The 21 Best Hotels in Washington, D.C.

"From the moment you're greeted by Hay-Adams' stately exterior, you know you're somewhere special. The wood-paneled lobby reveres the hotel's historic past without feeling stuffy. It's all elegant here, seamlessly blending Italian Renaissance–style design with Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic columns, walnut wainscoting, and ceiling treatments with Elizabethan, Italian, and Tudor motifs. Church View Deluxe rooms are comfy without being overdone. There's a bit of toile and chintz, but nothing that feels like grandma's house. Think black-and-white framed art, fresh white linens, and chic striped wallpaper. Suites come with some epic views of the White House from the private balconies. Even for a short stay don't miss Off The Record, a historic bar in the hotel's basement. A proper cocktail bar, it feels frozen in time, which only adds to the ambience you're likely to feel when you're mere steps from the White House." - Adele Chapin, Laura Ratliff