Dupont Circle – an Iconic Neighborhood in DC

It makes sense to talk about the Dupont Circle real estate market in two parts: single family properties (townhomes and detached) and then condos and coops.

Today the most expensive property for sale in Dupont Circle is the Jewett House at 2040 S Street, a mixed use detached building with an additional entrance on Connecticut Avenue.  This Georgian Revival property with 17,000 sq ft of living space, 12 bedrooms and 6 baths, is listed for $14,500,000.

The most expensive condo on the market now is the Blaine Mansion at 2000 Massachusetts Avenue.  It is listed for $29,500,000 with 4 bedrooms on multiple levels.  The listing also includes commercial space.   Click here to see the rest of the condo properties on the market – there are lots of choices from big to small, expensive to well valued.  When you tour Dupont Circle looking for a new home, peeking into condos and touring stately townhomes, you will agree that Dupont Circle is an iconic neighborhood in DC.

It doesn’t get better on Sunday mornings than the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market. 

Open every Sunday from 8:30 to 1:30, this farmer’s market has everything from artisanal cheeses to craftsmen to fresh baked French pastries.  It is one of the biggest markets in the area with more than 50 stalls each weekend.  The Farmer’s Market makes a big contribution to Dupont Circle’s status as an iconic neighborhood.

Dupont Circle is indeed a vibrant and culturally rich neighborhood with a diverse array of LGBTQ-owned businesses, community organizations, and cultural hotspots like Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the country. This unique blend of commerce, culture, and community fosters an inclusive and lively atmosphere, making Dupont Circle an appealing choice for both newcomers and long-time residents of the city.  Some of the events that stand out are the Capital Pride Parade and the annual 17th St High Heel Race.

Several years ago, Dupont Circle was home to an epic snowball fight – an event which is rarely repeated now since we haven’t gotten much snow in the last few years – but when it does snow, Dupont Circle is a great place to head to!

Two of my favorite bookstores are in Dupont Circle – Kramer Books on Connecticut Avenue with its cafe, Afterwords – and Second Story Books on P Street.   Fillmore and Fifth is a consignment store on Connecticut Avenue that is worth checking out – and if you don’t find something you love there, then you can head over to Secondi also on Connecticut Avenue for other upscale consignment clothing and accessories.  There are lots of other great small shops that make Dupont Circle an iconic neighborhood in DC.

Whether you are looking for a blow out French dinner, an exotic Thai meal or a perfect pick me up coffee and pastry, you can find it in Dupont Circle.   The top ranked restaurant in Dupont Circle (#6 of 100) according to the Washingtonian Magazine   is a casual Mediterranean restaurant called Gemini, which is a natural wine bar and serves dinner and ice cream.   The Washingtonian says it has the best french fries in town and the pizzas are amazing.

Number 7 on the overall list is completely different than Germini but also very small. The Sushi Taro Omakase Room, a very expensive sushi experience, is a private room within the larger restaurant with seating for just two parties per night at a counter – with your own personal sushi master.

Rounding out the top 25 at #22 is a Korean restaurant, Anju, which is moderately priced and is updating Korean cooking for Washington dinners.  You should try their take on Korean fried chicken or shareable Ssam board.

One of the things I like about Dupont Circle is the many opportunities to eat outside in the nice weather!  Did you know that DC used to ban outdoor restaurants?

One of the most interesting buildings in the Dupont Circle area is the Mansion on O Street.  a four story luxury boutique hotel created by combining four adjacent townhomes.  The Mansion on O Street is noted for eccentric interior styling with over 70 hidden doors, secret passages and 100 rooms, including a two story log cabin, a safari room and an art deco penthouse.  There is even a museum within the facility, which has art, sculpture, music, memorabilia and written manuscripts. It is used for talks, book signings, film screenings and tours throughout the year.

There are lots of other fascinating buildings, including the prestigious Cosmos Club, the Anderson House, dedicated to George Washington’s Society of the Cincinnati, the Sulgrave Club, a women’s club, the Heurich House Museum, and the Phillips Museum, the first modern art museum in the United States.

If you are relocating to the United States from abroad, you might want a home close to your favorite embassy? The Thomas T. Gaff House serves as the Colombian ambassador’s residence and the Walsh-McLean house is home to the Indonesian embassy.  The Embassy of Uzbekistan makes its home in the Clarence Moore House  while the Peruvian Chancery occupies Emily J. Wilkins House.  Even the Iraqi consular services office is in DuPont Circle in the William J. Boardman House on P St.

If you are moving to Washington to work at one of its many think tanks and research institutes, chances are it is located in Dupont Circle.  The American Enterprise, Aspen and Brookings Institutes, The German Marshall Fund, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Institute for Policy Studies and the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins are all less than two blocks from the Circle.

If you want to live in Dupont Circle – either in a beautiful prewar condo or a stunning townhome- we should definitely talk.  Dupont Circle is one of the great neighborhoods in DC and there are so many places to explore, you will need years to see it all!  What better way to start than by moving in!  Call us at 240-401-5577 or email us at lise@lisehowe.com.