Why we love it: An elegant stay where guests hobnob with D.C.’s best and brightest
The Highlights:
- The recently renovated—and thoroughly stylish—lobby, bar, and restaurant
- Spectacular new rooftop suites with heated terraces
- A prime location in one of D.C.’s finest neighborhoods
The Review:
Fortunes and friendships change quickly in D.C., but leafy Dupont Circle, with its charming shops and trendy restaurants, has yet to go out of style. Perched right on the circle itself, within walking distance of several desirable D.C. spots, The Dupont Circle Hotel takes pride of place, rivaled only by 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s no surprise, then, that the hotel’s new Martin Brudnizki-designed restaurant, The Pembroke—which features plush velvet banquettes, chic marble tables, and an expansive outdoor terrace—and the walnut-and-brass clad Doyle bar are see-and-be-seen spots for everyone from staffers to diplomats (Embassy Row is just around the corner, too). That the food is top-notch, the wine list impressive, and the scotch fit for cigar-swilling politicians is a bonus. There’s also Doyle & Co, the new coffee and chocolate bar where guests and locals alike can grab a quick refresher.
Sleek and sultry rooms take similar advantage of their surroundings, most with large windows overlooking the circle. Upstairs, the Rooftop Floor was recently transformed by Irish design team Clodagh to include an elaborate penthouse and 13 other suites with enormous heated terraces overlooking the Washington Monument. Clodagh also redesigned the lobby, which is exclusive to guests and features the look and feel of a high-end apartment, thanks to details like a cozy fireplace and a look-through bookcase with brass accents. Best of all, though, is the feeling of walking out the front door in the morning and knowing that the capital is at your doorstep.
