Dupont Circle has a particular place in my coronary heart. I lived and labored within the restaurant- and shop-filled neighborhood once I was a resident of Washington, D.C., again in my post-college days. I did not often land right here, although, once I returned to go to the town after shifting away since I used to be often sightseeing with household nearer to the Capitol or visiting pals within the surrounding Beltway of the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia).
Nonetheless, on a sunny (and tearful) weekend after dropping my freshman son off in school final yr, that every one modified. I made a decision to revisit my erstwhile D.C. stomping grounds and take a look at a property that had been popping up on my radar repeatedly, The Dupont Circle Lodge, positioned proper in the course of my previous ‘hood.
The resort emerged from the pandemic with a scene-stealing bar, a hip overhaul of its eating places and lounge areas and design-savvy rooms that had been all a part of a multimillion-dollar renovation, and I needed to see what all the thrill was about.
Since my first go to final fall, I’ve returned a number of occasions, equally drawn by the attentive service, cool “Mad Males” vibes and glorious location. It is turn into my house away from house (again in my previous house base). This is an replace of my preliminary assessment of the resort in addition to extra info primarily based on subsequent stays, and why I preserve returning to The Dupont Circle Lodge.
Fast take
There are two issues I observed as quickly as I arrived at The Dupont Circle Lodge for the primary time: the nice and cozy welcome and the regular stream of locals heading to the restaurant and bar.
Each level to the resort’s possession, the Eire-based Doyle Group, which has infused what appears like true Irish hospitality into the property.
There’s really been a resort on this location for greater than 5 a long time, however once I had seen it previous to my first go to, it felt extra like a stalwart of the neighborhood lurking within the background, however not a spot you’d select to hang around.
That every one modified within the fall of 2020 when the resort emerged from a top-to-bottom, $50 million renovation with spiffed-up public areas, together with a foyer that embraces the resort’s midcentury trendy historical past with polished brass lighting fixtures and vibrant pops of tangerine contrasted with gentle and darkish wooden shelving.
There are a number of spots to take a seat and calm down: in leather-based chairs close to a fire, on velvet couches behind tall crops or by the tall home windows for prime people-watching. Redone rooms are giant, snug and have a up to date aptitude with leather-based headboards and marble loos.
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Because the pandemic has retreated, the redesigned bar and restaurant have turn into trendy neighborhood staples and are spots the place resort friends are likely to linger relatively than enterprise out.
Getting there
Because the title suggests, the resort is positioned straight on Dupont Circle, a chief eating and procuring location within the coronary heart of Washington, D.C. The resort is a few three-minute stroll from the Dupont Circle Metro line, which may convey you to most sights in D.C. Union Station, the place Amtrak trains arrive within the metropolis, is roughly three miles from the resort, a 15-minute automotive trip or a 12-minute, $2 Metro trip.
D.C. is a good strolling metropolis, and from right here, you too can wander to a number of sights. The Metro makes it simple to get to the Smithsonian museums and monuments on the Mall or the town’s different sights.
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Reserving particulars
Guests can ebook the 327 rooms and suites at The Dupont Circle Lodge in a couple of alternative ways.
The Dupont Circle can also be a part of The Luxurious Lodge & Resort Assortment, which I’ve entry to via my Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and is in the end how I booked my two-night keep.
For my go to, the LHRC price was $335 an evening, together with taxes, so it was larger than via I Desire, however it provided a number of cardmember advantages that tilted my reserving towards this selection.
Advantages included:
- Breakfast for 2 every day in The Pembroke restaurant or through room service, with a $30 most per individual (I might have most popular to not have a greenback cap on my meal, however this did cowl a big portion of my invoice)
- A $100 meals and beverage credit score to make use of on the Pembroke, Doyle Bar or for room service throughout my keep
- An availability-based improve
- Early check-in and late checkout, if out there
In whole, this got here to $220 price of advantages on a $670 invoice, so almost a 3rd of my room whole was returned to me within the type of meals and beverage credit, which I deemed a greater worth than the I Desire direct value.
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Once I inquired about an improve at check-in as a part of my LHRC reserving, the entrance desk attendant mentioned I had already been assigned a “excellent” room, and there was nothing higher to maneuver me to. Based mostly on my constructive interactions with the workers throughout my keep and the scale and structure of my nook room, I consider this was true.
One other marketed cardmember profit is a “welcome amenity.” This turned out to be a customized observe together with a person bottle of Pellegrino and a small assortment of tasty macarons within the room; general a pleasant presentation to search out ready for me.
One extra price to notice: Valet parking is $55 an evening plus tax.
Standout options
- The alert and useful workers; everybody from the doorman who remembered my title to the entrance desk agent who provided to mail a letter I used to be carrying, was on level.
- Glorious breakfast and brunch at The Pembroke; if I lived nearer, the towering French toast and the cheese-crowned frittata could be my weekend go-to’s.
- Dinner on the Pembroke is a cause to remain in, too. The lobster bucatini alone is price a particular go to.
- Its prime location is close to public transportation, procuring and eating. It is only a three-minute stroll to the Metro to get downtown, and the bookstore/cafe/bar Kramer Books is simply out the again door.
Drawbacks
- It is easy to overlook the driveway to this property, and in the event you move it, it’s important to loop across the neighborhood’s one-way streets. Higher signage would assist.
- Dinner at Doyle’s feels a bit like a room service menu and does not dwell as much as the excessive requirements set by The Pembroke’s breakfast.
- In my common room, the lavatory sink space did not have a door to separate it from the sleeping space, which might have made it extra personal and supplied a darker sleeping expertise.
The vibe
Having been to many lodges through the post-pandemic years that appeared perpetually understaffed and overwhelmed, the quite a few and pleasant workers at The Dupont Circle stood out much more.
It was laborious to stroll various steps into the foyer of the resort with out somebody greeting you. John, the amicable doorman/bellman/night sentry and all-around model ambassador, supplied a jovial first impression of this surprisingly luxurious (particularly for the worth) property, greeting returning friends by title, serving to to get baggage to your room virtually as quickly as you have opened the door and diving behind his desk to supply a bottle of water earlier than you head out the door.
The pleasant service could also be because of the historic resort’s homeowners, the Doyle Group, an Irish-based hospitality firm. There’s undoubtedly among the Irish consideration to service right here that I get pleasure from once I go to the Emerald Isle. People staffing the entrance desk mentioned hey each time I walked by, asking if I wanted something and providing small providers like mailing a letter. Every day housekeeping included free bottled water and night turndown left small candies. Each service individual within the hallway stopped to ask about my keep and if they might convey something to my room.
It even rubbed off on the friends. A person who noticed my native college-emblazoned shirt within the elevator instantly began to speak in regards to the resort, remarking on how he would keep right here any further when he visited his little one on the similar college. “This resort is a visit!” mentioned the gentleman, who recognized himself as from Texas, “I imply, it is actually superior; what a fantastic place!”
I can actually say in my a few years of resort stays, I’ve by no means heard that stage of shock and enthusiasm from a stranger a few property in an elevator earlier than.
It is partly from the homey vibe the resort has created within the public areas that make this appear, effectively, like house. The association of small work and recent crops within the frequent hallways felt like my home, however (I am going to admit) higher designed.
The foyer has been divided into smaller, cozy lounging areas because of dividers and inside partitions. Even in summer season, you possibly can see how the fireplaces within the foyer and adjoining bar would solid an excellent hotter glow across the areas.
Talking of the bar, the meals and beverage choices right here draw a coterie of native professionals coming for after-work drinks on the Doyle and its pretty tree-lined and vine-draped out of doors terrace, and everybody from teams of pals to dress-up dates arrives for brunch at The Pembroke. It makes friends really feel like a part of the neighborhood, and a part of D.C., too, to have folks come to the place you are staying as an alternative of getting to go in the hunt for the scene elsewhere.
As a part of LHRC, the resort appeared to attract a crowd on the lookout for the high-end extras that come from reserving a keep via the service, but in addition those that know the world. There was a mixture of households dropping teenagers off in school, fashion-conscious {couples} and enterprise folks dressed for conferences, maybe on the Embassy Row workplaces that begin on the Circle and lengthen northwest alongside Massachusetts Avenue.
Rooms
My first impression of my “excellent” room (once more, in response to the check-in agent) was that it was smooth, trendy and vibrant.
My room’s nook location allowed copious quantities of daylight to stream via the slatted window shutters. A king-size mattress had a thick cover and silky, excessive thread-count sheets that felt luxurious.
A recent buttercream leather-based sofa was a pleasant spot to lounge and look out on the treetops of Dupont Circle. And the additional lengthy desk would have been a strong area to work with a view if I had been staying for enterprise.
The modernized room had a couple of tips up its sleeve, too; the blinds had a blackout shade behind them {that a} bedside swap may activate. A Nespresso machine was tucked right into a shelf.
And a heated marble ground within the rest room managed by an easy-to-find knob stored issues snug on chilly mornings.
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MELISSA KLURMAN/THE POINTS GUY
The one factor I could not management was the lavatory’s brightness. Whereas attractively designed with marble and glass, there was no door to the sink space, which was positioned straight throughout from the king mattress.
A tinted glass door led to the bathroom and bathe space, which had a window with frosted glass, however no blackout shade. It was uncovered to full daylight within the morning and made the entire room glow.
Be aware to resort: Add a door to the lavatory, please.
On the constructive aspect, the lavatory had a full array of small-size Malin + Goetz toiletries that felt upscale in a world of big multi-use bottles shackled to bathe partitions.
And housekeeping changed each these toiletries and gadgets resembling cotton swabs each time they visited.
There have been additionally two thick, super-soft bathrobes within the rest room.
Though the room felt very plush, there have been some DIY facilities you’d anticipate finding at a mid-range resort right here, too, like an iron and ironing board within the closet, which I appreciated.
Suite keep
I have been returning to The Dupont Circle frequently for the final yr and a half since my son began school, and I am now a Doyle Discovery Gold stage member. This can be a free Doyle Lodges factors program, and actually, I do not often suppose very a lot about it. However for a late August keep, when sultry D.C. was empty besides for folks bringing their youngsters to varsity, I out of the blue reaped large advantages when my frequent customer standing received me an improve to the “penthouse stage.”
To be clear, I wasn’t staying within the penthouse however on the highest ground, the place the resort’s dozen suites are all positioned. Whereas I used to be tremendous excited in regards to the improve, I wasn’t anticipating a lot from the penthouse stage views because the resort tops out on the eighth ground.
Coming into my suite, although, I used to be instantly enthralled by the area, design and lightweight. Doyle made the eighth ground really feel prefer it was within the clouds with floor-to-ceiling home windows, floating cabinets, light-colored wooden and a superb further bonus: a terrace with cozy chairs and nice avenue views of the bustling avenue under.
There is not a separate bed room, however the good structure felt like a loft house, with a residing space, squared off with couches and chairs centered round a big espresso desk and the king-size mattress on the far finish of the area.
One other intelligent design factor I loved was the copiously stocked moist bar positioned within the entryway.
The suite life got here with many further perks, too, like a minifridge stocked with free of charge tender drinks and water, complimentary fruit basket and a snack basket stuffed with regionally crafted snacks.
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The Dupont Circle Lodge suite. MELISSA KLURMAN/THE POINTS GUY
Additional bonus: The big, double-sink rest room with its giant walk-in bathe had a door that closed, so there was no gentle seeping in towards the bed room. And, just like the common rooms, there have been switches to open and shut the blinds, so the daylight did not filter in earlier than I used to be awake.
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The Dupont Circle Lodge suite rest room. MELISSA KLURMAN/THE POINTS GUY
Having the all-glass partitions right here provided yet one more spotlight: a full rainbow view over the neighborhood after a rainstorm.
The nighttime view from my terrace was fairly nice, too,
Food and drinks
I began my first weekend stick with cocktails on the out of doors terrace of the Doyle, one among two eating areas on the resort.
The leafy patio is the place to be when the climate cooperates. As a result of D.C. can get muggy, that may additionally translate to buggy, and the host provided us bug spray after we sat down. My friends and I slathered it on and felt high-quality. Different folks close by did not partake and shortly left, however I wasn’t giving up our seats that simply. That is prime actual property, with lush swatches of crops and ivy surrounding velvet couches and bistro tables and chairs.
Cocktail hour was prime time right here, with canoodling {couples} and business-suited teams. My desk of 4 ordered a French rosé from Aix ($13 by the glass), a Stella Artois ($9) and an expertly combined martini ($16) and loved the area and site.
Inside, a darkish, wood-paneled bar with a lot of chrome accents and fluted wooden detailing, together with among the unique midcentury Nineteen Fifties architectural parts, hosted a smattering of patrons. The mahogany leather-based chairs and low tables had been stuffed with happy-looking happy-hour drinkers as effectively.
Patrons began to filter round 8 p.m., probably off to eat at one of many many eating places within the neighborhood. However we determined to maintain our desk and ordered dinner.
There was a concise menu of tasty-sounding bar meals that didn’t fairly match the elevated setting. I had an unmemorable “prime-aged” burger ($22) that I solely ate half of as a result of it was overwhelmed by a dense layer of sauteed onions and cheese.
Somebody on the desk ordered an avocado BLT ($18), after which my husband pushed his luck with steak frites ($32). The meat was powerful and flavorless. The fries, however, had been crispy and copious, so we made do with these.
One shock delight, although: A particular of watermelon gazpacho ($16) poured tableside was tangy and refreshing.
The following morning, nonetheless, the Doyle was redeemed by its sister restaurant, The Pembroke.
The welcoming area has glistening brass lighting fixtures, apricot-hued leather-based banquettes, big ficus crops, a wall of home windows letting within the morning gentle and a marble bar the place early risers had been sipping espresso and mimosas.
This can be a dress-up brunch scene on the weekends; on weekdays, it is a fashionable assembly spot for espresso, too. The meals and the workers had been distinctive. My breakfast spotlight was an egg-white frittata with spinach and tomatoes topped with mozzarella and introduced in a person forged iron skillet ($18). I additionally loved an expertly made cappuccino ($6).
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MELISSA KLURMAN/THE POINTS GUY
A number of tables close by had Stonehenge-like slabs of French toast, described on the menu as Grand Marnier-soaked brioche ($18) that I am going to must attempt subsequent time I go to.
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The Dupont Circle Lodge, Pembroke Restaurant dinner. MELISSA KLURMAN/THE POINTS GUY
On a subsequent go to on the advice of a foodie pal, I made a reservation for dinner at The Pembroke and was wowed anew by the kitchen. This can be a meal price staying in for, with French-nuanced dishes made with regionally sourced substances.
My carnivore husband had the peerlessly seared filet mignon served with a tangy peppercorn sauce ($48) that erased all recollections of his previous steak frites fiasco. I had a tasty, crispy-skinned salmon with bamboo rice for my major course ($36), and we shared a Peruvian tuna tiradito appetizer with a perky leche de tigre marinade ($24) that transported me to Lima. Our pal’s lobster bucatini in a wealthy cream sauce was so delectable and memorable that he left me each a voicemail and a textual content the following day to say it was the most effective factor he is eaten in current reminiscence.
For fast grab-and-go pastries and occasional, there’s Doyle & Co. within the marble vestibule subsequent to the doorway to the Pembroke.
Facilities and repair
The service at The Dupont Circle really units the bar excessive for different space properties. I anticipate an attentive doorman and a entrance desk that remembers my title at $800-a-night properties, however my stays right here price a lot much less, and the service is simply as glorious as you’d discover at a top-tier luxurious resort, time after time.
The nightly turn-down service with chilled bottles of water and chocolate and every day housekeeping that stored the lavatory self-importance stocked with toiletries and supplied loads of Nespresso pods all performed into the elevated expertise.
A small health middle is open 24 hours and is positioned within the basement stage. Full disclosure: I do not even consider visiting the fitness center after strolling almost 5 miles every day of my Washington stays. Nonetheless, it is well-outfitted with a number of stationary bikes and treadmills, plus a stair climber, common weight machines and free weights.
There’s valet automotive service ($55), however no self-parking services.
Out and about
One of many highlights of staying at The Dupont Circle is being within the coronary heart of what I feel is among the most fascinating neighborhoods within the nation’s capital.
Near the big visitors circle that lends the neighborhood its title, you will discover retailers, bars, eating places and bookstores, or perhaps a mixture of the final three at Kramer Books, a bookstore with a restaurant and a strong cocktail listing. Kramer’s has an out of doors eating setup throughout from the Doyle and The Pembroke, so you possibly can actually step outdoors the resort and be there inside seconds.
Head a couple of blocks from the resort in both path, and you will find tree-lined streets bordered by brownstones. Comply with twenty first Road to R Road for one among my favourite off-the-beaten-path museums within the metropolis, The Phillips Assortment. The oldest trendy artwork museum within the nation occupies a historic house and an adjoining constructing that completely matches into the neighborhood.
Two highlights from the everlasting assortment are Renoir’s The Boating Celebration and Jacob Lawrence’s Migration sequence. You may see these masterpieces with only a few different guests, not like at better-known downtown museums.
The Dupont neighborhood can also be the beginning of the lengthy stretch of international diplomatic residences and workplaces that comprise Massachusetts Avenue’s grand Embassy Row. Though you possibly can’t often enter with out an appointment or invitation, there are a couple of which are simple to see within the instant space, together with India’s, which has a monument to Gandhi in a pocket park simply in entrance.
For those who’re right here on a Sunday, Dupont Circle’s year-round farmer’s market is a good spot to choose up not solely fruits and produce but in addition snacks starting from macarons to tacos.
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Accessibility
The Dupont Circle Lodge gives numerous ADA-compliant rooms and public areas. There are 15 rooms — two rooms on every of the seven flooring and one suite on the penthouse stage — which are specifically designed and designated as accessible.
The resort’s entrances are at avenue stage with no steps or entry ramps required, and the foyer, bar and restaurant are all on the bottom ground and may be entered at avenue stage with out stairs or ramps.
Testing
I’m constantly impressed by the attentive service at The Dupont Circle Lodge, which makes the resort really feel like a luxurious property for the price of a reasonable resort. My common room was snug (if slightly vibrant, however that is simply fixable), and the bar on the Doyle and breakfast at The Pembroke made it appear to be the hip D.C. had come to us, as an alternative of getting to exit in town and search for the place the scene is. My improve to a set was a fantastic loyalty perk and one that can guarantee I preserve coming again. What’s extra, dinner at The Pembroke is now on my listing of “must-dos” in D.C., too.
All in all, it is nicer to remain right here than in my previous house … by a protracted shot. It is the type of resort any customer would need to name house, and I am going to undoubtedly be returning right here once more.
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