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Condé Nast Traveler picks
 Best of Washington, D.C.
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Marked by grand boulevards, tree-ringed roundabouts, stately institutes of higher learning, and iconic landmarks, the nation's capital still preserves the power and influence instilled in it by the Founding Fathers. Each year, throngs of visitors flock to the District of Columbia for its buildings of grand proportions, its multitude of museums (many of them free) and theaters that recall the city's storied past.
Attractions & Activities D.C. has one of the most easy-to-navigate subway systems in the country. The Metrorail links all major points (and tourist spots) in the District, Maryland, and Virginia (metroopensdoors.com). On Capitol Hill, the centrally located U.S. Capitol, a veritable political powerhouse, rises above the expanse of green lawn on the east end of the National Mall. A self-guided tour is the best way to navigate the labyrinth. Must-sees include the Old Supreme Court Chamber, which contains several of the furnishings that were in place when the court ruled here from 1810 through 1860, and the 180-foot high Rotunda, with its intricate frieze portraying George Washington and other distinguished statesmen (202-225-6827; aoc.gov). Down Independence Avenue, the grand Library of Congress displays some of the more than 130 million items—from manuscripts and books (in some 460 languages) to musical scores and photographs—in its vast collection. The most stunning room is the gold-leaf-domed Main Reading Room, in the Thomas Jefferson Building, where you can pore over documents retrieved for you by the librarians, or wander among the shelves yourself. "American Treasures of the Library of Congress," a permanent exhibition in the library, includes Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence (202-707-5000; loc.gov). Next door, at the Supreme Court, visitors can catch a glimpse of the action when court is in session (from October through April). Skip the 30-minute lecture held when court isn't in session for the rotating exhibitions and informative film in the basement (202-479-3211; supreme-courtus.gov). Over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the stately White House is a popular tourist stop, and indeed the presidential residence is a must-see for first-time Washington visitors. Line up early in the day to increase your odds of getting tickets for the self-guided tour of the eight rooms open to the public (202-456-7041; whitehouse.gov). Running between the Capitol and the Washington Monument, the grassy expanse of the National Mall is home to a few key memorials. The iconic Washington Monument—just west of the Mall and east of the Reflecting Pool—affords one of the city's best views. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis (202-426-6841; nps.gov/nacc). Elegantly positioned at the west end of the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, with its Doric columns, takes its inspiration from Greek architecture, and houses a 19-foot-tall bronze statue of the man from Illinois (202-426-6841; nps.gov/linc). North of here, the austere Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a V-shaped granite wall that winds along a walkway and is etched with the names of those killed in the conflict (202-426-6841; nps.gov/vive). Poised across the Tidal Basin, the regal Jefferson Memorial incorporates the president's aesthetic and is one of the city's loveliest monuments—particularly in spring, when the surrounding cherry blossoms are in bloom (202-737-4215; nps.gov/thje). Along the Mall are museums focusing on everything from aviation and space history—the National Air and Space Museum (202-633-1000; nasm.si.edu)—to totem poles and tribal peoples' ceremonial dress: the National Museum of the American Indian (202-633-1000; nmai.si.edu). Many of these cultural institutions are situated side by side, making it easy to cover serious ground—and huge chunks of history—in a short visit. The centrally located National Gallery houses a collection of Western art from the thirteenth to the nineteenth centuries, as well as a hefty collection of modern art. An adjacent sculpture garden, which displays pieces by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein and Joan Miró, becomes an ice-skating rink in the colder months (202-842-6247; nga.gov). Several other museums off the Mall are worth seeking out. To the west, the Holocaust Memorial delivers a sobering view of one of civilization's darkest times. Particularly moving in its ability to quantify the loss of human life is the exhibit containing a vast collection of personal effects such as suitcases, shoes, and eyeglasses (202-488-0400; ushmm.org). East of the Capitol, the Folger Shakespeare Library, with an Art Deco facade, is home to the world's most expansive collection of the immortal bard's works, including a set of First Folios from 1623 and other rare Renaissance manuscripts. The Folger also has its own theater and stages a selection of Elizabethan performances (202-544-4600; folger.edu). In downtown Penn Quarter, north of the main drag, Pennsylvania Avenue, the ornate Smithsonian American Art Museum, which just reopened after a significant renovation, now displays five times the number of artworks previously on view, including newly acquired works by Edward Hopper and Oscar Bluemner (202-633-1000; americanart.si.edu). Situated in the heart of downtown on Ninth Street, the International Spy Museum offers a glimpse into the world of espionage with its collection of objects created for special-ops, including a KGB lipstick pistol (202-393-7798; spymu-seum.org). Across town, in Dupont Circle, the Phillips Collection includes masterpieces by Rothko, Picasso, and Degas (202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org). Near Foggy Bottom, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the country's first fine art museum, displays an impressive assemblage of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American works and the largest assortment of paintings by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot outside France (202-639-1700; corcoran.edu). Lodging Hotels in D.C. tend toward luxe, high-end accommodations—given the fat wallets of visiting politicos and dignitaries. Several of the top hotels appear on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List: the Four Seasons Hotel, on the edge of Georgetown; the Hay-Adams, the Sofitel Lafayette Square, and the Willard InterContinental, all just blocks from the White House; the Ritz-Carlton downtown and the one in Georgetown; The Madison, off Massachusetts Avenue; and the Mandarin Oriental, between the Tidal Basin and the Mall. The Hotel Palomar, in Dupont Circle, has generous-sized rooms (520 square feet) and dramatic Italian marble bathrooms. Its sister property, the Hotel Rouge, located near Embassy Row, is similarly sleek, with a vibrant red lobby where house music plays. You'll find another option in the gentrified Penn Quarter: the warm but stylish Hotel Monaco, in the city's old post office (which lends to its cavernous feel). Dining A smattering of hip new restaurants cater to the city's diverse diners—locals and out-of-towners alike. One of the hottest is Zengo, in Penn Quarter, where artful decor takes center stage. In the contemporary, bold-hued space, diners dig into a heady mélange of Latin and Asian cuisine: lobster and habanero sushi rolls and wonton tacos nestled in mango salsa (781 7th St. N.W.; 202-393-2929; entrées, $18–$27). Cityzen, in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, crafts an ambitious menu of foie gras risotto and cod from Japan. For true indulgence, try chef Eric Ziebold's five-course tasting menu (202-787-6006; tasting menu, from $80). If you can't snag a reservation at CityZen, try the hotel's well-priced Café MoZU, which has an excellent sushi bar (202-787-6868; entrées, $19–$32). At Zola, in the International Spy Museum, subtle nods to the cloak-and-dagger trade appear throughout—from the declassified documents on the walls to the one-way window that lets you spy on the kitchen staff. The jumbo lump crab cakes are substantial, and the grilled red snapper Niçoise comes with pickled white anchovies and saffron aioli (800 F St. N.W.; 202-654-0999; entrées, $16–$25). Young theatergoers flock to the buzzing downtown hot spot Zaytinya, where the open kitchen, fireplace, and pan-Mediterranean cuisine—Greek, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Turkish—create a cozy vibe. Don't miss the tender braised lamb, delicate spanakopita, and dreamy zucchini-and-cheese patties (701 9th St. N.W.; 202-638-0800; mezes, $5–$12; entrées, $15–$25). IndeBleu, in Chinatown, serves well-executed French-Indian cuisine in a high-drama setting: massive high-backed lounge chairs and video screens instead of bathroom mirrors (707 G St. N.W.; 202-333-2538; entrées, $25–$39). Off Mount Vernon Square, Acadiana pays homage to its Southern roots with a hearty creole menu. A must-have is the smoked chicken and andouille sausage gumbo (901 New York Ave. N.W.; 202-408-8848, entrées, $21–$29). In the Dupont Circle area, Sette Osteria serves authentic, reasonably priced, and generous-sized wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas in a warm, airy space. The large outdoor patio makes for great alfresco dining on balmy days (1666 Connecticut Ave.; 202-483-3070; entrées, $10–$19). Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Condé Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept free travel and accommodations. Condé Nast Traveler does not. It is independent of the travel industry. The magazine always pays its way, and, as far as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world—both the good and the bad—as other travelers do, and their reports and recommendations are fair, impartial, and authoritative.
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