, and DJs exploring “What is an Afghan cocktail?”
We finalized the conversion of Café Bonaparte into Lutèce, bringing a modern neo-bistro spirit to Georgetown.
Our hearth-focused Mexican concept in Capitol Hill, created with chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, inspired by Isabel’s Mexico City roots.
A European-style wine bar and restaurant in a restored 19th-century rowhouse in Adams Morgan—wine-first and kitchen-driven, with future plans for a cocktail lounge and private dining above.
We’re excited to reopen The Berliner in a new location in collaboration with Chef Mike O’Brien, and to debut the second and third floors of Maison Bar à Vins.
Our Philosophy
As a family-owned business thriving in the nation’s capital, we value diversity, inclusivity, innovation, and service to the community. Our concepts are people-driven and reflect the rich tapestry of our family history, values, and the talents of our partners and staff. We are proud to team up with talented partners like Chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss to bring new exciting concepts to life reflecting a rich culinary experience. We strive to provide each guest a memorable experience that will stay with them. We are grateful to our dedicated staff and guests who help make our vision a reality each day.
Meet The Team
We take pride in our team, the architects behind our daily guest experiences, and are excited to introduce them to you.
Service to THE Community
As former refugees who fled war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, we experienced first-hand the burdens of loss. That’s why we have made service to the community an important pillar of our business ethos. We are proud to have built a business that employs over a hundred people from diverse backgrounds, including many new immigrants. We were also proud to help Afghan evacuees settle in American following their evacuation from Kabul in August 2021. The outpouring of support from DC residents for these refugees was overwhelming and inspiring. We are grateful to play a part in these efforts and will continue to prioritize ways to give back in appreciation.