The Inn at Little Washington offers a mix of traditional, classic, and quirky style with a relaxed and welcoming vibe. Its characteristics make it the perfect place to visit from the Washington, D.C. area when celebrating special events such as birthdays or anniversaries.
Before being transformed into a restaurant for people in the area, The Inn at Little Washington previously served as a garage. It later added guest rooms and grew to become the place it is today. Today, the Inn wins many awards for both the restaurant and accommodations.
1. Amazing location
The Inn at Little Washington is a luxurious hideaway, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It can be reached via an hour and a half drive from Washington D.C. The Inn is located in the quintessential American small town of Washington. Many of the buildings in the village date back to the late 1700s. History buffs love to know that George Washington surveyed and named the streets in 1749. If shopping excites you, the town features art galleries, antiques, and gift shops to explore.
We recommend taking a leisurely morning walk around the 3/4 mile Perimeter Path to see the bee houses, chickens, sheep, and guardian llamas. The path also takes you past one of the beautiful vegetable gardens.
You can also visit nearby attractions such as:
- Warrenton
- Luray Caverns
- Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park
- Charlottesville and Monticello
- Middleburg
- Leesburg
- Winchester
- Manassas
- Wineries
- Montpelier Estate
2. 5-star service
At 5-star hotels you expect good service but the service at the Inn at Little Washington is amazing. As soon as we arrived we felt welcomed. The staff knew who we were for our entire stay and we never had to sign for anything.
The receptionist comes out from behind the desk to greet you personally and welcomes you with a seasonal champagne cocktail. Also, every time we walked down the stairs the staff greeted us and offered assistance.
The attention to detail is amazing. We were celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary and they even personalized the menus.
3. Afternoon tea
Complimentary afternoon tea is served to hotel guests starting at 3 PM. Afternoon tea features numerous tea options including black, white, green, fruit, and chai. Delicious little quiches, biscuits, scones, and pastries accompanied tea and provided the perfect bites to tide us over until dinner.
4. Gourmet dinner
One of the main reasons to visit the Inn at Little Washington is to enjoy a 5-course meal in the 3-star Michelin restaurant (the only in the Washington, D.C. area). The cuisine is refined American. Dinner features a meat-inclusive option or an equally-inspired vegetarian menu. You may add wine pairings to either selection.
The food is delicious and unique with stunning presentation. The “Caesar salad ice cream” may sound odd but paired perfectly with the lamb. The dessert, “apparently a pear,” was actually cheesecake shaped like a pear with pear pieces inside.
The Inn at Little Washington took a unique approach to the dining room capacity limits due to COVID-19. Instead of having empty tables, they have seated mannequins enjoying meals and glasses of wine.
5. Luxurious accommodations
The Inn’s 24 bedrooms and suites are all individually decorated by London set designer Joyce Evans. Many rooms feature balconies, and serene garden views. The Inn’s rooms are named after America’s culinary pioneers such as Julia Child.
The rooms are spread across over several buildings. The Main Inn features 11 rooms and is where the restaurant and bar are located. Please note, there are many steps in this building. The other buildings, Parsonage, Carter House, Mayor’s House, Gamekeepers Cottage, and Claiborne House are located in the village minutes from the main building. The Claiborne House works perfectly for families or couples traveling together as it contains two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, a full kitchen, library, and veranda.
We hope that our Inn at Little Washington review inspired your future travel. Do you need a relaxing escape to rural Virginia? Contact us today to plan your trip.