Book a honeymoon in the nation's capital
By GARY LEE
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- How does a couple in search of an amorous getaway, say a honeymoon, fare in this city best known for starch-shirted bureaucrats?
Easy. Book the romance package at the venerable Jefferson Hotel (1200 16th St. NW, 202-347-2200, www.loewshotels.com). It includes French wine and candles on check-in, breakfast in the room and a compact disc of love songs, all for $229 a room per couple. Originally built as a beaux arts-style mansion in the 1920s, this place drips with Old World character.
But before you check in, start with a little pampering for both of you at a day spa. A typical treatment at the Watergate Salon (2532 Virginia Ave. NW, 202-333-3488) starts with a facial by Nadia, a Paris-trained beautician, who covers you from forehead to chin in fragrant creams, cleanses your skin, wraps your face in towels and finally steams it with oxygen. An hour and a quarter later, you step out feeling five years younger. Then the manicurist takes over. By the time she's done, even hands that have been banging a computer keyboard for weeks come out glittering like diamonds. Facial/manicure combo: about $105 a person.
Your next stop is the lounge at the romantic Tabard Inn (1739 N St. NW, 202-785-1277) for a glass of kir. Decorated with art deco lamps and overstuffed furniture, the Tabard is the kind of place where you could easily snuggle up for the rest of the night. On a crisp evening, the crackling fire makes the setting perfect for gazing into your lover's eyes. Two kirs: $14.
Alas, even the hopelessly in love have to dine. But where? Marcel's (2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-296-1166), a Georgetown restaurant noted for its dazzling new American and French cuisine, is our choice. With a piano player tapping out show tunes in the corner and soft candles flickering, the mood is exactly what you need. But the real treats of the evening are chef/owner Robert Weidermeier's creations. For appetizers, try the lobster gratin with eggplant and pan-seared scallops. For main courses, a roasted rack of lamb in a cumin Madeira sauce and morsels of venison in a beet and bramble reduction are heavenly. Dinner for two, with wine: about $130.
The list of after-dinner options is long and tempting: Paper Moon (1073 31st St. NW, 202-965-6666), a nearby restaurant that opens the floor for dancing 'round midnight, or perhaps Cafe Milano (3251 Prospect St. NW, 202-333-6183), for a cappuccino and a peek at Georgetown's fashion victims. If you want to avoid the madding crowd, though, opt for a cognac back at the Jefferson's bar. The deep red walls and intimate coves make it one of the sexiest spots in town. After a sip or two, the plush guest rooms upstairs are the logical next step. |
