Donovan House, Washington, D.C. – Hotel Review
As with other Kimpton properties I have stayed at, the Donovan House has a daily hosted wine hour, where guests are invited to the hotel lobby to mingle and partake in wine tasting from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A complimentary bike service, located next to the front desk, allows guests to checkout bicycles to tour the city (I opted to complete my excursion on foot, however, given the hotel’s close proximity to the sights I desired to see). Additionally, each room has an umbrella residing in the closet, something I took full advantage of on my walk to the National Mall, as the forecast called for rain.
DINING
Adjacent to the lobby and open to guests of the hotel as well as the public, the hotel’s restaurant, Zentan, features Asian-themed cuisine. The establishment offers a variety of small plates meant for sharing, and guests are encouraged to sample more than a few, which suited my dining companion and me just fine.
For starters, we had the Momo (skewered chicken thighs) and the Uzura (a marinated half quail, also on a skewer). Both were succulent and delicious. Next, we indulged in sake braised short ribs, which were extremely tender, Vietnamese lamb meatballs, a unique and delicious take on the traditional version of balled up meat, and roasted Brussels sprouts, with seasoning so flavorful that they left me wanting a second helping.
After all of this, I was about as sated as I could get, but with all the different flavors of dinner dishes still fresh upon my taste buds, I could not help but say yes to a dessert menu, in anticipation of what the kitchen could cook up in the area of after-dinner delights.
After debating for a few minutes over which dessert to order, partly because they all looked so tempting, and partly to try and give my stomach some time to digest and make room, we finally decided on the Beignets, fried balls of sugar-coated dough served with chocolate ganache and crème anglaise (ours tasted of lemon), and it was a decision without regrets. We happily indulged in the fried balls of goodness, smothering each morsel with generous helpings of ganache and crème anglaise. By the time the check was presented, I had a whole new definition of what it truly meant to be full.
BOTTOM LINE
My stay at the Donovan House was certainly a fulfilling experience. Washington, D.C. is a city replete with historically significant and nationally-recognized sites and attractions, and one would be hard-pressed in finding a hotel that can compare to the Donovan House’s style, sophistication, and overall charm that is located closer to so many of them. Even if the hotel were located on the outskirts of the city, far away from anything worth visiting, it would still be a place I would recommend staying at for a number of reasons: the friendly staff, the complimentary bikes, and the excellent dining experience all contributed to a great establishment and a fun and unique time.
THE DETAILS
Donovan House
1155 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel. +1 (202) 737-1200
www.donovanhousehotel.com
VIRTUAL TOURS
(Photos: Accura Media Group)
