Around the corner from the Palomar on P street is The Brickskeller which has a huge bottled beer menu. Also across the street is a new crepe place called Crepes A-Go-Go

I didn't realize the Palomar was in the running or I would have voted for it. :) I have never seen the rooms, but it is new (only about a year old), so they should be good. The common areas and wine bar are very nice (the restaurant, I would skip - much better choices nearby!). You are only about 3 blocks from the metro, and the Dupont Circle neighborhood is really great - safe for the teens to walk around, lots of restaurants and shopping nearby, and even an easy 30-minute walk into Georgetown, if it's not too hot. If you are interested in going into Georgetown but don't want to walk, there is a very convenient shuttle bus from Dupont (Georgetown is not very metro-accessible) - if that's something your family would be interested in, I can provide more details on the shuttle.

Pizzaria Paradiso is right down the street, and you have heard right - it is very good. Small space though - with a group of 5, expect a wait if you go at a peak time. My favorite sushi restaurant, Sakana, is also right down the street. An "LA-style" frozen yogurt place, Tangysweet, just opened and has gotten raves from some of my friends. I haven't made it there yet so I'm not exactly sure where on P. St. it is, but I believe it may even be right next door to your hotel, certainly within a block or so.

The Brickskellar should indeed satisfy your beer cravings. Also, Buffalo Billiards is a popular and more traditional sports bar type venue just south of the Circle on 19th St.

Also FWIW, the rooms I've seen at the Monaco have been great, but since it is a large, older building it doesn't entirely surprise me that some might be not so great.

Ahmed, sign yourself up for the Kimpton InTouch program. Check out the site for the benefits of doing that before you go. Emphasis on before.

hlg22, I've seen rooms at the Monaco that were great and made me wonder why I didn't stay there before, and rooms that gave me a bout of the heebie geebies that got me to stay elsewhere. I guess it really does depend on which room you get, and on which floor as well!

Thanks for writing about Tangysweet. I will try the next time I'm in DC...

Yeah, I don't know about those tripadvisor ratings. Hard for me to see the ES as the No. 2 place in town.

We put out of town biz visitors in the Monaco and have never had a anything put praise. I haven't seen the inside of many rooms but the ones I have have been very nice.

Still, the Palomar and Dupont Circle are nice alternatives.

With a reservation for 10 days, I bet the manager of the Monaco (or any hotel) would jump to give the guest a very nice room if the first one did not meet their expectations.

<<Also across the street is a new crepe place called Crepes A-Go-Go>>

I'm just seeing this post - my namesake! I wonder if it could be connected in any way to the original in Paris from which I took my screen name?

Well, when I visit D.C on about 18th July and have the chance to visit Crepes A-Go-Go, will try to find out and then will revert back to you on my return Home around August the 10th from New York. Hope this will work okay.

Thank you Ahmed - I will be waiting to hear all about it. Have a great trip!