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.
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 kilometers – are operated using the airline’s brand new A350-1000 aircraft and takes just under 18 hours.
10 pm
Check into the city’s coolest boutique-esque (it has 220 rooms but you’d never know it) hotel, The Line DC. With an intriguing art collection, some of DC’s best contemporary dining, and a location in a century-old Neoclassical church, the hotel is a brilliant base from which to explore edgy-meets-cool Adams Morgan, a community with which the hotel has close links. Read more about what we love about The Line DC here.
8 am
Head around the corner for a hearty breakfast at Tryst, a local hotspot with a main dining room that wouldn’t look out of place on the tv show Friends. Another community-minded hotspot, Tryst serves up great single-origin coffee from Counter Culture Coffee, as well as a brilliant all-day brunch that ranges from breakfast burritos with pepper jack cheese and pica de gallo; and the Locals Only Salmon Bagel, a Bullfrog bagel topped with Chesapeake Smokehouse salmon and lemon caper cream cheese; to frittatas packed with butternut squash, spinach and Parmesan. Be sure to nab an outdoor seat for some great people watching.
10.30 am
Washington D.C. is a city of museums, but few are as attention-grabbing as the International Spy Museum, which recently relocated to a new address on L’Enfant Plaza. The new complex boasts the largest collection of international espionage artefacts outside of the CIA’s own basement. Permanent exhibitions include The Secret History of History, which chronicles the history of spying since biblical times; Spies Among Us, which looks at the real-life spy stories of World War II; and The 21st Century, which offers a real Jack Ryan take on today’s intelligence gathering.
1 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, for a late bite 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.
2.30 pm
Work off your molluscs on two wheels with bikes from Bike & Roll DC. Unlike the cities of Asia, Washington D.C. is very cyclist friendly and bikes are a great way to explore the many monuments of East and West Potomac Parks, including the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. The company has guides if you want to be efficient, and even rents e-bikes if you indulged in a little more Right Proper ale than planned.
4 pm
Keep your look tight with a visit to The Dashery, one of the city’s leading barbershops. Not only does this place do great fades and beard trims, but the guys who run it pride themselves on preserving the art of being a true gentleman, ensuring a vital source of insider info for any traveller looking to duck below the outer layer of DC culture. The barbershop also supports its local community with apprenticeships and workshops, giving a real sense of place for visitors and locals alike.
5.30 pm
If you’re looking for a he-gift or a man-token from your time in DC, you can’t go past The Great Republic, at CityCenterDC, a beautiful space of leather and milled oak where you’ll find a collection of US-produced goodies – think leather-bound books by Dickens, canvas duffles by Bison, leather hip flasks by Todder (above), vintage-esque decanters from Jan Barboglio; and stylish minimalist watches by Bespoke Watch Projects.
6.30 pm
After cleaning up your act back at The Line DC, make a beeline for the Jack Rose Dining Saloon, home to – get this – over 2,500 whiskies (and counting) as well as some of the city’s best-made martinis. The open-air terrace is the place to be here, especially if you like cigars. Try a signature cocktail, ranging from the Roaster’s Reprieve, with El Buho mezcal, Mr. Blacks coffee liqueur, Fernet Vallet, Alley 26 tonic, and egg white; to Worthy of Joy, a blend of Doctor Bird Rum, Appleton Reserve, Cookie Cordial, Cocchi di Torino, and JRDS Barrel-Aged Bitters; or try a flight of American whiskies from Jack Rose’s own barrelings.
8 pm
Make for one of the city’s coolest new dining enclaves, Pom Pom, where small plates are infused with influences from Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East by chef Amanda Moll and local restauranteur Carlie Steiner. You can’t go past the likes of moonfish ceviche with pickled blueberries, sanbaizu, pickled serrano, and scallion; roasted wild king salmon with bok choy, hen of the woods mushrooms, and garlic-confit fennel; and ‘Steak & Kisses’, raw Wagyu beef with beet chimichurri, gochujang, hazelnut and rice crackers. The restaurant also profiles women-run boutique wineries.
10 pm
Head 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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