Swann House Historic Dupont Circle Inn

The American capital doesn’t lack B&Bs. Many of Washington DC’s finest are in historic houses, revealing its architectural history. Some are close to landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall and White House. Others are tucked away in Dupont Circle, Woodley Park and other residential neighborhoods. Which will you choose?
Red brick and blue trim mark the exterior of this simply styled B&B (in two separate buildings) in the leafy Woodley Park neighborhood, which is just minutes’ walk from the sprawling Smithsonian National Zoological Park. You can expect to sleep soundly in Kalorama’s pared-back rooms with their dark drapes and agreeable wooden furniture, before rising to breakfast at the communal dining table. Expect to be invited to freshly baked cookies and lemonade each afternoon.
Fans of period charm love this 1890s row house in a residential area home to many famous Black scientists, poets and musicians. The welcome starts with the pretty flower boxes at the windows. Interiors salute the building’s era with original wooden floors, a knick-knack topped fireplace, tables topped with sparkling crystal glassware and ornately framed paintings. If you fancy checking out more such charming DC districts, the bus to Georgetown, DC’s oldest neighborhood, is just across the street.