Joel H.
Yelp
I chose Hotel Madera primarily for its location--it's right off Dupont Circle, making it super convenient for both my family's home and my daughter's school. I wanted to be close in case I needed to get back to her quickly. The online reviews were consistently great across multiple platforms, and I was drawn to the idea of having a balcony. I booked my stay feeling confident, but even that didn't prepare me for just how impressive the room would be.
When searching for a hotel, I originally wanted one that had either a spa or room service--ideally both. Hotel Madera had neither, and I almost let that deter me from booking. I'm so glad I didn't! The experience more than made up for it, and I didn't miss those amenities at all.
I didn't get a standard room, but it wasn't a suite either--it was just a step up, and yet, it felt like a suite in most hotels. The space was huge. There was a full couch seating area, a king-size bed with plenty of space around it, and a floor-to-ceiling window wall leading to a balcony that stretched the entire length of the room, complete with a sitting area outside. The bathroom layout was great too--the shower was separate from the toilet and sink area. Everything about the room was simply beautiful, and I was shocked that I paid just over $200 a night (including fees) for that level of space and comfort in this area.
The hotel has some nice perks, like complimentary drinks at Firefly for guests from 5-6 PM, though I never had the chance to take advantage of it--I was really just there to sleep. And let me tell you, the sleep was amazing. The whole stay was comfortable and convenient. I went to dinner at Union Market and at Dogon during my trip, both of which were convenient.
One standout experience was with their customer service. I brought my own iron, knowing that hotel irons can sometimes be hit or miss, but when I arrived, I realized the one they provided was nearly identical to mine. I ended up using theirs and accidentally leaving mine behind in the room. A few days later, I emailed the hotel with a picture of my iron, mentioning that if they didn't find it, I completely understood since it looked so similar to theirs. To my surprise, they found it and even offered to ship it back to me! Since I'm local, I was able to pick it up, but the fact that they went the extra mile to look for it really stood out to me.
I'd absolutely recommend Hotel Madera for a vacation, a quick getaway, or even a mommy-and-me stay if you want a high-end experience without an outrageous price tag. I imagine the rooms only get better as you go up in tier.
For reference, the hotel is right by Balos--I could see the restaurant from my balcony, less than a block away. If you're considering staying in Dupont Circle, this is definitely a spot worth checking out!