Washington DC's Sexiest B and B's
Not long after the bed was invented, people discovered eating in bed. The custom of bed AND breakfasts (not sold separately) goes back to fair England, where B and B's still offer an affordable alternative to pretentious, overpriced, impersonal hotels. Like so many British things (e.g. the Spice Girls), Americans have turned one more working-class tradition into something deluxe and Victorian. Today, Washington, D.C, is dotted with charming B and Bs that look like a ladies' sewing circle threw up (did you want frills with that?). Better leave such haunts to the bridge clubs that inspired them -- the rest of us want to sleep and eat like the gods, escaping into a refined world of top-notch design and glossy magazine values. Here's where to find just that--if you're in the capital on business and can't stand another night at the Mariott, if you're the Governor of New York but want to stay anonymous, or if you've got cousins coming to town and there just ain't no way you can squeeze them into your studio. Rates range from $160 to $300 a night. (photo: DC Guesthouse)
Intown Uptown Inn
4907 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20011
So the name's a little ridiculous, but branding mishaps aside, the Intown Uptown Inn does have enough taste and soul to qualify as funky and worth the dough you'll shell … out for one of these rooms with a view. Most encouraging is the transformation of Victorian architecture into something modern, warm, sunny, sophisticated, and yet still cozy. Both the "bed" and "breakfast" are meant to indulge and titillate, and you're far enough away from downtown to pretend that you really are getting away. [link]
