Fresh-faced and forward-looking, this D.C. district might not make the rules, but it certainly has some sway. Experience the renewed bohemian energy of this formerly exclusive district.
Dupont Circle is the kind of place that likes to keep ahead of the times. First established as a neighborhood set aside for Washington’s 19th-century elite, the Circle reinvented itself as an enclave for counterculture in the 1960s and gay and lesbian rights activists in the 1970s. Today, the district northeast of Downtown D.C. has a resident population of progressive up-and-comers that still put the wind in the capital city’s sails.
The first thing you’ll notice about Dupont Circle is its comfortable, lived-in atmosphere. In a city that’s constantly in flux, the locals in the Circle sit tight. Stick around awhile and you’ll want to settle in, too. This is the kind of place where you can stay all day – from the first grind of the espresso machine to the last call for drinks at the bar.
The district radiates from a small circular park, which is a regular hangout for locals to sit and read or challenge one another in chess. Pick up unique finds in the district’s thrift stores or spend some time rifling through retro and freshly minted records. Explore the district’s LGBT heartland on P Street Northwest, which switches effortlessly from daytime cafe strip to buzzing nightlife epicenter. Our pick? You can’t go past D.C.’s unofficial signature dish: a steaming bowl of mussels, cooked Belgian style.
If you feel like stretching your legs, nearby Rock Creek Parkway is perfect for working off last night’s wine. There’s plenty more to see in Dupont Circle on your own two feet. Take a stroll around the leafy streets to see some of the city’s international embassies, which have taken up residence in ornate Victorian mansions. Check out the Brewmaster’s Castle or visit the revival-style manor that lodged President Woodrow Wilson in his final years.