Washington DC - Five Hotels; Dining

Conveniently located near the Metro Center metro station, the Marriott Metro Center is nicely situated near Ford's Theater, the White House and the National Mall. The hotel itself is well-appointed and maintained, with large, comfortable guest rooms. There is a Starbucks in the lobby, as well as a restaurant. The hotel has a pool, which is not stadard fare in DC. We found the service and housekeeping to be excellent and the overall hotel quality is among the very best that we've encountered in Washington. This is a non-smoking hotel, which is also not standard in DC. Internet service is excellent, but it is an extra charge through a third party vendor.

We rate this as one of Washington DC's best hotels, based on many visits using various hotels.

We visited the Holiday Inn Washington - Central White House during the 2009 Inauguration. Since we had booked 11 months in advance on Priority Club points, our first fear was that the reservation might be "lost" at a time when Washington DC hotels were commanding their highest rates. There was nothing to worry about. Not only was our reservation completely in order with keys waiting, but we were upgraded to a small suite.

We found the hotel to be decent and well-kept, with a courteous staff and good security, (such as a key card being required to use the elevator.) Wireless Internet service is complimentary and we had no issues with the quality of the service. The hotel's cafe is adequate, but this is an area with some very good restaurants so we made very limited use of on-site dining.

The closest Metro stations are McPherson Square or Dupont Circle and they are both a good 10-minute walk. The upside of this compromise location is that it makes the many restaurants of Connecticut Avenue within a reasonable distance, as well as the convention center, the National Mall, the White House and everything in between. This might be a downside for those don't enjoy walking or if the weather is inclement. But overall, we found this hotel to be a good choice in terms of its overall quality, location and value.

We leave it to others here to describe specific historic sites and monuments; Washington DC is filled with them. The White House, Capitol, Lincoln & Jefferson memorials, Washington Monument and the Library of Congress are all worth a stop and a look. While simple, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial may be the most moving experience; much of that owing to the fact that so many of the visitors to memorial have personal ties within their own generation to so many of the names on the wall. The National Gallery, the Smithsonian museums, Arlington National Cemetary, the National Mall and so many other famous sites that we've seen on the news or studied in history classes are all worth "making your own" with a personal visit. It is a truly rich experience.

Quick Tips:

Washington DC is not a cheap place to visit, but by paying attention to seasonal pricing fluctuations, it is a trip that can be made much more affordable. Plan far in advance. There are low-cost airfares available and reasonably priced rooms, too, but they can sell out early. As for dining, all types of ethnic cuisine are available in this truly international city, but we found particular strength and value in the area of seafood menu items. We also found the immediate areas surrounding some of the most famous sites to be lacking in good choices, so you might plan something less formal or hit cafeterias in those areas when they are available.

Best Way To Get Around:

The Washington Metro system is cheap, efficient -- and a whole lot more fun than attempting to drive (and park) in what can be a rather confusing city to those who don't know it. Tour buses are also available and those who like a lot of information may prefer it. We recommend doing your own research on the sites you are interested in, using the metro and doing a lot on foot.

The State Plaza features 225 rooms on eight floors in two buildings. This is actually an all-suite hotel. We were able to book a large room with two queen-size beds, a kitchenette with a table and two chairs, powder room and bathroom for around $135/night using www.quikbook.com. (You will find State Plaza Hotel on other discount websites, but we found the best rate on Quikbook. In addition to online booking, you can use a toll-free number to book with a person during Quikbook''s business hours. An advantage over some of the other discount hotel websites is that with Quikbook, you pay the hotel directly when you stay. Some other services require pre-payment at the time of booking). The State Plaza is located in the Foggy Bottom area near George Washington University; several blocks from the metro station and a nice morning walk to the White House and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. While this is not a bad place to stay, we did find some aggressive panhandling in certain parts of the neighborhood and we would advise caution after dark. That said, we regard the State Plaza as a wonderful value and would gladly return to this clean and VERY roomy hotel.

Located with a commanding view of Connecticut Avenues bustling shopping and restaurant district that stretches down to Dupont Circle and beyond, the Hilton Washington & Towers is superbly located to explore one of the capital city's most stimulating neighborhoods. It's a large convention hotel of 1,123 rooms and its "M" design functionally splits the property to keep it from being too much of a chore to navigate its 10 stories. Standard guest rooms are not large, particularly by Washington standards -- but they are comfortable, well-furnished and feature windows that can be opened.

As a convention hotel, your experience may be impacted by who else happens to be on the premises during your visit. Catching this gem at a "quiet time" would leave in you in a first-class property with little waiting for elevators and perhaps at an enviable rate, too. But it's good to understand what is going on while you are there. For example, there is a single "bonus" elevator that will take you to the pool terrace and it is very convenient. But if you happen to jump on half-dressed for a swim in the outdoor pool and catch the timing of a break for a large gathering downstairs, you could find yourself standing in an elevator crammed with well-dressed companions and you in your swimming suit. The pool is outdoors and seasonal.

The Capital Cafe on the lobby level offers a decent menu at fair prices. (The downstairs deli is strictly for on-the-run stuff, if anything. We don't recommend it). There is also a bar at the lobby level where you can have my personal Washington favorite, a "Black & Tan", which is a mix of dark and pilsner beers artfully stratified in your glass. There are certainly better places to hang out in the neighborhood, but the place isn't bad for a hotel bar.

While the facility receives heavy use, we found the guest rooms and the entire property to be very well-maintained and high quality throughout. There are many who would probably want to avoid a convention hotel unless they were actually attending a function there, but be assured that if you can snag a good rate at the Hilton Washington & Towers, you'll be getting a very nice accommodation indeed. (We've booked for under $150/night without a great deal of effort.)

As a point of interest, this is the hotel where an attempt was made on President Reagan's life, and you will notice a covered area with doors on each side near the front of the hotel where VIPs can enter and exit limousines and move securely into the grand ballroom downstairs now. Depending on what is happening during your visit, you may see high-ranking officials from members of Congress to cabinet secretaries on up to the President coming to the Hilton for speaking engagements, with media in tow. If you enjoy that kind of Washington "buzz" as much as we do, it's an added attraction.

The Hilton Embassy Row offers a great location within a block of the Dupont Circle metro station and all of the shops, restaurants and activities of Connecticut Avenue and the active neighborhood. The 8-story structure shares the block with embassies and there are many small galleries in the immediate area, as well as the well-known Phillips Collection on 21st Street.

As for the hotel itself, it is surprisingly intimate and boutique-styled for a Hilton, so it fits unobtrusively into this attractive neighborhood. Guest rooms aren't over-sized, but plenty adequate and well appointed. We appreciated the ability to open good-sized, slant-in windows from some fresh air (which is not always guaranteed feature in city hotels). For those who want a little more luxury, the "Executive Club Level" on the top floor comes complete with complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d'oeurves in a private club lounge.

There is a comfortable lobby bar as well as "The International Marketplace" restaurant on the lower level which offers a varied menu from African dishes to traditional DC seafood. (The breakfast buffet in the morning is decent and in this pricey town, the $14 tariff is well worth it to hit your sight-seeing excursions on a full stomach.)

We offer the rate advice as a ballpark estimate, but we were able to reserve well ahead of time through the Hilton website at a rate of $116/night--a very decent deal for a hotel of this quality. It is a night and day contrast from the much larger Hilton Washington & Towers up the street since the Hilton Embassy Row is definitely NOT a convention hotel; a real plus if you don't care for all of the lobby traffic, elevator competition, and convention trappings. We found the staff to be very courteous and professional. Overall, the Hilton Embassy Row gets a big thumbs up from us for comfort, appearance, ambiance, and location.

Located just a few blocks from McPherson Square and Pennsylvania Avenue, the Wydham Washington is a high-end property that is nicely appointed and well-situated to enjoy all that Washington D.C. has to offer. We prefer the Dupont Circle area to this neighborhood, but these things are close enough by taxi or metro, and we find McPherson Square to be an interesting little snippet of Washington in its own right.

The multi-story atrium lobby is striking, and the hotel is well-maintained throughout.

Standard guest rooms aren't particularly large by Washington D.C. standards, but they’re well-appointed and well-maintained by an attentive staff. (Note that rooms with windows facing the atrium may actually represent some of the better views, compared to rooms facing to the rear of the building.) The hotel features the comfortable Federal Bar on the main floor and a restaurant on the mezzanine level. There are a number of function rooms of various sizes on several levels, allowing different activities to take place without interfering with each other. We know from experience that the Wyndham is designed to host a full house and multiple groups at a time without binding up the elevators or leaving people walking over each other.

Our take: this is an excellent hotel, meticulously cared-for and well-run, that clearly meets high standards in a city where that sort of thing counts.

The Washington Grande Hotel is an independent that was formerly the Holiday Inn Washington Downtown. It is a mid-range offering located on Thomas Circle, within easy walking distance of the McPherson Square Metro Station. We found the rooms to be decently sized, furnished, and maintained. Housekeeping was excellent, and the hotel has a friendly, helpful staff. There is a bar and restaurant off the lobby. The immediate neighborhood doesn't offer much in the way of lively nightlife, but there are some coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping possibilities in the McPherson Square area. Beyond that, it's a reasonable cab ride to more animated neighborhoods, and it provided an excellent alternative to far more costly options nearby.

While this should not be confused with a deluxe hotel, we found it to be a decent value and not a dive.

If you like Italian in a place that has a competent staff and will not send you home hungry, La Tomate Bistro Italiano is your place. Do make a reservation at dinner time, since you may otherwise be overrun if there happens to be a convention at the nearby Washington Hilton. We give La Tomate high marks for a long, lingering, filling meal with all the trimmings. The menu is authentic Italian, but if you have those in your group that need something more on the traditional American side, you'll find steaks and crab cakes, too. Again, not large -- just great -- and easy to find on Connecticut Avenue in a triangular structure that you can't miss. (Just follow your nose. This IS where a lot of that lovely food fragrance is coming from.)

Located in the Radisson Barcelo Hotel, Gabriel Restaurant features an ecclectic Spanish/Latin American created and prepared by award-winning chef Gregory Hill. In addition to maintaining service from breakfast through dinner, there is a Sunday Bruch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. that is notable. This is the largest of the restaurants we have listed here, but it has nice ambiance, a solid menu and a staff that pays attention.

Bistrot du Coin features an authentic French atmosphere and a great menu of none-too-high-brow favorites that includes tartines, soups, salads, oysters and a selection of wines. It bills itself as "French, Fun and Friendly" and it lives up to that mantra. If you've spent time in France, it's the kind of place you would expect to bring your dog along to. If you miss the croque monsieur, try the tartine Parisienne -- it will bring you back to Paris.

This place is the real McCoy -- we listened in on a smoke break out back with the French-speaking help and checked out the wonderful array of authentic kitchen utensils. The creme brulee is awesome here, the espresso will make you homesick, the wine goes well and it's a casual and wonderful atmosphere. We see it more as a lunch place than dinner and on nice days, you'll likely find the front opened to the street sounds and fresh air.

That said, there is nothing wrong with taking in dinner here; particularly if you get tired of dressing up and paying a 3-digit dinner bill for a couple. It's unrushed and a great place to hang and converse over a lingering meal. Feel free to speak French with the help, if you care to.

The Brickskeller Dining House & Down-Home Saloon is a tribute to beer and brewing around the world. This place has an absolutely incredible selection of beer -- 10 pages of names in very small type. Since opening in 1957, the Brickskeller has handled more than 5,000 different labels at one time or another. If you've had a brew anywhere, the chances are better than good that they may have some on hand and ready to serve to you. It's a great, cozy atmosphere and the place can draw a crowd. The food menu is a selection of mostly burgers and pizzas; simple, but they are well-prepared and filling. Best of all, everything but the seafood platter and crab cake platter go for well under $9, so this place is a bonafide budget place to eat in Washington DC. And while some of the fancy imported beers can top $11.95 a bottle, the vast majority of the list seems to fall into the $5 or less category -- again, a very decent price in the Nation's capital city. Just to be creative, there is a selection of "Beer Tails" -- mixed drinks all made with beer, including such concoctions as "ale punch", "whistle belly vengence", and "skip and go naked". This is a wonderful place for a casual dinner with friends or you can even toddle in yourself and quickly make some new friends at the bar, but don't be surprised if you decide not to leave too quickly as you study brews from around the planet. It's an extra fun place and the staff knows what the hospitality business is all about.

The Childe Harold is really two places in one; upstairs is a comfortable, relaxing dining room that harkens to a European bistro experience. We accidentally stumbled onto the downstairs bar in search of the restroom since that part of the establishment has its own entrance to the sidewalk (just take the stairs going down instead of those going up). The downstairs is more casual and pub-like.

The place has some history, since for a time it hosted performances by up-and-coming musicians including such notables as Bruce Springsteen and Emmy Lou Harris. The upstairs stage area was later reverted back to a dining space. The Childe Harold originally opened in 1967, but it has much more character to it than one might expect for its relatively young 35 years of age.

While you can order off the same menu either upstairs or down, some of the offerings seem better suited to the more dedicated dining experience offered on the high side, while others would fit in just fine in the lower level. You'll find everything from hearty pub-style sandwiches and hamburgers to veal Oscar and seafood; appetizers from Buffalo wings to escagot stuffed in mushroom caps. Truly, this is a place to go if you have a group where everyone seems to want something different because the menu is so extensive. Salads, pastas, omelettes - there really is a great deal to choose from.

There is a very nice ambiance between the candles on the bar, the lighting, and the well-presented offerings. We give it a good grade for just about any occasion, and it's a great place to linger awhile. It's just to the northwest of Dupont Circle, and if you are walking south on Connecticut Avenue on the west side of the street, it will "magically" become 20th Street just before you arrive at Dupont Circle in the midst of several neighboring Greek restaurants.

If you want an outstanding steak, Ruth's Chris Steak House should be near the top of your list. It is a chain operation (you'd never know it though, except that you know it now)and it stacks up well with similar higher-end offerings such as Morton's -- perhaps not quite as ostentatious as some, but very much a top-shelf place to dine, all the same. This is the place to go for an excellent choice of U.S. prime cuts and a very decent selection wines that go along well, from $30 offerings up to $600+. (I always give extra points for knowing how to serve wine and this place does; with decanters, aeration funnels and the whole wine scene.) Make a lingering evening of it. The ambiance is not overly formal, but it is a very tasteful, higher-end place to dine -- white linen, lots of brick and very nicely furnished. You can expect your meal to be well-prepared and served by people who know what they're doing. In addition to steaks, we gave very high marks to the large prawns and a selection of decadent desserts that includes creme brulee, carmelized banana cream pie, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, cheesecake, chocolate praline encore and chocalate sin cake. The tuna steaks make an outstanding alternative, or you will find Maine lobster and stuffed chicken breast on the menu too. We couldn't find a weak point in the way anything was prepared. The layout of the restaurant is broken up so you don't end up with that too-large "banquet room" type of feeling -- great for conversation, not too bright for lighting. It probably CAN be romantic, depending on who you happen to be with.

This nicely furnished restaurant features southern cuisine, including chicken, catfish fingers, rock shrimp and fabulous seafood dishes. The menu may remind you of New Orleans. It's a wonderful, upscale atmosphere and if you are lucky, you can get a window table overlooking McPherson Square, which is wonderfully active and just a couple of blocks northeast of the White House. That also means Georgia Brown's is convenient to the Washington metro (that's the name of your metro station: McPherson Square). There is outdoor dining in season as well as smoking/non-smoking areas. The servers know what they are doing and the food is well-presented and prepared by people who obviously know what they are doing.

In my own case, I chose an elegant 10 oz. crab cake which was absolutely the best I've ever had. A nice bottle of white wine from an adequate list of possibilities made it a very relaxing and tasteful lunch. (The portions in this place won't send you away hungry, by the way -- they are large). There is a bar and the place can become crowded at popular times and evenings, so a reservation is a good idea.

Hours of operation:

Open Sunday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner. Dinner until 10:30 Sunday through Thursday, until 11:30 Friday and Saturday. Sunday brunch 11:30 to 2:30.

A special nod goes to the Sunday Jazz Brunch. It's not cheap, but you won't go away hungry and the entertainment is marvelous. We give it very high marks! In a city that abounds with great dining choices, Georgia Brown's more than holds its own. You don't need to dress up more than business casual, but like many of the nicer places to dine in Washington, it would be difficult to ever be overdressed.

The Market Inn is a fabulous place to go for seafood in Washington. You won't have to dress up and it is a comparative bargain, too. Although you'll find it well-advertised, it's not a fancy place; more on the order of eating in a comfy pub than some of the high-end gastronomic adventures available in the Capital City. Oh, you'll still get a nice linen napkin, but much of the seating is in booths and the ambiance is about as un-ostentatious as it gets.

Start with the she-crab soup. It's thick and generously chunky with succulent morsels of crab. A lobster bisque is also available and it is equally well-prepared. (You may find yourself cleaning out the bowl with a piece of the wonderful, crusty roll provided to you, as I did, since I couldn't bear the thought of missing ANY of it.)

There is a lobster tank with plenty of candidates of various sizes for fans of fresh, whole lobster. It was tempting, but we chose the "3-Way Seafood Combination: Lump Crabmeat, Lobster & Shrimp." It's available sautéed, Norfolk, Newburg or au gratin; my pick was Newburg and it was prepared perfectly. The side of vegetables was excellent, too. Like the seafood, it is not over-cooked -- the hallmark of people who know what they're doing with fine food.

Seafood is the main feature of the restaurant, of course, and so there is a plethora of oustanding seafood entries and appetizers from traditional crab cakes to exciting combinations, scallops, oysters, clams, seafood soups and casseroles. We were unable to nod in the affirmative by the time the dessert selection came around because we were more stuffed than the lobster with imperial crab featured item.

If you happen to have someone along who isn't into seafood, please note that you can also order from a selection of steaks and other choices.

The Market Inn is $11-$12 taxi ride from Dupont Circle or you can take the Metro to Federal Station and it's less than a two-block walk. If you're driving, they have an on-premises lot with valet parking. However you get there, it is going to be a celebration. Bon Appetit!

The Luna Grill & Diner is a great place to go when you tire of the fine (and pricey) DC dining scene and you're just looking for a down-to-earth, diner-style, meal. Open from a minimum of 8am until 10pm on their shortest day (Sunday), the Luna serves breakfast at any time of day (although they turn off the waffle iron in mid-afternoon). On weekends, there are some brunch selections added to the menu that begin at 10 a.m. The menu features hearty items like steak and eggs, meatloaf, burgers, fries and steak sandwiches. It's a "meat and potatoes place", if that's what you're looking for. Still, even a vegetarian can find plenty to select from in the way of fruits, salads and grilled vegetables. There is a special section of the menu with "light" dishes for those who don't want to overdo things with some of the more "stick-to-your-ribs" possibilities. In short, you should be able to please just about anyone in one way or another.

The interior has an interesting, artsy and almost funky decor, with a collection of black & white photography and some posters adorning the walls during our visit. It's not a big place. The small tables and a few prize window booths are close together; it's a good place for pairs and we found the servers to be personable, (though very busy!) We visited rather early in the morning, but for those who choose cocktails later on, there is a fully-stocked bar, too.

We can't tell you that what we had was anything other than straightforward and probably best described as "average", as these things go. But what makes this a great stop is it's very "genuine" feel and the good "buzz" of the place; joking, kidding, conversations and everyone having a good time in a cozy, unique, comfortable environment. The range of the clientele is decidedly mixed and the Luna seems to have found a winning formula for people of all ages and tastes. It's certainly worth a visit if it fits your plans and it's very easy on the budget, too.

Here's a place that belongs on your "A" list for filling, reasonably priced food, draught beer, nightly entertainment, and an overall fun atmosphere. Located at the Phoenix Hotel, the Dubliner offers that great "Irish pub" experience, and like many others, you may find you linger a little longer than you might have expected. We find the help to be attentive and the ambience to be wonderful.

A quick look at the food menu (which is printed daily to accommodate various specialties): shepherd's pie; corned beef and cabbage; fish and chips; turkey breast sandwich; ruben sandwich; corned beef sandwich; chicken Caesar salad; sirloin burger; chicken melt. All of these menu meals fell between $10 and $13.95. Soup of the day on our visit was a creamy potato offering. Dessert features include bread pudding with warm Irish custard and Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake. There is a hot dog and fries for $5.50 for the kids. You may also find some specials. On the day we visited, these included chicken Kiev; grilled salmon and shrimp, and roast prime rib—all a few dollars more than the rest of the menu, but well worth their prices.

By 9pm, you can expect to hear traditional Gaelic entertainment being enjoyed in the front room by an appreciative crowd.

This is a great place to unwind, enjoy a hearty meal, socialize with friends, and enjoy a wonderful time without breaking the bank or needing to dress up. We highly recommend it!

Metro access is easy enough; just a block down Massachusetts Avenue from Union Station at the intersection of Mass and Capitol, you'll see the awnings for the Phoenix Park Hotel and the Dubliner, each facing their respective streets on the corner building that they occupy.

It took me three tries to finally find Washington, an exceptionally frustrating experience for someone who likes to travel. Paris, London, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto -- they were places that we could figure out quickly and hit the ground running. But not Washington DC.

Yes, we could easily get around to the historic sites and memorials; the museums and the places we see nearly daily in the news. But something was missing. For all the activity of being the seat of government and one of the more visited cities in the world, we were coming away from it with zero affection -- and we are people who LIKE cities. Washington to us was a collection of impressive monoliths and marble, but little else. It had no real personality of its own. Frankly, it reminded me of visiting a cemetary; interesting, but not something to spend days at. We were weary of the street people, the lack of places to spread out and drink in the ambiance of a city the way we do in so many other places.

Thank goodness we gave it one more try and discovered the Dupont Circle area, spent some time in Georgetown and got into some neighborhoods far from the "main attractions". At last, we FOUND the city filled with young policy wonks discussing important issues at the tables next to ours in the coffee shops; the fine restaurants that we knew were there somewhere in an international city of this calibre. ("They don't ALL really leave for Virginia and Maryland after 5 each day, do they?" We had been asking ourselves.)

And so we offer a few minor discoveries outside of the guidebooks for the good of the order, in hopes that it will not take others three tries to find the interesting, vibrant city of Washington DC without breaking the bank.

We've experimented with different modes of transportation here, since there are options including the metro, shuttle services and taxis. In many cities, airports are so far from the action that taxi rides become a costly option. This is not true from Reagan National Airport for Washington D.C., however. If you're staying in the city and you have more than one person, a taxi wins hands-down. We've never had an instance where cab fare even reached $20 from a major hotel in the District to National Airport, including a tip. The exception to this rule might be in very heavy traffic, but even then, it is doubtful that the "under $20" rule would be violated by much.

For one person, a shuttle service can save a few dollars and it's worthwhile. Multiply that per-person shuttle fee by two people and you're already better off in the cab. The D.C. metro stops at the airport and it is a good option ($1.85 or less, each way, depending on the time of day) if you don't have much luggage and you know your ultimate destination is reasonably close to a metro stop. D.C. has a nice system, but it is not like the Paris metro, which will drop you within 500 yards of any possible destination. The D.C. metro is less extensive and while it is a great option for traveling between many principle locations while you are in Washington, it may not always be your best option for airport transportation unless you're traveling light. (You will learn this when you discover just how far the nearest listed metro stop is to some of the locations you visit - it can easily be a mile hike in some instances). So the rule of thumb for more than one, if you have significant luggage, or if you aren't staying close to a metro stop: Take a taxi from National Airport.