Field Guide to Dupont Circle...

Since this past weekend's workshop was full of out-of-town guests, I pulled together a few tried and true Dupont standards since all the events were held in Dupont's Hotel Palomar to give the visiting ladies some  ideas on what's out and about in close proximity.  Now granted, I've been away for the past few years, but here was my take  - any Dupont classics and newbies that I missed?

Image via DCcondoloft.com

The New Diplomat's Wife's Field Guide to Dupont Circle

For a bright and early start…

Krispy Kreme

Does the coffee come with a fresh donut?…not good for the waistline but good for the taste buds, pick up a fresh donut (or two) here in your favorite flavor.

1350 Connecticut Avenue (at Connecticut and N, you’ll see it from the Circle)

Open from 6am

Le Pain Quotidien

Or maybe a croissant? …This Dupont Circle outpost of the Belgian chain has all sorts of fresh bakery items, as well a range of healthy and less healthy breakfast options.  Also works for lunch and dinner.   For those with kiddies at home, any of their branded chocolate spreads are a treat to take home.

2000 Massachusetts Avenue

Open from 8am

For a sweet pick-me-up…

Hello Cupcake

I confess I haven’t yet had a chance to go and there always seem to be strong opinions on cupcake places but I’ve heard good things about their Dulce de Leche flavor. 

1362 Connecticut Avenue, just across from the metro

Open 10-9 Saturday, 11-6 Sunday

Looking for something good to eat…

Sakana

Hands down the best sushi in DC.  Period.  Not the hippest.  And not the most creative.  And when they don’t know you, it takes awhile for the service to warm up – it’s more perfunctory.  But great quality fish for a good price in this underground hideaway full of Japanese diplomats and World Bankers and neighborhood residents give this all the bona fides it needs.  Be sure to try the fried oyster roll and the sakana shrimp roll. 

2026 P Street (almost across the street from the hotel)

5:30 -11 pm Saturday, Closed Sunday

Bistro du Coin

A DC institution and if you come on New Year’s, 14^th of July or release of Beaujolais Nouveau, it involves dancing on the tables into the wee hours.  This place is loud but the hangar steak with shallot sauce and frites is where it’s at.  All the bistro classics are here, complete with waiters who may or may not remember your order. 

1738 Connecticut Avenue

11:30 AM to 11 PM  - open to 1AM Saturday night

Circa

The other kind of “bistro” – more of a wine bar feel and solid menu consisting of things like mango chicken salad and lobster ravioli.

1601 Connecticut Avenue

10AM until 2AM, until 11PM Sunday

Shake Shack

Again, on this one full disclosure – I haven’t yet been here but everyone keeps raving about the shakes and root beer floats, and apparently the burgers definitely pass the test if you’re looking for burger action.  Burger places, like cupcake places have become a bit ubiquitous around here so everyone will have a strong opinion but this is one of the newest kid on the block that seems to be on everyone’s list.

1216 18th St NW
(between N M St & N Connecticut Ave)

Open until 12PM Friday, Saturday; 11pm Sunday

Pizzeria Paradiso

Local pizzeria that’s always hopping.  Personally, I prefer a thinner crust but these wood-fired pies are still on our list.   This is a festive place full of festive people so speak up if the waiter looks like he might have forgotten you.  Just be festive and order another drink.

2003 P Street

Friday, Saturday 11:30 AM until 12 AM

Sunday 12pm until 10pm

Sweet Green

Originally started a few years ago in Georgetown by a couple of former students, this is one of the best places for a creative salad with fresh ingredients. I usually go to the one close to my place in Logan or Georgetown but imagine the menu is exactly the same – I’m a fan of the Bondi Beach, my husband goes for Ceasar with their parmesan croutons.  Staff tends to be young so just make sure you get what you ordered.  They also feature a salad of the month that changes with seasonal ingredients.

1512 Connecticut Avenue

Open from 11AM to 10pm

Looking for a libation…

There really isn’t a shortage of bars in this area, most of them on a changing schedule so I am sure that there are newer candidates out there, but here have been our favorites over the years. 

Gazuza

Not only a drink but a smoke.  Well a hookah that is – if you’re looking for “double grapes” to go with that libation and transport a bit of the Arabian nights, this is your place, though it can get loud. 

1629 Connecticut Ave NW

Russia House

A real DC oddity, this place is peculiar on every front.  Originally part of the Russian Cultural Center, the bar serves primarily vodka based drinks which are delicious and powerful, and have a sense of intrigue from one of the oldest stories on the books.

1800 Connecticut Ave NW
(at N Florida Ave)

Firefly

“You can practically feel the grass between your toes” used to be the mantra at this restaurant and bar – which always confused me since anyone in a bar should be wearing shoes, but they do have some faux trees and lovely cozy lighting, and at least at one point, made a mean mojito martini and had a decent wine list.

1310 New Hampshire Ave NW
(between N N St & N 20th St)

I need a gift to take home…or a gift for myself…

Tabletop

A fun combination of modern home goods, quirky jewelry and random “objets” make this a fun stop.  Located on two levels in a town house this place is great for picking up a little something that you might not actually need, but is a beautiful thing to want.

1608 20th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Mon-Sat 12 pm - 8 pm

Sun 12 pm - 6 pm

Proper Topper

A combination of hats, accessories, and lovely lady things – with some outreach into beautiful children’s gifts and other sundries, this small shop is one that I always seem to be able to pass some time in.

1350 Connecticut Ave NW
(at N N St)
Washington, DC 20036

Mon-Fri 10 am - 8 pm

Sat 10 am - 7 pm

Sun 12 pm - 6 pm

Claude Taylor Photography

Browse prints upon prints of shots from DC and around the globe.  Great pictures that capture the shots you might have missed on trips, though with Me Ra’s workshop, shouldn’t ours be just as good?

1627 Connecticut Ave NW

Kramer’s Books and Afterwords

One of the last of the independent bookstores, this DC staple offers great political and travel books among others, leaving you to browse and dream.  Pick up a coffee but skip the meal  - this is also a great place to pick up a book that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

I have an hour to kill…

The Berlin Wall

The SAIS courtyard, or “The School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University”, houses a full panel of the wall that came down in 1989 as a tribute to political change.  I may be biased since this is my alma mater, but if you can’t see it in Berlin, this is the next best thing as a place to pause and think about how far the world has come since then and what a monumental political change that was.  The school might not look like much but it was the former stomping ground of alums like Tim Geithner, Wolf Blitzer, Paul Wolfowitz, and Madeleine Albright, who didn’t actually graduate, and oh yeah, those spies they threw out of Cuba.

1740 Massachusetts Avenue

Dupont Circle

Always good people watching, especially if it’s a gorgeous day.

The Phillips Collection

A gorgeous collection featuring one of the best collections of French impressionism as well as modernism.  They just opened a brand new exhibit of Degas’ dancers.  It’s one of DC’s only non-free museums but is the perfect size for an hour or two and in a beautiful neighborhood.  Head out to the main intersection to catch the Gandhi statue in the circle put up by the Indian Embassy just around the corner.

1600 21st St., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Near 21st and Q Streets, NW

10 am to 5pm