Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is D.C.'s trendiest neighborhood, owing to its collection of night clubs, bars, cafes, art galleries, and shops. It is widely considered the epicenter of the gay community in DC.

Travel to Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle - Visa Requirements

The neighborhood is serviced by the Dupont Circle stop on the Metro's red line. There are two entrances to the station:

• The Southwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and Q Street NW
• The Southwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and 19th Street NW

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle tourist attractions and sightseeing

• The Brewmaster's Castle(Christian Heurich House Museum), 1307 New Hampshire Ave NW, ☎ +1 202 429-1894(info@heurichhouse.org, fax: +1 202 463-1307), [1]. Walk-in tours: Th-F 11AM, 1PM, Sa 11AM, 1PM, 2:30PM. Competing with the Smithsonian for top castle status in the district is the Victorian mansion of one Christian Heurich, who immigrated to the states from Germany to become a wildly successful real estate baron and brewer. (He also holds the title of world's oldest brewer, having kept up his age until his death at a ripe age of 102.) It's a striking example of Victorian architecture and design, and even if you don't make it to a tour, there's a nice Victorian garden in the back open to the public M-F 10AM-4PM, spring-fall.Free, suggested donation $5.  
• The Phillips Collection(The Phillips Collection), 1600 21st St NW(Dupont Circle metro Q St exit), ☎ (202) 387-2151, [2]. T-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-6PM. The Phillips Collection, opened in 1921, is America’s first museum of modern art. Featuring a renowned permanent collection of nearly 2,500 works by American and European impressionist and modern artists, the Phillips is internationally recognized for both its incomparable art and its intimate atmosphere. Housed in founder Duncan Phillips' 1897 Georgian Revival home, The Phillips Collection is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest small museums.Special Exhibit prices vary; Permanent Collection: Tu-F: donation suggested, Sa-Su: Adults $10, Seniors and Students $8.  
• Spanish Steps, S St & 22nd St NW. Kalorama is a quiet, stately neighborhood, and is home to more than a few hidden gems—including this, one of the districts most wonderful secret places. Based on Rome's famous Spanish Steps, these once led up to the Kalorama Mansion (from which the neighborhood gets its name) now lead up the steep hill to a small fountain and one magnificent view of the city, which is best appreciated on a summer night. 
• Textile Museum, 2320 S St NW, ☎ +1 202 667-0441(fax: +1 202 483-0994), [3]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. An extraordinarily elegant small museum that few Washingtonians have heard of, the Textile Museum is fabric heaven. Everything is very thoughtfully exhibited (to the extent that it's actually a worthwhile stop for more than just textile buffs), and this hidden museum happens to have one of the finest collection of fabrics in the world. There's also a lovely garden in the back. Free introductory tours Sa-Su at 1:30PMFree, suggested donation $5.  
• Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S St NW, ☎ +1 202 387-4062(sandrews@woodrowwilsonhouse.org, fax: +1 202 483-1466), [4]. T-Su 10AM-4PM. President Woodrow Wilson moved here for a quiet retirement after the disastrous setbacks of his late presidency, and lived here for little over 3 years before he died (he was buried in the National Cathedral). The pretty Georgian Revival-style house is preserved as the Wilsons left it, with a nice collection of period furnishings and clothing.$7.50 Adults, $6.50 Seniors, $3 Students, free under age 7.  

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle city tours

Dupont Circle is centered around a traffic circle. In the middle of the traffic circle is a small park with a fountain in the center. Many people read, play chess, and people-watch here.

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle souvenirs and shopping

• Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe[5] is a great independent bookstore and also a popular meeting spot for locals with a cafe/bar (which is a nice place to get appetizers and drinks at reasonable prices). open 24hrs F-S. Live music Fri, Sat nights.
• Lambda Rising[6] is a bookstore that caters to the gay community.
• Ginza, 1721 Connecticut Ave(NW), [7].  A store specializing in "things Japanese".

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Dupont Circle has a ton of dining options, including some of the best in the city, but keep in mind this is expensive territory with very limited budget options. For those, hop on the metro and visit Shaw or Adams Morgan-Columbia Heights.

Budget

• Alberto's Pizza ($) : Renowned in a city generally lacking good pizza for being above palatable, Alberto's is a good option for dining in Dupont Circle on the cheap.
• Dupont Circle Market (18th and S, $) : Small market with sandwiches and tables outside.
• Marvelous Market (Connecticut, north of circle, $) : Bread, dessert, and small foods market. Pricey, but good place to shop for special desserts.
• New Dynasty : There aren't many budget options in Dupont Circle, but this is a good one. Chinese take-out in large quantities at low prices, and the food, while nothing special, is a good deal better than your average Chinese take-out joint.
• Soltan Restaurant ($-$$) : $11 all you can eat Lebanese dinner buffet!
• Zorba's (20th, north of Q, $-$$) : Greek restaurant with counter service. Excellent Food, especially for the prices. The patio is a nice summer hang-out, especially because they serve beer in pitchers!

Mid-range

• Anna Maria's (Connecticut, north of Q, $$-$$$) : Homey Italian restaurant with very tasty food. Ask for the spicy calamari appetizer (not on the menu!).
• Bistrot du Coin (Connecticut, north of R, $$) : Cute French restaurant.
• Childe Harold (20th, north of Q, $-$$) : Slightly classy bar food and nice patio.
• City Lights of China (Connecticut, north of Q, $$) : Chinese restaurant
• El Tamarindo (18th and Florida): This Salvadoran place offers solid food and solid drinks at reasonable prices.
• Fin, 1200 19th St. NW, +1 202 530-4430. A very nice looking seafood restaurant with great food. Recommendations: the oyster sampler, grilled calamari. their maki tuna. This restaurant is very reasonably priced. Worth calling and asking about their happy hour as it features specials like oysters for very low prices.

• Grillfish (New Hampshire, 2 blocks SW of circle, $$) : Another excellent business lunch/dinner focused on fish. It also has lunch specials offering great deals, although you'll never call this place a budget restaurant!
• Hank's Oyster Bar, 1624 Q Street NW, +1 202 462-HANK. Small, cozy seafood restaurant. Fried clams, lobster roll and beer.
• Mark and Orlando's ($$-$$$) : Small restaurant with American bistro food. Tasty! MAke sure you eat upstairs so you can take advantage of both menus
• Meiwah (New Hampshire, 2 blocks SW of circle, $$) : A highly acclaimed, if not entirely authentic Chinese restaurant catering to lawyers, businessmen, and politicians. An excellent option for a business lunch or dinner.
• Mimi's American Bistro ($$) : The wait staff is supposed to sing to you here. The food is decent, but not stellar. American food with a Mediterranean twist.
• Penang: (19th and M, $$) Good Thai cuisine - best bet is to order ~3 of the appetizer/tapas
• Pesce ($$-$$$) : Fish restaurant with a menu that changes daily. Everything is always fresh.
• Pizzeria Paradiso ($$) : A local gourmet pizza place with nice ambiance. They don't take reservations, so the Saturday night wait can be brutal. But never fear, they do a healthy take-out business too.
• Polo India (Connecticut, north or R) : Indian food.
• Regent Thai (18th and S, $$) : Supposed to be one of best Thai places in the district.
• Roka (Q Street, just off Connecticut, $$) : "Asian diner" serving pan-Asian cuisine.
• Thai Bistro (Connecticut, north of R, $$) : Thai restaurant with sushi. Some sushi is American style.
• Thaiphoon (S, just off Connecticut) : Thai food. Supposed to be good.
• Tomate (Connecticut and Q, $$-$$$) : Italian restaurant. Lots of dishes feature meat.
• Uni ($$) : Reasonably priced "American Sushi" place. Selections are interesting -- not just standard nigiri and california roll fare.

Splurge

• Al Tiramisu ($$$) : Very classy, and very tasty Italian.
• Cafe Nora (R St and Florida Ave, $$$$) : All organic, mostly locally sourced food. Excellently done, but someone limited at times by the organic requirements -- go during the summer, not the winter.
• Etrusco (20th, north of Q, $$$) : Fancy Italian restaurant.
• Obelisk ($$$$) : Very, very classy, and very, very tasty Italian (note the extra $ too). Obelisk's menu changes daily, so everything's always fresh and seasonal. A $60 fixed price menu is reputed to be one of the district's best dining experiences.
• Russia House (Connecticut, north of S, $$$) : Part of the Russian cultural house, this restaurant and lounge serves traditional Russian fare and vodka - they have more than 30 vodkas to choose from!
• Ruths Chris (Connecticut, north of S, $$$) : Steak house chain.
• Sala Thai, Dupont Circle branch at 2016 P Street NW, +1 202 872-1144; Cleveland Park branch at 3507 Connecticut Avenue NW, +1 202 237-2777. Your standard-issue Thai restaurant. Try the drunken noodles.
• Sette Osteria (Connecticut & R, $$-$$$) : Classy pizza and Italian food.
• Urbana ($$$) : New restaurant/bar attached to the recently renovated Kimpton Hotel, Hotel Palomar. Very chic, with prices to match.
• Vidalia: (1990 M St $$$) Free wine tastings and light or'd'oeuvres (not enough for a dinner, barely a snack) from 5-7 on Tuesdays (possibly now all week?). The sommelier loves chatting about wine, it's a free education, which is pretty rare in DC.

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Bars/clubs

• Eighteenth Street Lounge, 1212 18th ST NW, ☎ 202.466.3922, [8]. One of the best low-key spots to hear awesome DJ's. This is the home of D.C.'s own Thievery Corporation, who make plenty of appearances. Despite it's attempts to remain under the radar by leaving no sign outside, it's always crowded. 
• Fireplace : Black men's gay bar in an alley South off P that serves decent brick-oven baked pizzas. Always jumping with activity after dark.
• Jack's Restaurant and Bar - (17th an P, $) - Newest incarnation of Peppers/Le Piguelle - good happy hour specials
• Omega : Gay bar.
• Science Club: (1136 19th Street NW, $$) - hip, beakers, expensive. It'd be a lot better if it were cheaper. Good, geeky decor.
• Rumors: (19th and M, $, )( )Cheesy boat-themed bar, not much beer selection, but lots of seating, outside patio, and free wifi. Beer, barfood and Internet - what could be better? Oh, right, less cheesiness. There's a dancefloor that occasionally gets hoppin'.
• Porter's: (19th and M, $) Cheap rail drinks, loud, tiny.

Cafes

• Teaism, 2009 R ST. NW Washington, DC 20009 (Just off the corner of Connecticut and R streets, two blocks north of the Dupont Circle metro stop's Q street (north) exit. ), (202) 667-3827 (email: info@teaism.com,), http://www.teaism.com/Index.htm. M-F 7:30 am - 10:00 pm, Sat. 9:30 am - 9:00 pm, Sun. 9:30 am - 9:00 pm, Brunch Sat. & Sun. 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Tea shop with Asian inspired foods. Breakfast, lunch, and desserts offered on menu. Great selection of fine teas, although the prices exceed the (high) quality. Good place for lunch/brunch. $2-$9 (extra price info). Seating is limited, so if it looks busy you might want to look elsewhere (but there's also seating upstairs).

Washington, D.C - Dupont Circle cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

• The Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036(http://www.tabardinn.com/directions.htm), ☎ 202-785-1277, [9]. checkin: Call; checkout: Call. Washington D.C.'s quintessential small hotel located on a quiet tree-lined street just five blocks from the White House. Vibrant, yet unassuming, the Tabard is comprised of 40 sleeping rooms, each unique in character and design. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, the Tabard is a great place for a relaxed and cozy, yet sophisticated evening cocktail hour destination. They also have a lovely restaurant.$113 - $218 US Dollars.  

• Taft Bridge Inn, 2007 Wyoming Ave., NW(Dupont Circle Metro), ☎ 202 387-2007, [10]. 100 year old mansion located in quiet neighborhood. Rooms include breakfast each morning. Private baths and shared baths available.$89-$195. (38.918337,-77.04617) 

Mid-range

• The Beacon Hotel & Corporate Quarters, 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, [11]. Contemporary design, cosmopolitan style hotel with upscale suites located near the Washington Mall and the White House. New York-inspired studio suites and upscale turret suites also available.

• The Carlyle Suites, 1731 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, (Short walk to DuPont Circle Red Line Metro.) +1 202 234-3200, (Toll free: +1 866 468-3532, TTY: +1 202 518-5000, Fax: +1 202 387-0085, Email: reservations@carlylesuites.com), [12]. They call themselves "Washington's official art-deco hotel."

• Courtyard Embassy Row, 1600 Rhode Island Ave NW, ☎ ''+1 202'' 293-8000, [13]. A boutique-style hotel located in DC's Inner Circle. 

• Hotel Madera, 1310 New Hampshire Avenue NW. +1 202 296-7600, [14].

• Marriott Residence Inn,, 2120 P Street, near Dupont Circle, +1 202 466-6800,[15].

• Topaz Hotel, 1733 N Street, NW. +1 202 393-3000, [16].

• Windsor Park Hotel, 2116 Kalorama Rd NW, 1-800-247-3064, [17]. A classic Washington, D.C. Victorian boutique hotel.

Splurge

• Renaissance Mayflower Hotel,, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, +1 202-347-3000, [18]. Luxury Washington DC hotel in Washington DC’s premier neighborhood at Renaissance’s historic hotel in Washington DC.

• Embassy Circle Guest House,, 2224 R Street, NW, +1 877-232-774, [19]. Luxurious, historically restored bed and breakfast along Embassy Row at the intersection of Dupont Circle, Sheridan/Kalorama, Georgetown and Downtown, 5-minute walk to the Dupont Circle Metro Station, a 10-minute walk into Georgetown, and a fifteen-minute walk to the White House.

• Hilton Embassy Row, 2015 Massachusetts Avenue NW, +1-800-695-7460", [20]. Dupont Circle Hotel, two blocks from Metro, near monuments, White House

• Jurys Washington Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW,1 202 483-6000, [21]. Embassy Row, luxurious, convenient, restaurant views Dupont Circle, across from the Metro stop.

• St Gregory Luxury Hotel & Suites, 2033 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, [22]. Luxury hotel with cosmopolitan ambience near Georgtown, Embassy Row, K Street, Connectict Avenue NW, Dupont Circle and West End neighborhoods. Host to renowned performers, artists, international delegations and heads of state.

• Westin Embassy Row,, 2100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, near Dupont Circle, [23].

Contact

This page was last edited by Peter Fitzgerald. Based on work by info@taftbridgeinn.com, jon and Robert Smith, Wikitravel user(s) Morph, MarriottEastern, Redeagle688 and Dkastner and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license