The best Washington DC hotels

D.C. is all about proximity, and The Dupont Circle Hotel’s location hits a sweet spot. Within walking distance of the capital’s biggest sights, it’s also far enough removed that guests can feel like a local—looking out on leafy Dupont Circle and the surrounding coffee shops, restaurants and bars. The service inside is fantastic and the vibe is mid-century chic with sleek metal accents and polished wood throughout. 

The Morrow is an airy and upscale hotel that provides a great homebase for exploring one of D.C.’s most exciting up-and-coming neighborhoods: NoMa. Built on the site of the former Central Armature Works, a 100-year-old electrical manufacturing business, the space pairs modern, forward-looking design with touches that reference the vibrant creativity and artistic history of the surrounding area. It’s the perfect blend of exciting and chill.

When tourists visit D.C., they typically opt for a chain hotel near the White House, the National Mall, and the museums—and there's nothing wrong with that. But as for you, you're not typical. You want to stay somewhere with some history, a dose of panache and a cool neighborhood. That's where The Line Hotel D.C. comes in.

Located in D.C.'s hip Adams Morgan neighborhood, this century-old church-turned-hotel features 60-foot vaulted ceilings, ornate millwork, and brass detailing. The guest rooms offer a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. For me, it was the perfect place to feel like I was living like a local. I could easily visit my friends in Cleveland Park but also enjoyed an easy walk to the monuments. Plus, I got to experience all the exciting nightlife in Adams Morgan. 

Time Out tip

The hotel's calendar is packed with events, including happy hours, run clubs, and yoga sessions.

Just blocks from the White House, this Beaux Arts building reopened a couple of years ago after a two-year renovation that blends the modern—complimentary Wi-Fi—and the historic, with elegant nods to Thomas Jefferson. Four-poster beds have linens that feature the third president’s Monticello home and grounds. Downstairs is a clubby bar, snug library and The Greenhouse, an upscale Coastal Italian restaurant nestled under the lobby’s barrel-vaulted skylight.

This iconic hotel is housed in the former Riggs National Bank building and makes the most of its illustrious architectural past. The lushly decorated rooms are a riot of decadent paint shades and luxe fabrics. Our favorite feature, however, is Café Riggs, the hotel’s charm-filled European-style brasserie, which is perfect for a long lunch with old friends. However, if you’re looking for a late-night tipple, try heading downstairs to the hidden cocktail bar Silver Lyan in what was once the bank’s vault. The drinks menu is seasonally updated and always, always delicious.

The bright and fun Darcy Hotel offers a winking take on the district’s sometimes staid and colonial vibe. Guests will encounter classic framed silhouettes in bright colors, wingback chairs with modern flair and soaring American Colonial ceilings paired with eclectic artwork. It's the closest a space could come to being accurately described as embodying "D.C. Whimsy."

This large and historic hotel features 64,000-sq-ft. of flexible function space, a 6,000-sq-ft. fitness center and a 4,000sq ft spa that offers a variety of therapeutic treatments. For a more intimate vibe, the lobby has several cozy spots where guests can hold small meetings or meet friends. Each of the unique seating areas offers free Wi-Fi and food and beverages.

Both reassuringly traditional and warmly welcoming, the Ritz-Carlton is definitely a hotel for off-duty enjoyment as well as business stays. Mellow wood paneling greets guests in the public areas, along with careful attention to detail: apples on a platter just so, glorious flowers, and well-placed art and ceramics. Not to mention little touches to make you feel special, like hot apple cider and lemon cookies in the lobby on a fall Sunday afternoon. Guestrooms are the supremely comfortable affairs that one would expect. Marble bathrooms have separate tubs and shower cubicles; there are iPod docks and HD TVs; furnishings have deco-esque touches. A stay on the club floor allows access to a lounge where complimentary drinks and snacks are served all day. The Westend Bistro (www.westendbistrodc.com) is a lively, modern restaurant with a menu that mixes bistro classics with a robust, contemporary approach to local food and flavors.

From the outside, the Sofitel looks like a typical big-city American hotel, but there’s a clue to some subtle differences: a French flag flying alongside the Stars and Stripes. Inside, contemporary artworks lift the traditional look of the wood-paneled lobby. Rooms also have good, vibrant pictures livening up neutral, comfortable, upscale decor and furnishings. European-style duvets are a welcome continental touch. TVs are high-definition, and marble bathrooms have separate bathtubs and glass-enclosed showers. There’s more French influence in the ICI Urban Bistro, where morning coffee comes in a French press (cafetière), and breakfast orders come with a croissant and a pain au chocolat as well as bread. Both the sophisticated Le Bar and the bistro have outside space, which is at a premium in this area. Many of the staff are French too. Vive la différence!

The Monaco makes the most of its grand setting—an imposing neo-classical building that was once the main Post Office sorting office. The unusual premises mean irregular shapes, high ceilings and features such as cornicing add an extra touch of originality to the guestrooms, where dramatic furnishings such as black and white print headboards and curtains, with circles and stripes, add further individuality. It’s not at the expense of comfort, however: furnishings are top of the range, bathrooms well appointed and rooms come with CD players and HD TVs. The large lobby/lounge is a stunner: painted a vivid kelly green and furnished with statement pieces, some modern classics, others one-off whimsical designs, that come together to create a gracious whole. There’s a complimentary wine hour in the evening. The Monaco is the flagship property of the Kimpton group, which has several hotels in DC and Northern Virginia. Its conversion into a hotel was one step in the process of the regeneration of Downtown.