Stop by Cafe Dupont and Bar Dupont for the best patio seats in the city.
By Katie Test
Located right off Dupont Circle, Cafe Dupont, and the sister Bar Dupont, situated in the The Dupont Hotel (formerly Jurys Washington Hotel) have the perfect patios for spring. I adore the outdoor seating at both establishments, and have deemed them the most covet-able spring spots around.
Cafe Dupont – the full restaurant – boasts seating alongside New Hampshire Avenue. Bar Dupont‘s patio is larger, decorated with couches and firepits, faces the circle. The two patios are only separated by the entrance to The Dupont Hotel, and both are lucky enough to serve food by Chef Silvan Kramer.
Cafe Dupont recently underwent renovations, and to re-launch, Chef Kramer updated the menu, turning it into a French bistro concept. The patio, lined with tables and umbrellas, extends inwards when the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to let the fresh air into the main restaurant. Ask for a seat along the windows, and enjoy the best of both worlds. Chef Kramer‘s redone menu includes standouts like the octopus salad, and a heavy-but-delicious blood sausage with apples and fingerling potatoes. Dinner sound like too much? Head across the entrance to Bar Dupont.
Bar Dupont, also serving food from Chef Kramer, hosts a wealth of happy hour options perfect for noshing while watching the hustle and bustle of the busy circle. The 73-seat patio is relaxed, trendy and comfortable as the colorful pillows and large umbrellas set the scene for a great neighborhood gathering place. During Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. all cocktails on the bar menu are offered for $5 instead of $11.
Cafe Dupont and Bar Dupont are located at 1500 New Hampshire Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20036-1204. Call (202) 939-9596 for reservations.
