Inside Look At The Luxurious HOTEL DU PONT

Delaware is not usually the first place that comes to mind when you’re looking for an ultra luxurious vacation or a super fancy event venue, but there was a time when Wilmington was filled with opulence and sophistication. There was a place that was a hub for VIP guests including A-list movie stars and even royalty, and that place was the HOTEL DU PONT. The hotel is still around and thriving, and remains one of those unique Gilded Age icons that allows you to step into that world without having to step away from the comforts of your modern lifestyle.

The hotel was built in 1913, and the architecture of the entire building is absolutely stunning. Each corner and corridor is filled with original details and meticulous designs that were created by expert craftsmen of the time. You will be thoroughly impressed with the ornate, hand-carved wood throughout the building, the mosaic tile floors, and the intricate ceilings adorned with imported European chandeliers. The lobby and the grand ballroom look like something you would see in a French Chateau, yet all the while the HOTEL DU PONT feels welcoming and approachable and never stiff or museum-like.

The hotel offers world class amenities that you can take advantage of all year round, and some of the most excellent fine dining offerings in the area. The Green Room is the hotel’s signature restaurant and has been recognized with the AAA Four-Diamond Award and the Forbes Four-Star Award. The restaurant is “known for opulent design elements such as carved oak paneling, a coffered oak-beamed ceiling, gold chandeliers, and Italian mosaics, The Green Room brings the elegance and grandeur of the Gilded Age into the twentieth century.”

One of the unique experiences that The Green Room offers is their Afternoon Tea. I had the privilege of taking part in this tradition and it was probably one of the fanciest experiences of my life. We were greeted by the tea expert who explained each type of tea before we ordered. We learned about proper tea etiquette, including how to hold your tea cup (never put your pinkies out by the way), proper spoon placement, and the correct order of eating from a tea tray. We even ate on custom Versace dishes! The afternoon tea includes tea sandwiches, scones and pastries and is finished off with champagne or sparkling wine.

The HOTEL DU PONT also has a brand new addition for all of you food lovers.The Deco Food Hall is filled with amazing options like Pizzeria Bardea, Connie’s Chicken and Waffles, Phubs (Pho + Banh Mi), and the hotels very own SPARK’D bakery which sells fresh goodies made by the hotel’s executive pastry chef Leah Steinberger and La Colombe coffee. I really can not wait to go back and explore this food hall.

At only about a 35 minute drive from Center City, the HOTEL DU PONT should definitely be on your radar for a luxurious weekend vacation or if you’re looking for that breathtaking event venue.