Note: Artists Inn Residence B&B closed in 2009.
One of a few gay-owned B&Bs in Washington, DC, the elegantly decorated Artists Inn Residence B&B (1824 R Street NW) occupies a pair of handsomely restored turn-of-the-20th-century townhouses, just a couple of blocks north of Dupont Circle. The six rooms (doubles start at around $270/night) have artful decorating themes that pay homage to particular creative spirits: William Shakespeare, Katharine Hepburn, Duke Ellington, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci. The accommodations are decidedly plush - each room has a gas fireplace, heated marble floors in the well-outfitted bathrooms, state-of-the-art electric bidets (now, how often do you see that in a room at a B&B?), organic-cotton linens, iPod docks, large HDTVs with DVD, and plenty of additional creature comforts. This is a pretty fabulous choice for a romantic getaway or special occasion, and the location is both charming and convenient.
