Washington, D.C. hotels

As ornate as a Victorian wedding cake yet intimate as a private mansion, the venerable Hay-Adams on Lafayette Square has been considered one of the best hotels in Washington, D.C., since opening in 1928. I love walking through its grandiose doors, entering a world of Old World elegance: stately columns, rich wood paneling, and chandeliers.
Anyone who enters follows in the footsteps of presidents and other luminaries – even the Obamas lived here before Barack’s inauguration in 2009. The 145 luxe rooms and suites are done in elegant neutrals, carved plaster ceilings, and toile fabrics, complete with marble bathrooms; if money is no object, I’d try to snag one with a balcony overlooking the White House.
Of special note, Off the Record, in the basement, is the place to experience D.C.’s political vibe: Caricatures of politicians hang on the walls, as journalists lie in wait for the latest scoop.

Tucked away on a quiet side street near Dupont Circle, the 35-room Tabard was established in 1922 by entrepreneur Marie Willoughby Rogers, making it the city’s oldest hotel owned by a woman. Occupying three historic, 19th-century brick townhouses, its warren of creaky-floored rooms, eclectic antiques, and both vintage and local artwork exemplify its bygone vibe.
Each of its 35 guest rooms is uniquely decorated, adorned with flowery curtains, vintage sofas, and hardwood floors – some also share bathrooms, which is part of its charm. I know one couple that ended up moving to a different hotel because there’s no TV – their loss.
Here it’s all about settling into the historic house experience: sitting in front of the cozy lobby’s roaring fire, sipping a hot buttered rum; or lolling away a summer afternoon with lemonade on the garden patio. A reputable farm-to-table restaurant serves lunch and dinner; when I worked at nearby National Geographic, this was the go-to place for business lunches, and it’s still one of my favorite restaurants in town.

Opened in 1955 in a luxury apartment block dating from 1923, this small-but-grand Beaux-Arts gem, just a few blocks from the White House, possesses hints of the eponymous third president throughout. I love everything about this hotel, but my favorite space is probably the stately Book Room, where reproductions of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library are showcased.
99 meticulously renovated rooms are elegantly modern, with white walls, picture-frame molding, and dark wood furnishings, plus state-of-the-art technology like charging stations on the desks, and iPads. The Presidential and First Lady suites are all-out opulent; the former features five Juliette balconies with breathtaking city views.
The Greenhouse is one of my favorite special-night restaurants, where Executive Chef Fabio Salvatore works his magic in Spanish-inspired steak and seafood dishes served beneath a historic skylight (if short rib is on the menu, order it). Quill, inspired by Jefferson’s parlor, is the upscale bar offering signature cocktails (with frequent innovations); you’ll often find me here after work.

This Beaux-Arts beauty, over-the-top opulent with its marble pillars, ornate sculptural decorations, and regal lobby, has sat just a block from the White House since 1818. Ever since, presidents, celebrities, and international dignitaries have walked through its doors, making it the center of D.C.’s political and social scene – and indisputably one of D.C.’s best hotels.
The term “lobbyist,” in fact, was coined here in the 1870s, when people wanting to plead their cases discovered President Grant liked to hang out in the lobby to smoke his cigar. I love to just sit here and take it all in, though Christmas is best, when it’s decked out in all its holiday finery. The elegantly traditional guest rooms, with state-of-the-art technology, are surprisingly large for D.C., starting at 425 square feet.
Federal-style furnishings, with striped wallpaper and gilded accents, add to the aristocratic charm. Don’t miss high tea in Peacock Alley or sipping a Mint Julep in the historic Round Robin Bar, founded in 1847 – and yes, the bar is round; it’s been dubbed the “Oval Office of Bars.”