City hotels Archives - Travel & Experiences at Boutique Hotels and Restaurants Around the World

No Reservations Best Paris Eats

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When you’re in a major city like Paris, bistros and cafes are great for no reservations best Paris eats… that are usually just steps away. PARIS is a walking city full of options, but may not be for all tastes…

You can find these Paris foods prepared and served everywhere: ham, cheese, bread, crepes, croissants, and light salads (plenty o’ photos below so you get a sense)…

If these foods sound good to you, for some/most meals you don’t need to know which cafes or restaurants you’ll drop in… but no matter what your vacation agenda is, I would recommend planning a few named bistro and cafe stops you don’t wanna miss (that btw, still need no reservations!)… and I share some below that didn’t disappoint in food experiences 🍽️

You want to be able to make some food memories in your Paris travels 💕 And remember, most most servers do speak English. And when you have something to say, just first be polite and say, Bonjour! 🇫🇷

…And cafes open early and close later, usually past dinner hours, so relax and enjoy your time there.

In certain months, sunset is past 10 pm (thank you City of Light phenomenon for naturally staying lit up late ✨ So if you’re traveling from U.S. you don’t lose much daylight time even on Day 1 😃 If it’s your first time there, it’s also a city of lights that is well-lit with street lighting and Eiffel Tower lights.

For the food stops you plan in advance but don’t have to be there at any specific time, keep your list simple, short, and sweet. For the other impromptu meals, when you’re hungry, use your senses to look around and read menus.

That makes exploring Paris more fun and enjoyable as you work up to your next snack. And whether you’re alone enjoying the walking city or with others, you can have a great time.

Let’s start with a simple breakfast snack you can get anywhere, like a croissant… this was around the corner from The Five Hotel in Latin Quarter.

This chocolate croissant with cappuccino is good to tie anyone over for a few hours…

Croque Monsieur – this ham and cheese toast (or you can order a Croque Madame with a poached or fried egg) is classic fare. This was across the street from where I was (just sayin’ it’s easy to score a meal like this without any hassle). There are always places to eat near the metro lines all over the city.

A light lemon crepe with my cafe au lait is my choice at this Ile de la Cite cafe (btw, you have to visit and do window shopping at the petite boutiques 🪟 )… that was on a different day than the croissant.

And you may wanna try more than one crepe. Banana and Nutella seem to be a fave, but that’s a little to0 heavy for my liking. I feel like I’ve seen that on a food truck in the States. 💭

Ok… now we get into the fun, like these planned no reservations Paris best eats that add to your trip…

Foie Gras – I’m not one to eat this often (or more than once a millennia),but I thought I’d give it a go as it is a French delicacy like caviar. When in Paris, do as the Parisians do 💋… But that’s completely up to you!.. I’ve had reindeer and whale in Scandinavia, so I’m willing to try anything once.

This was at Au Petit Sud-Ouest, a restaurant with a green awning that I found after my walking visit to the famous Rue Cler street where many food shops and markets are. It’s closer to the Eiffel Tower area and while it does attract visitors, no reservations are needed because it’s not on the busiest street.

you can even try foie gras for great no reservations best Paris eats

Osso Bucco – This is a fall-off-the bone veal shank Italian dish, but when you go to a French restaurant and you see this on the menu… it can be very good… and this one was in Les Halles (near Marais). Sometimes you go off script using your foodie instincts and that becomes a memorable meal. Especially if you’re tired of ham, cheese, and bread.

Both Les Deux Magots or Cafe de Flore in St. Germain du Pres are famous. The famous surrealist artists, and forward-thinking leaders like Picasso, Descartes, Ernest Hemingway, and Jean-Paul Sartre in the early 19th century used to frequent these historical establishments. Since Les Deux Magots is a brasserie, you need a reservation… but not for Cafe de Flore where you watch people go by.

Cafe de Flore is famous and is great for no reservations best Paris eats

And keep in mind, you can get a sandwich anywhere as a quick no reservations best Paris eats option. You’ll run into more Paul Bakery shops (big also in the DMV area) and macarons, than convenient stores. Bon appetit! 💕

New York Restaurant Week 2019 and Hot Hotel Pick

(New York Restaurant Week in the summertime)

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skyline break from new york restaurant week dining out — NYC Skyline

New York Restaurant Week runs until August 16, 2019. A good reason to visit The Big Apple this time of year. You can try a James Beard Award Winner, Union Square Café owned by famous pioneer restaurateur Danny Meyer where you can have a chilled melon soup and brook trout “a la plancha” – a 2 course lunch for $31+. Having had dinner there, they simply take customer service to another level by knowing about their guests…and there’s no tipping allowed (read Danny Meyer’s book “Setting the Table”).

And another one to add to the list is the legendary Tavern on the Green in Central Park. You can have lunch there for $26++ (2-courses) and select an appetizer like refreshing watermelon and feta salad, with plated salmon or chicken kabobs. Dinner for restaurants participating is $42++ (3 courses). It’s one of those places you want to mention to others you went to.

Ian Schrager has a boutique-y hotel with sleek lines and cool vibe hotel lighting you can visit and stay at for a very reasonable rate, especially considering central NYC — in the heart of the City near Washington Square, SOHO, West Village, and whatever your NYC visit is about.

ICYMI, Schrager is the OG credited for putting boutique hotels as a new category on the map. And if that doesn’t strike a chord, he was the original co-founder and owner of “Studio 54” 🪩

The Hudson New York Central Park is a great hotel to stay at for many reasons. It’s a posh and busy hotel (a real see-and-be-seen type hotel), decorated and designed by world-renowned Philippe Starck. I love his clear stackable acrylic chairs that make the space seem light and airy. The weightless chairs come in fun colors are inspired by the hotel decor (and were in my stay in this Paris posh hotel I stayed at).

The lobby is very cheery with some brick walls and neon color lights and chandeliers, and a dramatic escalator leading to the lobby. The hotel is a great value in the location that it is, next to Central Park. It’s so close to Central Park which is one of my favorite parks… so peaceful and beautiful with the horse-drawn carriages lined up. I’ve taken one of those and it’s romantic. You can even get a New York-style pretzel right there in Central Park to top off your visit.

The only downside is that the standard room is 150 square feet shoebox size (and really meant for just one person or someone you know intimately, like a spouse or a good friend). Don’t let that turn you off, because it’s still worth every penny.

You save money and if you’re in NYC on a mission like trying the trendiest restaurants during NYC restaurant week, shopping, or visiting touristy sites, then you spend very little time in your room other than to sleep and shower. But yes, in a room this size you’ll probably bump into each other on the way to the closet or the bathroom and shelf space, which is all this room has.

My sister and I made a great stay of it because we were able to “bond” sitting on the bed and talking about our lives. But there are I think 8 or 9 sizes and styles of room, including a suite option that’s 450 square feet. Of the two times I’ve stayed there, it has been the best value. August always has good deals for under $200, which is amazing for the great location.

And they make wonderful drinks that you can sit in many areas to enjoy including the Lobby Bar and there’s a lobby library lounge that you can sit at also if you want to work on your laptop or chat on the phone without many others around. They are run by a group that is known for very modern chic hotels. I stayed at one in South Beach, Miami, Florida called the Mondrian.

In Miami, this is cutting edge with avant-garde room artwork with a Japanese cartoon girl’s face on one of the transparent walls separating the living area from the bedroom. And the pool was amazing along the Biscayne Bay in South Beach. Just trying to paint a picture of their brand and what it’s like to stay at another property. You feel very trendy on the trendy side of town but that’s less touristy than some of the Beach Week hotels where word gets around (like the famous 24-hour News Cafe restaurant).

Back in NY vibes, if you want to check out less touristy neighborhoods with a food scene, try Hell’s Kitchen district, but don’t let the name scare you. Or maybe you are curious because of the Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen food show.

There you are close to the best shopping in the city. And just a short subway or cab ride from the busiest Apple store and largest FAO Schwartz I’ve ever been to. My sister and I like to make a girl’s weekend getaway out of it. You are close to Time Square where all the crowds are. And you can people watch at the now very popular Bryant Park.

We go in the August summer usually when the US Open tennis match is advertised everywhere. It’s often New York Restaurant Week in the Big Apple. We’ve tried a few “foodie” New York restaurateur restaurants owned by David Burke (BTW, he has a restaurant that has a great rooftop seating view of One World Trade Center) and Joe Bastianich (aka related to Lidia Bastianich and Eataly) restaurants in great neighborhoods like Greenwich Village.

National Cathedral Lights (An Unconventional Church)

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national cathedral lights that are unconventional features for the church

The National Cathedral lights up as one of the unconventional features, considering it’s the nation’s national cathedral and church. And it’s one I call home so I know it intimately.

During the year you can find it lit up with all kinds of surprises during the holidays and local impromptu events like the Washington Nationals taking home the win. ⚾️

You can still see the traditional Ex Nihilo tympanium scene lit up, where God breathed in earth (and light) out of nothing…

And in the day it’s all lit up through the stained glass windows. And to kids, the National Cathedral is known for its stain glassed space window that’s easy to find inside and the obscure Darth Vader grotesque that’s hard to find on the exterior. In case you’re wondering, that was a sculpture winner from a kid’s compettion that the National Geographic World magazine put out in the 1980’s.

And throughout the week, you can take a tour of the cathedral, that’s the nation’s symbol of peace and unity on your visit. And sometimes even a Tour & Tea where you sit seeing above the roof and looking out the window. 🫖

And learn all about the church that’s also home to so many special national events that the Presidents past and present attend.

It’s a modern cathedral built in the 19th century, so you’ll find all kinds of light up surprises. Downstairs isn’t your typical catacomb crypt you’ll find in many large churches. It’s much happier. You’ll find…

A large gift bookstore that’s an extension from the small one upstairs. And down the “secret passageway” stairs, you don’t want to miss seeing the celebration of life remembrance chapels.

On certain days of the month, you can find a labyrinth maze that’s meant to be a self-discovery moment…

The National Cathedral Lights also represents an opportunity for personal growth as it’s also known as the Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage. And in this maze you’ll go on your own inner journey, traveling on feet as fast or slow as you want.

This could be a wellness or sacred retreat. You’ll see others doing the same and sometimes there are classes you can attend online or in person. Just remember, you’re never alone!

And if you’re visiting from out of town and need best DC restaurant for groups and DC hotel recommendations that are a short drive or Uber ride from the Cathedral, these are my insider picks for you. 😊

Fall Color President Drives to Homes

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You can appreciate fall color President home drives to former President Washington and Jefferson historic homes when you’re in Washington DC. And appreciate the two memorials (Washington Monument and Jeffereson Memorial) PLUS the Lincoln Memorial… and the current President’s home at the White House… and so much more!

Then within a beautiful 45-minute and peaceful drive from DC, you can take the no-stop (and no traffic light) George Washington Parkway to George Washington’s home.

Mount Vernon is one of the best fall color President home drives you don’t wanna miss. 💕 And you can visit year-round and visit George Washington’s home and the very large souvenir shop where you’ll find all kinds of local goodies.

You can also bicycle around on the GW Parkway Trail to get there from Alexandria which is one of my preferred ways. You can enjoy the memorial skyline, natural fallscape, and Potomac River water landscapes!

Weekends are a great time for either DC area drives or bikes as traffic is minimal compared to the work week.

And along the way, do stop off at one or more of these parks to have a break or picnic: Belle Haven Park, Riverside Park, or Fort Hunt Park where there’s a bike and pedestrian trail that’s a delightful shaded bike ride. 🚴‍♀️ These are my biased insider travel tips I’d recommend. 😉

And if you want to see the water AND also then the mountains, you can visit Monticello (home to Thomas Jefferson) just a couple hours away in Charlottesville. Which btw, has some of the best Virginia wineries.

To see more, stay in these DC-area hotels and spend less time in the car and more time enjoying and sightseeing. 🤩

NY Film Festival at Lincoln Center

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new york film festival is at the lincoln center and the kennedy center is the largest performance arts theater

Are you a film buff who maybe visits the annual NY Film Festival? Someone who love cinema 🎥 and knows everything about diverse films that most people aren’t familiar with.

…If that’s calling you, then you’re probably excited when film festivals crop up around the world with fall’s crisp air… just in time to pack up the outdoor festivals and take them indoors.

The NY Film Festival at the Lincoln Center is one such festival that celebrates by unleashing a New York freedom of international films… a fitting melting pot liberty symbol that she (NYC) is.🗽

And the New York Film Festival has been a tradition since the 1960s when classic black and white films were popular.

The Festival has about double the 38,000 Cannes Film Festival attendees, in case you’re curious or counting.

And you can see the lineup of actor’s films like Bradley Cooper’s Maestro about Composer Leonard Bernstein (as a 2023 highlight).

But, besides the NY Film Festival, another reason to visit the Lincoln Center is it’s home to the New York Philharmonic. People often add “symphony” or “orchestra” to the end as a better reference.

…Which btw, a symphony is actually a music piece or composition, and an orchestra is the group of musicians that can make a composition with their harmonious instruments.

And the Lincoln Center is one place where this can all happen with live performances.

It’s a super unique center that’s worth a visit…

You probaby didn’t know that you can take 75-minute tours of the recently renovated Lincoln Center next time you’re touring in town. The David Geffen Hall is a new architectural masterpiece and amphitheater part of the Lincoln Center project that just opened in October 2022.

And in summertime, keep your eye out for the FREE Summer in the City event where Studio54 disco balls can meet modern Hip Hop dance. And sometimes flamingo (fun and deflatable) floats around minus the real Bird of Paradise and palm trees (well… maybe with climate change?).

When in the Big Apple in the summer, be sure to get some good NYC Restaurant Week eats

And if you’re heading to DC or down south, the busiest performing arts center is the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Close to the Potomac River waterfront in Georgetown, the Kennedy Center is a few hour’s drive from NYC. If or when you’re there, these are some great DC local restaurants and DC hotels to checkout. I met with many DC brunch groups for good eats!

US Open Tennis NYC

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If you’re a tennis fan, then the US Open Tennis Grand Slam Flushing Meadows event is a favorite. 🎾 And, you can enjoy NYC touring the Flat Iron Building district while you’re there. It’s close to the Eataly that I remember going to on its opening day. Those were the days. I worked in foodie restaurants and got to sit on the set of the The Martha Stewart show. Now, I’m really dating myself. 😅

And, the US Open tennis players back then are mostly all retired, but Djokovic had already won his first Glam Slam against Nadal and Federer.

With the New York US Open event, I especially like that the players get to express themselves in their sporty clothing (like I get to express my bright colors as I’m not afraid of the cuh-lah!)… and that’s totally different from Wimbledon pageantry where everyone wears white. But, that’s (white) hot too!

And coming up soon, there’s plenty to get excited about for the US Open Tennis…

The trophies are high-class Tiffany branded so they’re made by a NYC company. 🏆 Who would’ve thought it would be stylish to hold a trophy to sweeten the silver pot?

Do we think Djokovic or upsetting newcomer Carlos Alcaraz will win this time? And what about Swiatek or Jabeur for the Ladies trophy?

It’s anyone’s game… and that’s btw, why they play!

If you’ll be there or you live there in the NY or NJ area, you can check out mouth-watering foods served up like at the Flavors of the Open event happening during the US Open Tennis event (as a doubles event!)… this is super special because top local chefs will feature dishes, and there will be live music entertainment. We all could use a ‘lil hip-hop and pep in our step. You can read the lineup on their site.

David Burke is one of the chefs featured. And if you’re there you can also visit his restaurants! And for the cutest boutique stay, I love this place. Like I love hotels and I love New York! ❤️

And if you want to be in the thick of it in Queens ♕, this is a Flushing boutique hotel or a cool Brooklyn boutique with a stair-stepping building that fits in the NYC skyscraper skyline 🗽

take time to eat out during the US Open Tennis that's summer friendly

Minnesota State Fair Weekend Things To Do

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minnesota state fair has birthday funfetti cupcakes

The Minnesota State Fair is a great fun event to visit over a warm weekend, especially if you’re a foodie or if you have other Minnesota local agendas.

For foodies, there are 34 new official foods and 7 new food vendors participating. Of course, there’s funfetti Birthday Cake sprinkled 🧁 and long hot dogs 🌭 everything…

But there are also foods I would serve and add to the gourmet menu at parties and catering events I planned. Like creative flavor pairing eats: hummus with basil at Holy Land in the International Bazaar. That by the way is gluten-free.

…And fried green tomato sandwich, fried egg hole, or Halloumi cheese on toast. Plus, local unusual red-wine infused pizza sauce, huckleberry and lavender lemonades, St. Paul pickle kettle fudge, and churros with cinnamon ice cream. I mean c’mon 😋 this is so fitting for post-2020… (and I thought I was cutting-edge with gourmet popcorn jelly beans 🤣).

To win you back, this was my home contribution to angel food cake and ice cream (not bad, huh?)

angel food cake and ice cream are served at Minnesota State Fair

At the Minnesota State Fair, you’ll also see the purist Angel Food Cake competition (no strawberries 🍓 or glaze on top).

…Maybe you’re visiting family or checking out a Minnesota Vikings game at the U.S. Bank Stadium (Quarterback Kirk Cousins who used to be the QB for my hometown Washington Commanders).

…Or you’re in for a girls-only weekend checking out Mall of America (the mall on your bucket list of mega malls)… like East Coast Tysons Corner I and Galleria II that I grew up with.

Once in a while, a Cirque du Soleil 🎪 would come through on the limited real estate greens… but nothing like the entertainment scene at The Minnesota Mall.

But in Minnesota’s Mall of America, there’s more of a year-round fair feeling with the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and water animals at the Sea Life public aquarium.

And for me, Minnesota hit the map when I learned about specialty scrapbooking. Some ladies were doing this in my office and I’m all about sharing photos and memories (…can you tell?). Creative Memories is from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and the whole scrapbook phenomenon.

I used to throw scrapbook parties for my creative outlet and go to the Scrapbook Expo Fairs in Chantilly, VA, and A Shopping Spree! in Raleigh, NC.

Some chase concerts, I chased scrapbooking events back then… and today concerts and fairs too!

And if creative is up your alley, the Minnesota State Fair has an agenda for creatives! 👩‍🎨

The creative activities include stamps, postcards, and baked product competitions with chocolate chip cookies, Bundt cakes, sourdough, and banana bread as a few categories. 🍞

And the Minnesota State Fair has tranquil artistic gardens (not your usual fair features). So take a looksy around 👀

The State Liberty Bell from 1921 is all green and dolled up as a dense topiary (I have a great sticker for that but no emoji 😊) with moss roses and 6,000 succulents 🌵that btw, we need for zen garden sustainability as cactus-like plants are very efficient and need little water!

And see the waterfall and herb features that you can easily miss around the regular greenery!

While gardens are the quiet areas of the fair, they are doing the community a world of good. And you can see the pop of color and pink roses everywhere if that’s your thing like it is mine.

And from there, you can do a small city trip…

You could stay close by in Saint Paul (the capital) and get a feel for the city. Some places have a very fairytale vibe with blue and gold silky fabrics bedding with frills and tassels. 🛏️

2023 Philly Restaurant Week Best

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Depending on what cuisine you like, at 2023 Philly Restaurant Week there’s something for you. After Labor Day’s big Made in America Music Festival curated by Jay-Z, or Parx horse races, you can get your fill of good Philly eats.

Center City District 2023 Philly Restaurant Week has lobster pot pie, mac-n-cheese, arancini, and peach desserts on the menu, so there’s something for every taste! 😋 And you like seafood (see-food 👀), you’ll like my best picks…

Philly restaurant week has lobster dishes like this lobster macaroni

In 2023, it’s $45/3-course dinner and $20/2-course lunch. Forget cheesesteak hoagies for this one because this is the finest aged cuisine brought to one of the oldest cities in America:

Some fave highlights are seafood and Italian cuisine.

The 40-year old Oyster House (BEST seafood) is offering luxe Lobster Roll (chilled New England Style with fries), four oysters. and chocolate panna cotta as a sample $45 menu… that’s a lotta lob and oy-STAHS that are hard to resist! 🦞

And if you’re allergic, then maybe the 30-year old Alice Pizza restaurant inspired by authentic ❤️ Rome foods, can be your new love. Oozing Burrata cheese, Jumbo shrimp (gotta love the oxymoron! 🍤), Amatriciana famous Roman pasta, and sfogliatelle pastries with vanilla gelato or traditional tiramisu. Seafood and cheese are okay in Philly!

And if you want to get really authentic, you may want to try…

Gran Caffe L’Aquila with cinghiale meatballs, monkfish puttanesca-style, and gelato made by the Italian & World (Gelato) Press Champion, Stefano Biasini, that’s like winning the World Cup of Gelato. 🍨

And if Italian isn’t your food vibe, you’ll also find German, Middle Eastern, Thai, and so much more.

Philly is an easy drive on the east coast.

If you need a stay recommend, this is a boutique hotel with so much inspiring charm from the cute building to the mood room interior mod-design headboards adorned with black and white (trending) striped drapes…. NOT your boring blah-beige or solid-color window treatments. And if you look up in the ceiling, you’ll see different mod features you’d see in HGTV dream makeover homes. And for an eclectic feel of unusual art and mix-n-match patterns, this is a moderate-affordable stay worth checking in and checking out!

…And you may be interested in the NYC Restaurant Week or DC Restaurant Week just a few short hours away.

Blue Super Moons In The Air

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blue super moons can be in a shop window

With Blue Super Moons, you can see them everywhere in the world (like this Louis Vuitton shop window, haha) because the moon is super high close to the planet we all live on. And like an ordinary find such as Blue Moon beers 🍻, Blue Super Moon are earthly sightings… but unlike earthly occurrences, they happen every 10 years or so as the second full moon in one month. 🍻 That’s like twin moons.

And now that we’ve established Blue super moons are SPECIAL, the 2023 one was seen from Lake Michigan to Toronto to the Apollo ruins in Greece. And won’t return until after 2030. In my area, it was cloudy and rainy so I missed the super event live, but am over the moon seeing all the after-photos with the building foregrounds. 🌑 But you can find more natural spots too…

Next time you wonder where to catch the moon, the beach is a perfect place. After you check out the sunset on the horizon sitting on the cool sand, you can wait for the blue super moon to appear like glitter in the air.

🎶Pink “Glitter in the Air” song lyrics:

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight?

And then there’s the day…

When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite day field trips was to the Planetarium where we saw the 3-D planet films and constellation light experiences.

And these post-internet days, telescopes are still in great use. One of the largest telescopes is at the U.S. Naval Observatory in DC.

Today we can see the daily and current moon phase with NASA’s high-tech equipment. And if you want to check it out while you’re visiting DC, these are some great one-of-a-kind DC boutique hotels to stay at… and maybe experience and enjoy DC Restaurant Week.

5 Best DC Convention Hotels to Checkout (and Check-In)

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The Watergate Hotel is walking distance to the Georgetown Waterfront

The best Washington DC convention hotels and neighborhood areas are just minutes from free museums, the downtown mall, and some of the best restaurants in the nation. I grew up in the area and worked in local DC area hotels. As an insider, I have watched the DC area revitalize. And some areas in the past that weren’t all that safe are now walkable. 🎉

The northwest area where the White House is, is one of the nicest (the Capitol is on the east side as many get confused). Both the east and northeast areas and growing. And Adams Morgan/U Street areas and surrounding are still hoppin’ busy.

Some hotels have changed names and some are built in the middle of the city where there seemed to be no additional space available to erect another hotel building (like the newest Marriott mega hotel – more below).

Depending on where you want to spend your time in DC most, here are some of my favorites based on long-standing reputation, trying their restaurants, and just being in the area (I don’t usually have to stay in a hotel but I have because I love hotels).

These are the Best 5 Washington DC hotel areas (I wouldn’t mind staying in or visiting again as a local guest getaway 😊):

Georgetown and Virginia border (4 miles from Ronald Reagan National Airport). One of the coolest hotels after it got its facelift before 2019, is the Watergate Hotel near the Kennedy Center and just minutes walking into Georgetown (mega outdoor shopping streets) that runs along Rock Creek Parkway (nice drive). The name may sound familiar as that’s where the Watergate Nixon scandal occurred in the early 70s. They’ve remodeled the hotel since. The hotel now has a really neat vibe inside that you’ll feel right away.

…And I’m told this renovation comes with a Mid-Century vibe in hotel personnel uniforms, but I was too busy admiring the lobby architecture, restroom design (check it out!), and food in my face in the restaurant to notice! 😅 Oh, and if you take an Uber or cab to the airport, be sure they drive across Arlington Memorial Bridge so you can catch a glimpse of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery that you definitely don’t wanna miss!

White House and 14^th Street. In the heart of DC, you can stay at the beautiful established Willard Hotel near 14^th Street (that has a bridge named after it). The Willard serves a nice afternoon tea comparable to the Ritz Carlton that is known for its tea and scones. The W is one of the best Washington DC convention hotels with views of the Washington DC “mall” on the rooftop bar terrace (POV Lounge). If you take a Segway tour you’ll be able to see the best view of the Capitol from Pennsylvania Ave. even during rush hour!

Convention Center. One of the newest hotels built after 2010 is the Marriott Marquis. It has an open lobby and a covered connector to enter the Convention Center as one of the most convenient, best Washington DC convention hotels. I stayed there for a convention I was actually working at. It’s just minutes from DC City Center, a newly revitalized area that has luxury, high-end shopping, and great restaurants… and just minutes from more great restaurants in DC Gallery Place or Chinatown. During Cherry Blossom season, this is where you want to be.

These are happening spots now, but both were areas you did not want to walk around in late at night prior to the 90s.

Dupont Circle area. The Omni Shoreham in Adams Morgan/Woodley Park area is also a grand hotel closer to the Smithsonian National Zoo. The area is great if you want to be a little bit further from all the hustle and bustle of the downtown mall area. I planned parties for a few years at one of the popular restaurants across the street, so I know the scene. 🎉

It’s in the downtown heart of many events, and I remember enjoying working at Zoofari (where all the foodie restaurants come together and display a tasting or tapas), Zoolights (great for kids!), and all the fun Embassy events. You get your cultural fill! 🌎

Southwest Watefront (Wharf). And if you want a really nice lounge area, visit the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It’s close to the L’Enfant Plaza metro stop and the popular re-vitalized Southwest Waterfront (The Wharf) area. It’s funny because most of these areas have changed so much… if only you were there! 💭

The Wharf used to be where you bought crabs from the boats on the water to take home, but people didn’t go there as a destination place or to dine at restaurants.. you can now take the water taxi (the bright yellow color of the original taxi cabs) run by The Potomac River Boat Company. They run regularly by the Wharf, Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and National Harbor.

You can even then take the boat from Alexandria to a Nationals baseball game at Navy Yards. And you can check out one of the many restaurants and maybe even a DC restaurant week.

baseball is a great downtime pastime away from washington dc convention hotels and conventions