According to Destination DC, there are 149 hotels and 2,513 restaurants in Washington, D.C. That makes for a lot of choices. But have no fear, I'm here to ease your path in selecting where to stay and eat in the capital city of the USA.
Let's start with the stay part of the equation.
Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Washington DC has been welcoming tourists and business folk for 22 years. The hotel is the original building of the general post office, built in 1839.
But not to worry; it's been updated over the past 185 years.
In 2016, they "reimagined all of the public spaces, meeting rooms, and guest rooms...fusing traditional and contemporary styles." the hotel's website explains.
It is a stately edifice comprising an entire block but, surprisingly, doesn't have a spacious feel. The atmosphere denotes a quiet sophistication that leads guests to a peaceful, happy state of mind.
Donna and I were pleasantly surprised when we received an upgrade to a King Mediterranean Suite. It is a 610 square foot room with a king bed, elegant bath and separate living room. The suite was outstanding. As this is not the first time I have been to the Hotel Monaco Washington DC, I can attest that all the rooms I've stayed in, suite or not, are beautiful.
The hotel is located within walking distance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the National Mall, Capital One Arena, Chinatown and more than four-score and seven other great sites! (Okay, I got carried away there, but who can resist reusing an Abe Lincoln quote for a blog regarding Wash., DC?)
The Hotel Monaco isn't only close to the sites. It is also within walking distance of two Michelin-starred José Andrés restaurants. A favorite of mine, Zaytinya (Mezze Greek, Lebanese and Turkish) and the Spanish tapas serving Jaleo.
In the mood for family style, large plated Italian food? You are in luck! Carmine's is but a stone's throw from the Hotel Monaco.
We tried all three joints mentioned above, loved each one, Zaytinya was so nice, we ate there twice!
As for the restaurant at the Hotel Monaco Washington DC, Dirty Habits comes through in fine fashion.
For breakfast each morning, I enjoyed their vegetarian, gluten-free Honey Yogurt Parfait that includes house granola and mixed berries. Donna loved the vegetarian mixed greens after she minused out the feta cheese. It is a combination of egg, avocado, daikon, carrots and yuzu vinaigrette over ancient grains. I'm pretty sure every breakfast of our five- day stay we split the fruit bowl, outstanding.
The dinner and wait staff at Dirty Habits are spot on. Best exemplified by a bartender who taste-tested a drink twice, using straws; after the second taste test, he threw away the drink and made it again. Clearly, the original was not up to snuff. I didn't ask, however, it seemed obvious he was trying something new before making one for a guest. He wouldn't simply make it and serve it.
You can find the drop-dead gorgeous Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Washington DC, and its friendly staff at 700 F St NW, in the Penn Quarter Neighborhood. Penn Quarter is described as historic, eclectic and high energy.
For those who don't know, Baltimore is only a bit more than an hour from DC. It is well worth your time to take a day trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor or an Orioles game at the most beautiful baseball stadium in the nation, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
No matter how you like to vacay. the Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Washington, DC, an upper-upscale hotel, is a fine selection.
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See ya soon!
~30~
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