A Neighborhood Guide to Dupont Circle and Embassy Row

Washington, DC has no shortage of famous sights, but Dupont Circle is worth exploring in its own right. Embassy Row, historic homes, independent shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions all sit within a few walkable blocks. 

Hotel Madera puts you right in the middle of it. If you're looking for some things to do in Dupont Circle, here are a few places to start.

Walk Embassy Row

Start near Dupont Circle and head northwest along Massachusetts Avenue, home to one of DC's most recognizable stretches of architecture. Known as Embassy Row, the avenue passes diplomatic residences and embassies representing countries from around the world.

Keep an eye out for rows of national flags, ornate iron gates, and grand facades. You'll spot Queen Anne, Beaux Arts, Neoclassical, and Mediterranean-style architecture along the route, much of it dating back to the neighborhood's days as one of Washington's most fashionable residential areas.

Many of these buildings began as private estates before becoming diplomatic residences. Grab a coffee before you go, take your time, and don't forget to look up.

Visit Anderson House

Step inside Anderson House for a closer look at the Gilded Age homes that shaped this part of DC. Larz Anderson and his wife Isabel built the mansion in 1905, and the Society of the Cincinnati has called it home since 1938.

Tour the historic rooms, explore current exhibitions, or attend one of the house's historical programs. The Society's American Revolution Institute also uses the property to promote a deeper understanding of the Revolutionary generation.

After spending the morning looking at Embassy Row from the sidewalk, walking through Anderson House puts some of that architecture into context. You can see the scale and detail of one of these residences from the inside and imagine what life might have been like within its four ornate walls.

Stop by The Phillips Collection

Head to The Phillips Collection when you're ready to trade historic architecture for modern and contemporary art. Founded in 1921, it was America's first museum of modern art and has been part of the Dupont Circle neighborhood for more than a century.

The Phillips Collection began in the former home of founder Duncan Phillips, and the museum still feels quite residential today. Move from room to room through intimate galleries filled with modern and contemporary works, a noticeably different experience from DC's larger museums.

During your visit, catch Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise, a major exhibition featuring 48 artists from across the greater DC region. The show grew from an open call that drew more than 1,500 applications and brings together artists whose work grapples with the complexities of contemporary life while finding beauty, resilience, and determination in the process.

Browse the Neighborhood's Shops and Bookstores

Leave some room in your itinerary for Dupont Circle's independent shops. Start at Kramers, a longtime neighborhood institution where you can browse new releases, cookbooks, and travel titles before continuing through the surrounding streets.

Pick up something more interesting than a standard souvenir at Tanem, where handmade jewelry and ceramics give you plenty of options to bring home. Then lose track of time at Secondi, where you'll find racks of vintage and designer clothing that invite you to keep digging.

Wander down Connecticut Avenue and through the surrounding side streets to find bookstores, boutiques, cafés, and restaurant patios along the way.

Find the Spanish Steps

Take a short walk from Dupont Circle to the Spanish Steps, one of the area's more unexpected landmarks. Officially known as the Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain, the steps were built in 1911 as a pedestrian link between S Street and Decatur Place along a route too steep for vehicles.

Climb the staircase's four levels, passing brick terraces and planting beds before reaching an oval basin with a lion-head fountain. Magnolias, eastern red cedars, oaks, and other flowering trees surround the steps, adding a welcome bit of shade to the route.

Bring a coffee, take a break on the steps, then continue into the surrounding Kalorama neighborhood when you're ready.

Break for Coffee, Lunch, or Dinner

Break up a day of sightseeing with a stop at one of Dupont Circle's cafés or restaurants. Order a strong espresso and smooth gelato at Dolcezza, or head to Tatte when you're in the mood for a pastry and coffee. For lunch or dinner, settle in at Agora for Mediterranean classics in a swankier setting.

Stick around through the evening and watch the neighborhood shift gears. A long lunch or dinner with friends belongs on the itinerary just as much as a museum or historic landmark.

Stay in the Middle of Dupont Circle at Hotel Madera

Among luxury boutique hotels in Washington DC, Hotel Madera puts you close to the neighborhood's best reasons to stay awhile. Keep the best of Dupont Circle within easy reach, giving you the chance to settle into the area like a local.

Start with a few places in mind, but don't overplan it. You may come to Dupont Circle for Embassy Row, but there's plenty here to keep you around.