City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Address: 2100 Massachusetts Avenue NW
17. The Fairmont Washington
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 429-2400
Address: 2401 M Street NW
Description: Formerly the Monarch Hotel, the grand 415-room Fairmont Washington is known for its outstanding service. The lobby is a plush, airy hall of marble, plants, and Oriental rugs, and the guest rooms mirror the decor. The hotel’s Gold Level wows guests with a separate check-in and round-the-clock personal service. The real highlights here, though, are the 14,000-square-foot fitness center and the Colonnade, one of the city’s most talked about destinations for Sunday brunch. You can also get your exercise with a jog through nearby Rock Creek Park. Georgetown’s dining and shopping are a five-minute walk away.
18. Four Seasons Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 342-0444
Address: 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Description: Like so many of Washington’s premium hotels, the newly renovated Four Seasons is often frequented by the rich and famous. Rock stars are a common sight here, and once upon a time Donald Trump and Marla Maples staged a much-publicized brouhaha in the lobby. Despite the occasional weirdness, the Four Seasons is all class. Guests of this Georgetown gem can expect some of the best service in Washington, an outstanding concierge, a top-rated restaurant (Seasons), and a premier fitness center with spa services, including herbal massage and aromatherapy. The piano lounge is a hot spot for cocktails among the Washington business elite.
19. The Georgetown Inn
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: ((888) 587-2388
Address: 1310 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Description: If it’s Georgetown you want, the Georgetown Inn is the place to be. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor have even slept there. Right in the nerve center of Washington’s popular nightlife district (the daylife ain’t bad either), this intimate 96-unit inn offers complimentary coffee and the Washington Post every morning, overnight shoeshines, turndown service, and business services. Valet parking is available, an added plus in parking-scarce Georgetown.
20. The Grand Hyatt Washington
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 582-1234
Address: 1000 H Street NW
Description: The Grand Hyatt covers all the bases. It sits near the Washington Convention Center and the lively Penn Quarter restaurant and entertainment district, and is a half block from bustling Metro Center. Within a short walk are Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House, the National Theatre, the Shops at National Place (see our Shopping chapter), and the Smithsonian museums. This gigantic 888-room property is built around a 7,000-square-foot lagoon with waterfalls, with a 12-story atrium glass roof overhead. There’s a swimming pool and health club, not to mention four restaurants and a martini bar. Extra perks include a kosher kitchen, marble bathrooms, and wireless Internet.
21. The Hay-Adams Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 638-6600, (800) 853-6807
Description: One of our personal favorites, this ultraluxurious, ultrahistoric property overlooks Lafayette Park and the White House to the south. Diplomats, politicians, and the who’s who of the Washington elite, including former presidents and presidents-elect, bunk and dine at the Hay-Adams regularly. This is the ultimate Insiders’ hotel but always accommodating to all. Valet parking, a full-time concierge, nightly turndown service, and butler service are just some of the amenities. Some rooms come with kitchenettes.
22. The Henley Park Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 638-5200, (800) 222-8474
Address: 926 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Description: The Henley Park has emerged as one of the city’s leading European-style hotels. Although the guest rooms are a bit dated, this location can’t be beat: less than 2 blocks from the convention center and near Union Station, Capitol Hill, and the National Mall. Guests are treated to express check-ins, minibars, overnight shoeshines, and health club privileges.
23. Hilton Washington Embassy Row
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 265-1600
Address: 2015 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Description: Location, location, location is the theme here. In the city’s embassy district, near Dupont Circle, the Embassy Row handles a large, well-heeled international clientele, including newcomers shopping for more permanent residences. A massive renovation several years ago spruced up this already-nice hotel with 193 rooms. The rooftop bar and pool is a great warm-weather hangout and an emerging nightlife hot spot. There’s also a health club on the premises.
24. Holiday Inn Capitol At The Smithsonian
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 479-4000
Address: 550 C Street SW
Description: A colleague visiting from South Dakota summed up this place best: “It’s nothing super fancy, but it’s a location you can’t beat—right up close to the [National] Air and Space Museum.” Indeed, the newly remodeled Holiday Inn Capitol knows its market. Tour groups take advantage of the take-out deli and moderate prices, considering the location. Kids pack the rooftop pool in summer, while business travelers enjoy free high-speed Internet. The hotel is located about 5 miles from DCA Airport and features 532 newly renovated guest rooms.
25. Hotel George
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 347-4200
Address: 15 E Street NW
Description: The Hotel George made a splashy entrance on Capitol Hill as the District’s first fashion-forward hotel. In 2003, the independent hotel was bought by the Kimpton Hotel Group, joining its collection of trendy boutique neighborhood properties. Built out of a vintage 1928 building, the fresh, modern Hotel George pays homage to the first president in a signature collection of brightly colored artwork. You’ll find vibrant treatments of the one-dollar bill portrait hanging in the lobby and perhaps even above your bed. As luxurious Capitol Hill hotels go, the George is at the top of the list. You’re likely to see a cast of Hill regulars checking in and out during the week and perhaps a celebrity or two on the weekend. It’s a pet-friendly hotel.
26. Hotel Helix
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 462-9001, (800) 706-1202
Address: 1430 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Description: It’s hard to believe this fun and funky Logan Circle hotel was once a Howard Johnson. As you approach the main entrance, a curtain opens to herald your arrival—and indeed, you have arrived. This playful mod hotel is decked out with bright colors, retro prints, and lots of pop culture tributes. In the white vinyl-lined lounge, mood lighting changes from blue to yellow. Your “do not disturb” sign takes a cue from Greta Garbo, saying, “I want to be alone.” Although this hotel is a popular choice for urban hipsters and gay/lesbian travelers, it’s also popular with families. Rooms are spacious, equipped with plasma-screen TVs and lava lamps; some are even outfitted with bunk beds. This is another Kimpton Hotel property.
27. Hotel Lombardy
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 828-2600, (800) 424-5486
Address: 2019 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Description: An innlike hotel for those who want to be near everything, the Hotel Lombardy has 134 rooms with kitchenettes and minibars, free newspapers, free high-speed Internet, and turndown service. Walk to the White House, West End, Foggy Bottom, downtown, and the National Mall. The Hotel Lombardy is an excellent value when you consider its location.
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Address: 700 F Street NW
29. Hotel Rouge
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 232-8000, (800) 738-1202
Address: 1315 16th Street NW
Description: Hotel Rouge is another of the unique “boutique” hotels operated by Kimpton Hotels in Washington. The color red is red-hot at the Rouge, starting with the pop artwork and accent pillows on a white leather sofa in the lobby. Red and amber lights reflect off lime wood paneling in the elevator, and the doors open to reveal corridors lined with Chinese red silk wall coverings. Of the 137 rooms, several offer kitchenettes with stainless-steel appliances, while a few of the others are dubbed “chill rooms,” each with two 27-inch flat-screen TVs, a Sony PlayStation2 that doubles as a DVD player, and access to the front-desk video game library.
30. Hyatt Regency Washington On Capitol Hill
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 737-1234
Address: 400 New Jersey Avenue NW
Description: The Capitol Hill edition of this international chain comes with everything you’d expect: valet parking, video checkout service, a game room and children’s suite, wireless Internet, a beauty salon, swimming pool, and health club. The massive 834-room property is a block from the Capitol and 2 blocks from Union Station. The rooms are standard Hyatt but newly upgraded, which means all the business-related amenities and some extra comforts, including a dreamy bed. Thirty-two of the units are suites. As you can imagine—given its size and location—the hotel commands a huge convention and tourist business.