The Inn at Little Washington
The Inn at Little Washington
309 Middle St # D
Washington, VA 22747
(540) 675-3800
At first glance you might not even notice the unassuming white building festooned with flags on the corner of Middle and Main Streets. There are no signs to guide you here. But once inside the front door you realize that this could only be The Inn at Little Washington. A graceful Dalmatian wearing a string of Pearls may greet you as one of the staff takes your bags and leads you to a cozy alcove for Passion Fruit tea and delicate biscuits.
From an 18th Century portrait high above a crackling fire, famed French Gastronome Brillat Savarin smiles approvingly. Steps away an enchanting courtyard beckons through French doors while the sparkle of crystal and silver on nearby tables hints at pleasures to come. Wherever you look fragrant flowers, richly layered fabrics and wall coverings and amethyst-studded ceilings form a bewitching backdrop for the owner’s superb collection of art and antiques.
Created by Patrick O’Connell and his former partner, Reinhardt Lynch, in 1978 The Inn at Little Washington was the first establishment in the Mobil Travel Guide’s history ever to receive 5 stars for its restaurant and 5 stars for its accommodation, and is the first Inn ever to receive AAA’s highest accolade, the 5 Diamond Award, for both food and accommodation.
The Inn's dining rooms are pure fantasy - a wondrous cocoon of luxury. Rose-colored, silk lampshades float above each table creating a private, romantic world below. The Chef's creations arrive at one of the 30 intimate tables as if served by invisible hands, course after course more dazzling than the last. From the award winning 14,000 bottle wine cellar, which includes the finest offerings from Bordeaux, Burgundy, California and Virginia, the Sommelier plays matchmaker between you, your dinner and the wine.
The late Craig Claiborne of The New York Times called it "the most magnificent inn I've ever seen, in this country or Europe, where I had the most fantastic meal of my life". Patrick's approach to cooking, while paying homage to the lawmakers of Classical French Cuisine, reflects a belief in "the cuisine of today", healthy, eclectic, imaginative, unrestricted by ethnic boundaries and always growing.
