Gay Washington Washington DC City Guide

Curation by Yasmina Rodríguez, words by David Durán

What do we know about DC? Yes, it’s the nation’s capital, home to the United States government and well; there are a ton of monuments and museums (all of which are worth visiting). What those of us who are not from DC typically fail to realise is that beyond politics, it’s a pretty amazing city and destination. The metro system is very easy to use, the shopping is world-class, and there’s an abundance of sights to see. Some pretty important people are constantly visiting the capital, so, of course, the hotel options are all going to be top-notch and ready for dignitaries. And the culinary scene in the city has been on a constant climb that continues to keep it growing, always outdoing itself. DC has some of the best restaurants in the United States, and if you just go there to eat, you won’t be disappointed. But there’s also something else about the city which makes it unique, and that’s the atmosphere – it’s a perfect blend of hustle and bustle with upscale and refined (if you know where to look). For your definitive Washington gay guide, you’ve come to the right place.

The best hotels in Washington DC

Let’s open our Washington DC gay travel guide with where to lay your head. In Penn Quarter, Riggs Washington DC occupies a magnificent 1891 banking hall, where barrel-vaulted ceilings and Corinthian columns frame a wonderfully irreverent interior of jewel-toned velvets, playful geometric patterns and minibars disguised as steel safes. Better still, Silver Lyan, one of the city’s finest bars, lies downstairs, and the Smithsonian museums are a short stroll away.

For something altogether more bohemian, The LINE DC in Adams Morgan inhabits a neoclassical church more than a century old, its copper doors and hymnal boards intact, while rooms are dressed with thrifted furniture, curated books and works by DC artists. Over in Georgetown, meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. occupies a converted 1930s incinerator, its 130-foot brick chimney and steel beams proudly preserved; intimate rather than imposing, it puts the neighbourhood’s cafés and boutiques right on the doorstep.

Finally, The Dupont Circle Hotel commands a prime spot on the circle itself, a few blocks from the 17th Street bars that have anchored the city’s gay life for decades. A design overhaul by Clodagh and Martin Brudnizki has given this mid-century icon a crisp, international sensibility, and its restaurant, The Pembroke, is a fashionable meeting place. Book one of the rooftop suites with a private terrace for views towards the Washington Monument.