The Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC is home to the excellent concierge supervisor, Michael Chase. Having worked as a concierge for 23 years, Chase is a known and celebrated employee at the five-star, LGBTQ+ friendly Georgetown hotel. He has also been a member of the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or USA for 17 years, and has been honored by several prominent associations and magazines in the business. Chase has a lifelong love for travel that makes his job highly rewarding. He has traveled to every continent and over 80 countries, gleaning new cultural understanding and empathy. With his extensive knowledge of Washington DC, Chase has many recommendations for visitors to our nation’s capital.
Where are the coolest places to go for cocktails?
There is nearly a bar on every block in this town. Many are for the locals, and a few standout as exceptional for me. For a great vibe and a bourbon selection beyond compare, stop into the Four Seasons’ Bourbon Steak Lounge (2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Tel: 202-342-0444. www.fourseasons.com/washingtondc) and then stay for dinner. We have an exceptional cocktail and wine and list. I’m partial to anything cold in a tankard, and our duck fat French fries.
Famed celebrity chef Jose Andres has Bar Mini (501 9th Street, Tel: 202-393-4451. www.minibarbyjoseandres.com) that is a cocktail lab adjacent to Mini Bar that celebrates classic cocktails with more than 100 libations. This cozy lounge is for the most discerning; let them tease your taste buds!
Vue at Hotel Washington (515 15th Street, Tel: 202-661-2400. www.thehotelwashington.com) has the very best view of the White House, Washington Monument, and Department of Treasury you can get anywhere in DC without needing a security clearance. Go for the view from the rooftop terrace and enjoy classic and innovative cocktails.
Summit, the rooftop at the Conrad Washington, DC hotel (950 New York Avenue, Tel: 202-844-5900. www.conradwashingtondc.com) has a wonderful urban view of DC from almost every vantage point and an excellent selection of beer, wine, and spirits.
What are the best restaurants for a romantic dinner in the city?
Fiola Mare (3050 K Street, Tel: 202-525- 1402. www.fiolamaredc.com) right in Georgetown serves the best seafood with an underlying hint of Italian flare and seasonings. Be sure to share the lobster ravioli and ask for an outdoor seat if weather permits. It has a warm and cozy interior with prime tables facing the Potomac riverfront, but on the perfect day sitting outside is a delight. You get the panoramic views and beautiful river breeze. It is the quietist “see and be seen” restaurant in town.
Go to Floriana (1602 17th Street, Tel: 202-677-5937. www.florianarestaurant.com) if you want to stay in the gayborhood right in the heart charming Dupont Circle. It’s a restaurant of small rooms, rich in woody tones and hues of red (which is my favorite color). Sitting near the fireplace on a cold day is a major score, otherwise, their outdoor dining is always lovely on 17th Street.
The Kinship (1015 7th Street, Tel: 202- 737-7700. www.kinshipdc.com), the modern American restaurant by Eric Ziebold and Celia Laurent is wonderful and ethereal with an elegant white interior. Be sure to try the lobster French toast. This restaurant is in a 1907 brick building that shares the same space with their sister restaurant Metier, which is another option for a romantic setting but with a prix fixe menu.
For more recommendations from Chase for things to do, see, taste, and experience in DC, Click Here
