washington, d.c., is a city of secrets. the nation<u+2019>s capital specializes in subterfuge and stealth, from the mysterious reason why the cia museum only admits cia employees (and their vetted visitors) to what exactly hillary clinton<u+2019>s campaign chairman puts in his risotto. so it stands to reason that the city would harbor more than its share of hidy-holes<u+2014>tucked-away spots for hush-hush confabs and rendezvous. on the flip side, some of the government buildings you might think are off-limits, or a big bore, are neither, though visits require a little advance planning. here, a look at some of d.c.<u+2019>s hidden attractions. (as for the cia museum, anyone can do a little snooping through the collection online, at cia.gov.) the diplomatic reception rooms, a suite of 42 rooms, on the seventh and eighth floors of the harry s. truman state department building, are the elegant spaces where treaties are signed, trade agreements are hammered out and foreign heads of state meet with the secretary of state, vice president and members of congress to conduct the dance of diplomacy. such lofty pursuits demand a backdrop of america<u+2019>s finest museum-quality pieces<u+2014>and these rooms don<u+2019>t disappoint. approximately 5,000 objects of american fine and decorative arts are on display, ranging from a paul revere silver teapot to chippendale furniture. you can take a 45-minute art-focused tour from monday to friday, if you add your name at least 90 days in advance to the waiting list and prepare yourself for a possible cancellation to accommodate a diplomat in need. receptiontours.state.gov long ago, capitol hill planners dug tunnels to join the halls of congress to nearby office buildings. get your own tunnel experience by registering for a reader identity card at the library of congress<u+2019>s james madison building. in five minutes, you have a nifty laminated card that gives access to the nation<u+2019>s trove of literature and the iconic italianate main reading room. walk the steam tunnel from madison to the thomas jefferson building<u+2014>perhaps taking advantage of the dunkin<u+2019> donuts coffee down there<u+2014>and emerge in the great hall, a marble and mural wonder. loc.gov/visit/tours/online-tours/james-madison-memorial-building passersby might never guess that the u.s. department of the interior headquarters, a mass of uninviting concrete, contains a series of circa-1930s murals by some of america<u+2019>s finest painters, the legacy of president franklin d. roosevelt<u+2019>s new deal. the collection includes expansive works by maynard dixon, allan houser, gifford beal and john steuart curry. moreover, 26 photos by ansel adams, commissioned by secretary of the interior harold ickes in 1941, also line a few hallways. tours are offered tuesdays and thursdays at 2 p.m. doi.gov/interiormuseum/tours though washington<u+2019>s embassies remain closed to all but the privileged few, on saturday, may 6, 2017, an <u+201c>around the world<u+201d> tour will offer the public entr<u+00e9>e into more than 40 embassies; many prepare national dishes you can sample and, in some cases, offer performances. on the following saturday, the european union embassies and the eu delegation to the u.s., will also open their doors to the public for the day. culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1 , euopenhouse.org only the lucky (and calculating) few can get their brows done next to a supreme court justice. your best shot: karma by erwin gomez, a hair and eyebrow salon in the west end neighborhood, which is frequented by politicos and the d.c. elite. karmaerwingomez.com the jefferson hotel, a snug and stately 95-room beaux-arts structure within walking distance of the white house, is a favorite with denizens of capitol hill and embassy row. but you won<u+2019>t find them trading secrets in the bar: sub rosa rendezvous take place in the clubby, private <u+201c>cabinet rooms<u+201d> that can be reserved (by anyone) for drinks. hotel guests who don<u+2019>t want to hobnob with the hoi-polloi can hide out in the volume-lined book room, which is closed to the public. jeffersondc.com the walnut-wood-paneled del frisco<u+2019>s double eagle steakhouse, near union station, maintains a private underground entrance leading into the wine cellar and lower-level private dining rooms. according to a restaurant spokeswoman, the secret entrance <u+201c>has been used regularly by members from both sides of the aisle for fundraising dinners, social gatherings and speaking engagements.<u+201d> the cellar entrance opens directly from the underground parking garage. delfriscos.com/steakhouse/washington-dc there are hushed restaurants in georgetown<u+2014>such as the seasons at the four seasons hotel<u+2014>where you might catch a glimpse of influential diplomats, power brokers and a senator or two. but if you want to overhear the best gossip in town, head to one of the capitol hill bars that lure in staffers with cheap beer and spicy wings. tortilla coast with $4 draft and a happy hour that lasts until 8 p.m. is a favorite, particularly among homesick texans. capitol lounge boasts 25-cent wings on tuesday (with a two-drink minimum) and a promise to leave partisanship at the door. tortillacoast.com , capitolloungedc.com <u+2014>additional reporting by nina sovich
a traveler<u+2019>s guide to washington, d.c.<u+2019>s top-secret spots - wsj
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