Travel: A Guide to Washington DC

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Washington Monument - Washington, DC. (Explored!)
VinothChandar / Foter.com / CC BY

 

America’s monumental capital has all things for all people. With a wide choice of things to do, historical buildings to explore along with a huge range of restaurants and bars, you might find yourself wanting to live in one of the Washington’s desirable neighborhoods. Here’s our mini guide to the luxury side of Washington DC.

Shopping in Washington DC

Washington DC is a shoppers’ delight. From quaint boutiques to shopping malls and designer brands, DC has it all. Add to this the incomparable service and the huge range of must have merchandise and you start to get the picture.

  • Betsey Johnson’s flamboyant and attractive shop in Georgetown makes a great choice if you are looking for an exquisite choice of sexy, offbeat clothing for the young at heart.
  • Hysteria on South Fairfax Street has been supplying stylish clothing and accessories for the last ten years and promises to deliver true icons of style along with the undiscovered designs of tomorrow. Designers include LAMB, J Brand, Trina Turk, MZ Wallace, Jodi Arnold and Autumn Cashmere.
  • Tiny Jewel Box offers unmatched personal service and a range of truly unique treasures for those who love jewellery and watches. Browse floor after floor and discover something really special in this gem of a store.

Where to Enjoy Fine Dining

  • Plume at the Jefferson Hotel is one of Washington’s finest restaurants and was recently named the only five star restaurant in Washington DC. Discreet and elegant, this is a charming place to enjoy some of the finest classic dishes prepared by award winning executive chef Chris Jakubiec. Take a table by the inviting fireplace and enjoy seasonal classic dishes expertly crafted using traditional techniques and inspiration from Thomas Jefferson’s kitchen gardens at Monticello.
  • The Inn at Little Washington is a stylish inn which dates back some 33 years. It has won a serious amount of awards for its playfully luxurious cuisine. Service here is second to none and the attentive stable of servers seem to know what you want before you do. Ceilings are intricately painted and silk fringed lamps cast a warm and intimate glow. Try the Inn classics such soft shell crab tempura with a Vietnamese style dressing or the duo of barbecue short rib and chard wrapped filet mignon.
  • Marcel’s is a stylish French/Belgium restaurant run under the watchful eye of Chef Robert Wiedmaier. This quietly elegant dining room is the perfect place to enjoy classical French dishes such as chestnut and foie gras soup, boudin blanc with truffle sauce and truffle potato puree. Service is slick yet unobtrusive and there is the chance to create your own four to seven course taster meals.

Explore the City’s best Neighborhoods

Washington DC as a whole is very walk-able and most of things you wish to see or do can be easily accomplished on foot. If you want to burn off a few calories after lunch then take a stroll through some of Washington’s best neighborhoods.

  • Dupont Circle is great neighborhood to live and as such it attracts the well heeled who are drawn by a low crime rate and stable housing market. Dupont circle also recieves a high score of 79 on the AreaVibes livablity rating and that’s because Dupont Circle is about as good as it gets for community living. Historic row houses line the streets and everything you could need is within easy walking distance.
  • West End has been described as a walker’s paradise and it is now one of the top places to live in Washington DC. Take a stroll to marvel at the luxury high rises going up at many intersections. There’s a good range of restaurants, shops and bars too.

Have we missed out something luxurious and fun to do whilst in Washington DC? If so, let us know about it in the comments box below.

Author: David Wilson is a travel writer discovering the best places to live and visit across the United States.