The Inn at Little Washington

Most expensive meal I’ve ever had, but also one of the most delicious. Perfect for a special occasion. The wine pairing was nice, but not my favorite. Colby, the person serving the wine, was also one of my favorite parts about the whole evening though, so there’s also that! I wish I had taken photos.

This review is for the inn, not the restaurant. My wife and I had an amazing long weekend at the Inn at Little Washington. It has a magical feel that's difficult to articulate. It's almost like being on a movie set. The views are incredible, the people kind, and the food delicious. We particularly loved the cottage we stayed in. It was incredibly cozy yet spacious. I can safely say it's one of the best, if not the best, five-star inn I've been to. People should know ahead of time that little washington is tiny. As a result, the inn itself is a place to go and relax, enjoy nature, read, drink, and eat great food. It's not a bustling area with all sorts of activities throughout the day. To me, that's what makes it such a great escape. There are small towns and wineries nearby for those who wish to leave the inn and explore. But the inn is so incredible, you'll probably just want to stay!

My wife and I had dinner here but did not stay at the inn. The only special event we were celebrating was a night away from the kids. Since we got here an hour before our reservation, we had drinks in a parlor area and it looked like a salon where afternoon tea was still going on. It was pretty nice and the cocktails were very tasty. Service was excellent.

We were notified that our table was ready and escorted to our relatively private section. The food was excellent and the wine pairings were superb. Service was impeccable. It was a perfect mix of being attentive and leaving us alone to enjoy our food and drink. My favorite dish was the swordfish carpaccio and my wife enjoyed the lobster in baby cabbage. It was a memorable evening. Was it worth 1500 bucks? Eh. Am I glad that I tried it? Yes. My wife also really enjoyed the experience. This is definitely a place for really special occasions.

What can possibly be said about this place? Only 90 minutes from DC in what feels like a storybook town. The Inns decor transports you to England (think downtown abbeyesque), the inn has a very warm feeling both literally and figuratively. The staff are so welcoming and sweet. We stayed in room 6, the Johnny Apple room and it was magnificent! It used to be 2 rooms and is now a suite. This room comes with 2 full bathrooms and an amazing arch door. We had the opportunity to have to attend tea time, dinner and, breakfast. Tea time was delicious and the tea selection was vast. Dinner was a set menu and you have the option of vegetarian and meat, we chose one of each. Each dish was delicious and thoughtfully prepared for your palette transition (see pics). We selected dessert and the cheese selection from Farah the cow, fantastic! We also had breakfast in the morning, it was a basket of muffins, croissants and bread, a flight of juices and, a selection of jams, we also ordered the blueberry lemon ricotta silver dollar pancakes and they were AMAZING! Overall I highly recommend you go.

The attention to every minute detail is what made my stay so magical. The experience from check-in, to room decor, to dinner, to the beautiful grounds....everything was impeccable. I very much enjoyed my stay with my husband thanks to the attentiveness of the staff. Loved it and can't wait to visit again soon

This was an amazing experience. I've never experienced service like this. The room was gorgeous. The grounds were lovely. Dinner was exquisite. The staff was amazing. Cocktails were the best I've ever had. You definitely pay a price for all this. For a very special occasion, going to the Inn at Little Washington cannot be beat. The tiny town is quaint and fun to walk around. I'd love to stay longer and do day trips and nearby activities but maybe after I hit the lotto!

My wife and I were in DC for a business trip and drove over to The Inn for dinner. Totally ... worth it. A lovely experience in every way. I could expound at length, but I think the attached picture pretty much sums up how memorable the evening was to us.

Our Christmas tree contains a homemade ornament that I crafted to honor the night and specifically the hilarious king of both cheese knowledge and cheese-based puns, Cameron the Cheese Whiz.

Seriously, whatever you do, DON'T skip the cheese course. It's that cool.

We had an amazing experience. We ate dinner at the restaurant and stayed the night in the hotel. Everything (the room, the grounds, the staff, and the restaurant) was spectacular. Can’t say enough good things about the meal. It was probably the best we’ve ever had. And to top it off, we got engaged there! A truly wonderful experience that we’ll remember forever! Can’t wait to return!

I probably won’t add much value from other reviewers, but this is, really, the best dining experience I’ve ever had. The food, service, and attention to detail are something I had never experienced before. Each course is perfectly timed and all the staff make you feel they are there for you alone. As the perfect finale, the cheese presentation by the gracious Maitre du Fromage left us with a smile. Definitely worth every penny (particularly considering prices you pay in DC for 1/2 star Michelin restaurants that cannot compare).

I was incredibly fortunate to be invited to dine here with my family. The whole night was perfectly magical. The service was amazing (!) - welcoming without airs and the evening was so impressive from the moment we arrived to when we left. I’ll be thinking about this dinner for years!

Simply magical. 10/10 dining, service, decor. Having been to Michelin rated restaurants around the world, this was a true 3 star Michelin experience. We left enamored and inspired. Thank you, Chef!

This was our 2nd stay at The Claiborne House. It was amazing as usual. We were able to have Cameron "The Cheese Whiz" come to the house with a tea experience that we enjoyed immensely. The food was wonderful as usual and the atmosphere was breathtaking. We are hooked on this place.

Absolutely excellent. We celebrated our engagement here. The staff went above and beyond to make our experience extra special.

The Inn served me the best dinner I've ever had. The experience is worth every penny, no matter the cost. Congratulations to Patrick O'Connell. The Inn, its cuisine, and reputation are marvelous national achievements.

There are restaurants, then there’s this place. It’s not fair to compare them to any other meal you will have. The service is beyond what you can expect anywhere. The food is beyond the best. The atmosphere is exceeding expectations on every level. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it a once in a lifetime experience? Absolutely. Would I do it again? You know it. If you have the opportunity, then you have to have dinner at the Inn at Little Washington.

This place exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like VIPs, and the food was out of this world.

The attention to detail is incredible and we were treated to so many thoughtful touches during our stay, and the staff went out of their way to make sure we were happy, we felt like we were at home.

The food was an experience itself. Each dish was a work of art, both visually and gastronomically. We had a hard time choosing our favorites because everything was so delicious.

The atmosphere is one of quiet sophistication, with classic decor that makes you feel like you're stepping back in time. Every detail is carefully considered, and it all comes together to create a feeling of luxury and relaxation.

In short, the Inn at Little Washington is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. The combination of excellent food, superb service, and a beautiful, classic atmosphere make it an experience we won't soon forget.

Review for the restaurant: it was a magical night for us! The setting in the enclosed garden was so romantic and the interaction and attention from the staff was so warm and lovely. They were accommodating of our dietary restrictions (Pescetarian letting us mix and match from the two fixed menus). Every dish was delicious! & cocktail! We absolutely loved everything our waiter recommended the vodka not too sweet passion fruit coconut lime cocktail, lobster dish, and the cheese dessert experience! Will definitely be recommending to friends and family for super special occasions and be back ourselves!

The restaurant was very nice! Complimentary valet service was a great perk. There seems to be a little bit of parking here and there or on the side of the road, but it was pretty confusing where you could park legally.

From the valet to sitting to leaving the table, it was nothing but wonderful smiles and gracious people. Everyone was super polite and most helpful. The restaurant being a 3 Michelin star restaurant that it is, I was expecting a few small details I kept an eye out for. It was raining when we arrived so I was expecting ushers with umbrellas which did happen. Also, I was expecting crumbs to be brushed of the table here and there, and they were. I only watched out for this one because a few reviews noted that it did not happen.

Our maître d'hôtel, waiters and waitresses kept on point the entire night. They were funny, polite and always attentive. My wife got up from the table and soon after someone came buy to fold her napkin neatly and placed it on the table, so as for everything to look neat and orderly at all times. Small detail I know.

Our dinner was seven courses! Of course they are small but its about quality, not a #1 combo meal or a 8 oz. sirloin from a steak house. Not to go into details but each of our courses impressed more and more. I don't think I've had a better "Szechuan Pepper-Crusted Venison Tenderloin with Caramelized Endive, Salsify and Lingonberries" or "A Chartreuse of Savoy Cabbage and Maine Lobster with Caviar Beurre Blanc", in my life. The wine pairings was a bit of a splurge, but when in Rome!

Nothing bad to say about The Inn at Little Washington restaurant. It isn't just about great food and fine dining. It was about the whole experience for us. Dressing up, going out to dinner and enjoying a level of service and quality of food that has to date not been matched. Disclaimer: This is my first time dining at a Michelin star restaurant. We've set our standards high by making my first experience of a Michelin star restaurant a 3 star restaurant and an excellent one.

My first experience at the Inn at Little Washington was truly amazing. We arrived after a round of golf about 30 minutes away and were able to check into our rooms around 3pm go freshen up and get ready for cocktail hour at 5:45pm. (They mentioned it but then forgot to give us our welcome cocktails when we went upstairs though).

[ROOMS]
When you first walk in, you already see all the decor and amazing flowers where the design was very thought out. A chinois historic American interior design with amazing wallpaper and drapery. We stayed in the main building and there’s also multiple other houses owned by the inn that surround the main building built more recently. The standard room was a great size with a huge patio seating area. Service was impeccable! During turndown service, they even tied up my messy phone charger cord.

[COCKTAIL HOUR]
Their cocktails were really good. They have a wide selections of whiskey and wine. Their corkage fee is $150 a bottle which really discourages you to bring your own wine but they do have a great selection to choose from. The room for cocktail hour was very well designed with comfortable seating and instagram-worthy.

[DINNER]
Now to the dinner - just wow! When asked what was my favorite, I honestly couldn’t tell you. I loved the potato chip cheese cannoli which was the first bite and loved everything to the last bite from the cherry trio dessert. Everything may look miniature but you start to get really fill midway through the courses. You have the choice of gastronaut or the good earth vegetarian menu but it is flexible if you have dietary restrictions. Everything tasted so fresh and what I found the most interesting dish was the carpaccio lamb loin with Caesar salad ice cream.

[BREAKFAST]
I loved the seasonal juice flight as that was the highlight for me. With staying at the inn, you get their house breakfast which includes the seasonal juice flight, yogurt/fruit/fresh granola, croissants and muffins. Any of the hot breakfast dishes was an additional cost. Breakfast cocktails ranged from $15-$30.

Overall great experience and I highly recommend staying the night for the full experience!

Amazing experience. I highly recommend it to anyone. The food is fantastic, and there is terrific hospitality.

My favorite part is that going to the Inn is like being transported to a different world. It is like if Disneyland came to life. Highly recommend this once in a lifetime experience.