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The Best of D.C. Neighborhoods: Dupont Circle

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Mikala Rempe
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Claire Shriver
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

Do you ever forget that there’s more to D.C. than just Tenleytown? Let us be your guide to the fabulous city that is your backyard. We will show you the best of the best in D.C. neighborhood by neighborhood, starting with Dupont Circle in Northwest D.C.

Best Breakfast: Bethesda Bagels

This great breakfast joint in Dupont just celebrated its three year aniversary, but it’s one of the best kept secrets in the area. These artisan bagels are the best and cheapest alternative to a swanky brunch in the district. They have great plain bagels and cream cheeses, but the most adventerous eaters will love a Bananna nut bagel with Rasin Walnut Cream Cheese.

Shopping: LouLou Boutiques and Clothing

Full disclosure, my part-time job is at LouLou, and I love it there! LouLou has acccessory stores across the District and into Maryland and Virginia. There are studs, statements necklaces, and midi-rings galore. The clothing boutique is where the real action is at though. They carry brands from Splendid to Free People, and every piece in the store is unique that way you can be sure that you don’t see your exact same outfit on the girl around the corner.

Cafe: Capital Teas

Is Starbucks becoming a little too mainstream for you? Capital Teas is the place to be then. This cute cafe is tucked into a little strip on Connecticut Ave, but it’s the best tea in Dupont. They sell dozens of teas by the canister and the cup. All the options can be a little overwhelming from the Chocolate Mint Black Tea to the Blueberry Yogurt Herbal Tea. Don’t get too intimidated though, their “tea-ristas” are the most helpful in the district, no matter if you’re a tea novice or connoisseur.

Salon: VSL Hair Design

Finding a great salon can be as hard as finding the right shoe fit. A stylist that you can trust with your hair is just like finding a spiritual guru. Rusty at VSL hair design is that guru. He is the master of cut and color. The salon is always a great pick-me up with their pump-up music and great smelling products. The salon is great for students too because they offer a discount if you pay with cash and have a student id. 

Best Bookstore: Second Story Books

Everyone knows and loves Kramer’s Bookstore, but the real gem of literature in Dupont Circle is Second Story Books. Second Story Books carries the best used, out-of-print, and rare books. When the weather gets nicer Second Story holds great sidewalk sales. The shop is super is easy to get to from AU, it’s right on the corner of 20th on the N4 or N6 bus routes. 

Best Bar: Board Room

For all you over 21-ers Board Room is the best bar in D.C. especially if you are sick of fratty nights and Natty Lights. This is a great casual bar where you can relax with friends and play board games at the same time. They rent games for $1-$5, but you can also feel free to bring your own. They have happy hour pretty much all day on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 7:00pm.

Dupont Cirlcle is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from American’s campus, so get out there and start exploring.

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Mikala Rempe is a sophomore at American University in Washington, D.C., originally from Omaha, Nebraska. She is a literature major with a minor in creative writing. In addition to writing for Her Campus, Mikala is on staff for the AmLit, AU’s premiere literary arts magazine. In her free time she loves to read, and cook. She spends most of her days accidentally spilling coffee on her own poetry. She hopes this isn't a metaphor.
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Born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Claire Shriver is a Public Communication major and Marketing minor at American University in Washington, DC. She is the Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus American, Vice President of Communication for AU Social Media Club and an AU Ambassador. This past summer she interned in the Features Department at Marie Claire magazine and has a passion for travel, magazines, and film photography. Kristen Wiig makes Claire cry with laughter and Adele makes her swoon.