Washington, DC

Washington, DC is defined by architecture on an unusually grand scale. Neoclassical monuments, marble government buildings and Pierre L’Enfant’s sweeping avenues create the ceremonial city everyone recognises, but beyond the National Mall lies a far more intimate capital. Historic row houses, Beaux-Arts mansions and Mid-Century buildings fill neighbourhoods such as Dupont Circle, Georgetown and Capitol Hill, while former industrial districts and waterfront areas have introduced ambitious contemporary architecture. The Smithsonian museums add another dimension, making art, design and culture unusually accessible parts of everyday city life.

Food and drink increasingly reflect Washington’s international character rather than its political reputation. Ethiopian cuisine has a particularly important place in the city, while generations of immigrants from Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East have created an exceptionally diverse dining landscape. Historic institutions and neighbourhood restaurants now coexist with ambitious chef-led kitchens, natural wine bars, specialty coffee and an increasingly sophisticated cocktail scene. The nearby Chesapeake also brings blue crab, oysters and other Mid-Atlantic ingredients firmly onto Washington menus.

Washington’s most interesting hotels reveal another side of the capital. Historic banks, former apartment buildings, grand townhouses and Modernist structures have become distinctive places to stay, often combining serious art collections and adventurous interiors with restaurants and bars that attract locals as readily as political visitors. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where architecture, food, art and neighbourhood character come together—hotels that reveal Washington as a living creative city rather than simply the backdrop to American politics.