Located on the corner of 11th and N. Market in downtown Wilmington, HOTEL DU PONT was built in 1913. This 12-story Italian Renaissance building is the epitome of grandeur, and the interior will straight up take your breath away. Think imported European chandeliers, hand-carved wood, terrazzo floors and more.
It’s unlike any hotel I’ve ever seen, and it oozes elegance. It comes as no surprise that HOTEL DU PONT’S a popular wedding venue. The Gold Ballroom, added in the 1918 expansion, looks like something straight out of the mansion in Beauty and the Beast. It has two twelve-foot high walnut doors engraved with peacocks and urns at the entryway, and the walls showcase a technique called sgraffito, a type of “scratching” that was popular during the Italian Renaissance.
It’s amazing to see how much care and detail went into the conception of this building, and it attracted the likes of celebrities, royalty and presidents, housing big names like Elizabeth Taylor, John F. Kennedy, Lucille Ball, Reese Witherspoon, Warren Buffet, and more.
The property has 200+ guest rooms and suites, and it’s pet friendly (for an additional fee). I stayed in suite 1118, and I actually gasped when I walked inside. It was modern yet warm and inviting. It had two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a powder room, and a dining + living area. There were TVs in every room, and the wifi was fast. The bed was unbelievably comfortable, and the amenities were luxe.
As if that weren’t enough, pastry chef Leah Steinberger created a beautiful dessert tray for me along with housemade treats for Daisy, my maltese furbaby. There was also a comfortable bed set up for her so she felt right at home.
Along with a bottle of prosecco, they generously included a box of their world-renowned macaroons. I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious these cookies were. I have some left over, but I’m kicking myself for not buying an extra box. Luckily, Wilmington’s only about an hour and half away so I can go back whenever I want.
While we’re on the topic of food, I want to tell you guys about their award winning restaurant, The Green Room. To start, the space is breathtaking, like the ceiling alone will captivate you. There are gold chandeliers, Italian mosaics, oak paneling and so much more. That plus 5-star service and food? An unforgettable experience that will leave all your senses completely and utterly satisfied.
I had the pleasure of dining there for both brunch and dinner, and the food was fantastic. A huge thanks to Chefs Philip Dersch and Leah Steinberger. I’ll be covering both meals in greater detail on Nomtastic Foods so keep an eye out, but to start, here were a few standouts: the HOTEL DU PONT crab cake, the hudson valley rohan duck, the wild caught salmon, their breakfast pastries, and their mushroom & spinach omelette (part of the American special they had available for breakfast).
Doesn’t that all look delicious? If you live in the DMV area (or even if you don’t), Wilmington, Delaware is a beautiful place to visit. I’ll be posting a travel guide soon so you’ll have more info on what to see, eat and do, but I promise it’s the perfect weekend getaway.
HOTEL DU PONT is reason enough to go, but there’s a surprising amount of stuff to do in the area. Stay tuned for more, friends! And let me know if you have any questions. I always love hearing from you guys. For more on travel, make sure you guys check out this tab. Until next time!
