Where to Stay in Washington, D.C., Right Now
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Washington, D.C., thrums with energy. Some of that has to do with its political charge, of course, but its dynamic bars, restaurants and museums contribute to the buzz, too. The capital’s hotel scene is also one of the best in the country. Properties here are jam-packed with history and luxurious amenities (and even a touch of infamy). Classic stays like The Hay-Adams and The Watergate Hotel offer provenance and prestige befitting America’s front lawn, while newer waterfront properties and artful refurbished spaces ensure the city never goes stale. Whether you want easy access to monuments, full views of springtime cherry blossoms or a more residential respite from the action, you’re sure to find a D.C. hotel that fits the bill.
The Jefferson, Washington D.C.
Downtown
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Mix the classicism of Washington, D.C., with Versailles-style opulence, and you get The Jefferson. Located in a restored 1920s apartment building just a few blocks from the White House, this Beaux Arts stunner lives up to its presidential name with elegant design. Though grand in appearance, the setting is actually quite intimate, with just 99 rooms—and that includes suite options like the Presidential Suite, which boasts a whopping five balconies. The on-site restaurant, The Greenhouse, offers all-day dining under a restored atrium skylight, helping round out the historical experience.
The Hay‑Adams
Downtown
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Views don’t get much better than this. Directly facing Lafayette Square and the White House (many rooms look right at the presidential residence), The Hay-Adams nods to its surroundings in nearly every space—but it never feels too heavy-handed. The ornate interiors feature gilded arches and lacquered wood paneling repurposed from the hotel’s 1927 construction, while the basement bar, Off the Record, is lined with political caricatures. Rooms are decorated with toile drapes and bed skirts, paired with modern touches such as Bluetooth speakers and Illy coffee machines. The Lafayette restaurant calls for a night in with its upscale American dishes, but don’t be afraid to ask the staff to arrange dinner reservations at their favorite venues—the hotel is famous for its service.
Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.
Downtown
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The Willard InterContinental is distinguished, historically significant and grandiose. In other words, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a property located next door to the White House. Originally opened in 1818 and upgraded with its current Beaux Arts façade in 1901, the Willard has hosted nearly every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce, and it’s even rumored that Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term “lobbying” after being harried by politicos in the hotel lobby. Speaking of that lobby: It’s arguably the grandest in the city, all marble floors and coffered ceilings. The 335 rooms and suites are equally regal—there are even suites inspired by the Oval Office—with custom wallpaper and marble bathrooms. But the Jenny Lind Suite may have the best bathroom in town, with a deep soaking tub that famously looks directly over the Washington Monument.
Salamander Washington DC
Southwest Waterfront
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After purchasing and rebranding another luxury hotel in 2022, Salamander Washington DC has become one of the city’s premier properties. The building underwent a few facelifts during the transition, including a transformed lobby rotunda and bar, updated spa and brand-new restaurant. About the restaurant: Dōgon, helmed by celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi, serves up Afro-Caribbean dishes that people visit the hotel specifically to sample. Rooms have marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and are decorated in shades of blue, pink and white—fitting, since the property overlooks the Tidal Basin, a body of water that comes alive with color when the cherry blossoms bloom every spring.
Riggs Washington DC
Penn Quarter
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Located across the street from the National Portrait Gallery, this impressive hotel feels like a piece of art in its own right. The Riggs occupies the former Riggs National Bank building and contains lovely nods to its former life, from the towering lobby to minibars modeled after miniature safes. The basement vault has been transformed into a moody bar serving cocktails with their own backstories and pop culture references. And rooms are lush and regal—velvet drapes, bold wallpaper and patterned headboards are a maximalist’s dream come true. The signature suites are a location-appropriate touch, each named after (and paying homage to) First Ladies of the past. You’ll find floor-to-ceiling pink in the Ida McKinley Suite, a baby grand piano in the Louisa Adams Suite and more. It’s the embodiment of a modern stay that winks at its past in inventive, stylish ways.
The Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle
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The Dupont Circle hotel hits the location jackpot. It’s within walking distance of top museums and monuments, but slightly removed on its eponymous roundabout. Every space is stylish, including the plant-filled Pembroke restaurant and midcentury modern Doyle cocktail bar. And that sense of 1960s luxury extends to the rooms, where creamy color schemes (and quiet workspaces) are a respite from D.C.’s buzz. Terrace suites, which come with plush living rooms and furnished balconies overlooking the city, are worth the splurge.
The Watergate Hotel
Foggy Bottom
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It will always be famous for that 1970s political scandal, but The Watergate Hotel refuses to become a punch line. In fact, it fully embraces its past. Its Scandal Suite, where the perpetrators monitored the infamous break-in, doubles as a guest room and mini-museum, with period-specific replicas of letters signed by Richard Nixon and cheeky “cover up” robes. The Brutalist exterior and midcentury modern decor are other reminders of the building’s legacy, though a 2016 renovation has imbued the space with an undeniable fresh feel. Bathrooms are stocked with La Bottega bath products, the on-site spa offers fully customizable treatments and the indoor pool and rooftop lounge help The Watergate stand out from the pack—in both the past and the present.
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC
Georgetown
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True to the Four Seasons brand, this Georgetown-adjacent grande dame is all about luxury, from the lush courtyard entrance to the Ferragamo toiletries. The on-site dining venues rival anything you’ll find in the tony neighborhood just outside: Bourbon Steak has an impressive wine menu and both surf and turf options for dinner, and Seasons hosts an afternoon tea on the weekends that attracts both guests and locals. The 212 rooms and suites feature soothing blends of creams, golds and whites, and some come with terraces so you can soak in those Pennsylvania Avenue views without ever leaving your bed.
Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf
The Wharf
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The Wharf is one of D.C.’s most action-packed neighborhoods, located directly on the shoreline of the Washington Channel and featuring an impressive array of restaurants and live music venues. The Pendry puts guests right in the middle of it all. The hotel opened in late 2022, and its rooms and suites more than meet expectations for a fresh, luxury property—expect hardwood flooring, metal detailing and plush textiles throughout. Then there are the perks that go above and beyond, such as the heated terrace pool, expansive spa and Moonraker, a rooftop bar and restaurant that delivers 360-degree views of the water and skyline.
The LINE DC
Adams Morgan
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Architecture lovers, this one’s for you. The LINE DC sits in a repurposed neoclassical church from 1912, with a stately, column-lined exterior rivaling anything you’ll find on the National Mall. Inside, the two-story lobby and bar are gorgeous reminders of the building’s former life, with pews doubling as seating areas and a striking gold chandelier constructed from organ pipes. The 220 rooms feel more like impeccably decorated D.C. apartments (think: herringbone floors, gallery walls, patterned bedspreads and massive windows draped in sheer white curtains). Come mealtime, head to No Goodbyes, the on-site restaurant that doubles as a coffee shop in the morning, or step outside to have your pick of cool spots in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
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