The US capital is best known for its iconic monuments and world-class museums, but there’s more to Washington D.C. than ancient history, discovers Nick Walton.
When we think of Washington D.C. we tend to think of the politics that revolve around the city. However, D.C. is also the country’s cultural centre, with fantastic galleries, performances spaces and museums. It’s also a city that comes to life under the spring sunshine, with al fresco dining, eclectic neighbourhoods, and a welcoming ambience that makes it a must-visit for any east coast-bound gent.
8.30 pm
Arrive on the new direct Cathay Pacific service between Hong Kong and Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport. The new four-weekly flights – the longest in CX’s network at 13,122 kilometres – are operated using the airline’s brand new A350-1000 aircraft and takes just under 18 hours.
10 pm
Check into one of the city’s most stylish addresses, the Rosewood Washington D.C., located in historic Georgetown. This regal retreat is perched beside the C&O Canal at the heart of one of the capital’s most coveted precincts and boasts just 49 guest rooms and suites. Be sure to fuel up at the elegant CUT by Wolfgang Puck steakhouse, or find a cosy corner at CUT Bar, home to 2,500 bottles and seafood selections from Chesapeake Bay. During the warmer months, explore the capital one a hotel bicycle before cooling off at the chic CUT Above rooftop bar and infinity pool.
11.30 am
Begin your explorations close to home with a spot of retail therapy in Georgetown, which has everything from designer fashion brands at Sid Mashburn and Commonwealth to Billy Reid and Rag & Bone. After a wet shave at Mad Hatter Brim & Shave Shop, head for the waterfront hotspot of Fiola Mare for executive chef Anton Bolling’s take on timeless Italian and Mediterranean seafood – try the Adriatic Seafood Brodetto with black bass, branzino, sea bream, langoustine and a saffron jus.
2 pm
No matter the season, you can’t visit Washington D.C. without visiting one of the Smithsonian museums, most famous of which is the National Museum of Natural History. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the National Mall was among the first Smithsonian building constructed exclusively to house national collections and research facilities. Current exhibitions include Narwal: Revealing an Arctic Legend, and Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World. https://naturalhistory.si.edu
5 pm
Head for The Wharf, a US$2.5 billion development on the Potomac’s historic Southwest Waterfront that’s home to restaurants, hotels, bars and exhibition spaces. Start off at the newest outlet of Rappahannock Oyster Bar, regarded as one of the best in the US. Here you can match oysters from Chesapeake Bay with wines from Oregon and the Russian River Valley or a locally-brewed Right Proper Pale Ale while rubbing shoulders with chic Washingtonians.
7 pm
You won’t have to roam far for something more substantial. Already one of the hottest tables in town (so be sure to book ahead), Requin by award-winning restauranteur Mike Isabella serves up modern French fare created by executive chef Michael Rafidi and paired with spectacular riverfront views.
10 pm
Head back to Georgetown and Blues Alley Jazz, the nation’s oldest continuing jazz supper club, which regularly hosts acts like the Dwayne Adell Trio, fusion group the Yellowjackets, and the award-winning Jamison Ross Trio.
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