Tabard Inn

Three joined Victorian townhouses on a quiet residential block off Dupont Circle, trading as an inn since 1922 and generally cited as the oldest continuously operating hotel in the city. It remains independent rather than part of any chain, and the interiors reflect that: mismatched antique furniture, a ground-floor lounge with a working fireplace, and bedrooms that vary considerably in size and layout. Some of the cheaper rooms share bathrooms, which is worth checking at the time of booking. There is no lift to all floors and no car park. The restaurant and walled garden courtyard are open to non-residents and draw a local crowd, particularly at weekend brunch. Dupont Circle Metro on the Red Line is roughly five minutes away on foot.