KSand42

My family and I are planning a mid June trip to DC and New York, and we have some general questions about it. We are thinking about staying at Dupont Circle, and there's a hotel there called the Windsor Park Hotel-how is that hotel, location-wise? It will be my husband, me, and our two daughters, age 12 and 15. Also, what are some good resaurants around that area? We're not planning on spending TONS of money on dinner, but what about a fancier restaurant? Both girls are definitely mature enough to handle a fancier place. Thank you!

logandog

Dupont Circle is a great area for visitors to stay, I stayed there two years ago. Metro is easy and there are lots of restaurants.
I just scouted my eating choices as I walked to the metro station, menus are usually posted. All turned out to be good choices.

Dee3

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn/Smithsonian on Ave. C (twice) and the Loew's L'Enfant Plaza (once) while in DC. The advantage of both are that they are directly behind the Smithsonians and a very short walk from the mall. The Holiday Inn is directly behind the Air and Space Museum which is located next to the new American Indian museum. The L'Enfant is behind the old Smithsonian building, more administrative functions than anything else, but also closer to the Halocaust museum. The L'Enfant is more upscale with fancier restaurants. The Holiday Inn has a reasonably priced restaurant with family fare and a coffee shop. From either you can walk to many different restaurants; my kids always like Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood. From either hotel you don't have to deal with the metro at all and see all the sights. June will be hot; both have rooftop pools. Underground parking at both hotels.

Flyboy

Here's a really handy site that I learned about right here on Fodors:

http://www.stationmasters.com/System...ystem_map.html

Click on a station and you get a map of the immediate area. If it's the place I'm thinking of, I would be hard-pressed to call the Windsor Park a "Dupont Circle" location because it's really quite a hike from the Circle.

vivi

I know where the Windsor Park is, it's in a lovely location. However it is a good 6-8 blocks to the Metro (red line.)
With kids in tow I would like being closer to a Metro station.

I like the Dupont Circle area a lot. It is lively at night, lots of interesting cafes and shops. It's fun to walk about the area and look at all the embassies. However, kids may enjoy being closer to the Mall, the monuments, etc.

rv224

There are tons and tons of restuarants in the Dupont Circle area. Here are my favs:
1. ThaiPhoon - ( inexspensive) good Thai restaurant.
http://www.thaiphoon.com/

2. Teaism - (inexspensive) this is a teahouse that also serves food. I have heard their breakfast is really good but have never eaten breakfast here. The food is pan-Asian and the decor is low-key. Great place!
http://www.teaism.com

3. La Tomate - (moderate) Good italian restaurant.
http://www.latomatebistro.com/

4. Levante - (moderate) good Lebanese/middle eastern restaurant.
http://www.levantes.com/

5. Jaleos - (moderate) this isn't in Dupont Circle - it is located downtown but it is a great, popular restaurant in DC. It is a Spanish tapas place and they have flamenco dancers in the evening.
http://www.digitalcity.com/washingto...e.adp?vid=6074

bardo1

I would suggest a hotel closer to the Metro. Here is a map of the Dupont area that shows both the 2 Dupont subway entrances and area hotels (hotels show up as a "dark brown").

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../dupontci.html


Here are a few great restaurants all on P st. between 20th & 22nd:


21P - www.21prestaurant.com

Johnny's Half Shell - http://www.johnnyshalfshell.net

Al Tiramisu - http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...pe=restaurants

Pesce - http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...26364&typeId=2


Obylisk - http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...id=2&id=792579

Gabriel (in the Radisson) - http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...file&id=792643


Pizza Paradiso - http://food4.epicurious.com/HyperNew...e/3144/17.html

Ann41

Teaism's breakfasts are good, and it's hard to find decent breakfast spots in DC.

Another reasonable place is Luna Grill on Connecticut Avenue. It gets crowded as it's popular, so go early. Reasonable prices and good food--it's casual.

I have to disagree on La Tomate. The food isn't very good, and it stays in business because of its location. There are much better options.