Washington DC Recommendations Please!

[blushingbride]

Hi All - DH and I are planning a trip to DC and since we haven''t been there in YEARS, I was hoping some of you would be able to provide us with some good hotel and restaurant recommnendations. We''d like to stay somewhere that''s central to all the sites, museums, etc. if possible. We are clueless as to where we should even begin looking.

Thanks!

 

[Independent Gal]

Hey Blushing. I have to say, I''ve become a HUGE fan of Tripadvisor.com for finding hotels. That way you get a ranking and comments from hundreds of travelers with all you need to know about each possible hotel. Very convenient and easy to use.

One thing not to miss in DC is the Hirschorn museum. I worked in DC for several months, and used to go there all the time. I just love the architecture, and the collection is spectacular. Great zoo in DC too, if you like that kind of thing.

 

[sumbride]

It''s hard to get good hotel recommendations from people who live here because we don''t stay in hotels! So I ditto the Tripadvisor recommendation. Weekend rates in DC tend to be pretty reasonable because so much of their business is during the week with business travelers. We have a lot of new boutique hotels downtown if it''s just you and hubby, and a few giant Marriotts that are right next to metro stations if you''re traveling with kids.

So before we get to restaurants... is it just you and hubby?

My favorite museums are the National Gallery and the Renwick Gallery of American Craft. Love both of them very much. Renwick is across from the Old Executive Office Building on Pennsylvania Ave. NG is on the mall, of course. Most of the museums here are free, but the newish Spy Museum isn''t because it''s privately owned. I haven''t been there (because it''s not free!) but a lot of people like it.

Depending on when you''ll be here, the new baseball stadium might be open. That could be fun too.

 

[blushingbride]

Thanks Indy Gal and Sumbride! Yes, it''s just me and my hubby. We actually started looking at hotels on Trip Advisor, but we need to spend more time on it since we still need to figure out the logistics, etc.

I appreciate the museum recommendations - I also didn''t know most of them were free!

 

[Skippy123]

Hi Blushingbride, I stayed in Washington DC on 2 different occassions. I stayed in the Embassay Suites on 22nd close to M and the other time we stayed at the St. Gregory Suites on 22nd Street (these hotels are about a 5 min walk from each other and the Ritz is close by). I rode the metro to see the Smithsonian and I walked one morning at 6:30am to take in the sights (you see all the workers in a hurry to get to work). Those hotels worked great for us. They are close to Farragut North and Foggy Bottom (George Washington University Hospital). There are some pretty good restaurants in the Dupont Circle area and close to the Smithsonian and we rode the metro to get to them. There are 2 restaurants on P street that we loved; Pizzaria Paradiso and and another one I can't remember the name right now, it is Italian and on that same block. We ate also at the Bombay Club and many more (I will have to think names and get back to you). I has been 2 years since we were last out there but I can recommend the St. Gregory and Embassay Suites. I liked the Embassay Suites a little better; hope that helps!!! I second looking at tripadvisor; there are other hotels closer to the Smithsonian but we chose these since at night the Smithsonian area is quiet and not too much going on.

Take a tour of the Capital and a tour of the Library of Congrass (the dome is amazing and frescos)! I liked visiting Arlington Cemetry; you get a great view of the city from up there. Also, I liked the mosaics at the basilica in DC which were amazing and the National Cathedral (not sure if those are your things). I love that city; I loved just walking around the mall (where all the museums are located). There is a really good cafeteria in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the basement and this amazing cascade water fall you can watch while eating since it is sort of walk to restaurants outside the mall/Smithsonian area. How exciting Blushingbride; you will have a wonderful time!!!!

ETA: a Fab restuarant is Kinkead's close to the hotels I listed.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 3/13/2008 10:33:38 AM
Author: Skippy123
There are 2 restaurants on P street that we loved; Pizzaria Paradiso


Take a tour of the Capital and a tour of the Library of Congrass (the dome is amazing and frescos)! I liked visiting Arlington Cemetry; you get a great view of the city from up there. Also, I liked the mosaics at the basilica in DC which were amazing and the National Cathedral (not sure if those are your things). I love that city; I loved just walking around the mall. There is a really good cafeteria in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the basement and this amazing cascade water fall you can watch while eating.

Pizzeria Paradiso is fabulous! They recently opened a second location in Georgetown that is a bit bigger. They are both often quite crowded and hard to get into, but usually worth the wait, or go at an off time.

The Library Skippy speaks of is the Library of Congress. It really is amazing. Also, contact your Congressional rep and they can arrange for tours of the White House and the Capitol. They are free, but you have to have arrangements made.

The cafeteria in the Art museum is in the National Gallery of Art. It''s fabulous. Also the Museum of the American Indian has a really awesome cafeteria but it''s way overpriced. Beautiful views as well, and one of the only places you can get salmon, buffalo, plantains and tamales in the same place. Love it!

DC is a small enough city to get around that it doesn''t really matter which neighborhood you pick to stay in as long as it is metro accessible. Foggy Bottom is a great area though if you want to do the Mall and the monuments. And it is close to Georgetown and Dupont for restaurants. You may also want to look at Dupont for boutique hotels.

Other restaurants: Firefly is fun and funky, Teaism is just great, Lebanese Taverna is a local "chain" (all owned by same guy) that I love. Jaleo is a great Spanish Tapas restaurant. I believe he also owns Zatinya and Cafe Atlantico.

Oh, and the fun date place for the intellectuals is Kramerbooks in Dupont. It''s a book store. It''s a coffee/dinner/dessert place. And it''s a meat market. It''s fun to watch the crowd flirt with each other... but it wouldn''t make it if it wasn''t a good place to be. oh, and it''s open 24 hours on the weekends.

 

[Skippy123]

Sum and Blushing I ate at Zatinya and it is delicious; I highly recommend this place but you better have reservations or get there early (or at least the time we went).

They serve Little Mediterranean plates and the best triangle squares of bread w/olive oil; yum!!! This place is close to the Spy Museum.

Also, I enjoyed this, drinks at Hotel Washington's Sky Terrace and it has a view of the Mall (Whitehouse, Washington Monument) at the top of the hotel.

eta: thank you Sumbride for clarifying, it has been a couple years so my brain isn't crystal clear on names. hehee

Sum, got the National Gallery cafeteria right, sorry.

 

[blushingbride]

Thanks ladies! If you think of anything else, definitely pass it along. I appreciate all the help!

 

[Gypsy]

Kincaids seafood in GW

Vidalia in Dupont

Citronelle

Can''t beat them. They are just that good.

We stay at the Hamilton Crown Plaza as it''s central, and we are priority club members and get great deals, PLUS on weekends their rates from from the 200-300''s to like 90 bucks. Totally worth it.

 

[Clio]

I work in downtown DC, and when we bring people in for meetings we often put them in the Morrison Clark or the Henley Park. People have been very pleased with both hotels, and they''re within a reasonable walking distance of the Mall (also close to Metro).

I would second (or third!) the recommendation of Zatinya - it''s one of my favorite restaurants. I like Corduroy a lot, too. Central is Michael Richard''s newest place, a little more casual, and very hot these days. I haven''t been there yet, but word on the street is that the food is fabulous, service not so much. I like Tenh Penh a lot, too.

Skippy is right that drinks on the rooftop terrace at Hotel Washington would be great, but it''s closed right now for renovations.

 

[Clio]

PS- I actually stayed at the Morrison Clark when I came to DC for my job interview. It''s in an old 19th century house and has that cozy, small boutique hotel feel. It actually reminded me a lot of my grandmother''s house - lots of antiques and chinoiserie.

 

[sumbride]

I had a great dinner at the restaurant in the Morrison Clark a year or so ago. It was really special. The hotel is beautiful!

Gypsy, when did you last eat at Kincaids? I wasn''t that impressed last time I was there and have heard they are resting on their laurels these days. It used to be great, but eh, not so much anymore. Citronelle, of course, is still doing quite well.

Blushing, you can use Opentable.com to get rundowns on the fancy places and available tables. There are a lot of swanky places in DC. Of course, lots of good meals to be had on the lower end of the spectrum as well.

Oh, and Eastern Market is really fun on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Lots of art/antique dealers as well as the farmers market. A great place to have brunch and walk around.

And the Zoo is also FREE! (Your tax dollars at work! So try to go to as many Smithsonians as you can.)

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 3/13/2008 4:45:51 PM
Author: sumbride
I had a great dinner at the restaurant in the Morrison Clark a year or so ago. It was really special. The hotel is beautiful!

Gypsy, when did you last eat at Kincaids? I wasn''t that impressed last time I was there and have heard they are resting on their laurels these days. It used to be great, but eh, not so much anymore. Citronelle, of course, is still doing quite well.

Blushing, you can use Opentable.com to get rundowns on the fancy places and available tables. There are a lot of swanky places in DC. Of course, lots of good meals to be had on the lower end of the spectrum as well.

Oh, and Eastern Market is really fun on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Lots of art/antique dealers as well as the farmers market. A great place to have brunch and walk around.

And the Zoo is also FREE! (Your tax dollars at work! So try to go to as many Smithsonians as you can.)

Last time was about 3 years ago. So it''s possible they are resting on their laurels. I always get the same thing: Crab Imperial and Cod. It''s the ONLY place that I like Crab Imperial at.

Vidalea we usually get their game dishes. Their Venison is TDF. We''ve gone there for 8 years now, at least once a year (except last year) so, I highly recommend them. Especially if you do their tasting menu and wine flight together.

As for Citronelle just rocks.

 

[Fly Girl]

We are just back from a long weekend in DC, and I think I found what might be the cheapest motel in the area. The Days Inn in Arlington is right next to Arlington National Cemetary, and was $89 per night. Fort Myer was right across the street, and I think the motel is primarily used by military families. Well worn, but servicable rooms. Shuttle bus to the Metro. On site restaurant for breakfast. I had to rent a car this trip (generally, I would never do that in DC), and the motel had free parking to boot.

When I''m on business, I love staying at the Willard Intercontinental two blocks East of the White House. If I''m not on business, I''ll eat there or walk through it anyway. Love that place. Abraham Lincoln once stayed there, and I have seen Senators in the lobby.

Otherwise, I hunt on Orbitz or Hotwire, and try to get the best deal close to the Metro. Go to the Smithsonions, of course. The American Indian museum on the Mall would be new for you, and there is a new Air and Space Museum near Dulles that is worth a visit if you can get out that way.