Hi all - Maybe you guys can help me. I'm planning a mid-week getaway for my wife & I as a surprise. Looking for suggestion to make this a romantic and unforgettable day or two.

I'm thinking reserving a suite at the Georgetown Ritz - having an early dinner (we will be arriving around 5pm on wed oct 12th) arranging for a moonlit carriage tour of the monuments (guessing that can be done through the hotel concierge, no?)

The next day museum tours during the day and tickets for the opera at the Kennedy center that evening (what are best seat?) Leaving the next day.

Which restaurants would you recommend? is there something I should/could add to this itinerary? Any and all sugestion welcome

Sounds like a pretty nice weekend!

re: Moonlight carriage tour of the monuments - not sure if that's too great of an idea as the monuments aren't really all that close to each other & unfortunately, there is still a lot of vehicle traffic along Constitution Ave in the evenings. Also, it's not horribly cold in DC in October, but when fall hits DC, it does get noticeably colder - it's cool in the evenings right now. Maybe a monument dinner cruise or an evening cruise without dinner on the Potomac instead? If it were me, I'd go for the one without dinner - just make sure you give yourself time to get from dinner (in midtown most likely) to the waterfront where tours depart.

Check out the Hirshorn for modern art - it's a great museum. Also the National Gallery. The Museum of the Native American is relatively new and could be a nice choice. If you want to do a limo pick-up/drop off at either airport, try Neill at Blue Ridge Transportation - 703.525.2771 or [email protected] - he's got competitive prices & when I used to work in a job that required a lot of limo pick-ups & drop-offs for clients, we used him regularly. Very reliable guy at a good price. If you're coming into DCA, then just use a cab or car service - if you're coming into IAD, then it may be nice to use the limo as its not all that more expensive than a cab.

The Ritz G'town is a pretty nice from what I've heard - I've never had the pleasure or luxury of staying there though. Out of the Ritz's in DC, I would say that its got the best non-business location. The one in Tysons is too far out, the one in Pentagon City is spectacular, but it's also too far out & the one on 22nd street is more for business travelers than leisure travelers.

As for restaurants, Olive's is great; Vidalia's another good restaurant; as is Citronelle - do a search on Google with each restaurant's name & Washington DC & it should be the first or second hit. All three require advance reservations & I believe all participate in OpenTable.com too.

I've never been to an opera, so I have no clue about that.

If you were going to be around on a Sunday, I'd suggest the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran, or the Key Bridge Marriott brunches - each is damn good & reasonable priced (~40/pp) - the Key Bridge has a great view of DC/G'town from their 14th floor restaurant.

I'm not answering for gleff - but you may want to PM him as he knows a lot about the restaurants & options in DC.

Vaze,

Other hotels to consider: Mandarin Oriental (new and high-end, but not the greatest location), the Williard (a historic DC classic that hasn't lost its touch), the Hay-Adams (across the street from the White House and quite nice; they also have a nice bar), and The 4 Seasons (never stayed there but it was nice for a meeting and it is on the edge of Georgetown).

Restaurants: In Georgetown near the Ritz and 4 Seasons - Restauante Piccolo (nice Italian place, not too fancy but quite cozy) and Citronnelle. I'm not real good with G-Town so someone else could help out there. Foggy Bottom/Golden Triangle - Vidalia, Kinkades, The Prime Rib, Restaurant Kolumbia and my fave i Ricchi.

So it's looking like a choice between Hays-Adams and the Four Seasons. Carriage ride sounds like it may not be such a hot idea how about private limo tours at night? Will have tickets to the Chinese opera at Kennedy center 8.30pm on Thursday where would be a decent place to eat before then? thanks for helps guys ^

Citronelle is definitely your best choice for Georgetown. Also consider CityZen. And although not romantic via atmosphere, the tasting menu at Komi will blow you away.

The best source of information for DC restaurants (I couldn't live without this resource) is DonRockwell.com where there's plenty of information on countless restaurants throughout the area, including servers/barkeeps/managers/chefs/owners of many of them. You could probably get in touch with some of the staffers/owners and see if they could put together something even more special for you.

Yes, yes and YES!

For sheer uniqueness - with good food and plush atmosphere to boot - Indebleu (in Chinatown) comes to mind. If you're into traditional meals in a romantic setting, 1789 in Georgetown is it. There is a dearth of good restaurants near the Kennedy Center. I would cab to Dupont for Komi or Firefly and then cab down to the Kennedy Center. Hank's Oyster Bar is another contender if you like seafood in upscale casual surroundings.

As for hotels, both the 4 Seasons (in G'town) and the Ritz G'town are nice. The other competitors in town in the luxury category are Ritz West End (near G'town) and Mandarin Oriental (in no-man's land).

As to the Opera question, there is a seat map of the Kennedy Center Opera house at http://www.kennedy-center.org/tickets/opera.html. If you are going for good quality orchestra (stalls for UK readers) seats, I would recommend between about rows S and W. If you go back any farther, you are under the balcony and the sound suffers. If you go closer you'll get a crook in your neck.

Don't know when you are planning to go, but I saw I Vespri Siciliani last night, and the singing and orchestra was fantastic, but design and direction was a bit weak.

As far as restaurants are concerned, there really isn't much at all near the Kennedy Center. The Watergate restaurant is nearby, but I haven't been there in years, nor have I been to the Terrace restaurant.

For a post-theatre meal, there is always the Bistro Francais, a classic on M St. in Georgetown, which still manages to serve a reasonable meal. It is open to the wee hours of the morning.

Have fun on the trip!

Gowhere

Moonlit carriage tour of the monuments I would take out. Better off doing it by car.

Citronelle is better than 1789, but is priced as such and then some. (It wasn't always that way.) A walk from 1789 to the FS hotel is more of "downhill" and a real walk than a walk from Citronelle to the FS, which is far shorter. (And if it's a weekend evening, the streets in Georgetown can be a bit busy and then some.)

The Four Seasons in Georgetown is good and I like it better than the RC Georgetown. But, at the FS, get one of the better, updated rooms there with an actual half-decent view/light. At the FS, the Garden Terrace for afternoon tea is good if the weather is not so good.