chilihead2

I am taking my mother to DC this fall (dates are not firm yet) as a sort of "thanks for being my mom, you are awesome" trip.

I have read in other posts that DuPont Circle is a great place to stay. Does anyone have an opinon about the B&Bs vs. the hotels in that area?

Also, what are your favorite places to eat in that area? We like to eat at the "local" restaurants and not the touristy places. Anything sort of different and definitely GOOD.

Thank you for your help. I'm looking forward to reading your responses!

kswl

We've stayed at the St. Gregory in that area. It's very nice, and I can recommend it. Haven't stayed in B&B's in D.C., mainly because when we've stayed in them elsewhere it's been a disappointment. I would stay in a B&B only on a firm recommendation from someone whose standards I already know .

bardo1

What's your hotel budget? There are some great DuPont Cicrle B&Bs, Dupont at the Circle, http://www.dupontatthecircle.com/ and Swann House http://www.swannhouse.com/
are two Dupont B&B's with the best reputaion and reviews.

As to hotel vs. B&B. They are two different animals each with their strengths. What services do you require?

I would stay away from business type hotels (like the Omni Shorham) for your Mom's trip and would recommend instead the B&B's above and the following hotels:

The Mansion on O St - http://www.omansion.com/

Tabard Inn - http://www.tabardinn.com/

Topaz Hotel - http://www.topazhotel.com/

Jury's Washington - http://www.jurysdoyle.com/

bardo1

The St. Gregory mention above by kswl is also a great choice - although I don't know your budget...

emd

Favorite Dupont restaurants for an occasion like this:

1) Mimi's: Good food (not great like the two below, but good) and well priced, piano in dining room and the waiters each break into song (Broadway tunes, Sinatra, and others that are easily recognized, accompanied by the piano player. Very upbeat place, popular with theater goers.

http://www.mimisdc.com/jesse/menu.htm

2) 21P- get reservations. Very good food. You can reserve on opentable.com A mom would like this place.

http://www.21prestaurant.com/

3) Komi- get reservations, one of the hottest dining seats in town. They are not open Sun or Mon (if I recall correctly) so you can't call those days. A young and very innovative chef. I don't think they have a website. It is pricey. Although I live in the area, it was a recent fodorite trip report (memorial day trip) that made me try it. The fodorite is a self described "foodie", and this is not a tourist place.

http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/Profiles/komi.html

I think it is GREAT that you are bringing her to D.C.! I hope my 13 yr old daughter grows up to take me places; I take her everywhere I can now.

I have a very discerning, valuable, and wonderful client (who formerly lived in Dupont) in her 50s who could stay anywhere in D.C. when she comes to work w/me. I would put her up at the Four Seasons if she wanted. But she chooses to stay only at the Swann House. She loves it.

I really hope you have fun. Bok your hotel now, as fall is very busy in D.C. A lovely time to come.

emd

Would she like to see a play while in D.C.? I went to a very very nice theater last night for the first time, Studio Theater on the edge of Dupont in the Logan Circle area. It is a fairly new theater on the D.C. scene. I saw Caroline or Change and it was absolutely wonderful, by far the best theater I have seen in D.C., and we usually go to the Kennedy Center, Ford's Theater, etc. The space is lovely and small so every seat is great. I wondered how they would pull off a Broadway play but it was great. I had seen it on Broadway and this production was better IMO! Very intimate and warm space. Highly recommend it, and the area it is in is getting revitalized, lots of restaurants there.

http://www.studiotheatre.org/

Also, if you stay in Dupont, go to the Phillips collection. Lovely small museum, right there close to you. There is a Klee exhibit there now, and Renoir's Boating Party just came home to be there.

http://www.phillipscollection.org/

gardendiva

Last October a friend and I stayed at the Woodley Park Guest House near the Adams Morgan Metro stop. I believe that it is only one Metro stop away from Dupont Circle. The Guest House was wonderful and it is a Fodor's Choice. The actual metro stop is about 500 ft from the front door. There are several neighborhood restaruants within walking distance.

The family that owns this B&B is just wonderful. Helpful without being overbearing.

jlcranford

There's a Kimpton Hotel in Dupont, Hotel Madera) if you like them. They often have the feel of a local inn. I agree with Mimi's as a recommendation. It's reliable, comfortable, nice, and a bit of whimsy. I'd also suggest Firefly (near Hotel Madera) and Mercury Grill (on 17th Street).

wallacefl

I second the Komi recommendation. We ate there in July after researching restaurants on chowhound. It was our best meal in D.C. On the weekends, the chef does a 5 course tasting menu for $64. The first course was about eight little "tastes". Then the pasta, main, cheese and dessert courses. The menu changes depending on what's in season. The service was fun and attentive. I am not familiar with Komi weekday menu. Call for reservations. It's popular and small.

coldwar27

I have always enjoyed my meals at City Lights of China.

GeorgeW

Tom Sietsema, restaurant writer for the Washington Post, raves about Komi. You might want to drop him a line.