Hamilton Crowne Plaza, Washington D.C. Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Downtown, Washington, D.C., United States

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The lobby

Built in 1921, the Crowne Plaza's Beaux Arts building was a hit through the '30s and '40s and even F.D.R.'s inaugural ball. In the later decades, the property changed hands once the neighborhood went into decline -- at one time, the Salvation Army owned it and converted it into the Evangeline Home for Girls -- but the Crown Plaza took over in 1996 and converted it back into a hotel. With its vaulted ceilings that mimic the octagonal design of the U.S. Capitol Building's rotunda, helpful concierges and desk staff, and an entire floor (the 11th) exclusive to female travelers, the the hotel certainly feels classic and stately -- more so than other nearby chains, like the Four Points by Sheraton or the Westin Washington.

But while the hotel certainly has some class, its guest rooms -- last renovated in 2002 -- are showing some signs of wear, especially in the carpeting. And despite the architecture, the hotel doesn't feel too different from a more conventional D.C. business hotel -- laptops in the lobby; afterwork drinks at the 14K Lounge. While its location is great for business travelers -- close to the think tanks and lobby groups -- it's a bit farther from the sights and museums than other downtown hotels. For the price, it's a reasonable choice for the location, but the more modern Four Points by Sheraton and Westin have better features.

• Attentive doorman and porters at the entrance, quick to help with bags
• Quick check-in and checkout
• Room service from 14K Restaurant, 6:30 am to 11 p.m.
• Turndown service, by request
• Staff concierge, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

View on a Larger Map

The Crowne Plaza is located in D.C.'s busy downtown business district at 14th and K Streets. The area, known as the "K Street Corridor," is filled with some of the city's largest lobbying firms and most prominent think tanks. The neighborhood can be very quiet at night and on weekends, and on a Sunday, for example, you will likely have to walk a few blocks before you find a Starbucks that's open. Franklin Park, across the street, is a bit run-down and you'll typically see vagrants sleeping on the benches at night. While this is not the area for nightlife, there are a few options, such as DC Coast (a trendy bar and restaurant across the street from the hotel) and several nearby late-night dance clubs (Lima, Lotus, and the K Street Lounge).

While the Crowne Plaza is about a 15-minute walk from the White House, it's a very long hike to most of the city's attractions and the monuments on the National Mall, so it's best to take the Metro subway system, only one block away at McPherson Square (Orange and Blue Lines).

• One block from the McPherson Square Metro subway station
• 10-minute walk to the Washington Convention Center
• 15-minute walk to the White House
• Five-minute drive, or 15-minute trip using the Metro subway on the Orange Line, to the Smithsonian Institution
• Five-minute drive to the museums and monuments on the National Mall, or a short subway ride on the Metro
• 15 minutes by car ($20 cab fare) to Reagan National Airport
• 45-minute, $50 drive to Dulles International Airport, 28 miles away

A Standard Room

As the building is a bit older (built in 1921), the guest rooms all come in varying sizes, but most of the rooms are smaller than the typical hotel room in D.C. Still, while my Standard King was certainly tiny (about 250 square feet), and the closet was hardly big enough to stuff a suitcase inside, it was still very comfortable. Plus, the striped wallpaper, gold-leaf mirror, delicate side tables, an attractive (yet still functional) desk, gave the room a feeling of heritage and good taste. But, as is common in older buildings, the toilets flush loudly and you're bound to hear the pipes groan when you turn on the shower.

• Small standard rooms, starting at about 250 square feet
• Comfortable bed: firm, Serta Sleeper mattress; four fluffy feather pillows (and two alternative poly fills); 250-thread-count cotton sheets
• Flat-screen TVs added January 2010
• Small bathroom; granite counters and tiles
• Wi-Fi costs $13 per day, available in the room and in the lobby
• Starbucks drip coffeemaker
• Quiet rooms -- even those facing busy K Street

Unique to this Crowne Plaza is its "business women's floor" -- an entire, security-keyed floor (the 11th) just for female travelers from Sunday to Thursday (better security is the thinking). Special amenities include potpourri, bathrobes in women's sizes, slippers, magazines, and a diet/healthy room service menu. In addition, there's a special table at 14K dedicated to the female guests who stay on the 11th floor; supposedly provding them the opportunity to meet and socialize (in practice, this rarely happens).

The gym

• Small, but clean, gym with Life Fitness cardio machines (four treadmills, three elliptical machines, and three stationary bikes), free weights, and a Cybex multistation
• Unstaffed business center
• 1,700 square feet of meeting space, including the Hamilton Ballroom; the hotel also books the ornate Shriners temple, called the Sphinx Club, next door for larger meetings and events
• Starbucks adjacent to the lobby
• Concierge Lounge, exclusive to those who book an Executive Club Room on the 12th and 14th floors, with some nice freebies -- continental breakfasts (6:30 to 9:30 a.m.); evening cocktails and snacks (5 to 7 p.m.); dessert and after dinner drinks (7 to 9 p.m.)

Given the small rooms, business-focused location, and lack of features, the hotel is not ideal for families. For some better options, check out our list of the best kid-friendly hotels.

• Small standard rooms
• No pool
• Free cribes; rollaway beds cost $25 per night
• Kids' menu at the 14k Restaurant -- $8 chicken tenders; $9 burgers; $8 pasta

Small dogs and cats, under 50 pounds, are welcome at the hotel. A refundable $250 cleaning deposit is required.

The hotel is very clean, but carpets and some details are showing their age.

14K Restaurant and Lounge

Completely renovated in 2009, the dark, stylish 14K Restaurant and Lounge comes with a covered (and heated) sidewalk terrace so that you can dine streetside, even in the winter. Popular among locals who work in the area, the bar can be lively during happy hour or if the right game is on (there are several flat-screen TVs).

• Breakfast (6:30 to 11 a.m.) ranges from $4 (oatmeal) to $16 (eggs Benedict).
• All-day menu (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) includes soup and salads ($8 to $14) sandwiches, pizza, and burgers ($14 to $16) and pasta, chicken, and salmon entrees ($18).
• Dinner (5 to 11 p.m.) features tapas ($9 to $16) and entrees like Chilean sea bass, pasta, and steak ($18 to $29).