I recently went to Washington, D.C. alone, looking for a weekend that would let me breathe, reflect, and maybe discover something new.
I had been invited to write a story, but it’s funny how a visit like this—and a place that I had not been to since I was a teen for the Presidential Classroom learning experience—gave me a chance to see D.C. as an adult. I found myself creating a different story of my own. What I didn’t expect was to leave with not just memories of an elegant hotel, but with a sense of connection that felt both deeply personal and beautifully historic.
A Suite of My Own
The moment I opened the door to my junior suite at The Dupont Circle Hotel; I knew this trip would be special.
The room was spacious and calming, filled with natural light streaming in through wide windows that looked out onto the hum of the neighborhood. It had everything I could want, from plush bedding, a comfortable sitting area where I could unwind, a sleek desk that invited me to write, and a bathroom that felt more like a spa than part of a hotel room.
Waiting for me was a thoughtful welcome: complimentary beers, sodas, sparkling waters and snacks. Traveling solo often means making do, but here it meant indulging. I sat in the quiet, sipping a cold drink, and let myself feel peace.
The hotel’s higher-level suites are known for their sweeping terraces and unforgettable city views, but even in my own suite I felt like I had been handed a sanctuary.
A Legacy in Dupont Circle
Part of what makes the hotel so special is its story. Long before it became the flagship of The Doyle Collection, it opened in 1947 as the Dupont Plaza Hotel, built on the site of the old Leiter House. Fifty years later, the Irish-owned Doyle family purchased it and gave it new life as the Jurys Washington Hotel, before eventually renaming it The Dupont Circle Hotel. Today it stands proudly as the crown jewel of the family’s luxury collection.
The Doyle Collection itself began in Dublin in the 1960s, founded by P.V. Doyle, and has since grown into a group of elegant hotels across major cities, each designed to feel rooted in its neighborhood.
The Dupont Circle, though, has always been the centerpiece. Recent renovations, led by renowned designers Clodagh and Martin Brudnizki, transformed the property into what it is today, which is a place that carries the glamour of a European private club while still welcoming guests with warmth and comfort.
Lunch at The Pembroke
My first real taste of The Dupont Circle came at The Pembroke, where I decided to linger over a long lunch the day I arrived. The room glowed with daylight, chic but not intimidating, with a bar that was sleek, glamorous and gave me a chance to relax, take some notes and eat. It was time for lunch after a morning of travel, and it was the best way to start my visit.
I ordered a glass of rosé and the steak frites, and with the first bite I was reminded of how much joy a nice meal can bring, and this is one of my favorite dishes to have. The steak was tender, flavorful, and satisfying, the fries crisp and golden. It was a meal that got me excited for the weekend and everything that I had to look forward to.
A Burger at Doyle and Morning Rituals
Later that evening, I made my way to Doyle bar, where the glow of the space and the energy of the crowd made it the perfect place to settle in. The table where I sat, solo, was by a window that made it easy and fun to people watch that night; I love doing that, watching people strolling up and down a lit-up city street, imagining what their stories might be and what they are up to.
The mind of a writer is this way, and I’ve always had that type of thinking, and just sitting there by myself eager to have some cocktails made my night, making me feel at peace. I ordered the bar’s signature burger with all the trimmings, savoring it with a Cosmopolitan and an old fashioned over the course of the night.
It was the best kind of solo evening: delicious food, timeless drinks, and the quiet joy of being completely at ease with myself while being entertained with the energy surrounding me.
Afterward I headed to my suite, ready for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning began at Doyle & Co., where I picked up coffee brewed strong and fresh and paired it with a pastry. Afterward, it was time to check what Washington, D.C. had to offer the girl that was now here as a grown adult, and excited to explore it with a new set of eyes.
Exploring Beyond the Hotel: The Mall, the Monuments & Friendship
This trip was a solo adventure, but it became something much bigger because I reconnected with people who matter to me. Richard and Elaine, dear friends that I know from high school and a bit beyond, met me to explore the National Mall.
We walked from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, paused at the Reflecting Pool, and let the tide of history wash over us. They were the perfect guides, pointing out details I would have missed and making me feel at home in the city. Oh, and some cute pictures came out of it. Thanks, Elaine, for showing me the right way to pose to capture not only the history, but the history with a dash of my own personality.
The next day, I spent the afternoon at the National Air and Space Museum, wandering through exhibits that carried us from the earliest days of flight to rockets that touched the stars. I even treated myself to a dome film about outer space in their impressive and vast planetarium, leaning back as the universe seemed to unfold overhead. It left me feeling both small and infinite at the same time, and I was so happy that I chose that as the one museum to visit while there.
A Tempting and Dangerous Indie Bookstore: Kramers
One of the places I couldn’t resist was Kramer, a Dupont Circle institution since the 1970s. It’s part bookstore, part café and part cocktail bar, an irresistible combination. I went twice during my stay.
On my first visit, I browsed the shelves and bought three books: a romance, a book that captures the history of Puerto Rico, and a YA fantasy. I also bought a store tee, a few stickers and a tote bag. Indie bookstores are my thing, and this one impressed me lots. Afterward, I sipped on a glass of wine at its bar as I started digging into the romance novel.
On my second trip there, I brought Elaine, Richard and Dayla with me on my last evening before heading back to South Florida. Together we sipped cocktails and wandered the aisles, letting books lead the way, and I was distracted enough and having so much fun with them that I forgot to buy another book.
And that’s probably a good thing, since I’ve got plenty at home (or do I?). Sadly, they would not fit in my suitcase, a fact that would make my husband at home quite happy. No more books to add to my toppling bookshelf from Kramers, sadly. But I’ll be back!
Welcome to the Iconic Round Robin Bar
Another afternoon found me at the Round Robin Bar inside the Willard InterContinental, a Washington institution dating back to 1847. With its polished mahogany and distinctive circular bar, the space radiates elegance and history.
This is the bar where Kentucky Sen. Henry Clay introduced Washington to the mint julep and where voices of the past still seem to echo. Walt Whitman even captured its atmosphere in verse during the Civil War, and decades later, a cheeky sign welcomed all “Nations” except the prohibitionist Carrie Nation.
The Round Robin has always been a stage for Washington life. At one point, when the Willard closed its doors, members of the National Press Club dashed across the street to drink here until the final moment. When the hotel reopened in 1986, the bar returned with it, reviving its legendary presence.
I ordered an old fashioned and tuna tartare dish, savoring both while surrounded by the bar’s history.
A Pampered Pause
Between tours and meals, I treated myself to something different: a stop at Mimosa Beauty Salon in Dupont Circle. I chose their cucumber pedicure, which left my feet soft and refreshed. With a glass of bubbly in hand, listening to lively conversations around me, I let myself unwind in the care of their wonderful staff.
It was a pause I didn’t realize I needed, and one I’ll recommend to anyone visiting the area that needs to take a little relaxed pause during their day and visit.
A Final Shared Feast at The Pembroke
On my last day, the bar became the heart of something even more memorable. It was about to be my last day at the property and in the city, and I knew it was about to get emotional.
Dayla met me there first, before Elaine and Richard came to have a final cocktail or two with us. We hugged tightly, and I realized that that weekend, after three years of separation, felt like not a long time had passed since we met while studying at Oxford, on a hard-earned scholarship for me that left me reeling with joy in the summer of 2022.
The staff at The Pembroke welcomed us warmly, pulling the evening together with the kind of hospitality that makes a group feel like family. It was unexpected and sweet that we were able to share a meaningful dinner in a beautiful place that felt classy, iconic and fun all at the same time. We ordered a spread of dishes to share, passing plates back and forth, laughing, and tasting together.
My own choice was a delicate pasta paired with a glass of wine, which was delicious, and the staff was the type of group that made sure we paired our drinks and sips perfectly with our meals.
A Final Night at the Suite
On my last evening, Dayla and I curled up in my suite with the complimentary snacks and drinks, talking until late, catching up on everything we had missed, reminiscing about Oxford, and sharing the kind of conversation that only comes when time apart finally dissolves.
It was a quiet ending to a weekend filled with big moments, and it felt exactly right. It proved that The Dupont Circle Hotel feels like a little home away from home, and the suite’s living room-style area and comfortable seating made it perfect to relax, one last time, with my friend.
The Dupont Circle Hotel gave me rest, flavor, and joy. The city offered history, books, and pampering. And my friends reminded me that even in moments of solitude, I am never truly alone.
The Dupont Circle Hotel is located at 1500 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. For more information and to make a reservation visit doylecollection.com/hotels/the-dupont-circle-hotel. To learn more about all that Washington D.C. has to offer visitors, visit washington.org.
