The Darcy Hotel: Chic Stay Near Major Sights and LGBTQ+ Nightlife in Washington, DC

If you’re an LGBTQ+ traveler looking for a place to stay when visiting Washington, DC, you should consider staying at The Darcy Hotel, conveniently located in the middle of the city’s two popular gay neighborhoods, Dupont Circle and Logan Circle. 

But before we get to why its location is so important to out-of-towners, you should know that The Darcy features 226 guestrooms with a variety of room categories such as the Darcy Guestroom, City View Guestroom, Studio Suite, One Bedroom Suite, Presidential as well as ADA accessible accommodations. The City View Guestroom provides guests with a king bed with cool views of meticulously manicured Scott Circle and or the scenic DC skyline. Rooms start at $159 during low tourist season based on double occupancy. 

The pet-friendly hotel’s amenities include a fitness center with a Peloton bike, treadmills, and free weights; 7,000 square feet of event space for indoor and outdoor gatherings as well as the Darcy Gear Shop, which provides guests with complimentary bikes, kids scooters, and baby strollers to explore the city and nearby attractions such as the White House, Ford’s Theater and National Geographic Museum. 

Unique Global Food and Drinks 

To get your day started, you should stop by Bluestone Lane to grab an Aussie-inspired cup of coffee, organic tea, a glass of cold-pressed juice, and or health eats, including its famous avocado smash! 

If you arrive early enough, you should take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary cocktail to use during its daily happy hour, usually served near its onsite restaurant and bar, the Gerrard Street Kitchen, a must-try for any guest staying here. Chef Bader Ali decides which global culinary dishes will be featured on the restaurant’s menu, such as crowd favorites the Partha Tacos and Korean Crispy Chicken Wings. Gerrard Street Kitchen also features a new sushi bar, and if you need the perfect pairing for your meal, the bar offers an extensive wine list and a selection of craft beers. If you like Mezcal, try the Oaxaca-Rita made with mezcal (of course), Gran Marnier, lime juice, and agave jalapeno syrup. 

For dinner, I recommend trying the Tiffin (Tandoori marinated sea bass) with jasmine rice, curry chickpeas or the Robata, a combination of shrimp, beef, baby bok choy, steamed rice with a teriyaki glaze. And if you have a taste for chocolate, for dessert, order the Crunch Bar, a chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline, wafer crunch, and raspberry coulis. You’ll thank me later.

In the Gayborhood and Near the City’s Best Attractions

Located at 1515 Rhode Island Avenue, this chic boutique hotel is just a short walk from popular attractions, including the White House, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, National Geographic Museum, and Ford’s Theater, where U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865. 

Quite honestly, you can take a 30-minute stroll down to the National Mall to explore famous tourist attractions such as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, The National Portrait Gallery, and several world-class Smithsonian Museums, including the National Museum of Asian Art, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Air and Space Museum. 

For LGBTQ+ travelers, the hotel is not only the perfect location to view the Capital Pride Parade – usually held on the second Saturday of June – but it’s also conveniently located in the middle of two of the most popular LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the District – Dupont Circle and Logan Circle. For new visitors to the District, Dupont Circle is home to popular queer-owned and friendly restaurants and watering holes such as Dupont Italian Kitchen (DIK Bar),  JR’s Bar, and neighborhood staple restaurant for more than 75 years, Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse. For lesbian or queer women, you can call an Uber or Lift to take you to the Adams Morgan neighborhood to grab a drink at A League of Her Own. 

Two blocks to the east, Logan Circle is also a popular queer neighborhood with popular local hangouts like Number Nine, Trade, and just on the other side of the physical traffic circle, the new Little Gay Pub. And if you’ve tried The Darcy’s Gerrard Street Kitchen already, you should venture a few blocks along 14th Street to find a variety of cuisines, including French (Le Diplomate), Spanish (Barcelona Wine Bar), and Mediterranean (Dolce Vita).

Visit https://www.thedarcyhotel.com to book a room and to get more information about The Darcy Hotel.