Hyatt Place Washington DC/White House

Sticking out amidst the older stone and brick buildings, this modern, 14-story building gives a gleaming glass-and-chrome counterpoint to the rest of bustling K Street. Opened in 2015, it’s equally modern and bright inside, with an open-plan layout that includes a long communal table and a den-like space with a sectional sofa. A few glossy details like rectangular lights and a box-frame coffee table add a little polish, but it's really the property's functional features that give it appeal. (Just steps from this lounge is the lobby bar serving Starbucks.) That said, the dining room where the free breakfast is served is on the small side for a hotel of this size, and it can get busy at peak hours. Still, the hotel is a relatively quiet pause from the buzz of activity outside. This hotel gets a good mix of tourists and business travelers, both drawn to the convenient location.

The Hyatt Place is located on K Street NW in the heart of downtown. The immediate area is surrounded by hotels, office buildings, and restaurants frequented by the workday lunch crowd, and while the area bustles during the day, it empties out at night. A few dining options are nearby, including restaurants in other hotels like the St. Regis and Jefferson. It’s a short walk (about seven minutes) to the White House, and five minutes to Lafayette Square. Three metro stops are within a three-minute walk of the front door. It's about a 20-minute walk to the Smithsonian museums and monuments on the National Mall. Union Station is a 15-minute metro ride. Depending on traffic, Reagan National Airport is about 20 minutes driving or 25 minutes by public transportation. Dulles International Airport is 45 to 60 minutes by car, or a little over an hour by public transit.

Fresh and modern, rooms are dressed in urban shades of light-gray offset by multiple floor-to-ceiling windows drawing in ample light. The look is both breezy and tidy, with platform beds neatly done up in all-white bedding. Matching, light-wood furniture adds cheer to the space, as do pops of orange and blue in the lampshades and sofa throw cushions. Artsy photos of local architecture hang on the walls, and frosted-glass partitions with tree branch patterns give another trendy touch. All rooms have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, and all have sofas, which can be converted into sofa beds in some rooms. Bathrooms are equally modern and nice, but average in size, with walk-in showers fronted by clear glass doors. Note that some lower-floor rooms get street noise. 

Aside from its location, this Hyatt's major selling point is its well-rounded features, a boon for busy travelers. The multiple venues to eat or grab a drink are especially helpful, including the 24/7 Gallery, which offers made-to-order items including burgers, pizzas, soups, and salads plus sundries, snacks, and drinks. A hot breakfast is included in room rates and features breakfast sandwiches, eggs, and French toast, while the Coffee to Cocktails lobby bar serves Starbucks drinks. The Ellipse Rooftop Bar opens each afternoon and serves a light food menu and craft cocktails plus an outdoor area with comfy seating, fire pits, and city views.Apart from dining, the Hyatt's spacious 24-hour fitness center offers several treadmills with built-in TVs along with free weights and cross-training machines. The 24/7 business center just off the lobby has three computers and multiple printers with wireless printing so guests can print directly from their rooms. Four small meeting rooms are available for rent, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Valet-only parking is available in the hotel’s underground garage, but it’s expensive. Pets are welcome for a fee.