Washington DC.Imput regarding location of hotel on 550 SW C st
 

Hello, during January we plan to spend four nights- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday- in Washington DC, our main purpose is to visit , to indulge rather... in the National Gallery of Art and the other Museums on Constitution Av.
I am looking for a hotel nearby in order to be able to walk, considering it will be winter and all. I have looked at the Holliday Inn Capital which is located on 550 SW C street, it seemed reasonably priced and ok, and it is located not far from the HOtel. But a friend that knows Washington DC, told me that the area is kind of desolated, may be dangerous after certain hours? I am looking for either another hotel, can your recommend one? or different opinions regarding the area where the HOliday Inn is located.
We are a senior- not that old- couple and mainly we will have a light dinner in the hotel everyday , so our activities will be mainly breakfast in the hotel or nearby and then walk to the mUseums lunch nearby trying some nice places and maybe one or two rides around town. We might as well go to the Capitol. Any advise?

the quadrant indicator goes after the street address (550 C St SW)

I think it is probably desolate, yes, but dangerous, probably not.

here is a crime map
http://crimemap.dc.gov/presentation/intro.asp

I agree - somewhat desolate but perfectly safe. The fact that you will be eating both breakfasts and dinners at the hotel and probably not going out in the evenings means it may be OK for you. 550 C st. SW is basically a bunch of enormous government office buildings but it IS quite close to the National Mall and the National Gallery and museums along Constitution.

For other travelers, I always suggest a hotel on the NORTH side of the National Mall - which is more lively, has many restaurants, cafes, theaters, bars, shopping, etc.

If you want to spend more for a hotel in a more happening area and also close to the Mall and National Gallery of Art, I would suggest the Hotel Monaco or the Courtyard Marriott Convention Center.

Completely agree with both of the assessments above. Bardo1's suggestions are great, and if you are serious about wanting to visit only the Constitution Ave side of the Mall, they are not far at all.

Thank you, I understand perfectly what you say, I agree that we shall survive in the SW location but I do not think that we would like staying there, the matter in fact I found what I believe is not a bad deal and much better all together , I would love to hear your opinion regarding the
Hilton Garden Inn 815 14 th street NW. I can guess you all will agree it is a better choice.
Let me share with other FODORITES who might be in our shoes, the good part is that this hotel offers a senior rate for$ 109, has a good breakfast very reasonable $13 dollars more per person.
It is also across the street from McPherson subway stop which comes very handy.
We plan to take the subway from Reagan s Airport, we are traveling very light. I checked and it takes exactly 16 minutes.
By the way I have another question, if you all are so kind, our flight Jet-blue is leaving early in the morning on a Tuesday. We need to take the subway at MaPhearson around 5.40 AM, Is this safe so early in the morning>? ..Does anyone know? ....
Why are we flying so early?, because there was only one daily flight...no choice.
WE can always take a taxi but being the Metro so convenient and fast I am tempted to take the subway
Thank you very much. I am happy I realized in due time that I would not like to stay in a
quiet , kind of dead area during week ends and after office hours.
I believe that all of us can learn to consider impoderables when planing a trip, this is an important one, time of the day and days of week matter to evaluate an area, also specially in Europe it is important to consider a hotel's location in regard to how many steps are there to reach the hotel in hilly towns.

It may be quiet, but the McPherson Square Metro station won't be dead at 5:40 am. I, personally, would not hesitate to walk across the street to take the Metro there at that time of day.

Thank you longhorn55, I know I can take a taxi for not much but I cannot resist going to the airport in 15 minutes paying a subway fare.

I go to events around there at night, and have taken night classes from the USDA building right across the street, as do dozens of other people. It's not any more dangerous than a lot of other places, although it isn't that there are lots of people on the street. It's not a residential area nor a lot of shops, so that's why.

There is a Hyatt and some other hotel within a few blocks SW of Union Station, I think that would be a better location. Used to be a HI over there, also, but not sure if it is still that brand. That's on NY Avenue NW.

sorry, that is New Jersey Ave NW.

Congrats, the Hilton Garden Inn is indeed a much better location -- that's a great rate, and I think you will enjoy being in the thick of things. I would not hesitate to take the metro from McPherson Square at 5:40 due to any safety concerns. (Note that there are often homeless individuals taking shelter at the entrance to the metro stop, but they are not dangerous).

One place near your hotel that you might enjoy is Teaism at Lafayette Square -- tea, as the name suggests, but also nice breakfast and lunch, a pleasant place to hang out. http://www.teaism.com/Restaurant/Laf...l#LunchEntrees And I know you said you don't like to stray far in the evenings, but if you are in the mood to get out of your hotel, there is a lovely old-fashioned bar/lounge nearby in the Hay Adams Hotel called "Off The Record", the entrance to which is on H Street just across from Lafayette Park. The drinks are at hotel prices, but it is a cosy place to hang out particularly on a winter night -- I've had hot chocolate there in the past, though most people order something stronger! http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/ba...d,1079432.html

Good luck and enjoy your stay!

p.s. also nearby your hotel fyi is the under-visited but lovely Renwick Gallery, which houses the decorative arts collection of the Smithsonian Museum: http://americanart.si.edu/renwick/

Thank you very much MoonGirl for all the great impute. Very helpful information because although we do not go out for dinner anymore because of my husband we will love to hang around Off the Record, I shall remember the name as in the TV news with Greta VanSusteren which I find a very intelligent and fair political analyst,
Definitely it will great instead of going to bed early.BTW I bought some tickets for
the Kennedy Center, for South Pacific an old musical with beautiful music. That was our splurge for this trip, funny tickets are more expensive than round trip air tickets
Also the Teasim seems great, because my husband does not have dinner he likes a good breakfast and maybe one day we might have it out of the hotel. This hotel has right now a
good breakfast included rate ($125) and I was about to switch to it but may not if there is a nice tempting place nearby for breakfast. I have never visited the Renwick gallery and certainly it will be a good occasion to do it. Thank you again for everything. If you ever come to Miami and need information I shall be glad to oblige, or to Buenos Aires which I know very well.

continuation, I love the fact that teasim has organic eggs, a fairly health food. Pitty they are closed on week ends but hope to have breakfast on Monday at least.

Well, another well-known place for breakfast and brunch within striking distance of your hotel is the Old Ebbitt Grill; not dirt cheap, but not overly expensive either: http://www.ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?...tegory=Find_Us If I think of others, I'll let you know.

I have in my list OEG it seems real good for an early (11 AM) brunch instead of 11.30 because Sunday we have an early meeting with friends to go out. Do you know of any other nice place for Sunday Brunch that offers early Brunch meaning 11 Am or earlier. OEG is great because it offers food all day, I was thinking instead of going there the day of arrival because our plane arrives at 1.40 and then we can check in and go calmly to OEG for a good start.
You have been awfully nice thanks again.
A friend told of Cafe Atlantico which I would love to go, but I am afraid we would have to eat brunch in a hurry with Caipirinhas and all...not a good deal.

I think Tabard Inn has the best brunch - period.

http://www.tabardinn.com/restaurant

Very nice space, cozy atmosphere, and friendly staff. The food is wonderful. A reservation is essential. It is located close to the Dupont Circle Metro station. Alternately (and much quicker), it is a 5 minute taxi from your hotel.

Matchbox has a great brunch and is very casual, popular place. http://www.matchboxdc.com/. Agree that Cafe Atlantico is great also. Tabard Inn is nice and cozy with its fireplace. I'm not a fan of Old Ebbitt Grill.

Near your hotel is the Softiel Hotel which has a nice bar/cafe where u can go in the evenings.

I like OEG for a drink or casual meal, I think it's an attractive and fun place with decent food. Never been there for brunch.

I really like Chef Geoff's Sunday jazz brunch, which starts at 10:30 am. Their downtown location is around 13th and E St, right across from the Warner Theatre (near metro center stop) https://www.chefgeoff.com/chef-geoff...formation.html

Now the jazz trio/group may not be playing that early, don't know as I haven't been there before noon, but it is open. It's a very attractive and comfortable place with great food. this is the menu https://www.chefgeoff.com/assets/fil...09.25.2010.pdf

I used to work right near that Hilton Garden Inn, it's a good location.