Where To Stay, Eat, And Play: Your 2023 Guide To Cherry Blossom Season In Washington, D.C.

Though this year’s window for Washington, D.C.’s peak cherry blossoms was nudged up earlier than usual due to the consecutive warm winters the nation’s capital has experienced—The National Park Service forecasted March 22 through March 25 as optimal peeping days—don’t worry. If the weather’s cooperative, you’ll have up to two weeks after these dates to take in the citywide cascades of pale pink flowers symbolic of spring. Even better? Plenty of local hotels, restaurants, shops, and cultural institutions are also celebrating this spectacular natural phenomena in style—making it more enticing to plan a visit now.

So below, a handy guide with recommendations on where stay, eat, and play during your next trip to Washington, D.C.

Where to Stay

Four Seasons Washington, DC

A rare hotel that needs little introduction, Four Seasons Washington, DC is an institution and destination unto itself. Though the iconic property is offering specials throughout, including at its award-winning spa—where you can experience the new Cherry Blossom Facial, a gently exfoliating treatment incorporating a cherry enzyme peel and tension-releasing gua sha massage—it’s Bourbon Steak that’s celebrating this beautiful time of year in ways more than one.

The impossibly charming lead bartender Engidawork (Engi) Alebachew whipped up three original libations just in time for the peak blooms: Haku Japanese Vodka-based Sado, Ginza Lemonade, and Kintsugi, a bracing blend of Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey, Campari, citrus fruits, and raspberry-chamomile syrup that’s pleasantly bitter and sweet, and downright refreshing.

All of them pair perfectly with the seasonal Japanese-inspired bites by chef Robert Curtis (think chicken consommé simmered with sake and dashi for umami and custardy handcrafted tofu draped with snow crab), but it’s tough to top the Tokyo Tots. A whimsical take on izakaya snacks, the dish of made-from-scratch tots is decadently layered with kewpie mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, and salmon roe. Above all else, the biggest reason to book Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC is the seamless, intuitive service. (During a recent stay, my travel companion raved about how water was happily and promptly offered, though he was just waiting in the lobby before dinner.)

The Jefferson DC

Discreetly located on a prime strip of 16th Street, just three blocks from The White House, The Jefferson DC is an intimate boutique hotel that exudes old-world European elegance with its elaborate Beaux-Arts design, classically appointed 99 rooms and suites—the clothes valets are a smart touch—and polished restaurant and bar. Dramatically set behind an ornate gate and under soaring skylights, The Greenhouse, a new all-day eatery by chef Fabio Salvatore sends out refined continental cuisine like tender sea bass accompanied by sweet beet puree and finished with a foamy lobster emulsion tableside. But it’s Quill that’s the crown jewel of the property. Your best bet is to plant yourself at the solid amber glass bar, order one of the best martinis in town, and brace yourself for some gripping people watching.

To make the upcoming blooms even more memorable, book the Blossoms by Boat package, which covers overnight accommodations, a 1.5-hour EmbarkDC private boat tour, picnic for two prepared by Salvatore, and two cherry blossom cocktails at Quill.

Where to Eat

JÔNT

Here’s what I think about fine dining and tasting menus: as long as they’re stripped of pomp and circumstance (meaning: no dress codes, stuffy service, and overwrought design) and focus on an engaging, easygoing, and palate-broadening experience, I’m all for them. Two Michelin-starred JÔNT by chef Ryan Ratino, located just above his modern bistro Bresca, accomplishes just that. The open kitchen and 14-seat counter are stark white and configured like a lab, so you can see the meticulous steps involved in preparing a single plate—including the humble, but very necessary task of dishwashing.

The savory courses, most of which are sourced with exquisite seafood from Japan, are intricately composed but squarely spotlight the star ingredient’s distinctive traits. The Kinki course from Hokkaido, for example, rests a crisp-skinned filet of the highly prized and fatty fish in a pool of buttery cancalaise fortified with sake lees and citrus to intensify the Kinki’s rich, almost sweet flavor. And unlike other lauded spots that send out pretty forgettable desserts, JÔNT places just as much consideration, whimsy, and precise execution in its sweet finishes. After wrapping up the savory portion of dinner, you’ll be escorted into a cozy and dimly lit room, and be brought decadent dessert upon dessert—before finally concluding with assorted mignardises in a wooden box. Yet, there’s more: If you’re a dog parent like me, you’ll be sent home with foie gras-glazed treats made from upcycled Murasaki sweet potatoes.

Nobu

While you can dig into Nobu’s signature dishes such as Black Cod with Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeno at this Georgetown outpost, it’s the off-menu seasonal offerings that really shine. Chef Chico Dator is sending out artful plates of Sakura Salmon Sashimi—also known as Cherry Salmon, the troutlike fish swim through Japan’s rivers towards the ocean once a year, as cherry blossoms bloom—made with fish-wrapped white asparagus spears topped with a wasabi salsa, caviar, and a tangy cherry blossom vinaigrette. Wash it all down with Beverage Director Filipe Bertrand’s Sakura Negroni. A clever riff on a white negroni, the stirred blend of 35 East Japanese Gin, Lillet Blanc, and cherry blossom sweet vermouth is poured over a striking blossom ice sphere.

Yellow

Yellow by Albi’s celebrated chef Michael Rafidi is a quick, casual spot that caters to all appetites and occasions. Take out a golden date latte by coffee director Ayat Elhag and Palestinian olive oil basbousa (semolina cake) or signature Urfa Thing Bagel for an easy breakfast. When the sun’s out, lunch on the patio with some thirst-quenching sumac lemonade and dreamy smoked beet hummus with fresh pita chips. Or sink into one of the indoor cushions for a simple, yet satisfying supper of Lebanese wine and a wood-fired, overstuffed pita sandwich garnished with cabbage salad, Levantine pickles, and zippy herbs. (I still dream about the coal-fired chicken.)

The Little Grand

As with every major city, Washington. D.C. has its fair share of places to get respectable pizza. But The Little Grand, a “pizza alley bar” hidden away off H Street, is in a league of its own. The foundation of the sourdough for its square and round pies is freshly-milled flour made with regional grains by Migrash Farms. The cocktail and wine lists are well-curated, and just as important, easy on the wallet. Even the design here is way chicer than your average pizza joint with tufted leather booths in a warm caramel shade, arched mirrors with shelves for stowing personal items, and the back wall painted in forest green for a fresh pop of color. It’s the kind of spot that feels familiar right off the bat, and one you’ll come back to over and over again.

What to Do

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

One of the best things about D.C. is how the museums in the Smithsonian Institution are free of admission. But my favorite one, hands down, is the Hirshhorn Museum. (It’s where, as a teenager, I fell in love with Jean Dubuffet—who remains a favorite to this day.) Taking up resdience in the iconic cylindrical structure envisioned by architect Gordon Bunshaft, the museum displays an ever-rotating collection of contemporary and modern pieces alongside boundary-pushing exhibits and programming. On view through the rest of spring is One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection, featuring two of the iconoclast artist’s famed Infinity Mirror Rooms. (Free, timed-entry passes are available.) Also, check out Put It This Way: (Re)Visions of the Hirshhorn Collection, which is showing the works of 49 women and nonbinary artists including a new favorite, Loie Hollowell, who enlists bold colors, geometry, and ancient symbols such as ogees to explore sexuality and femininity.

Salt & Sundry

There’s no shortage of corporate retail in the nation’s capital, but doesn’t it feel better to shop locally? So head to Salt & Sundry, a lifestyle boutique by Amanda McClements with locations in Union Market and Logan Circle. Both outposts are chock full of quirky and charming items designed to last for years to come by independent creatives from all over the world. Popular with customers right now are the Cherry Blossom Bowl, Pratt Standard Cherry Blossom Syrup, and the pink DC Guide Book. (A portion of the book’s sales benefits the nonprofit City Blossoms.)

Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden

Despite being billed as a year-round attraction, spring is an especially sublime time to explore the immaculately preserved, 25-acre estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, who was an American socialite, philanthopist, and heir to the General Foods fortune. Her mansion brims with magnificent French and Russian furnishings and decorative arts, and the multiple gardens, like the rose garden and Japanese-style garden, are perfect places to take in some fresh air, soak in the serene surroundings, and feel like you’ve escaped the city for a bit.