Washington, DC’s top concierges share their personal suggestions for the perfect day
LIDA SMALL
A perfect day in the capital starts with breakfast at Patisserie Poupon in Georgetown, which serves terrific coffee and some of the most outstanding French pastries available locally.
Next, take a tour of the Diplomatic Rooms at the State Department, considered by those in the know as one of Washington’s little gems. These beautiful rooms are brimming with American antiques and beg visitors to imagine the vast array of historical events that once occurred in their very midst. To satisfy an artistic side, head to Dupont Circle to visit the Phillips Collection, America’s very first museum of modern art; the collection houses treasures such as Renoir’s legendary Luncheon of the Boating Party. Lunch at the W Hotel’s rooftop restaurant, POV, offers a chance to relax and take in a million-dollar view of DC before an afternoon of historic sightseeing.
Take a trip to the wonderful Lincoln Cottage to explore the home of the late president’s family; or visit Georgetown’s Dumbarton Oaks, the historic house where the United Nations was born. Muster up the last of your energy to check out the Hillwood Museum, a magnificent preservation of the Georgian mansion and 13-acre estate that was once home to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Wind down from this exhausting day with dinner at the St. Regis’s famed Adour and a private town car or horse-drawn carriage tour of the city by moonlight.
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JAVIER LOUREIRO
Tourist Tip: Spread your sightseeing over a few days to make the most of Washington’s cultural offerings at a comfortable pace.
Make sure you don’t miss: The National Air and Space Museum: maintains the world’s largest collection of historic air and spacecraft
The National Gallery’s East and West Buildings: home to over 90,000 pieces of art dating as far back as the third century
The National Museum of Natural History: houses an incredible collection of gems, including the spectacular 46K Hope Diamond.
CLYDE EADS
The perfect way to start an exciting day in Washington, DC is with breakfast at the Old Ebbitt Grill, the oldest restaurant and tavern in the city.
Follow your hearty meal with a guided, private tour of the city, which the staff at the Mandarin Oriental can happily arrange. This kind of tour will give you detailed information about the history of our nation’s capital and provide the flexibility to choose which attractions you would like to see. Have lunch at one of the many restaurants in Penn Quarter or Georgetown, and then spend the afternoon touring one or more of the Smithsonian museums. A wonderful way to finish off your day is a delicious dinner at Washington’s only five-star, five-diamond restaurant, CityZen, conveniently located off the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental.
PAUL FABELA
For a real day to remember, visit the following memorials at the National Mall and Memorial Parks:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
West Potomac Park, West Basin Drive and Ohio Drive, South West, Washington, DC 20242
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Daniel French Drive and Independence Avenue, South West, Washington, DC 20024
Lincoln Memorial
23rd Street, between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue, North West, Washington, DC 20024
National World War II Memorial
17th Street and Independence Avenue, South West, Washington, DC 20001
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
15th Street on the Tidal Basin, South West, Washington, DC 20242 US
Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, North West, Washington, DC 20004
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
900 Ohio Drive, South West, Washington, DC 20024
Washington Monument
Constitution Avenue & 15th Street, North West, Washington, DC 20001
