HotelChatter - Stories about Donovan House

Washington: The Five Best Hotels in D.C. For Under $150

KatieK — 2009-11-05T11:18:25-05:00

<![CDATA[With the opening of the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/W+Washington+DC/local/1561">W</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Jefferson+Hotel/ian/164281">Jefferson Hotels</a> in DC this summer, weve had downtown luxury DC hotels on the brain. But for the expense account-free folks in our midst, we thought we better take a moment to remind everyone it actually can be affordable to stay in the District thats right, suburban family-filled chains need not apply. Here, we rounded up five of our favorite DC hotels where weekend rates start under $150. <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/donovan5best.jpg" class="top"> 1. <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Donovan+House/local/994">Donovan House</a> Thompson Hotels mod Donovan House sits on Thomas Circle straddles downtown offices and trendy 14th Street restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Though if you stay here you should probably eat at the hotels own restaurant, Zentan,

Washington: Donovan House's Pool Looks Like More Fun Than Thompson LES's

Jenna — 2009-07-30T11:36:05-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/donovanpool.jpg" class="top"> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/thompson hotels">Thompson's</a> track record has been not so good with their outdoor pool scene. Well, back up: that's kind of a vast generalization based on <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/5/29/12814/1499/hotels/Thompson_LES_Really_Really_Needs_to_Keep_It_Down">the issues</a> the NYC Lower East Side neighbors have (quite vocally) had with the pool crowd at the <A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Thompson+LES/local/31">Thompson LES</a> namely, it's loud and obnoxious. But mmm, doesn't this shot of DC's <A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Donovan+House/local/994">Donovan House's</a> pool get you going a little bit? This space, which was (unfortunately or fortunately, depending on who you are) "modeled after the exclusive A60 at 60 Thompson in New York and ABH at Thompson Beverly Hills," is officially called Above D.C. (<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/5/23/125238/790/hotels/Thompson_s_Donovan_House_Set_to_Open_Rooftop_Bar_ADC_This_Weekend">ADC</a>). We're not quite sure what the scene is like up

Washington: Donovan House's Zentan Restaurant Menu Revealed

KatieK — 2009-06-11T12:23:39-05:00

As we announced somewhat exuberantly Monday, the Donovan House in DC has finally officially opened its embattled restaurant Zentan by chef Susur Lee. We’ll spare you another rehashing of the details, but needless to say, we’re all a little shocked the place finally seems to be up and running (they’re even on Open Table, like, um, a normal restaurant).

And there’s more! Though the restaurant's website remains black and white and a little creepy, Washingtonian magazine has revealed Zentan’s menu in its entirety, plus a few interior photos.

Check out the Washingtonian story for the full menu. For our part, here are a few highlights:

Washington: Zentan at Donovan House Opens Today

Jenna — 2009-06-08T15:55:53-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/cha_restaurant.jpg" class="top"> An older rendering for Cha restaurant; now called Zentan. Alright, restaurant at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Donovan+House/local/994">Donovan House</a>: let's try this again, shall we? The restaurant formerly known as Cha was soft-opening for a while and had Todd English's name all over it, but then English <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/5/1/113016/3343/hotels/The_Thompson_Dudes_Form_Do_Not_Disturb_Restaurant_Group">went bye-bye</a> and <A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/susur lee">Susur Lee</a>, the Toronto Chef behind Thompson LES's <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/1/10409/25350/hotels/Thompson_LES_Shang_Gets_a_Fly_New_Website">Shang</a>, took over the kitchen side of things. And so now Zentan has been born and the restaurant opens today. We don't quite know much about the menu, though, because the <a href="http://www.zentanrestaurant.com/">website </a>doesn't seem to be up and running (er, or anything beyond totally skeletal black and white nothingness) but here is what we do know: <blockquote>The

The Thompson Dudes Form 'Do Not Disturb' Restaurant Group

Jenna — 2009-05-01T11:35:18-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/libertine2.jpg" class="top"> Big news out of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/thompson hotels">Thompson </a>today. First up: remember how we reported on some <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/4/29/102740/354/hotels/Cha_Cha_Cha_Changes_at_DC_s_Donovan_House">cha-cha-cha changes</a> at Cha inside the <A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Donovan+House/local/994">Donovan House</a>, near and dear to our hearts because of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/2/9/95945/65442/hotels/In_Which_We_Meet_Hanson_at_Donovan_House_s_Cha_Restaurant">a Hanson sighting</a> and some delish sushi? We knew <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/todd english">Todd English</a> was out and Toronto chef <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/susur lee">Susur Lee</a> was in (the same chef behind Shang at the <A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Thompson+LES/local/31">Thompson LES</a>), but we didn't know the name was changing too. 'Cha' is now 'Zentan', and "the menu will feature favorites from Shang in NYC and his restaurant, Lee in Toronto, as well as a selection of sushi, sashimi and Asian crudos." The new Zentan is set to open June