The Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle

A huge thank you to Mohamed for his professionalism and kindness! I arrived at the hotel on July 3rd around 11:30 PM and was truly impressed by Mohamed, the valet. Not only did he handle my car with great efficiency, but he also took care of my request for extra pillows with a smile even at such a late hour. It’s rare to encounter such a dedicated and cheerful employee, especially during late-night shifts when fatigue sets in. His attitude genuinely moved me and made my stay memorable. Kudos to Mohamed for his hard work and positivity!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my stay at the Royal Sonesta DuPont Circle was far from what I expected. To start, the rooms were way smaller than they appeared in the photos. I paid for a premium experience, but instead, I got a cramped space that felt anything but luxurious. On top of that, the hotel hits you with a $72 parking fee for the privilege of parking in an alley. Not exactly the kind of experience you'd expect for what you’re paying. Speaking of paying, they also charge a destination fee, which wasn’t mentioned clearly when I booked. The front desk staff was rude and unhelpful when I asked about issues, which was really frustrating. Honestly, the only bright spot in the staff was the valet team. They were incredibly kind, helping with luggage and greeting you outside in a very welcoming way. The hotel restaurant was a letdown too. It wasn’t as good as expected, and when booking, I saw a note saying breakfast was included, only to find out it was actually just a small credit towards breakfast. Not the same thing at all. Additionally, room cleaning was inconsistent — there were days when the room wasn’t cleaned at all, and I had to call down to the front desk to remind them. Thankfully, the cleaning lady who came in the evening was friendly and did a good job, but it’s disappointing to have to chase down basic hotel services like that. Would not recommend this hotel to anyone. Way overpriced for what you actually get, and the service left a lot to be desired. Will not be returning.

The location is amazing—close to the metro and convenient for getting around. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. The staff were not friendly and came across as cold and unwelcoming. I honestly felt like an inconvenience just for being there. Paying $72 a day to park at the hotel you’re staying at is outrageous. When I questioned it, the front desk suggested I park on the street if I didn’t want to pay—seriously? The room had multiple issues: The outlets near the bed didn’t work. There was a strange mark on the ceiling. Some sort of power box was hanging under the desk. The shower swung between scalding hot and freezing cold. The TV had very limited channels and no streaming options. The mini fridge didn’t keep anything cold. I had to go to three different floors just to find a working ice machine. On top of that, they didn’t apply the food credit to my bill—I had to ask for it. And using it was hardly worth it. Breakfast was overpriced ($30 for eggs, toast, potatoes, bacon, and a coffee), just to use a $15 credit. The restaurant was only open in the mornings and evenings—no lunch service, which was odd. The staff there were also cold and disinterested. Overall, I don’t recommend this hotel. The price may seem competitive at first, but with all the extra charges and poor service, you’re better off staying somewhere else.

I decided to give this hotel a try as I wanted to celebrate my 38th birthday this weekend. Been going through a lot of emotional trauma the last year and this was going to just be a personal retreat staycation and an opportunity to just get away and celebrate. Small details matter and unfortunately, this hotel missed the mark on some things. With it being my birthday, I requested a small amenity of some chocolate, maybe a bottle of wine in the room, 2 things I love - that didn't happen. I booked a suite and got a nice suite, no problem there but I was disappointed that housekeeping or whoever decorates missed that. Didn't get a warm welcome at the desk. Felt very transactional and cold. No acknowledgement that is was my birthday, nothin, Again, small details matter. Housekeeping did enter my room unannounced so that made things awkward from the start as well. All I got was reassurance thst they would investigate. No follow up call, just a text through whatever app they use. There was an unfortunate incident with a food order I made where the order was delivered to the hotel but given to the wrong person before i got downstairs to pick it up. Still don't know how thst happened, and there was basically no empathy shown from the front desk. I'm not writing this to complain, but I do feel service is lacking here so there is always room to improve. I do appreciate Sharafa who helped me set up my reservation and was attentive and listened to my concerns and had empathy. Small details matter and he understands that. So thanks to him for that. The room itself was fine. Spacious. Comfortable. No problem there. This is just an honest feedback so take it how you will. There's always room to improve so I hope they will.

DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL. Turned up for a 3 night stay to find out they had overbooked the hotel and moved us to a very low quality hotel. Spoke to us as if it was our fault. They said they might be able to pay for a taxi to take us to the new hotel and bring us back the next day!!!! Eventually they agreed they would send a taxi to collect us in the morning .... never turned up, we had to pay for a cab and claim it back from them. Got put in a room and came back that night to a flooded bathroom, coming through the ceiling light, after 3 calls to reception they eventually sent a chap who looked and said "oh its the room upstairs I'll go and look" We had to stop him and say water was coming through the electrics. He said do you want me to disconnect it ..... !!!!! Obviously we said yes. He them climbed onto the bath and took the bulb out !!!! I asked about the flooded bathroom and he said he would send housekeeping up, its gone 11pm by now and we sat around waiting and no surprise nobody turned up, so I had to do it myself with all of our towels and dressing gowns. Don't even ask about breakfast the next morning the food was unedible we couldn't have orange juice as they had ran out, but we could see bottles of Tropicana on the side. They said they had been very busy and ran out things. The whole stay was a disaster.

I had one of the best experiences staying at this hotel. I stayed here while visiting and I loved so many things. First off my room was spacious. The bathroom was my favorite part. It had a beautiful walk in glass enclosed shower. The jacuzzi tub was easy to use and it was the crown jewel of the room. I liked the ambient lighting in the bathroom as well. Another thing that stands out was the decor in the room. I loved the large square mirror right near good lighting and a desk with a power source good to charge your electronics. ||The housekeeping team and the front door people were phenomenal, for real you guys are rockstars!! Everyone was so helpful and I always had a clean room and fresh towels and waters when returning back to my room in the evening. Something I loved about this place was the amenities, like their silk bathrobes. One thing that stood out to me was how in my bathroom there were complimentary items like a shaving kit, dental kit, shower cap and little vanity kit that were replenished when used I loved that!. ||Only thing I didn’t get to check out was the on-site restaurant and bar, but the Dupont Circle neighborhood is super walkable and there were tons of affordable food options nearby. The location of the hotel is very safe and as a single female I felt totally fine walking around at night. The hotel has a well maintained gym and pool which the water was perfect temperature. ||I highly recommend staying at this hotel for anyone visiting DC it’s very close by to public transportation and the staff knocked it out of the park. I plan to stay here again if I come back to visit the DC area!

This 18 month old hotel has an excellent Front desk team. Special mention of Mr Chris for his genuine warmth and hospitality. We had booked a room with King size bed. There was a comfy sofa, a chair and a small bench too. Loved the Beaver cushion in our room. The hotel has an animal based theme ( see photos).||The bathroom is spacious with a closet, which has the ironing board, steamer and bathrobe. The shower cubicle has toiletries placed under the shower head, making access difficult. The black napkin to scrub with, after removing makeup, is a novel idea. Housekeeping to ensure that “hand wash” , and not “ lotion” to be placed near the washbasin.||I spotted dust near the table side lamp ….:(||Requests for water bottles to be replenished, take long times to be serviced. ||We could not try the breakfast as there weren’t many options for vegetarians.||Wow factors:||1. Fantastic Front desk team, spl mention of the doormen who greet guests cheerfully.|2. Mr Chris to be mentioned for his hospitality and service.|3. Large room with high ceiling |4. Ample furniture for seating|5. Superb location, close to the Capitol Hill - 1.2 miles|6. Bus routes # 33, 80 and 96 |7. Quiet atmosphere despite the proximity to key tourist places||What I wish factors:||1. Better housekeeping |2. Prompt refills of drinking water- in this hotter weather|3. Simple - Fruit juice, cut or whole fruits with bread/ preserve/marmalade options in breakfast |4. Small water bowls could be placed in the front gardens for the birds, especially in this hot weather.||The hotel is coming up with a kiosk on the ground floor. ||The hotel takes care to have sustainable practices.||Many thanks to Mr Jamar for his time and inputs.

The location is good. The rooms are spacious. The housekeeping staff is good. The front desk messed it up for us at the time of checkout - during checkin they said we can use 65$ anytime during the day for breakfast/lunch/dinner however while checking out they said it was only for Breakfast. The menu is not that elaborate n flexible. We stayed for a week n we’re bored eating the same thing everyday(very limited options for vegetarians, non veg is not halal). Room slippers are not provided n the guest service is not bothered to inform you when asked, had to call again to check why they haven’t sent room slippers yet n then they said they don’t have.

Meh sure. Needed to be near a specific building in DC for an early appointment so stayed one night here. Wouldn't stay here again. I spent $197 for midweek stay on Hotwire. It's appalling to me that the hotel is allowed to charge an extra $35 at the front desk for basically nothing. It's just one of those hidden fees. Doorman isn't out front opening the door. Buddy, I get that it's hot but these doors are heavy and I have luggage. Oh you have luggage? Enjoy toting it yourself on the luggage trolleys that are out by the front desk. About that front desk - as I approached there were two dudes on desk - neither looked up to greet me and say anything welcoming until I spoke first. Come on, just say good afternoon first, whomever of you drew the customer assistance short straw, sheesh. The room is quite spacious, so that's a plus. But faced a back courtyard where noises reverberated all night long although it was hard to hear those noises over the noises coming through my wall from the room next-door. Not very well sound insulated. As exhausted as I was, you would think I would've slept well, but the bed is hard - very hard. The room was clean and nicely made up when I got there, but there was wear and tear (padded bench at the end of the bed had some bleach stains). Only one robe hanging in the closet, which is fine because I was alone... but... and speaking of shrinkflation, no slippers. Bathroom was very small compared to the room. It did have a nice make up mirror (one of those magnifying ones) but again the amenities were skimpy. Plenty of towels, including a black make up remover towel. Scooted out early the next morning and won't miss this place at all. TL/dr: Not worth it unless you're near some place you need to go.

I thought our stay was great! The guy at the front desk was so nice to our little ones, he gave them fake key cards with the cutest animals on them -- or them to keep! They were over the moon- and still playing with them. Our room was spacious and super clean. I love the big soft beds and the closet in our room was hugeeeeeee I would stay here again, for sure. Pool is small, but it is doable, and it is outside, which is a plus. Valet parking as well.

Not a great hotel. I chose the hotel because I knew it was going to be 90 degrees and their website stated they had a pool. I asked them when I got here and they said it was closed. I would not have booked if I knew that was the case. When we booked we chose a room with a view. The room looks directly across at another hotel with no actual view but only the front of another building After a long day we decided to stay in and watch TV. The TVs are not WiFi compatible, therefore you cannot use Netflix or anything. It's 2024, how do you not have smart TVs? They also charge some random amenities charge per day, I wouldn't have minded that but since access to the amenities were closed, they basically just made extra money for no reason. Overall, I am extremely disappointed in my stay here and would honestly not recommend this place to anyone. There are a lot nicer places nearby that are up to date on tech, have usable amenities and a better atmosphere.

Attended an event here. I would have loved to have seen the guest rooms as they are apparently more than 500sq ft which is huge for a downtown location. The reception event space was very nice even though a pillar took up some of the view of the presenter and speaker. I dropped stars for the reception food - it was good but what was shared did not help attendees. How do you eat a large slice of meat when you not sitting at a table? Not enough cocktail tables and finding a spot was very awkward when you needed to use a knife and fork, plus trying to engage in conversation. I would suggest to consider bite size for their next reception style dinner. I love dessert but at that stage I was done being focused on how to eat without embarrassing myself and continued networking. Valet was convenient and front desk, well let's just say the focus was on pizza. The person resolved my query and I left happy.

Hotel was nice with a modern feel. Restaurant on site isn't great with a nice happy hour. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Comfort: 4* Service: 4* Value: 3* Location: 4* Was here for a meeting with some colleagues for a few days. We ate at Certo (see my other review) and used the facilities and then also stayed here. The meeting facilities were good, food ample, and service pretty good. The rooms were comfortable (and HUGE). The only complaints I had about the room was they a/c couldn't keep it cool enough and I had t9 have them fix it a few times over two days. The shower is a shower tub combination with a cheap plastic shower curtain that did not work well. Needed magnets at the bottom to keep it secured otherwise it just kept flying open and letting water out. Other than that, it was a good stay and I had some good rest.

The Royal Sonesta is in a decently located area with large rooms, comfortable beds, and a good area at the front of the hotel for gathering large groups. One thing that was difficult is that construction next door started at the early hours before 7 a.m. on most days of our stay making it difficult to sleep. The walls are thin making noise carry pretty far away from anyone else in the hotel. Overall, the hotel is good. I did not go to the hotel bar/lounge nor did I have any breakfast on site. I did however get a doordash delivery late at night and the staff was great about it.

I had a great stay here. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The room was very spacious and I liked the colorful decor. I stayed in a Spa Suite which came with a soaking tub which was really nice. The hotel had a modern feel and was walking distance to a lot of good restaurants.

Convenient hotel. I first learned of this location from a Yelp Elite event at Certo (the super cute hotel bar/lounge - I wrote a separate review there). Did a staycation here recently. Checking in was super easy. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. Huge thanks to CARLA for everything! The room itself was very big. Came with a fridge (not all hotels have this apparently). The water pressure in the shower wasn't powerful at all. A few times we called to request extra towels, and they never came. I didn't like that the door doesn't automatically lock so be sure to check that it is locked after you enter the room. I didn't park here, but there is valet available. There seemed to be a decent street parking as well. It was easy to catch a lyft or uber. We hung out at the pool for a bit. The cabanas were cute and allowed for some great photos! The pool area could use some sprucing up. Maybe a plant or something. There is alot close by - a CVS a few blocks up. Also plenty of dining options - I recommend Chikos and Soho. There is a nail shop across the street. A few liquor stores. We got massages at DeLuca up the street (see my review for them). Overall, I would recommend this hotel. I would stay here again!

6/08/24 Saturday 11:30 pm I was a guest at Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill My daughter & I ordered a late night night dinner delivery after a concert. However, they were delivered to wrong hotel (Royal Sonesta DuPont) . Fortunately, Caren/Lauren with Royal Sonesta DuPont was so kind to help facilitate the pick up and ensured the delivery to the right Sonesta hotel. We are absolutely truly grateful for her kind assistance and can't thank her enough. Thank you again for being such as wonderful person with extraordinary customer service. Royal Sonesta DuPont is so lucky to have her work for the hotel. Sk.

My friend and I attended a weekend event in DC so we decided to get a room for the weekend. We ended up catching a good deal at The Royal Sonesta, so that's where we stayed. We had a double room and I loved how beautifully decorated the room was with its pops of color. The beds were comfortable. The only thing is that you have to request the room be cleaned. Otherwise, they won't do it. They do make you aware of this at check-in. We did visit the hotel's restaurant for breakfast one morning and we enjoyed that as well. I believe this hotel falls under the Kimpton family of hotels. I've heard great things about Kimpton but this was my first time staying at a Kimpton hotel. The hotel must be pretty dog-friendly as well because I saw several guests walking into and out of the hotel with their dogs. This hotel is in the Dupont Circle area and there's a good amount of restaurants and things to do that aren't far from the hotel.

Stayed here for three nights from April 5-8th. I booked a premium room with a jacuzzi tub and upon arrival I was told there were issues with the plumbing. The first night there was no running water and could not even flush the toilet. Of the three nights I stayed the hot water only worked one morning. Was never able to use the jacuzzi. I was told since I booked through a travel website there was nothing that could be done to compensate me for the inconvenience. The communication from the staff was very poor with no updates or communication on the ongoing issues. They didn't even answer the phone when I called from the room to ask for information. I've never paid a premium to take cold showers. At the very least it would have been nice to be kept informed as to what was going on...never staying here again.

Had a pleasant stay at this hotel. Right when I walked in and was waiting for someone to check me in I was offered a glass of wine! I guess they have a time every day they offer this, which is nice. The check in was quick and the room was small but acceptable. Didn't have much of a view, but everything was clean and comfortable. They don't offer housekeeping services unless you specifically ask, so I just had some extra towels delivered in the middle of my stay. The only problem I had was the shower water was difficult trying to get a steady temperature without constantly adjusting it. The room had a fridge and a safe which was good. One odd thing, no ice bucket in the room. I had to go to the front desk to get one. The walls of the hotel must be super thin though, one night at around midnight I was listening to a podcast quietly on my iPhone. Someone started gently knocking on the wall next door. I turned it down a bit but wow, it wasn't very loud at all. I had brunch at the restaurant in the hotel, it was good. The staff is very friendly, the bellman even went out of his way to load my luggage into the Lyft for me. For $25 they let me do a 2pm checkout. This is also a great location so I'd definitely stay here again.

I was in DC for work. I was surprisingly delighted by the Royal Sonesta. The property is well maintained and stylish. The rooms are suitably sized, and the bathroom was quite large and comfortable. The DuPont Circle location is very well situated. The staff at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. Tyreen greeted me with a smile and was genuinely concerned about my experience at the hotel. I will definitely consider the hotel again for visits to DC. I tend to stay at luxury hotels for pleasure, and Westin type hotels for work, just for points of reference.

Laying here in bed at 12:30 am reading these reviews because we can't sleep. Our next door neighbors have been coming and going for two hours--slamming the door over and over--and I'm starting to think someone's turning tricks over there. And it's interesting to read how many reviews mention weed because it freaking reeks, and, yes, I'm sure it's weed. The two stars are for an otherwise fine room and the Dupont/West End location. I'm in DC 3 to 5 times a year. This is a first and last stay at Sonesta. Edit: Well, this got a response, and thanks, Taylor/Danny Boy (??), I will reach out after our trip. I called the front desk and was put on hold and then finally went downstairs in my pajamas. We were moved--at 1:15 AM--to a different room. That was fun; only 3 hours after we went to bed. And to a "Paws" room, which is also nice because we love our dog so much that we definitely want to stay where other peoples' dogs have been!

This is a great less-expensive-but-still-nice option in a reasonably convenient place in DC. I booked an executive double queen room to allow for a little extra room to stretch out for our family sharing a room for 3 nights. You are about 10 minute walk from the blue/orange/silver lines via foggy bottom or about 2-3 blocks from the red line at dupont circle. We took the metro to/from the airport and throughout town and found this very convenient. The hotel is about a 30 minute walk or train ride from the mall and Smithsonian museums. There are numerous restaurants of great variety right in the area. Most evenings we did breakfast and dinner in the vicinity because we were exhausted from walking all day and I think we had a different cuisine every night. So, for us, the location felt ideal-- out of the tourism hustle & bustle but with plenty of walkability at your doorstep. The hotel itself was fine and I have no complaints. The pricing felt about on par with what I would expect. The room (we booked the larger room on purpose) was HUGE. There was a large closet and also a large chest of drawers. It was nice to have ample room to unpack. The bathroom was totally meh-- tub didn't drain, shower janky, lights flickered, & no fan is not ideal w/ 3 people sharing a room and one bathroom. It would be awesome if they had set up these larger room as more of a living space but that is a minor quibble. Overall the hotel seems to have had a recent facelift (with the exception of shower hardware) with newer seeming furniture and decor-- no complaints there. To address some of the "mixed" reviews that had me concerned: - The star rating of this hotel: This place does not compete with the four seasons, the JW Marriot, the Ritz or other super premium hotels. I am unclear why so many people seem to think they are booking on par with a luxury hotel. This is a solidly mid-tier hotel and, at least when I booked, the prices reflect that-- I paid $300/night for an upgraded 2 queen room while a similar room at the Ritz (around the corner) would be $700++/night. They do have a pool, free bikes, a fitness center, a restaurant w/ full bar on site & wine happy hour daily. But if you are expecting a luxury/resort experience you will surely be disappointed. My only assumption is people are confusing user rating 4/5 stars with quality rating of 4/5 stars? - Our room was cleaned/refreshed daily and the lobby/front desk was helpful for any extras we needed (coffee, water bottles, etc) - Smoking: we did not experience any sort of smoking or smoke smell nor signs advising against smoking (common knowledge these days I think)

Where do I begin? This is supposedly a 4-star hotel, well it's not even close and I'm going to tell you why. I just stayed here for New Years Eve 2022 and upon walking in the staff was rude and disinterested during check-in. The lobby reeked of cigarette smoke and weed smoke (classy touch when you consider they have warnings slapped on all the side tables in the room saying smoking in the room will result in a $250 charge.) I booked a studio king with a, "city view," the room I got was a studio king on the third floor, my view consisted of a deli and the entrance to the Marriott courtyard across the street. What a city view! I was almost moved to tears by the scenes. Also, the studio king is directly across from the elevators, I think you know what that means, more weed smoke peeking under the door followed by sounds of grand central station. After returning from dinner, we decided to do what any self respecting couple would and order champagne to ring in the new year. I dialed room service, after waiting almost a minute for someone to answer, a not so pleasant individual answered the phone and informed me that they didn't have champagne. Fine I thought, this is disappointing but perhaps they ran out. I called back a few minutes later to order Prosecco only to be informed by an even less pleasant and interested party that they didn't have room service. They don't have room service? At a 4-star hotel, on New Year's Eve? This is where my confusion turned to bewilderment and then to anger. So which was it, did they not have champagne or did they not have room service? I called the front desk to further investigate. Upon calling the front desk a woman who sounded like I just woke her up from a deep sleep answered (might explain why the lobby smelled like a Colorado growing house.) I asked her if the hotel had room service, and she confirmed what the previous wayward voice on the phone told me, "yes, we have no room service." I politely explained to her that this should have listed on their website prior to booking a 4-star hotel. She then proceeded to tell me they have a selection of mini-bar options but that they are available at the front desk. So let me get this straight, you have a mini-bar, but it's not in the room, it's at the front desk? And you don't have champagne, but in reality, you don't have room service either? And you sell rooms with a, "city view," that absolutely lack a view of the city. NOTED. Oh, I almost forgot, they had no mixers, so a person working in the kitchen brought me two coffee cups filled with orange juice and for my troubles he gave me a fake $100 bill. At this point, my anger turned to humor, because I realized I had just been screwed out of $400 for a one night stay at a 4-star hotel with the service of a 7-eleven. How would I rate this hotel? Somewhere between never stay here again and call American Express for a chargeback. I'll be doing both.

We had quite the experience here. Checked in, went to the gigantic room, explored the area, then our neighbors were loud, crazy, and argumentative. The staff quickly got us a new room. Then the next morning the fire alarm went off lol. But the staff was very pleasant and accommodating. The room itself is almost too big. Nice location near tons of restaurants within walking distance. There's also a cocktail hour, on-site restaurant and bar, free bicycles to use, and close to the sites. Unfortunately they don't have onsite self parking, so you would have to find something on the street or it's $50/night for valet. Besides that, the only downside was no microwave our laundry bag in the room. But other than that it was a great stay!

Recently stayed for four nights for a conference being held at the hotel. You can tell it has been renovated but the rooms and bathrooms are very nice. My only complaint was the shower head was about to fall apart and the food selection at the restaurant was not the best. The staff was friendly, and the conference rooms were clean. Our conference food was okay, but the staff made sure to accommodate our needs. Based on my experience I would stay again.

I'm so torn about this review. Staff and & Amenities- 5 The actual room was more like a 3 We arrived for an over night trip early in DC. We called to ask about an early check in which was available. When we arrived the front desk said our room wasn't available yet so they offered a free upgrade. We had originally booked a king spa and were moved to a jr. executive. The room was large and spacious and had a beautiful view of the sunrise the next morning. I booked the entire trip based on the spa tub in the room. When we started running the water for the tub we were so grossed out. A bunch of black chunks started coming out of the jets. You could clearly tell that the jacuzzi hadn't been deep cleaned and when it started running it started spitting out more black gunk. We very quickly gave up on our spa tub plans. The room was okay. First off our neighbor had a dog, it barked non stop. The bathroom had very dim lighting and didn't make it very easy to get ready at night. I was also disappointed that there was no fan in the bathroom. It made it impossible to get ready while my husband was showering. The bed was very hard, and the bedding was very thin. I did love the complimentary coffee in the morning.

Let me start off by saying it's extremely rare for me to write a negative review. However, I couldn't stand by and not share what my experience was at this hotel. Anyone looking to stay at a four star or higher hotel should not stay at The Royal Sonesta Washington on P Street. This hotel was classified as a 4.5 star hotel...hard to believe! In my opinion it's more like a 3 star. Why? Well let's start with check-in. Upon checking in at 1:30 pm we were told our room was ready, but if we wanted to check-in at that point we would need to pay a $25.00 fee. Yes, REALLY! If the room is ready, why would I need to pay a fee? Is anyone else using my room for an hour if I do not? Never in my life have I ever been told this by a hotel. Not at The Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott. Waldorf Astoria or The Plaza Hotel. Back to this hotel though... When we entered the room advertised as a King bed with a whirlpool bathtub, we found a full/queen size bed and a small, old looking tub with dingy tile on the walls in the bathroom. I called down to the front desk to inquire and was told the bed in our room was "their" version of a king size bed. The bed was hard and the sheets were scratchy. Will not be staying here again. This hotel is the opposite of what one would expect for a 4.5 star hotel. The luxury in my opinion isn't here. I've included pictures of the room we stayed in for all to see.

I hate leaving the one star when the staff really did the best they could, but our stay was miserable due to the air conditioning being out IN THE HOT, HUMID SUMMER of Washington DC. My beef is not with the lovely employees who are just trying to do their jobs, but rather with Sonesta Hotels. How are you not going to let people know the AC has been out for 3 weeks, nor compensate them in anyway!? I could tell by going back and reading others reviews from this month that this wasn't a new problem. I was told this hotel was great when It was Kimpton owned and completely went down hill once taken over by Sonesta. Before I whine some more, I do want to call out three wonderful employees: Adina at the front was so kind and patient with guests as they angrily yelled at her about the lack of air conditioning. I get the frustration, as I too laid awake dripping sweat star-fished over the sheets, but come on, it's not her fault! Salvador with maintenance was also so nice. We called at 1am because our first room was not only 80 degrees, but also had a soaking wet moldy carpet due to the broken AC. He took the time to find any room that would be more comfortable, but he didn't have much to choose from. Our next room was a balmy 79 degrees with stiff, stagnant, hot air. And, lastly William, the supervisor of housekeeping was amazing. Give this man a raise! He really did the best he could to try to make our stay better. Brought us a fan and water. So, I reiterate. The staff was great, and If this was a review for them It would be 5 stars. But, I wouldn't be doing anyone any favors by not warning people about the utterly miserable heat you must endure by staying at this hotel. And It's supposed to be a 4.5 star hotel!!! Get outta here!! Needless to say I will never be staying at a Sonesta owned hotel ever again. I hope for the sake of their employees they fix that dang air conditioning.

My company has a program that hosts 120+ people in DC for a little less than a week. We've used the Royal Sonesta for a number of years and have a good experience each time. We are able to coordinate in advance with designated hotel staff on our room and event needs to ensure we get everything we need during our stay. Our participants enjoy the location and the ease of getting around DC from the hotel. The sleeping and conference rooms are well-kept and easy to navigate.

Very dissatisfied with this hotel - my room had cockroaches (both alive and dead) and filthy sheets. Hotel offered a refund but now is refusing to honor. Additionally, they have an amenity fee ($25/night) which is not referenced anywhere on any booking page and you're only alerted to after you check-in. Incredibly unprofessional and disgusting hotel - I will never be staying there again.

Great place to stay near DuPont circle. Approx 25 min walk to the White House. Lots of good shops, restaurants and bars nearby. The room itself was quite spacious and the beds were comfy. The room was very clean. The pool is currently closed though the gym is open. There are bikes that you can rent to go around the city as well. Overall it was a very good experience, esp for the price we paid for the room, probably due to covid. Def would stay here again.

This place was such an amazing place. I was having some trouble with my room and it was the icing on the cake for me. Just one more thing I needed. Ms. Key made things so much better for me. She upgraded my room and it was beautiful. She made my trip wonderful by having a nice room to sleep in. I recommend this hotel

This is my first major hotel experience since the pandemic. I've been here one day, will be staying the rest of the week, and overall I am very impressed. The room is very large, very clean, and very comfortable. Excellent pillows! The showerhead is a little bit strange and could use replaced, but the water is hot the pressure is good and I've certainly stayed in worse places. There is free coffee in the morning and it is decent. It also looks like the restaurant is open, and the breakfast menu looks great... I am not eating in restaurants Quite yet, but it's very spacious and there are a lot of options. The staff has been very helpful and friendly, has answered all of her questions, and was eager to offer the free wine when we arrived during check-in yesterday. Overall, I am very satisfied with this experience and would recommend business travelers to stay here.

This was the most overpriced, sneaky hotel in DC. Forget what you think you are paying online. When you check in you are notified that your account will be charged $30 for use of the hotel's "amenities" like the exercise room and wifi. Oh, you get $10 credit at the grocery "shelf"'where you can okc up a $5 KIND bar. To top it off, the bed was Rock. HARD. It was like sleeping on a wooden plank. Never staying here again.

Nice hotel! The staff was super nice and accommodating. Great place to travel with your dog.

I stayed here during 4th of July weekend with my girls. Unfortunately, this hotel is not well maintained. The AC wasn't working so it was so hot the entire stay. The sink and tub were both clogged. After washing your face or brushing your teeth in the sink, the water is filled to the brim. Gross! Showering was the same nightmare. We called maintenance and they ran a test and deemed it "okay". I'm giving 2 stars for the staff. They were awesome. Everyone was so friendly and helped as much as they could. I wouldn't stay here again though.

My best friend and I stayed here for a quick girls trip to DC and the room was spacious and the beds were so comfortable! They have valet parking and was easy to find. There are plenty of food places in walking distance and a drug store on the corner. I ended up leaving a few items and the front desk clerk I think his name was John was excellent! Funny and went above and beyond to help find the items I left and the hotel was able to mail the items to me and I paid for the shipping. All in all I would definitely recommend.

This place is great. They're family friendly, with big, comfortable rooms and a free wine hour. The front desk worker played paper rock scissors with our 5 year old. When she won, she got pick a snack. It was a great place to stay!

I have so many complaints about staying at this hotel since checking in on Feb 26th at 430PM. #1. I would recommend since there were minimal hotel guest staying at this hotel, to at the very minimum inform a guest that you have to request a coffee maker and microwave during your stay, its not information they readily provide you unless you ask, that's unacceptable. #2 Provide basic customer service in term,s of having hotel staff ask if room service is needed, I purpously did not leave the do not disturb sign on my door to see if staff would ask if i needed a room refresh since I stayed two days #3 The night manager on the 26th asked if I was informed of the complimentary bottle of wine, I told her no, while she did offer it, I asked why didn't the staff that check me offer this? # Hotel states that there is valet service, when I asked at check it, they staff stated that there is no valet available and that I would have to find my own parking somewhere # The hotel on their website and booking .com states that their is a restaurant and bar; however, on the evening of Feb 26th, I called the front desk to ask what time the restaurants would close, i was then notified that the restaurant is closed, I asked when will it reopen, the front desk staff stated that it was indefinitely closed. I asked wouldn't that have been information that you could have provided at check in? At least provided a list of local eateries that deliver to the hotel 100s of hotels and I decided the choose a hotel with staff that have minimal customer service skills, with the exception of the night manager and the front desk staff on the day of check out who at least made an effort to accommodate me during my stay. #5 The hotel charges you for a resort fee at $60 when there are zero amenities provided (ieie hot tub, pool, restaurant and bar, etc) #6. Since you niether offer coffee (unless you ask for a coffee maker, and staff should expect you to need one and no expect you to ask for it) at least offer vending machines or snacks at purchase either on the floors or reception lobby desk, they do neither of these things, make a conscious effort to try and make accommodations for your guests needs. I would never stay nor recommend anyone i know to stay at this hotel, COVID on No COVID restrictions, over prices, staff unwilling to be hospitable and attempt to at least want to do the basic things.

Bruce at the front is great! He greeted us with a glass of wine during wine hour and was the host of the hour. The rooms are comfortable and very large. They also are very clean and smelled fresh. Staff is great and helpful. I will return to royal Sonesta next time I visit Washington DC

Honestly not worth the money. We stayed for 4 days and our room was only cleaned one time. I had to call for clean towels twice. One of those days they never even brought clean towels. The other day they brought them so late it wasn't even worth bringing them. Overall a frustrating stay on things that are basic at any hotel. Only positive part of the stay is that it is in a great location.

This was the 2nd worst hotel I've ever stayed at in my life! My cousin booked this hotel and from the pictures, I wasn't sold because I'm very particular about cleanliness. When I got into the room, it looked very dingy and the ac was malfunctioning. This was the least of this hotels problems. I took my first shower and I lost it because not only was there a shower curtain (red flag) but it was brown and dirty at the bottom. And not only was the shower curtain dirty but the water was rising because the drain was clogged. I called the receptionist immediately because I'm severely phobic of dirty tubs. The receptionist sent up a plumber to come "fix" the issue and sure enough nothing was fixed. All weekend we had to deal with a dirty clogged tub and it was a nightmare. Because of this experience that has extremely scarred me, I have rejected any hotel under the brand royal sonesta and I will never stay at a royal sonesta again.

3.5 stars. Visited during summer. Overall good experience. Pros: Large room and great location. Free wine between 5-6pm. Friendly staff. Many bars and restaurants around DuPont area. Walking distance to Georgetown area (one bridge away). Cons: Cleanliness needs to be improved. Saw other people's hair on the bed and in the shower. $25/night amenity charges that weren't explained before hand. Needs to keep this charge in mind when consider the cost.

Room was small, but wasn't that bad until I was overcharged. Hotel fee says $30, but was charged waaayyyyyy more than $30. Will never return again.

Overpriced. Poor service. Doesn't deserve to be 4-star. This hotel is a converted 70s apartment building. Renovated, but not finely crafted or updated. Service is way substandard. * Upon checkin at noon, I ask the front desk to inform me if a room becomes vacant before 3:00. They promise to call me, but never do. * I request a blanket, and there are none. I ask for an additional sheet instead, and it takes a half an hour to deliver it. * I have to schedule my room to be cleaned a day in advance. I do so, and the cleaning person never shows up. * The wine custodian pours me an eighth of a glass (literally) of wine at happy hour, I politely request a little more, and he refuses. ...not to mention a $25/per day amenity fee, which covers such "amenities" as late checkout, telephone calls, wifi, coffee and tea. Give me a break! Why is this a Sonesta? Certainly, I am not paying for the brand.

So the old Hotel Palamar is now a Royal Sonesta. This is one of my favorite brands so I had to check it out. Their restaurant is called Certo and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! The food was amazing, and the drinks were even better. I had the best Cosmo ever when I went. I'll definitely be back.

IGNORE THE STARS. This review is all over the place. Keep reading. I stayed here Feb 2020 when it was a Kimpton and really loved it. I had no idea I was booking the same hotel, now owned by Royal Sonesta, until I pulled up. I was so excited and thought for sure it was a sign. Nope. Nope. Nope. Sorry guys. I'm just going to have to say nope this time. -Filthy elevators. Visible filth. Crumbs on floor. Liquid spills (some large and already dried up, some smaller). -Understaffed (Adina, sorry if I misspelled your name, very kind and helpful front desk staff, had to serve as bellhop in addition to her front desk duties). -Restaurant closed (understandable, due to Covid, I guess, although most of DC is open by now). They do have some snacks and beverages (including wine) you can purchase at the front desk. No clue on cost. I just stocked up at CVS and at the nice little market across the street (that has a very large wine and beer selection by the way). Now the real problems: 1. Broken AC in the lobby. I should have taken that as a sign. But they assured me the room would be great: First room-AC not working. Second room-AC working "ok/better" for the first 1 1/2ish days. By our last day everything in the room was just sticky, gross and muggy. Even the corners of my paperback book were curled!!! The sheets felt damp. But at this point, traveling with 3 kids and 6 bags, we had all of our stuff sprawled out, I couldn't imagine switching to a new room (again!) or honestly to a new hotel (which is what I should have done on day 1). 2. The room next to us decides they want to smoke weed my first night. I'm not sure they realized that would seep through the double doors that connect the rooms. Come on people! Yes I called the manager. Yes he made it right. Yes I was pleased with the resolution but Jesus take the wheel. The whole thing was just so upsetting to me because this was my first official trip with my boys and to have to go through all of this was just nuts. I get it. It's not the Ritz Carlton. But it's not Motel 6 either. Or at least I didn't think so... Oh. Beware of flickering bathroom lights poltergeist style by day 2. I didn't say anything because, what for? (Insert shrugging shoulders emoji). At that point ghosts in the room would've just added some spirit to our trip (pun intended). Yes. Listen. I know you're thinking, why is she even making jokes. I don't know. None of it was funny at the time. But here I am, packing up to go home early tomorrow and I'm really trying to just see the positives of my trip. Royal Sonesta (Dupont Circle) was NOT one of them. This place, right now, is just not worth the hassle or the price (even with the Expedia deal I got). PLUS, the highs were like 97* outside. Imagine walking into a room, after a long day of walking and outdoor sightseeing, and the air feeling sticky and stagnant with indoor temps likely hovering somewhere near 78-80 (that's my best guess. The thermostat doesn't tell you the room temp but was set to 65 the entire time we were there and it NEVER felt like 65). Ok. Stars go to: 1. 5 stars (each) for Andre (manager), Adina (front desk) and the AC engineer who all did their best to resolve each and every issue I brought to their attention. 2. 5 stars for location. Honestly y'all. Can't be beat. So safe. So close to fantastic restaurants (check out my other Yelp reviews) including some of my kids favorites (Krispy Kreme and Chick Fil A). Not to mention the CVS up the street and the market that is literally right across (more catty corner, really). PLUS, the metro stop is SO close. 3. 5 stars for room decor. Very nice, updated and modern. 4. 4.5 stars for room cleanliness due to the fact that the shower just looked kind of gray and dirty. But that could just be those set in stains that are just hard to remove no matter how much Clorox you use. And the tile felt sticky but I bet that was due to humidity and AC issue. 3. ZERO stars for cleanliness of elevators. 4. There aren't enough ZERO stars I can give this place for comfort (AC issue). My last day the lobby still had NO AC. I don't know how those poor employees worked in those conditions. It was gross. I'm hoping to bring the boys back next year to see the Cherry Blossoms. I just can't see myself staying here again. I hope someone can make this place work out because the location is perfect.

Good location, but the hotel itself is just ok. The room was spacious, but smelled a bit damp.

Though the place was nice I was told I would be charged for using the amenities and therefore declined use only to receive my bill with funds missing and when I called I was told the charges removed from my incidentals were for those same amenities I was told had I used I would be charged for. Money isn't the issue it's the principle that I could've used the amenities and things since the cost was automatically going to be taken and to be told I would receive no refund and a rude front desk agent this morning just lit fire to what was a good morning starting out. Then the agent rudely informed that all the agents explain that and that I must've been a hard person to understand simple explanations. This coming from an agent who barely could speak the English language where I am fluent in it and it's understandings. Needless to say this Sonesta is the furthers from Royalty but a hub for Meth users knocking on random doors all hours of the night oh and staff included. Thanks but no thanks

Clean, modern hotel. The room was very spacious with one of the largest bathrooms I've seen in a while. Location wise it is fine. A 25 minute walk to the White House. Staff are great.

Thought this was a good choice. It turned out to be disappointing. Air conditioner didn't work, room smelled & sink didn't drain. Bed was lumpy and pillows yellow .... Definitely not worth the money.

As you can see I hardly write reviews but I felt so used by this hotel and app's work that I had to write this. I even argued a little with the receptionist regarding this but he seemed more annoyed at me than the hotel's crazy policy. This was one of the worst stays ever. The room was too small. But the real deal is they charge you amenity fee of 28.70 on top of all the other fee and taxes charged. This is totally ripping people off. I was so disappointed for this charge. I stayed at this place just to spend the night so I could see around the city. I have stayed in many hotels in DC and other states but never been tricked like this. I know I booked through a 3rd party the name is Traveluro which is also equally guilty as this establishment. I didn't use any kind of amenity of this hotel, how they can charge me this money when I haven't used anything or don't want to use it. It is sad how all these businesses are stealing money from people but there is no one to ask why!!?? Why do I have to pay for something I not going to use, I am not staying in your hotel to purchase drink from your reception or use your gym.

I stayed here many times when this was The Palomar - pre-COVID. It was reasonably priced and comfortable for business travel. My first time going back to D.C. I thought it would be fine. It's not the same at all. The rooms are the same, same bedspread, curtain carpet - fine but well worn by now - especially for the price. The Palomar had excellent customer service - there was a mini bar, concierge service, restaurant. At Sonesta I was charge $25 per day for a service that was to include a mini bar (none), WI-FI, gym. It was just disappointing and shabby here. I couldn't wait to leave.

It's a dump. Built in the 70's, renovated in the 90's. They crammed more rooms into the same space. I cannot believe the fire marshal signed off on this hallway. My "Deluxe" room was about 200 square feet, which is insulting. The decor is very dated. Take a look at this fine view. Finally, my shower head was installed with electrical tape and was broken. Nothing "Royal" about this place.

So I'll start with the positive. I used to stay at this hotel when it was the Palomar and really enjoyed it. The location is great - So that is about it for the positive. The staff were very slow at everything... When I was checking in there was a line of people waiting to check in. When I got to the first room they gave me, it had not been made up yet so they gave me another room... It was pretty big which was nice, but it still felt a little dirty for some reason. I guess my general feeling was that this did not feel like a luxury hotel and that is what I was expecting after having stayed at the Palomar so many times. The carpets in the halls were fraying, the shower was overflowing on the floor since the seals that keep water in the shower were old, the toilet kept running unless you giggled the handle and the tub had some strange water around it that had started molding a little. When I went to get my car from the valet, they had put everyone's keys in a box (there must have been a hundred? ) and they could not find my key for about 20 minutes and the lady at the front desk (watching soap operas on her iPad) seemed very disinterested that I needed to get to the airport. So I guess what I would say, don't expect much from this hotel. There are a lot of great options in DC, I would say pass on this one.

One of my favorite stays in DC, Great Location and Wonderful Staff. I've stayed here a couple of times and always upgrade myself to a room with a larger soaking tub. Great for date nights or special occasions definitely would recommend