The Washington Memorial and Capitol in the unheralded District of Columbia.
Photo by Andy Dunaway/USAF via Getty ImagesAs of September 2021, masks are required for nearly all indoor activities within the District of Columbia. A growing collection of hospitality businesses including bars and restaurants are opting to enforce a vaccine requirement for admission into their facilities. The latest city updates can be found here.
In the minds of many Americans, the District of Columbia is less a city than a physical representation of the country’s polarizing political battles. But the real Washington, D.C., is not the one that’s portrayed on the news. The local populace does not start from scratch when a new political regime does, nor can it be depicted with any semblance of accuracy via the chaos of a single, dark day.
D.C. is a living, breathing place, with a dynamic and diverse population. Its residents—who aren’t represented in the Congressional systems—are a fundamental piece of a booming cultural scene.
The best of D.C. is experienced not only by visiting the many wonderful monuments and museums here, but by the sensory delights of its world-class restaurants and bars, as well as its bustling local arts scene. Washington is a collection of dozens of neighborhoods with distinct personalities, and that and in many ways offer a true-to-life representation of the country as a whole.
The Conrad Washington D.C. debuted in March 2019.
The Conrad Washington D.C.STAY
The Jefferson, a historic hotel, reopened in July after shuttering its doors at the start of the pandemic. The D.C. icon opened in 1895, and maintains a reputation as a boutique, luxury property in the heart of the city; stroll straight down 16th street for a few minutes and you’ll come upon the White House. The hotel is known for its classic styling and décor, as well as its bespoke hospitality. The Jefferson’s main bar, Quill, offers excellent cocktails alongside discreet hospitality. Both are musts given the political who's who of frequent visitors.
A newer option is Riggs Washington D.C., which opened right before the pandemic only to enter an immediate hibernation. Located in Penn Quarter, the property was once home to the historic Riggs National Bank, and has now been revitalized to showcase the best of its former architectural splendor alongside colorful and occasionally quirky, artistic style with a healthy dash of art deco—mini bank vaults serve as minibars; pocket-sized books of Keats poetry await at your bedside table, which you can read on your velvet armchairs.
Another new property is the Conrad Washington D.C., which debuted in March 2019. The property is an anchor of CityCenterDC, a mixed-use development, and its only hotel, welcoming visitors with a sweeping atrium dominated by an enormous white pendant, the light of which cycles from bright white to dark yellow to reflect the time of day.
Tucked away beside the National Mall is the Mandarin Oriental Washington D.C., offering easy access to prime sightseeing and Capitol Hill. Rooms on the back corner of the property are positioned with direct views of the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial, serving as surrealistic and envy-inducing perches during cherry blossom season in the spring. A large spa and an indoor pool with lounge seating offer resort-style amenities not commonly found in the city.
EAT & DRINK
From fine-dining to food halls, D.C. has more than enough to satiate any palate. For the former, you’d be wise to start at Masseria, a Michelin-starred restaurant from chef Nicholas Stefanelli serving sublime Italian fare focused on the Puglia region, and for the latter, you’d be equally wise to start next door at Union Market, filled with dozens of standout vendors spanning the culinary spectrum.
One of the best wine bars in the city is the charming French-focused La Jambe in Shaw, where French wine and cheese are served alongside fine-tuned cocktails from only French- or D.C.-made ingredients. Shaw is home to a sweeping collection of the city’s trendiest destinations, from Espita Mezcaleria, one of the country's preeminent mezcal bars, with the Oaxacan food to match, to the Columbia Room, a cocktail program and team that deserves its recognition among the world’s very best. When it comes to whiskey, look no further than Jack Rose Dining Saloon, whose enormous selection of prestige bottlings would make most auction houses blush. Next door to the space is its new sister restaurant The Imperial.
Maketto, a cafe, restaurant, and retail space from chef Erik Bruner-Yang is worth a stop at any hour of the day. Another neighborhood gem which will see you comfortably through from coffee to cocktail is The Royal, in LeDeroit Park. Sister restaurant Lulu’s Wine Garden offers a convivial setting akin to a wine-filled soiree at a friend's home and garden, with southwest-influenced cuisine, such as short rib and fry bread taco platters.
New to the city’s cocktail scene are Silver Lyan, the much-anticipated stateside debut for Ryan Chetiyawardana and the Mr. Lyan team, with boundary-pushing libations designed to surprise; and Allegory DC, which matches its cocktail program to its Alice in Wonderland mural and décor, re-framed through the lens of social justice.
In the new Wharf district, stop into Nara-Ya, where colorful sushi plates and Japanese fare are served alongside boundless sake and Japanese whisky, as well as Moon Rabbit, where chef Kevin Tien serves crave-worthy dishes such as lemongrass pork blade, with chopped pork served DIY with scallion pancakes, lettuce wraps, and sauces. While he may seem more suited to global emergency relief, D.C. nevertheless remains the epicenter of the José Andrés restaurant empire, and any stop among his linchpin establishments is recommended.
The Jefferson, a historic hotel, reopened in July after shuttering its doors at the start of the pandemic.
The JeffersonEXPLORE
The best way to get up to speed with the city’s 19 free Smithsonian museums, galleries, and other destinations is with its official website. The site lists current hours of operation and admission information, and offers links to timed-entry passes when required.
For visitors looking for a fresh perspective, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016. From there, either stroll across the National Mall and take in its mainstay destinations of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial—and the many other worthy sites in between and along the way—or head straight across to street to the White House front lawn, and beyond that, what’s been christened in D.C. as the Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The Wharf, along the Southwest Waterfront, and Navy Yard, the home of Nationals Park, have been transformed in recent years as destination-worthy locales, while the streets and waterfront of Georgetown still attract a crowd for good reason. For an escape to nature beyond the city, consider Great Falls Park for hiking and views of the Potomac River and its rapids.
This writer was hosted by Riggs Washington D.C and the Mandarin Oriental Washington D.C.
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