Dupont Circle

I was there to chill out for a bit. This park is cool and friendly, and they were playing music when I was here.

Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., is a lively neighborhood known for its historic charm, cultural attractions, and vibrant atmosphere. At its heart is the iconic circle with a beautiful fountain, surrounded by a bustling mix of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The area is perfect for dining, shopping, or enjoying the lively nightlife. The neighborhood is also rich in culture, with nearby museums like the Phillips Collection and a popular Sunday farmers market. The park at Dupont Circle is a great spot for relaxation, chess matches, and people-watching. Overall, it’s a dynamic and diverse area that offers something for everyone.

Dupont Circle Park is a classic DC spot and one of the best places in the city for people-watching and relaxing. The central fountain is beautiful, and there are plenty of benches and grassy areas for picnics or just hanging out. One of my favorite features is the permanent chess tables—there’s always a game going and it’s fun to watch or join in if you bring your own pieces[4][2]. The park is surrounded by great restaurants, coffee shops, and bookstores, and it’s super easy to get to by Metro. There are some urban challenges, like occasional panhandling and some cleanliness issues, especially on Connecticut Avenue, but overall the park feels lively and welcoming[2]. The traffic circle can be confusing if you’re driving, so public transit is your best bet[2]. If you’re looking for a unique, vibrant spot in DC to relax, play chess, or just soak up the city atmosphere, Dupont Circle Park is definitely worth a visit

It’s an interesting little green space from whence the neighborhood gets its name. Honestly it’s a pretty neat little park with a really cool fountain. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in from out of town, however like most parts of Any big city, don’t disturb the locals and make sure to stay safe.

Metro station, convenient place to catch bus. There is park , CVS , bank, book shop, restaurants and coffee shops. The only thing is, there are tents where homeless people living . It’s sad picture. This is USA, but it’s becoming more like a third world country.

It’s great I love the area

What should be our go-to green space is kind of shiddy. Grass worn away, bold and plentiful rats, dirty benches and chairs. We should do better with all the professionals and embassies close by. Bryant Park in NYC shows what’s possible with a space like this.

Attended the farmers market this morning at DuPont circle. Fair warning it is fairly crowded and busy. Fortunately parking wasn’t too horrible to find today, I guess I got lucky. The farmers market was cool though just very narrow had crowded, but lots of great vendors from fruits, veggies, meats, coffee, snacks & even flowers! FYI Dogs were allowed.

This area is super hopping especially on nice days. This neighborhood seems to be safe, a lot of young professionals love and work in this area too I have noticed and read. There are many restaurant's of all types of food to choose from and a lot of them have outdoor seating for nice days. Can be noisy on weekends I have read too. Nice area to walk around and shop too as there are some stores. There is a metro stop here so you can get to anywhere.

Circles are plentiful in this city. Dupont Circle is one of the best known. It's almost in the middle of the city, located near a very big Metro station. A lot of cool things to do here because it's one of the hippest neighborhoods. There's many restaurants and stores. It basically is the area around a big traffic circle. Main streets here are Connecticut Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and P Street. One highlight is the small park right in the middle of this. It's the main gathering spot in this neighborhood for various festivals. There's a large statue of Samuel Francis Dupont, who is an important figure in the creation of the city, and there's a fountain too. A few notable businesses include Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe. It also is a site for many festivals. There's always something happening every weekend.

We were in the area for lunch and decided to walk around Dupont Circle. Nice place to walk around, enjoy the trees, look at the birds, sit on a bench and relax. There is a fountain in the middle of the circle. Some good eats can be found around here as well. Enjoy!

Ok. I'm going to break down and finally review the circle. The traffic circle around this park is one of the more confusing traffic implements in the city that I suspect I would baffle even a British person used to a double roundabouts. Just take the Metro there. The park in the center of the circle is a surprisingly quiet (relatively) and shady park. For all the traffic going around the circle, it actually manages to be a place where you can chill out on a nice day. There are benches surrounding the fountain where you can people watch. There are more benches located around the path ringing the fountain along with a few tabletop chess/checkerboards (bring your own pieces). The entire park is very grassy and shady. The downside is that you will have some of the homeless population asking for money repeatedly and occasionally washing up in the fountain. There used to be a huge rat population that has declined but not entirely gone away since the city took over management from the NPS. Sometimes, in the evenings, you can still see a couple of rats frolicking on the grass in a pale imitation of the days when there would be dozens scattered around enjoying the twilight. Hey, they're happy with the park also. All in all, this is an enjoyable urban park to sit in and enjoy your coffee/tea or snack from one of the many shops in the immediate area.

Dupont Circle is a beautiful roundabout we used to try to get a peek at some of the Embassies along Embassy Row. In the center is a very ornate fountain surrounded by trees. One of the downsides is when you are driving around it you could end up on the wrong Ave like we did and had to return to it twice just to get on the right street. I'm sure there are park benches there as well. We saw a Metro stop nearby and although we were driving didn't know it was there. Time did not permit us to stop there but I did try to capture the moment while stopped at a light. We discovered it was right next to a very trendy area which is a must return for us since it was so close to where we were staying. I was glad I got to opportunity to see it a grab a picture.

Well what I can tell you about Dupont circle is that you can get turned around here as easily during the day as you can at night. It's actually more confusing at night, esp after a night out on the town, but there's an endless amount of shops and bars to go to, and it's a fun time.

After eating an early dinner nearby, we came to sit for a few minutes in Dupont Circle and relax. The fountain was beautiful, and the benches were comfortable- we had a lot of fun people watching. After a few minutes, we realized that 90% of the other people sitting around the larger circle were homeless people. We sat and watched a man in a suit feed people food to a squirrel. It was adorable- the squirrel would come up close to the man, stare at him, the man would give him some food, and the squirrel would just sit there and eat it while staring at him- all within inches of the man. After watching this for a few minutes, I pointed out the biggest rat I've ever seen running around the green. After we saw that, we decided to leave quickly. On our way out, we realized the big holes in the dirt next to the benches were from the rats. Yuck.

Dupont Circle, a nice neighborhood of Washington DC. Did you know when Washington DC was being mapped out, they purposely made it confusing? If the Capitol were to be attacked by land, they wanted the enemy to go in a circle. There are a few community circles in the area, this has to be my favorite because of the surrounding neighborhood. From hot summer nights to early morning walks, Dupont Circle is a relaxing place to see people strolling thru the neighborhood

Dupont Circle does not make sense to most tourists unless they are being guided. Yes it's full of various attractions but most people don't know what's behind its history nor inside so time is consumed. DuPont Circle being a neighborhood is full of local history and local art centers for this area. Many of these attractions are free of charge for touring...When? Embassy Row might make sense to some tourists that also has a visitors day. Tourists short on time won't gain much from this trendy neighborhood except maybe higher class eating. I like the local style of the bizzy buildings on Connecticut Avenue wile I see the tall fountain in the park circle as unappealing though festive at evenings. After dark it could be interesting to see where the bum groups choose to sleep around the circle.

Really the best all-around neighborhood in DC. Tons of food options, Metro accessible, on Rock Creek Park, diverse residences, tons and tons of people. Much better to be here than Georgetown or Downtown. Less pretentious, less expensive, better stuff. The circle itself is a nightmare to drive around and only slightly better to walk into and out of, but the fountain and accompanying benches make it a destination for those looking to sit and relax in the middle of all the business. And this area in general is miserable to drive in. Duck around it and get to the Rock Creek Parkway if possible.

Dupont Circle itself may be the best circle in all of Washington, DC. Centrally located by the Dupont Circle Metro station, a plethora of great restaurants, and the gateway to some of the city's best embassies, Dupont Circle is a gathering place for all types of people. On a casual weekend, you'll find people reading on the benches, children splashing their feet in the fountain, and more seasoned DC residents playing chess along the park.

Stopped at DuPont Circle in early June when visiting family. Very disappointed- seems to be neglected: grass uncut, shrubs untended, and the fountain was not running. This was always one spot we would always visit when in DC in years past.

Took a walking tour of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row. Such a poppin' part of tow! Nearby Highlights: Decades, Kramerbooks, Shake Shack, Bagels Etc., and MORE! Just walk around. Plenty to do. Metro stop right there as well. Or sit by the fountain and relax.

Being that today, October 22 falls on National Nut Day, it is appropriate that I review a popular Washington DC park where squirrels congregate to eat nuts. Legend has it that rats enjoy Dupont Circle as much as the squirrels. Dupont Circle Rat Sanctuary !? Before I stepped foot in the park, I became acquainted with Dupont Circle. One of my greatest joys in life is visiting parks. I went on Yelp and typed in "parks." One of the first things to pop up was the Dupont Circle Rat Sanctuary. Say what !? We were a few blocks southeast of Dupont Circle in the Thomas Circle Homewood Suites. I enjoy seeing different things, and was up to seeing and reviewing a rat sanctuary. We'd get to spend some time in Dupont Circle as a resting place on a walk from Thomas Circle to Georgetown. My brother and I had been joking about the rat sanctuary. When we got to the park we let our dad in on the fact that this was the Dupont Circle Rat Sanctuary. He thought that there was an enclosed section for rats. We were on the alert for rats popping out of a hole. We saw none. Were the Dupont Rat Sanctuary reviews yelping humor? Did a dude really impress a date taking her to a rat sanctuary? I only saw squirrels and pigeons. We did some investigative yelping. I asked the guy working in Starbuck's if there are rats in Dupont Circle. He answered, "Do birds fly. They are the size of small dogs." The woman at CVS never heard of them. A YouTube video and the Internet showed evidence of the resident rats. I wanted to go back at night and get creeped out exploring a rat sanctuary. It never happened. Hanging out by the White House was a better choice. We'd visit Dupont Circle again further into the vacation. Dupont Circle the Landmark: My reviews are real and like a Diary based on first-hand experience. So, I am not going to make up something to the tune of, I was sitting in Dupont Circle about to sip Starbuck's when a rat jumped out of the cup. Keep in mind that the rat sanctuary mystique was in the back of my mind. Dupont Circle is a major traffic circle incorporated from Le E'fant's plan for Washington DC. The park inside of the traffic circle is the heart of a hip and historical neighborhood. This is a traffic circle where 4 major roads converge from all directions. Driving here is more scary than seeing a rat in a park at night. Fortunately I saw Dupont Circle on foot. The centerpiece of the circular park is the marble fountain. This is the Francis Dupont Memorial. The fountain and park are named after the first naval hero of the Civil War: Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont. This fountain is a historical work of public art that dates back to 1921. The fountain is made up of 4 figures that hold up a marble basin. Each figure represents something. They are the sea, wind, stars, & navigational arts. Surrounding the fountain are several benches with front row seats. Above me where squirrels walked on tree branches, mature trees provided much needed shade on a humid summer day. I'd see unoccupied chess tables and bicyclists taking a breather. Businesspeople, tourists, residents, and the homeless shared this popular public space. Around the diameter of the circle the architecture featured Victorian buildings that ranged from homes to a Starbuck's. In daylight the constant traffic around the traffic circle and people in the park never made me feel I was in danger. In my opinion Dupont Circle is a landmark that roughly separates the Federal Washington from the local Washington DC neighborhoods. When I walked a few blocks south of Dupont Circle I was by the Federal Buildings, museums, and memorials. When I walked north I was in residential and trendy neighborhoods. It is also a landmark that roughly separates urban from greenbelt Washington. East of the circle there are continuous neighborhoods. A few blocks west is the Rock Creek Park greenbelt. From my experience, Dupont Circle is a circle full of life. It is a popular public space for the public to congregate. Essentially Dupont Circle is a people sanctuary.

Dupont is probably the most well known circle of D.C. Like many spots in the city, DuPont has some history and is also a good place to sit and people watch. The shops, restaurants, etc in the surrounding area are cool to check out. DuPont was the first neighborhood I stayed in when I first thought of moving to D.C. It's very charming but also very busy. So I'm glad I don't live there now. Metroing here is easy. But I often drive, and like I said, I'm glad I don't live there now- driving the circle can easily become a nightmare. Though it's worth stopping by if you're visiting D.C. Cheerios!

Repeating what everyone else said.... except in my own words and with my own experience. I came to the area to meet a friend for lunch. First time ever coming here and I was just astounded by how busy and cool it was. Seriously, I felt like it was a scene out of a movie. Watching everyone go on their merry way and minding their own businesses. I went and sat down on one of the benches that surround the center fountain. I really love how pretty that fountain was. I sat there probably for 30 minutes just relaxing watching everyone and read my book. I feel like DuPont Circle is a place for you to get lost in. You are so busy occupying yourself watching everyone else that it takes your mind off yourself and your own concerns. I like finding places like this and being able to escape. Sometimes you just need that scenery and here really provides that. If you do ever have time to come out here and just escape, I highly recommend it. PS Watch out for the homeless and panhandlers. They won't hesitate to bother you... hence why this is 4 stars and not 5. Something I guess can't really be helped.

This is the upscale uber trendy young hip place to be in Washington, D.C. Lots of small shops, restaurants, coffee cafes to watch the beautiful people walk by. Super easy to navigate to the Mall and all the museums via the metro from here. I LOVE the old brownstones and beautiful front porches. You can hear the cicadas in the summer everywhere you go. I've been here both in July and October. In October the weather is much nicer of course!

Is Dupont Circle the hippest part of Washington DC where young 20/30 somethings hang out or live? I visited sometimes when I was older(but young). It's vibrant and there's fun things to do, see, eat. Hang out here with some fun friends.

Dupont Circle is the centerpiece of the most wonderful neighborhood in all of Washington, D.C. It has a lovely gay village vibe and is filled with wonderful restaurants, bars, a fantastic year-round (most aren't) farmers market and a much more vibrant and interesting population than you will find in other parts of DC. Last Sunday while walking through the Circle someone called out, "Miriam!" Turned out to be a woman I went to undergrad with that I hadn't seen in years! We stood catching up while a group of A cappella singers took turns performing for an audience that formed to listen to them.

When in doubt... Meet at Dupont Circle. There's tons to do here. Coffee shops, a tea house, bookstores, ethnic restaurants, hang out at the fountain, a dance studio, ice cream (Larry's!), lounges, bus to Georgetown, people watch, and even a sex shop! :O Tips: Bad parking and bloody rotary streets!! #$#!%#@ Take the metro instead.

A few days ago, my friend and I hang out in DuPont, my neck of the wood, my favorite area in town, we saw this interesting but rare view. No washing machine and dryer while staying at the hotel? And no time and money to bring it to the dry cleaning? No problem. Wash it with hands and hang it by the hotel window! It will dry overnight! :) Perhaps I shouldn't be surprise with what I found, since I said it in many of my reviews about my DuPont. Anything could happen here! In DuPont Wonderland! :) Well as I say, What Happen in DuPont stays in DuPont!

The best people-watching spot in the city, aside from 18th street on a weekend. There is always a variety of bums, yuppies, and lonely gay men just waiting for something to happen... Last time I was here, a panhandler playing a casio keyboard struck it up with me and dedicated me a song. I had been sitting on one of the circular benches, typing on my laptop, waiting for inspiration to strike, when he was like "Hey buddy, let me lay down a funky bassline for you..." He put on a demo of a reggae song and started jamming on the keys. "Let this song do the writing, my man! Feel the flow!" Before long he was attracting a whole crowd, and soon it was a party. "Hello beautiful!" he was shouting to every girl in sight. Then he was lighting a Marijuana pipe, right in the open, which led him to start scatting to the beat. I was laughing uncontrollably, amazed at the variety we have among the denizens of this city. Three cheers for Dupont!

What is it, a circle yes!! Located in Northwestern part of the city it is classic example of a second empire architecture.It consists of a traffic circle, a park and is part of a rich historic district. Definitely a chilled and relax spot to unwind after a hectic work day or to catch up with friends. One should definitely take a walk to Dupont Circle to see all those beautiful buildings in the neighbourhood and also keep on looking for those embassies from different countries on both sides of the road on the way to the park. FYI-Take public transporation here, there is a red line station here. Finding parking even on a weekday can be a nightmare and waste of time!

I just posted one of my wedding pics, taken on this circle. I can't believe I was even a bit miffed about the fact that the fountain wasn't on that day. I think you'll agree the photo is beautiful. Every time I cut across this circle, I get nostalgic for that day. The ceremony itself was at Jury's, on the New Hampshire Ave side of the circle. The infamous falling out between one of my bridesmaids and one of the groomsmen took place due to a 2am dessert Kramerbooks. Instead of a guest book, we had our peeps sign a mat, which was placed around a huge picture of hubby and I. The picture? Is us standing at the corner of 18th and P with the traffic lights and headlights behind us.

When speaking of Dupont Circle one could be referring to a vibrant neighborhood or a confusing traffic circle, both serviced by the Red Line stop--Dupont Circle. "They spinnin'." At the center of all this is a nice public space, perfect for you to pass the time if the weather permits. You might see a demonstration, engagement photos being staged, a smoke session and plenty o' pigeons. There's ample seating space. Just like the Beltway, il y a an Inner Loop and an Outer Loop of benches. If the weather's cold, you'll be estilo sundial, rotating from bench to bench to be in the sun. Since there are numerous shops around, you'll be able to grab a snack or book from Kramer or even the West End Library, which is walking distance. A perfect place to be entertained while in pursuit of peace. p.d. Check out Dupont Underground. They offer tours and have events actually below the Circle's surface.

I visited here from out of town since I heard it's a popular place to hang out. At the center of the intersection where 10 roads meet, is the Samuel Francis Dupont Memorial statue. There are various hotels, bars, restaurants and coffee shops located mostly along Connecticut Avenue, and some west of the circle along P Street. Don't forget to check out the famous bookstore and cafe, Kramerbooks and Afterwards Cafe, while you're there.

Rode the metro to the Dupont Circle exit (off the red line) to meet my brother for lunch. I had wanted to walk around the circle to see what-all was there, but never had the chance. As someone else has posted, it's great for people-watching, and it looks like it has a lot of places to eat. The metro was a great way to get there too. My phone was dying, so I needed to find a place to charge. Voila! There's a Panera Bread right at the metro exit AND they have a very quiet downstairs dining area complete with plugs to charge your phone/laptop/etc. Perfect! And the food is good too. Next time in the area, we go there and really explore!

I visit this place on this day of spring. It is simply gorgeous out today. The fresh garden over pass was so beautiful. I capture this moment to share. I hope everyone love it.

Dupont Circle! A beautiful landmark with pleasing visuals around it. I like the "Big City" feel when you stand here and look around. The landmark itself is beautiful, but when I was there, it was not cleaned up or pristine. This area is kind of a gathering hub located on a traffic circle, where I saw a mixture of homeless, teens, tweens and the working class sitting on the many benches and socializing. And then there are the business people who walk rapidly through the park, as if on a mission. Being in Washington D.C., I wouldn't doubt at least one of these people were actually ON a mission!!! The area there is in the middle of everything -- from Coffee Shops to Convenience Shops to Business Offices and more! Also a hub for the walking person, which a lot of people do there! I guess parking is so hard to find, it's easier to walk. I loved that this place is so well known that if you got lost walking, all you have to do is ask someone to point you to Dupont Circle and there you are! Or for the techies, just googlemaps the place and follow the dot! All in all, I've grown fond of this landmark and what it stands for, especially after reading about it and seeing it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupont_Circle If you ever have a chance to visit Washington D.C., don't forget to check this place out along with the other historical buildings, memorials and monument!

Can WMATA executives do something about how freezing cold this station is( years) ! It's always colder than outside...and yet, prices keep increasing and hours are shorter...really! If I could give 0 stars to management I would! The staff however get 10 stars..helpful, friendly and quick to smile.. especially Mr P Elimu at Dupont..thank you!

Beautiful little spot with lots to do whether it's take in the fresh air and take a walk around the park, have a seat and lose yourself in a great read, meet for a latte with a few great friends, people watch as there is so much diversity and beauty to see, or even by chance meet someone new! I didn't get the chance to stop here as I was sightseeing DC in all of its amazement, but given the chance- I would have. I definitely will put it on my bucket list- to one day come back here!

This is a fun part of DC. There is always something going on. Metro is nearby. There is a little park to sit and enjoy the day. Depending on the season, there is a water fountain that is beautiful. Dog walkers frequent the area. It is nice taking a blanket and having a picnic in the area. There are lots of restaurants and shops within a few blocks of any direction you pick. Embassy row is nearby. I always pay attention to traffic whether driving or walking. Not all drivers are careful or courteous. There is interesting architecture, statues and rooftops all over the place.

FRIENDS OF MINE ADAM MORGAN He's a cool, laid back guy - knows how to have a good time. Loves his curries, sushi and his tacos - and loves washing them down with copious amounts of beer even more. Adam's always had a lot going for him - A good-looking mixed race kid of Ethiopian and Salvadorian ancestry.. Unfortunately, in his desire to become more corporate - more American - he's slowly turned his back on the very things that made him so likeable. He lost the accent, bought a million-dollar condo, and stopped frequenting his favorite bodegas and holes in the walls. Many of our old friends have caught onto his pretensions and stopped visiting. In their place he's found some new friends. I've seen t him spending more time with the Hipsters in recent days - lots of ironic T-shirts, Converse low tops and fedoras floating around lately... He's picked up a pretty bad cocaine habit at some point so there's also a surprising number of thugs hanging about ready to supply. I still visit him from time to time - we'll occasionally grab a bourbon and reminisce about the bad old days. Deep down I think we both know things aren't the same and I can't help but feel that we're drifting apart.. GEORGETTE TOWN Georgette's a beautiful girl and God does she know it.. A trust-fund baby that's had money for so long she's lost sight of how much things should reasonably cost.. I've watched her casually spend 40 dollars on parking, a couple of hundred on a bottle of mediocre wine, and 5 bucks for a dry cupcake. She does have a certain overindulged charm, but she spends so much time admiring her own gorgeous reflection in antique mirrors that I sometimes feel she's grown out of touch with the rest of us. She votes liberal, but maintains conservative tastes. Ms. Town's long since given up on work and instead spends her days in and out of boutiques (though her favorite Arab rag merchants have long since lost their leases and fucked off). It's been observed that she wipes her ass with silk - Hermes scarves might be closer to the mark. She drives a BMW, and sometimes a Benz, but only the C class. It's easier to parallel park in her neighborhood and she comes from money old enough that she doesn't have to impress anyone. YUSETTE REET The freshman wall flower has certainly blossomed into a popular senior. She worked hard to reinvent herself - got a complete makeover and is suddenly the talk of the town... I can recall at time when she mostly rolled with crackheads, crack dealers, and the occasional ex-con-turned Muslim. These days I see her in the company of lawyers, journalists, professors, and consultants with impossible to comprehend job descriptions. I raise my glass to the local girl made good - she deserves her success. CHIN A. TOWN His parents might be proud. He certainly made very lucrative choices with the real estate he inherited - sold nearly all of their properties to the highest bidder. So now, in place of Chinese Medicine stores with endless cabinets of dried ginseng, grasshopper legs and wolfberries there now stands the Verizon Center, H&M and Hooters. Chin seems satisfied with his decision, but I think we can all agree that we've lost something special. CHEVY CHASE We've all got friends that we only see once a year- almost to remind ourselves just why we no longer keep in touch. Mr. Chase is as lacking in charisma and flavor as the actor of the same name... It doesn't help matters that his place is a super pain in the ass to get to owing to the epic traffic up Wisconsin Ave. BROOKE LAND A sleepy old gal that who's best days are admittedly behind her. She'll still occasionally make it out to hang out with the Catholic U kids or the odd blue collar city employee, but for the most part she's home by nine. She's Baptist living in the shadow of the largest Catholic church in DC. HOWARD SHAW Gotta hand it to my boy, he never sold out. He might not have done as well on the back of real estate speculation as his neighbors, but he definitely kept it real. Still rolls with HBC crowd and still likes his Mumbo Sauce Carryouts, Gogo spots, and on the odd night when the mood takes him, he still hits up the Penthouse. Salt of the earth dude without a hint of pretention and I love him for it. MONSIEUR DUPONT I've always been of the opinion that there's a difference between gay and flamboyantly, balls out, attention-seeking flaming.. As of late Monsieur Dupont seems to be achieving a more comfortable balance between the two. CAPT. HILL A dignified old gentleman - can be a bit of a blowhard, constantly pushing his own political agenda, but that's part of his charm. He'll occasionally meet you for a liquid lunch or an after-work pint at an Irish pub, but God help you if you call on him after midnight. DAWN TOWN Georgette's little sister still lives close by. She's always been a touch more serious - more businesslike, than her free spending sibling - prefers business suits and happy hours to dinner drinks.

What I love: - The neighborhood is a dense mix of residences, workplaces, parks, shopping, and restaurants/clubs. So its sidewalks are lively (and generally safe) throughout the day and most of the evening. It reminds me of the mixed-use neighborhoods Jane Jacobs describes in "Death and Life of Great American Cities" - From here you can walk to Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, U Street, and downtown. They're all about a 15-min walk away. If you don't mind hiking 20-25 minutes, you can even walk to the Kennedy Center and Georgetown. - The neighborhood is well-served by Metrobus, Metro's Red Line, Flexcar/Zipcar, and wandering cabs. You don't need to own a car to live here! - The Circle itself is a great place to people-watch, check out pickup chess matches, join a political protest, play with neighborhood dogs, or listen to a local troubadour or horn/drum band. - You can feel comfortable here whether you're gay or straight, and no matter where you're from (there's a good-sized international crowd, thanks in part to the embassies). - The architecture is diverse and interesting. E.g. Gilded Age mansions like the Indonesian Embassy http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/detail/building.php , grand apartment buildings like the Egypt-themed 'skycraper' the Cairo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Apartment_Building , and neoclassical gems like the Scottish Rite Temple http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc54.htm . - The neighborhood has cool galleries and museums. Check out First Fridays at Dupont Circle Galleries http://www.artline.com/plus/organ/dupont/dupont.html , the Phillips Collection http://www.phillipscollection.org/, and the Textile Museum http://www.textilemuseum.org/ . Embassies also host exhibits showcasing their nations' artists. - There's a farmers market on Sundays, all year round http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/markets.html - There are wonderful bookstores, including Kramerbooks, Olsson's, Lambda, Second Story Books, and Books a Million. I wish they'd host more author events like Politics and Prose, though, because I hate hiking all the way up there. Update 3/07 - Now there's Red Onion bookstore too. - If you love donuts, this neighborhood boasts a Krispy Kreme, a Dunkin Donuts, and Tabard Inn's amazing house donuts. What I don't love: - Several independent businesses have closed in recent years while chains have moved in. Dupont Circle's unique character diminishes with every new Subway, Johnny Rockets and Starbucks. (But I have to admit I love Chipotle and Krispy Kreme and would DIE if they took those away!). Anyway, the Post covered this trend last year http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/13/AR2006081300499.html - I can't believe such a densely populated neighborhood lacks a DC Public Library branch. The closest branch is in Foggy Bottom. - The circle itself is a scary obstacle course for both drivers and pedestrians - Housing can be expensive! That said, there's a good supply of apartments and condos of all sizes, and not just new condos either. So Dupont Circle can occasionally still offer good deals compared to neighborhoods where the housing stock tends to be new (e.g. Gallery Place) or where there aren't as many small apartments. But still, there isn't much diversity when it comes to income or class. You pretty much need above-average income to live here. - Dupont Circle's got a ton of restaurants, bars, and dance clubs, but it could use more variety in other types of entertainment. For example, it has only one (somewhat outdated) movie theater left now that Visions and that other place on Conn and R closed. The best live music tends to be several blocks to the northeast at the Black Cat and the 9:30 Club. - Parking is a nightmare. This is good in some ways because it discourages people from driving, and the last thing DC needs is hideous-looking parking lots. But if you absolutely need to drive here for some reason, good luck finding a space! On the whole, though, I've lived in this neighborhood almost four years and still love it. Almost every day, I still find something new to appreciate: a new architectural detail I hadn't noticed before, a new restaurant to try, a new book in Kramer's window... It's swell.

Hmmm. Seems I forgot to write a review of Dupont Circle. I've been in this area 2 of my last 3 visits this past year. The area is always clean and beautiful, and always bustling. Lots of bars and restaurants to visit. I've been to Annie's Paramount Steakhouse in Dupont Circle. Great food and nice ambience. The Dupont Circle Metro station is nice, too...always clean and easy to get through. There's always a taxi nearby, if you don't like taking the Metro.

It's as close as DC gets to (dare I write this?) NYC. Which is to say you cant' see it (Gotham)from here. Nonetheless, I like the feel of the 'hood. (This expensive hood.) Why live in a city if you are not close to the things that make life worth living? And no, my dear workaholic Washingtonians, I do not mean your Job!

Love it! Great for people watching, to stop and eat takeout, or to just appreciate as a work of art as I walk everywhere in this bustling center. It's a terrific and lovely point of reference. I've enjoyed every minute I spent at Dupont Circle, whether it's a leisurely stroll, a brisk walk to and from good eats, post office (the one on Florida Ave. is a good one!), natural groceries, or a bit of shopping. I wish I had more time to explore this area. I am definitely coming back. Rainy day notwithstanding, December is a nice time to be in DC!

It does take a long time to get around Dupont Circle in a car! And it's sort of confusing because there are like 10 different streets intersecting. But the neighborhood always reminds me of Chandra Levy, because the first time I was in DC was the summer of 2001 for an internship program. So every time we went to Dupont Circle, all of the other out-of-towners in my program would whisper about it and scare the crap out of each other. But it's not *all* murder mystery ... Dupont Circle is also one of my favorite neighborhoods for going out to eat.

My travel book said Dupont Circle was the "gay neighborhood." Like Aaron pointed out, it's not as black/white as that. It's an everyone neighborhood. I loved that. Dupont Circle is also, apparently, where you can buy drugs at night, and also see break-dancers turn it out during the hot afternoons. They chalked an huge rectangle adjacent to the fountain, and got everyone psyched. There are tons of restaurants, housing and bars within walking distance, and it made me totally jealous and want to live here. My first night in town, there was a New Orleans style jazz band going crazy, like in a mini-parade. Everyone really was dancing in the streets. The Dupont Circle Metro Station is so close to the actual circle, my friend Pete could throw a rock to it (he's got a better arm than me). I love you, Dupont Circle. Real bad. I mean bad.

I just got back to Atlanta from DC and I have got to say...I am in love!!! The neighborhood, people, and food are all wonderful! Nothing excited me more to see everyone walking, enjoying being outside, exercising and running, riding bikes, etc... Definitely a lot different than Atlanta! Plus it was sooo clean! No need for a car if you live here, you can pretty much get to everything by walking or taking the metro. The people were very nice (and the guys were very cute!)! Lots of diversity, everyone dressed very well and I didn't see very many unhealthy people! I definitely look forward on visiting again and will hopefully live in an area like this at least once in my life! Thanks for the great time DC!

I love Dupont Circle. Not only the circle, but all the great areas close by. I love to hangout on Mass Ave, P street, 17th Street, and the walk from there to Georgetown is really pleasant. The circle itself is a great place to people watch. In the spring, summer, and fall people lay in the grass, sit on the benches, or play chess. Take a seat on the edge of the fountain to watch the parade of diverse people walking by and feel the fountain's spray. It is a shame the neighborhood has become much more 'normal' in last few years. Yes, it is still a pretty gay neighborhood, and Kramer's is still there, along with some other independent place, but now that Ann Taylor, Blue Mercury, United Colors, Johnny Rockets, etc have moved in the main stream has flooded the area. Looking for an area more authentic and edgy? Go over to the 14th street corridor between P and U. Fun fact, the fountain was designed by the same architect who designed the Lincoln Memorial.

The thing about DuPont Circle is that basically everything in DC is here. . The infamous chess games around the circle . Kramer and Books A Million . Embassy Row, don't forget to stand by the Mahatma Gandhi statue across from the Indian embassy or to go to the Afghan embassy . The farmers market on Sunday . A great number of restaurants . A Whole Foods (the other one is in Tenleytown) . The clubs, the Lucky Bar and a Julia's Empanadas . Larry's Ice Creme Also when you're in DuPont be on the lookout for the many weird, forbodingly wealthy cult buildings (I'm looking at you, creepy Eastern Star building)

Dupont Circle is arguable the epicenter of the Dupont neighborhood. Its thriving on the weekends and at various times during the week, full of people passing through quickly, people playing chess, and others just relaxing on the fountain's edge or surrounding benches for great people watching. The surrounding grounds look a little rough for wear, but considerably in good shape overall. There seems to always be a visible homeless presence here.

I dig Dupont Circle. It is a column to the amazing city. A gathering place, a focal point, and fantastic park for people watching. At all times of the year, all times of the week, all times of day and night, it has action. I have had a picnic, done yoga, and been part of an epic snowball fight there! It always looks nice, mostly kept together, and mostly clean. I hope to visit for many more moons to come. I hope they make some upgrades / paint / plant etc, to take it to the level it is for our amazing city!

few years ago the perfect Sunday for me would have been home made french toast, chill bike ride from nova into DC, chill at Dupont Circle for a few hours, read a book, the paper, people watch, or just listen to the random girl with a guitar singing. Perfect Sunday. ps - Is it just me and my sometimes juvenile humor that Dupont Circle was named after Navy REAR Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont. Check out the inscription on the the fountain base(South Side) - true dat

Great place to people watch! Dupont Circle is iconic - it feels like the epicenter of the young and vibrant DC community. I like coming here for yoga classes in the summer or going for an evening stroll.

Her graceful fountain has been the focus of many an artist. Her inner and outer traffic lanes have been lamented and lambasted in movies. She has been with us in protest and celebration. She's a gentle respite; she's a destination, and she's home. Dupont Circle is arguably America's model neighborhood. Part of Washington, DC's old city, many buildings date to the 1800's. It's truly a neighborhood where you can live, work, and play. In many cities around the country, the gayborhood is just that - completely gay. Not Dupont - it's a neighborhood that embraces and celebrates the differences in others. Str8, gay, black, white, purple with yellow polka dots and pink spiked hair...it really is that melting pot we've been saying we wanted for so many years. So stop by for a bento box, then pick up that impossible to find new import album, hop on a bike and cruise a few miles in Rock Creek Park, stretch out in the park with great book, and meet up with some of the nicest and most interesting people you'll ever meet - all here in Dupont Circle.

A city park...you know the characters, smells, sights, and sounds. A great place to people watch, but you may see a few interesting characters. I will say it's nice to have a place, a decent place, for all types to be together regardless of differences or shortcomings.

Isn't it weird how your perception of Dupont Circle drastically changes depending on if you are taking the metro here or if you are taking your car here? If you are in your car be prepared for long queues of traffic, screaming expletives trying to get out of this circle of hell, and parking about 3 miles away. On the plus side you can get a nice workout walking back! Taking the metro though, you end up with a leisurely stroll towards the circle watching all the backed up traffic and snickering to yourself 'what chumps!' and then proceed to meet your friends for whatever activity you have planned around the area. Usually this involves eating at the many restaurants around Dupont circle, or lazing around and maybe reading a book in the sun. So what have we learned from this review? Save the environment and your sanity and take the damn train here.