The Kalorama Guest House

This is a pretty nice rooming house. The manager was very nice. Rooms are pretty and homey, with a bunch of books on the shelf. Fresh fruit and cookies were a nice touch. Issues: (1) in my room #301, the toilet was very small - perfect for an 8-10 year old, but not for someone over 6' tall. (2) There were no electrical outlets a reasonable distance from the desk or other horizontal surface, so I had to move the bed in order to plug in anything - an extension cord would have been helpful. The biggest issue: why was Fox news on the downstairs TV all the time?? Please leave the TV off, unless there are people actively watching!

This was an amazing place to stay! It’s in a great location just off the metro red line near the Zoo. The owner, Jack, made me feel at home from the moment I walked in. The house was built in 1910 and is pretty big. I believe there are 10 or 11 bedrooms. I stayed on the bottom floor in a room with a Twin bed and a shared bath. My room was clean, the bathroom was clean, and the house in general was extremely well maintained. Breakfast each morning was delicious: a variety of bread, bagels, etc., eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, fresh fruit, oatmeal/cereal, coffee/milk/juice all available. Jack maintains a coffee bar throughout the day and baked cookies as well. The location of the building was safe and walkable. It is located only a couple blocks from dining and shops. Jack clearly cares about his guests and does everything he can to make you feel welcome. I will definitely be returning to DC in the near future and have already chosen to stay at the Kalorama Guest House when I return. Thank you Jack!

Let's get the issues out of the way. This place is old and provides very basic amenities. The rooms are small and hard to clean, the window a/c is noisy, and the room floor and outside stairs are creaky. Every morning we would wake up to the strong smells wafting up from kitchen (we were on the second floor, mind you). Finally, the place is 8 minutes walk away from the nearest metro station, and pretty far from the main points of interest. When you do it twice every day, it becomes a lot. So I would have given this place one or two stars, but... The owner, Jack, is such an amazing host, that the entire experience was greatly improved. He really makes you feel at home. He also offers a nice breakfast buffet, as well as hot drinks 24 hours a day. Everybody who stayed there was super nice and friendly. When we left, Jack told us "This is your home", which summed up the entire experience.

We booked last minute for 7/26/20. Friendly host, so kind and generous. Beautiful spacious room with large beautiful bathroom. Extra towels. Shampoo in dispenser is environmental friendly. I like that rather than plastic one use small bottles. Historical and exquisite wood work on molding, windows, 12 foot doors and fire place. Great to be in house with separate A/C units rather than shared ventilation service due to covid.

As I am sure most of you know, hotel options in D.C. proper is very expensive. If you want a more budget-friendly option, you are limited to questionable accommodations or out-of-the-way areas. Enter the Kalorama Guest House, which is easy on the wallet and a wonderful stay.||||I stayed here during a few days touring around Washington and had a delightful stay. The location is great; there are a lot of good local restaurants nearby for food and it is an easy walk down Connecticut Ave to Dupont Circle. There is also a metro stop that is a three-minute walk away and you are only a 10-minute ride from all of the major sights. The neighborhood around the guest house is also very nice.||||The guest house itself is also very charming. It has all of the characteristics of a historic house, with original details. The rooms are nice, with decent furnishings and a comfortable bed. I was also able to keep the room at a comfortable temperature easily. The bathroom was completely modern.||||The service was incredible. Everyone that I met was so nice and provided great information and tips about the surrounding area. They accommodated every one of my requests. The breakfast was great, too!||||Fair warning, though: there is no elevator in the guest house so if you are limited when it comes to climbing stairs, I would recommend notifying the guest house upon reservation.||||I definitely recommend the Kalorama Guest House if you are looking for a fantastic stay in a charming location! It is my new go-to in Washington, D.C.!

My fiance and I looked high and low throughout the DC and Maryland area for a place to host our wedding. When several inquiries to churches in the area were WAY out of our price range, we started looking into alternative locations. My fiance searched for local Bed and Breakfast locations, and discovered the Kalorama Guest House. From the very first time we spoke with Jack, he was very professional and extremely helpful. We fell in love with the place instantly! It provided the perfect environment we were looking for - small and intimate, with a home atmosphere. Jack, of course, was extremely helpful all the way through the process - clearly laying out the requirements in advance, expanding our options for the reception (we decided to have it in the lobby/waiting area of the Guest House), even helping us in preparing the room (Room 101) for the ceremony. When various family members inquired of places to stay for the weekend of the wedding, Jack was able to be of tremendous help by providing places to stay for everyone! All of our guests loved the Kalorama Guest House, and we had a wonderful wedding and reception there! It was everything we wanted! We made the right decision when we got married here! And we recommend it to anyone looking to get married IN the District!

I loved staying here this past weekend. Jack was helpful, attentive, and prompt. He really does care about his customer and he aims to make your stay as comfortable as possible. This was my first time staying at a bed and breakfast, and he has set a really high standard for me. Further, the guesthouse within walking distance to many great restaurants. I will be staying the Kalorama again and I recommend it to anyone visiting DC in the future.

My husband and I stayed two nights at Kalorama Guest House in early March 2017. We have only praise and compliments for our host, Jack; he was very kind and accommodating to all of the house guests. Jack was also readily available whenever we had any questions about restaurants, how to get to the places we were visiting, and which mode of transportation would be best for us to use. Our room was a great value, comfortable, and perfect for our two day stay. We will definitely try to book our room at Kalorama Guest House when we visit DC again! Thank you Jack!!

My husband and I stayed here for a quick honeymoon after getting hitched in MD. We very much enjoyed our time here in DC and had a lovely stay! The guest house is very cozy and homey; yes I would say it is a tad shabby and very much loved-in, but everything is clean and in working condition, the ac worked perfectly, the bed was comfortable, the shower was hot, and the vibe was completely welcoming and warm. Make sure you read all the info on the website, the only TV is in the common area (though there was good WiFi access in the rooms), the only parking is street parking which is free overnight until 9am but $15 for a permit during the day, but this is all made clear on the website, I had no surprises. In fact the owner was very helpful when we had our rental car a night longer than expected and he let us park in his personal driveway for a short time so we could have a leisurely breakfast and not rush to move it. Breakfast is simple but filling and well-cooked, when the pot of coffee is done after breakfast you can always make yourself a cup of keurig, there is always a bottle of wine and a plate of cookies to welcome guests when they return (my only complaint is the cookies are cooked crisp... I like mine chewy!! :P). All-in-all we would definitely return. Amazingly convenient location (5 min walk to the metro which we used daily), comfortable rooms, great service.

I stayed here 4 nights to save money versus a stay in nearby Wardman Park convention center hotels. I agree with other reviewers that the accommodations are spartan (and maybe a bit shabby) but the rooms were clean and quiet. And, most importantly, the queen sized bed was extremely comfortable, so I got a good night's sleep throughout my stay. The location is excellent--close to the Metro, so there's no need to have a car. Proprietor Jack was friendly and tremendously helpful and attentive to my needs--most especially after I sprained my ankle while out for a jog after my second night's stay! He personally provided ice packs and arranged for his staff to do my laundry--gratis! I am very happy that I was staying at his place when that injury occurred.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Kalorama Guest House. Very nice and well kept old victorian home. The owner's name is Jack, he is a very down to earth helpful friendly guy. Jack's sense of humor and energy is amazing, you'll love the guy. I can't say much for the parking situation on the weekend it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. The early morning breakfast felt like eating at your favorite restaurant. Jack cooks like a chef. The rooms are clean but doesn't include a mini-refrigerator and tv but plenty of books to read. I suggest bringing your own entertainment, e.g., Bluetooth speakers, games, wine, etc. The wifi works very well for a cell phone connection. There is a tv in the lodging area with drinks and I believe snacks also. Like Jack would say, "my place is your place." Check out Jack's place if you are ever in NE Washington DC! Thank you, Jack

If there was a 0 I would give it as a review. My mom and her husband arrived in DC in the middle of the night with an advance booking for this place. THERE IS ABOSOLUTELY NO PARKING AVAILABLE!!After looking for 2 hours without success the receptionist offered them to go to Marriott...What happened to good customer service? They couldn't stay because they have never found parking for their car.

Amazing service, welcoming staff, secure and as-advertised accommodation! Will be staying here again the next time I visit Washington. I stayed at the Kalorama Guest House while attending a nearby conference, and was able to store my bags at the B&B before check-in, with the manager watching over them. He was also kind enough to offer breakfast and take my suitcase to my room after check in, and give me the key early. Breakfast and coffee were exactly what I needed to get through the day, and there were even drinks and cookies left out for guests to take. A 5-10 minute walk from the metro and Omni Shoreham Hotel makes this a perfect location, and it's eight next to the zoo! The shared bathroom in the basement was kept very clean and tidy, with an iron, fresh towels, and many other needs available upon request.

We stayed at the Kalorama for the third time this past August while in the DC area to visit family. We've always enjoyed staying there because of the great location, reasonable prices, friendly staff and nice rooms with lots of character. Our August visit was the first one since new owner Jack took over, and he was friendly, gracious and helpful right from the start. He even stayed late at the office to meet us and make sure we got our room keys and parking pass. The Kalorama is a great choice for anyone who prefers a bed and breakfast over a conventional hotel, and is looking for reasonably-priced accommodations in Washington, which otherwise can be quite expensive. Even after breakfast there's usually coffee and tea available, as well as port wine and cookies later in the day. During my last visit I enjoyed sitting a the table in the front yard area doing work using the free wi-fi, drinking a nice cup of coffee and taking in a beautiful, sunny DC morning. Woodley Park is a beautiful neighborhood, with nice restaurants in walking distance, in addition to the National Zoo and nearby Rock Creek Park. It's also easy to hop on the Metro or Circulator to get to the rest of the city and metro area. For our next visit to Washington we'll definitely check the Kalorama first.

We stayed at Kalorama in June for a few nights and loved our stay. The price was reasonable and prime location for DC. We got in during the check in time and greated by Jack. He was very nice and surprised us with a last minute upgrade. He gave us keys in an envelope that were labeled "Mark and Kelli" and offered us welcoming snacks, cookies and refreshments. The room and bathroom were very clean. Keep in mind that it's an older house, but has been renovated well. The AC in the room was strong. The room is cleaned everyday by the housekeeper with fresh towels. Breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage (and sometimes french toast) is served every morning. Snacks, fruits, cereal, coffee and tea is available all day. Fridge is stocked with juice as well. No TV in the rooms, but who needs it when the DC is the perfect tourist city and Zoo is a minute walk away. Also, our room patio was an added bonus and the front patio is excellent. Overall, we would stay here again over any over priced hotel in DC or cheap ones outside the metro area. Jack's hospitality is above and beyond. Highly recommended!

I write this review having literally just walked in the door from staying at the Kalorama Guesthouse in Washington, D.C. The previous review, written three months ago, states that rooms were 70 to 80 dollars a night. After having stayed at this guest house for two nights with my husband and feeling somewhat disappointed, I can definitely say that the price was right....three months ago. Jack, the owner and host, charged us DOUBLE the price, nearly 150 dollars, and that was with a Tripadvisor discount! Unfortunately, there is no evidence that he has doubled the service or amenities. In the end, the place is no better than a 50-dollar-a-night motel. The amenities and food offered are on par with the most basic of lodgings. Don't get me wrong: my husband and I would not be above staying here again - we were comfortable - but we felt that we did not get our money's worth. If the place were cheaper and matched the level of services offered, we would gladly book again. However, for the price we paid we expected more and will look elsewhere the next time we choose a place at this price point. Details: The positive about this place is true: The location is in a very upscale, beautiful neighborhood with tree-lined streets. Houses are gorgeous and run over a million dollars. You are one block from the zoo, two blocks from a bike rental location, and only three blocks from the metro station, which is on a main avenue holding a variety of non-chain restaurants. The location can't be beat. However, it's a shame the place doesn't live up to its surrounding neighbors. It's shabby - ripped chairs with stuffing coming out, poorly-done bathroom renovations, ugly decor (think velvet Elvis posters!!), paint coming off, burn holes in the rugs. The breakfast is basic - think scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, bagels and single-serve Philadelphia cream cheese. Rooms are either small to average-sized with very small old bathrooms. Towels are scratchy. No conditioner. Essentially, it's like staying in a Motel 6. Jack, the owner and host, seems very hospitable, open, warm and generally eager to please. However, a few odd things happened that revealed how surface-level the hospitality runs. The first thing was that I made sure to book a room on the top floor to ensure no one would be walking above us. When we arrived, however, we found we'd been given a different room. I showed him my printout but he'd already given that room away to other guests. He did allow us to choose a different room, but it was smaller and had the ripped chair and burn holes in the carpet and by the end of our stay, we heard every single person go up and down the stairs. To top it all off, at checkout Jack charged us a higher price than what we were quoted. I again showed him my original printed out receipt (thank goodness I had that thing), and he did change it, but he left an impression of a smiling, skeevy landlord. Also, some things are not well advertised on the website - if at all - like the fact that there is NO PARKING near the place. You must pay 15 dollars a day to use Jack's parking permit or else you will be ticketed. There is also nothing in the room besides a bed and a desk - no TV or any other electronics. We wish we'd known these things up front. Lastly, let me say that my husband and I are not picky travelers. We have slept in hostels, trains, Days Inns and a wide array of bed and breakfast homes. We've also stayed in many countries: France, Thailand, Japan, Sweden, Mexico. Thus, we can confidently say that the Kalorama Guesthouse offers only average service at best.

Years ago, we stayed at another location of the Kalorama Guesthouse, so we knew what we were getting when we made our reservations. Little did we know we'd be getting so much more! Jack, as the new owner, was the most gracious host. Being that we were traveling for medical reasons, he understood immediately that we were going to be unsure of the length of our stay, and was incredibly accommodating. The Woodley Park location is in a great neighborhood, and the rooms are clean and cozy. The free wi-fi, full breakfast, and wine are also a plus. Jack's willingness to help, and his friendly demeanor, really added to the enjoyment of our stay. We'll be back!

I stayed here for three nights while attending a conference at the Marriot down the block. The house was exceptionally clean, comfortable, and quiet. There are many nice little touches to make your stay even more enjoyable - freshly baked cookies, large TV in the living room, fast internet, and the option of drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.). I really didn't know much about the DC area prior to my visit and Jack was such a friendly host that was always there to answer any questions I had. The house is in a very convenient location - less than a 5 minute walk to the metro and to a bunch of really cute restaurants. If I ever get a chance to return to DC, I would absolutely want to stay here again.

This was an amazing place to stay! It's in a great location just off the metro red line near the Zoo. The owner, Jack, made me feel at home from the moment I walked in. The house was built in 1910 and is pretty big. I believe there are 10 or 11 bedrooms. I stayed on the bottom floor in a room with a Twin bed and a shared bath. My room was clean, the bathroom was clean, and the house in general was extremely well maintained. Breakfast each morning was delicious: a variety of bread, bagels, etc., eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, fresh fruit, oatmeal/cereal, coffee/milk/juice all available. Jack maintains a coffee bar throughout the day and baked cookies as well. The location of the building was safe and walkable. It is located only a couple blocks from dining and shops. Jack clearly cares about his guests and does everything he can to make you feel welcome. I will definitely be returning to DC in the near future and have already chosen to stay at the Kalorama Guest House when I return. Thank you Jack!

Jack was very accommodating and the room was lovely. We had a family member stay there and she felt very welcomed. Thanks!

My wife found this house on the internet and the price was very attractive compared to the Marriott Wardman which is 2 blocks away. I wasn't sure what to expect but it really is neat. Warm and friendly. Jack, the onsite owner, is very helpful and accomodating. Offered me an umbrella when it was raining - good thing I didn't bring one.

I stayed here during the most recent Government Shutdown and loved it. The owner was so friendly, and even offered free beer and wine in the evenings and breakfast in the morning. The neighborhood is beautiful and an easy walk to a lot of other great neighborhoods as well as the Metro. Will definitely stay here again!

Excellent stay for the price! Good location in a cute and safe neighborhood- about a ten minute walk from the metro. The owner is incredibly nice and accommodating. I'll be staying here again on my next trip to DC.

What a great find. Wonderful location and very comfortable with lots of historic charm. So much nicer than a cookie-cutter, thin-walled, overpriced hotel chain. Very clean. Large full American breakfast included. Fresh baked cookies and red wine in the evening! Jack was incredibly nice and helpful. Highly recommend.

Beautiful house and location! The owner, Jack, is one of the nicest people I've ever met. He makes sure you have everything you need and cooks a delicious breakfast! My room was very clean and comfortable. Can't wait to come back :)

This is my favorite place to stay in DC. It's a 5 minute walk to the zoo, and it's such a beautiful neighborhood. The rooms are extremely clean, and the bathrooms are updated. My friends and I felt extremely comfortable and welcomed. The fresh baked cookies were a nice touch!