Upon entering the hotel foyer, guests are welcomed by a colorful statue of a laughing Buddha, perhaps putting them on notice to expect the unexpected. Another laughing Buddha in hot red can be found in an upstairs parlor. And there’s much, much more to engage the creative soul. From the start when Mayer was hired by owners Edward and Fritzi Cohen, their ideas about decorating the Tabard were in sync. (Edward Cohen died in the late 1990s.) It’s notable that neither the Cohens, who purchased the Tabard in the mid-1970s, nor the previous owner had any prior hotel experience. In Mayer’s view, the lack of a “big, corporate formula” helped to fuel the Tabard Inn’s unique legacy. The original owner was a woman who traveled and had her own ideas about giving visitors a comfortable and enjoyable experience while visiting Washington. The Cohens followed suit with their own style. Although the inn frequently caters to younger travelers looking for a bargain and willing to share a hall bathroom, Mayer noted that the Tabard’s proximity to the White House attracts a surprising range of political types—not to mention celebrities and even rock stars. The Tabard Inn does not advertise; Mayer prefers word-of-mouth referral to attract the kind of patron who will enjoy its accommodations. She observed that people who travel a lot enjoy staying at the Tabard, although other times there are people who may think they’ll love the inn but then don’t. One unhappy guest commented, “I knew I was in trouble when I saw the Edgar Allen Poe atmosphere.” Guests can’t call room service at midnight and order a sandwich because there isn’t any room service. However, food and drink can be ordered from the restaurant or bar and taken back to rooms—without the aid of an elevator, of course. In addition to its restaurant—one of the first in the city to serve organic fare—there is a lively social scene at the Tabard’s exceptionally cozy bar. Situated between the large main parlor and the restaurant, it’s a perfect roost for people-watching and conversation without having to shout over a blaring television or loud music. The bar and main parlor are also major haunts for Washington’s 30-somethings and interesting people of every ilk. Thirty-somethings may not be the only entities haunting the Tabard Inn. At least two employees spotted the same man one summer who appeared to walk through windows and a wall. The first encounter occurred at night in the inn’s basement inside the red wine room, where an employee was counting money and taking inventory. “At night, when there’s only the night auditor and everyone’s asleep, it can get to be pretty spooky if you’re prone to be paranoid,” Mayer said. The employee related to Mayer that he sensed someone was in the room with him, and he thought he was going to be robbed. He looked up and locked eyes with a man who turned and walked through the wall. The second sighting occurred when a member of the wait staff was in the bar one afternoon and saw a man walk through the restaurant windows and down the steps to the red wine room. Research by a Tabard employee revealed that a man who had once maintained the furnaces in a building on N Street had been killed in an explosion. Mayer said that she and other Tabard employees decided this was the ghost, and that they were somehow “messing with his space.” And, along with the ghost, messing with the Tabard Inn is something that can rile Mayer. “Some people come here and say, ‘If I had this place, I could make it look great,’” she said. “And I want to respond, ‘Honey, it does look great. Just leave it alone.’” Many would share her opinion. Tabard Inn 1739 N St., NW For more information, please call (202) 785-1277 or visit www.tabardinn.com. Rachel Ray is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.

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