Stunning contemporary design
Less than two blocks from the White House and National Mall
Modern rooms with excellent W Signature beds, bathrobes, and iPod compatible stereos
Swank rooftop bar offers great views
Good Mediterranean restaurant with a seasonal outdoor patio
Top-notch spa and fitness center with an array of cardio- and weight-training equipment
Business center with computer stations and printers
24-hour room service
Free Wi-Fi in the lobby
Pet-friendly (daily fees apply)
Neighborhood goes dead at night
Fee for in-room Wi-Fi
No pool
Wonderful Rooms are small and interior facing
Rooms lack coffeemakers (though they can be requested)
Valet parking expensive
Possibly the most stylish hotel in D.C., the 317-room W has a
tourist-friendly location and offers some of the best views in the city, particularly from its rooftop terrace bar. Highlights include three swanky bars, two restaurants, a modern fitness center, and a boutique spa. Room rates are competitive, depending on when rooms are booked, but look out for pricey extras -- fees for Wi-Fi, pets, and valet-only parking can add up fast. For a lower-priced version of the W, guests might want to consider one of the Kimpton hotels -- such as the Palomar, Hotel Rouge, or Topaz -- located in the livelier Dupont Circle neighborhood.
Scene
Stunning interior design makes this the hippest hotel near the White House.
Part of the worldwide W hotel chain, the W Washington, D.C.
stands out for its historic setting inside a 1917 Beaux Arts building within a six-minute walk of the White House. Opened in 2009, the W replaced the historic Hotel Washington, a landmark property that hosted such luminaries as Elvis and Harrison Ford. Landmark regulations mean the original “Hotel Washington” signage can’t be removed from outside the hotel, which can cause confusion among
Unlike other hotels near the White House, the W has a bold style and a party atmosphere that attracts millennials and shakes up the
The hotel’s restaurants and bars also offer a healthy dose of style. A basement whisky bar offers an intimate atmosphere with soft twinkling lights, dark leather furniture, and a gas fireplace. On the rooftop, the swanky indoor/outdoor lounge bar serves food and drinks overlooking the National Monument.
Location
In downtown, about a five-minute walk to the White House and a 15-minute walk to the National Mall
The W is in the heart of "old downtown." While it's a good location for visiting the capital's major sights, the immediate neighborhood -- bustling with nine-to-fivers during the day -- can border on desolate at night.
Rooms
Rooms can be small, but are stylish with modern touches
The W's 317 rooms fall into several categories, each described by a
glowing adjective: Wonderful, Spectacular, Fantastic, Marvelous, and so forth. The cramped Wonderful Rooms start at 215 square feet, but they have disappointing, interior-facing views. Many of the upgraded rooms offer nice views of the Department of the Treasury and a glimpse of the White House beyond (where snipers can be seen on the White House roof). All units include flat-screen TVs, well-stocked minibars, bathrobes, iPod compatible stereos, and W Signature Beds with pillow-top mattresses and down duvets. Bathrooms are sleek -- some have gray-veined marble, others mosaic tiles -- and come with toiletries, but not all have tubs.
Features
A spa, fitness center, three bars, two restaurants -- but no pool
At a stylish “see and be seen” hotel like the W, it’s a bit disappointing that there’s no pool, but all the other essentials are there. Highlights
include a boutique spa that offers massages, body treatments, and nail services, and a modern fitness center with personal TVs. The
Exterme WOW Suite
Fabulous Room
Fantastic Suite
Marvelous Suite
Spectacular Room
Wonderful Room
WOW Suite
United States