"It’s appropriate that this D.C. hotel does luxury with a slightly French twist: The Sofitel overlooks Lafayette Square, which takes its name from the French hero of the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette, whom you might know from a little musical called Hamilton. Today, Gallic touches include the 1920s-inspired Paris Ballroom and the Opaline Bar & Brasserie, where you can rub elbows with power lunchers as you dine on cucumber mint vichyssoise, crispy duck confit, tarte flambée, and caramelized neufchâtel cheesecake. The Art Deco–tinged building dates back to 1925, and Armenian-American architect Mihran Mesrobian was responsible for many of the city’s grandest hotels of the day, including the Hay–Adams Hotel and the old Carlton Hotel, which is now the St. Regis. A 2014 design overhaul took inspiration from the 1960s renovations of the White House—just steps away—complete with grand columns, coffered ceilings, and brass inlay marble floors."
