ashleyjade

The husband and I are visiting DC in September and want to stay within walking to the metro (to play tourist during the day) but also stay in an area with cool bars and restaurants. Suggestions? I've heard Capitol Hill and Dupont Circle. Thanks in advance!

ashleyjade

Oh, Checking in Sept 20-24 and trying to keep it under $200/night. Also any other must visit bars or restaurants feel free to tell me your favorites, we love a good dive and enjoy an occasional 4 star drinking and dining option.

kja

You might want to consider the Penn Quarter.

nanabee

We used to stay in Dupont Circle. There are a number of smaller hotels/inns and it's a walkable neighborhood and as I recall there is a metro stop (and various places to enter the metro). There are many wonderful restaurants.

doug_stallings

That budget may just not cut it for late September, but perhaps. Dupont Circle is a great neighborhood, Penn Quarter has a lot of restaurants, and even the west end is good, with proximity to quite a few bars and restaurants (at least within 10 minutes walk).

LoriNY1

usually stay in the Penn Quarter area. lots of restaurants and bars. hopping area, right near Chinatown, and walking distance to the Mall.

obxgirl

I agree with Doug that your budget may be a little short. Up it to $250 and you'll have better choices. < $300 and you'll have many options.

I'd give the nod to Dupont Circle given your criteria as a more interesting neighborhood to stay in but one with easy Metro access. It has bars and restaurants up and down the price scale. On the dive-y end for bars maybe Bier Baron on 22nd or The Big Hunt on Connecticut.

Check the Carlyle Suites and the Fairfax Embassy in Dupont Circle. They are boutique hotels on the lower end of the price spectrum and often have rates in the $200 range and sometimes lower for advanced purchase rates. The Renaissance in West End -- adjacent to Dupont - is bit soulless but haas good rates. Ditto One Washington Circle.

Any of the neighborhoods mentioned here would work. I'm calling it on my personal preference.

sf7307

If you're willing to take a chance on Hotwire, I checked your dates and there is a 4-1/2* hotel available for around your budget (including all taxes and fees). I am certain it's the DuPont Circle Hotel, which is a very nice choice.

Christina

I'd say Dupont Circle or Penn Quarter/Chinatown, the obvious choices. I used to live on Capitol Hill and I wouldn't describe it as where the action is (except political) nor having a lot of hot bars, that's for sure. It has a few but they aren't really near hotels that I know of (more around Eastern Market). Of course there is Capitol Hill just SW of Union Station, which would be okay but not as much action as Dupont or Penn Qtr.

NewbE

<Any of the neighborhoods mentioned here would work. I'm calling it on my personal preference.>

Exactly! Actually, I would pick Penn Quarter over Dupont for restaurants and nightlife, but you can't go wrong with either.

denice7

The action is on 14th street from N to U.

denice7

Actually to W

obxgirl

^^^ Agree with that for eating and drinking but there's not much for good places to stay. The Donovan House (great rooftop bar and view of the city) is at 14th and Scott Circle. The Helix is at 14th and N or O. Hotel Rouge is at 16th and O. All are probably above the current budget.

That area is pretty walkable from Dupont circle.

NewbE

I don't love the neighborhood of the Donovan House. To me, it's a schlep to a Metro, to Logan Circle, to the restaurants I like on 14th St and up to U. It's a great hotel. I would stay there. But if the weather isn't great, I'd grumble.

Agree that the U Street corridor is where a lot of action is, much more so than Dupont these days, at least for a younger crowd. Are there hotels near all that, though?