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Dupont Circle

Washington, DC

A lively neighbourhood around its fountain circle, with Embassy Row's mansions, bookshops, cafés, bars and Adams Morgan's nightlife just north.

Best for Nightlife · Upscale

Transport
4/5
Sights
3/5
Value
3/5
Quiet
3/5
Food
5/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$250/night · 20 min to the National Mall

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Dupont Circle on the map

Why stay here

  • Restaurants, cafés and bars
  • Embassy Row and the Phillips Collection
  • Red Line to Downtown

Who should stay here

  • Food and nightlife lovers
  • Couples
  • LGBTQ+ travellers

Not ideal if…

  • You want to walk to the Mall
  • You want quiet weekend nights
  • You're travelling with young kids

What it's like

Dupont Circle is one of DC's most vibrant neighbourhoods: Embassy Row's grand mansions line Massachusetts Avenue, Connecticut Avenue has bookshops and cafés, and the Phillips Collection is America's first museum of modern art. It's the historic heart of DC's LGBTQ+ community, and Adams Morgan's bars and global food are a short walk north.

It's a great base for food and nightlife, with the Red Line to Downtown. It's a 20-minute walk or Metro ride to the Mall, and weekend nights are lively.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Connecticut Avenue

    Bookshops, cafés and restaurants.

  • Embassy Row

    Massachusetts Avenue's grand embassies.

  • 18th Street (Adams Morgan)

    Bars and global restaurants.

Getting around

Nearest stations
Dupont Circle station on the Red Line, and buses along Connecticut and Massachusetts avenues.
To the National Mall
About 20 minutes
From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
About 30 minutes: Metro Yellow or Blue Line to Metro Center, then the Red Line to Dupont Circle.

Nearby attractions

  • The Phillips Collection

    Renoir, Rothko and more in a family mansion.

  • Embassy Row

    A walk past the grandest embassies.

  • Dupont Circle farmers' market

    Sunday market around the circle.

Where to eat and drink

  • 17th Street

    Bars and brunch spots.

  • Adams Morgan

    Late-night bars and global food.

Where to stay in Dupont Circle

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Luxury pick

The Jefferson

Why we like it: Classic Beaux-Arts hotel on 16th Street.

Typical luxury rate in Dupont Circle: ~$550/night

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Luxury pick

The Dupont Circle Hotel

Why we like it: Modern hotel right on the circle with a rooftop bar.

Typical luxury rate in Dupont Circle: ~$550/night

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Boutique pick

The LINE Hotel DC

Why we like it: Hotel in a converted 1912 church in Adams Morgan.

Typical mid-range rate in Dupont Circle: ~$250/night

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Hotels in Dupont CircleMid-range from ~$250/night

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