Dupont Circle

Exploring Dupont Circle: Neighborhood Guide

When you choose Hotel Madera for your Washington, D.C. getaway, prestigious museums, embassies, and cultural events are just the beginning. Our vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood is home to many of the city’s most unique bistros, bars, boutiques, and bookstores. You can explore a repurposed trolley station that is now a permanent art museum, attend an annual High Heel Drag Queen Race, or kick back around an iconic fountain.

If you’re in the mood for eclectic, you’ve come to the right place — there’s more than meets the eye in this historic district! And the best part? Dupont Circle is just one of a long list of amazing neighborhoods in the Nation’s Capital.
Here are some of our favorite places to visit in Dupont Circle.

Start Right Here at Hotel Madera

Staying at Hotel Madera puts you right in the heart of Dupont Circle, at 1310 New Hampshire — a short walk to the neighborhood’s iconic namesake fountain and mere steps away from the best of the city.

Believe it or not, you don’t even have to leave the hotel to experience some of the best features of the hood. Our on-site experiences offer dynamic D.C. dining at Firefly Restaurant, incredible cocktails, happy hours, brunches, themed nights, and even mixology classes! So we mean it when we say we’re a big part of the fun happening in the city. Plus, getting here is easy, as is getting around once you’re settled.

Meet or Capture a Selfie at the Fountain

The famous fountain is located right in the center of the Dupont Circle. Not only does it anchor the neighborhood and serve as a landmark for visitors and residents alike, it’s also a social gathering spot where you can linger and enjoy the D.C. sunshine. Take a postcard-perfect selfie or kick back with your favorite book. Or gather with friends, listen to live music, chat, or lounge in the grass without an agenda. Your Dupont Circle experience can be as laidback as you’d like.

Head Underground for Art

Want to get a taste of D.C.’s underground art scene? Head down below street level! Explore 15,000 square feet of once-abandoned space transformed into an art venue like no other. Dupont Underground is a versatile, ever-changing space where you can create, interact, and deepen your cultural knowledge. In addition to its own curated programming, Dupont Underground provides event and exhibition space for partnering organizations, collaborating with galleries, art spaces, and artists. It provides a local nexus to develop collaborations with innovative cultural institutions around the world. In a city filled with incredible art and culture, Dupont Underground stands out as one of the most unique and innovative.

Stroll Embassy Row

Embassy Row is classic D.C. in every way: a leafy, tree-lined avenue west of the circle showcasing grand mansions and intriguing diplomatic outposts. Stretching for two miles along Massachusetts Avenue, it’s the ideal place to stroll and think about D.C.’s role as a global center for diplomacy. Along the way, you’ll spot national embassies, of course, but also statues and memorials for some of history’s most significant world leaders. Visit the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in front of the Indian Embassy, the Winston Churchill statue in front of the Embassy of the United Kingdom, and the Nelson Mandela statue outside the Embassy of South Africa. Or simply wander and enjoy all the fascinating architecture representing nations around the world.

Find the Freshest Produce

Do you love checking out family-friendly community events to rub elbows with locals? Head to the Dupont Circle Farmers Market. It’s open every Sunday, year-round, and offers a wide variety of fresh, local produce, baked goods, and more. Wander the stands and sample the flavors of the over 40 farmers and producers who come to the market to sell their goods. This is the place to go for D.C.’s freshest fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, breads, fresh pasta, flowers, and other seasonal goodies. 

Wander a World-Class Art Museum

Modern art lovers won’t want to miss The Phillips Collection. This beloved, intimate D.C. museum features impressionist and modernist works, including masterpieces by Renoir and Rothko, Bonnard and O’Keeffe, van Gogh, and Diebenkorn. It was America’s first museum of modern art, founded over 100 years ago, in 1921. With art this great, it’s worth visiting more than once! The Phillips Collection galleries are frequently rearranged to facilitate new conversations between artworks and fresh experiences for visitors.

Dine at D.C.’s Best

The list of great dining experiences in Dupont Circle is a long one, but sushi lovers won’t want to miss the chance to dine at Sushi Taro. Founded by the parents of brothers Jin Yamazaki and chef Nobu Yamazaki, this Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant is one of the city’s most celebrated and a Dupont Circle treasure. 

If you’re that perfect combination of foodie and booklover, head to Kramers. This longtime favorite hangout combines a well-stocked bookstore with a bustling cafe whose menu was created by a James Beard Award-winning chef. The all-day menu transitions from breakfast and brunch favorites during the day to mouth-watering pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches for dinner — there’s something here for every craving.

Feel like staying a little closer to homebase? Our very own restaurant, Firefly, offers a cozy retreat with delicious New American cuisine and comfort food staples. Enjoy classic dishes with a modern twist, paired with handcrafted cocktails, curated wines, and local brews. Relax in our lounge, dining room, or bustling outdoor terrace. 

Start Planning Your Washington D.C. Getaway

Book your stay and experience the welcoming and quirky sides of Dupont Circle right here at Hotel Madera. D.C. goes way beyond our neighborhood, of course! Explore our favorite things to do throughout the city and start planning your trip to D.C.’s endless list of world-famous landmarks and museums.