Top 10 Hotels in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the perfect destination for a weekend escape—each block brims with history, art, and culture, inviting hours of awe-inspiring exploration. Recently revitalized neighborhoods like the Navy Yard and the Wharf have become hotspots, featuring innovative restaurants and modern hotels that serve as vibrant centers for creators. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth to the capital, Dinogo’s Hotels We Adore selection of 10 top-notch properties in Washington, D.C.—in no specific order—will guide you.

Conrad Washington, D.C.

The contemporary Conrad—recognized as one of Dinogo’s top new hotels of 2020—stands in stark contrast to traditional Beltway accommodations. Part of the innovative CityCenterDC project, the Conrad was crafted by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. It features 360 tranquil guest rooms and 32 suites, each boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, with some offering views of the Capitol dome. A central atrium bathes the lobby in natural light, complemented by art installations that invite contemplation.

Sustainability is a key focus at the Conrad. It has achieved LEED Gold Certification through eco-friendly features like a green rooftop that filters and recycles rainwater for use in the hotel’s cooling systems—crucial during D.C.’s hot summers. Additionally, the third-floor terraces provide green spaces for relaxation for both hotel guests and diners; the kitchens collaborate with Builder’s Inc., a food donation organization, to donate excess packaged goods, frozen items, and prepared meals. Rates start at $411.

Dupont Circle Hotel

In D.C., fortunes and friendships shift rapidly, yet the charming Dupont Circle Hotel, surrounded by independent eateries, shops, and markets, remains a timeless favorite. Nestled right on the circle, this hotel occupies a prestigious spot. Inside, the Pembroke restaurant, designed by Martin Brudnizki, features plush velvet seating, marble tables, panoramic windows, and a spacious outdoor terrace, creating a vibrant social scene. Locals and visiting diplomats mingle here, with Embassy Row just around the corner. The Pembroke’s menu celebrates D.C.’s mid-Atlantic roots, offering delightful Maryland crab cakes and fried green tomato burrata, while the walnut-and-brass-clad Doyle whiskey bar evokes the spirit of Ireland, home of the Doyle Collection.

The 327 stylish guest rooms take full advantage of their prime location, with most featuring large windows that overlook the circle. On the Rooftop Floor, Irish design team Clodagh has recently revamped the space to include a lavish penthouse and 13 additional suites, each boasting expansive heated terraces with views of the Washington Monument. Clodagh also redesigned the exclusive guest lobby, reminiscent of a luxury apartment with a cozy fireplace and an eye-catching bookcase adorned with brass details. The best part? Stepping out the front door each morning, knowing the heart of the capital is right at your feet. Rates start at $293.

Eaton D.C.

Established by third-generation hotelier Katherine Lo, whose family operates the luxury Langham hotel group in Hong Kong, Eaton DC strives to unite travelers, locals, and members with a shared ethos focused on creativity, awareness, and making a difference. Like its counterpart in Hong Kong, the D.C. location—the first in the United States—encourages innovative thinking by offering both private and communal workspaces designed to foster connection and dialogue, along with a dynamic programming schedule. The hotel’s own community radio station, Eaton Radio, features an exciting mix of underground music and talk shows.

Guests can select from five cozy room types, ranging from cabins to suites, all of which are conveniently pet-friendly. Each room embraces a “global nomad” aesthetic, highlighted by vibrant textile accents, Himalayan salt lamps, organic cotton-and-latex pillow-top mattresses, Grown Alchemist bath products, health-focused mini-bars, Bluetooth speakers, and record players. After settling in, guests can enjoy meals at Michele’s by chef Matt Baker, relax at the rooftop bar Wild Days, or unwind at the speakeasy Allegory, known for its sustainable cocktails. Wellness treatments and classes, including massages, sound baths, Reiki, and yoga, are also available to ignite creativity. Rates start at $261.

Hay-Adams

Not everyone has the privilege of living across from the White House. Before the current Italian Renaissance-style hotel was built in 1927, the prime location where the Hay-Adams now stands was home to two lesser-known American figures: John Hay—personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln, ambassador to the UK, and Secretary of State under both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt—and Henry Adams—Harvard professor and great-grandson of John Adams. Their residences were cultural hotspots in D.C. during the early 20th century, so it was fitting that when the Hay-Adams opened, it continued that legacy.

Guests ranging from Amelia Earhart to the Obamas have enjoyed the elegant Old World rooms: featuring 124 guest rooms and 21 suites with views of historic Lafayette Square and the White House. The hotel is renowned for its discreet and thorough, no-questions-asked service. If guests need transportation to important meetings around the District, the house Mercedes will drop them off anywhere downtown, ensuring a grand entrance befitting a luminary. Alternatively, if you prefer to host the meeting at the Top of the Hay—a collection of five meeting rooms and a full-service rooftop kitchen with views of the D.C. skyline—no one in the Beltway will mind. Rates start at $499.

Pendry Washington D.C.

Families visiting D.C. should consider making the Wharf—and specifically, the Pendry—their home base. This vibrant neighborhood is one of the city’s latest lifestyle hubs, featuring a walkable waterfront, marina access, and a variety of restaurants, bars, and activities. Craving s’mores kits from an on-site Airstream? An arcade with thin-crust pizzas? Doughnuts, falafels, oysters, Cuban cafés, and Irish pubs? While maybe not all at once, you can certainly find them here.

Adding an extra touch of luxury to the development is the Pendry hotel, which opened in 2022 as the seventh property in this lifestyle brand's collection. Featuring 131 guest rooms and 38 suites, along with a heated outdoor pool—a rare find in D.C.—the Pendry offers a tranquil escape from the day's explorations. The design exudes sophisticated minimalism, complete with large picture windows, many of which showcase river views. Treat yourself to a salt-scrub-and-hot-stone massage at Spa Pendry, enjoy a Latin American-inspired meal at Flora Flora, and unwind with a cocktail (and perhaps a hint of intrigue after the kids are asleep) at the atmospheric Bar Pendry. Rates start at $457.

Riggs Washington D.C.

The conversion of the historic National Bank into the Riggs hotel is nothing short of remarkable. This new establishment pays tribute to the grandeur of the Romanesque revival architecture while avoiding the coldness that might have come from its marble surfaces. The landmark building retains iconic bank features, such as coffered and barrel-vaulted ceilings and modified teller windows at reception, yet infuses whimsy throughout: a vibrant floral display adds color, plush seating and dramatic curtains bring texture, and the cheerful sounds of diners enjoying meals at Cafe Riggs fill the space with life. This café has quickly become a beloved spot for everything from morning açaí bowls and cardamom buns to late-night steak frites.

The bank’s former vault has been transformed into the exquisite cocktail bar, Silver Lyan, renowned for its unique ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship. (For example, the Project Apollo, a gin sour, features freeze-dried pineapple, the first fruit sent on the Apollo missions.) On the upper floors, guest rooms showcase stylish soft furnishings designed by Voutsa. Four suites, named after first ladies, reflect their individual passions. For instance, the suite honoring music aficionado Louisa Adams includes a baby grand piano, while the room dedicated to Ida McKinley is adorned with floral fabrics. The Riggs embodies a yin/yang balance where softness contrasts with strength, beauty with austerity, and warmth with coolness, mirroring a city where the tension between public service and ambition often prevails. Rates start at $359.

Rosewood Washington D.C.

Georgetown offers a unique blend of federal-style architecture and charming cobblestone streets, where university students gather in coffee shops, soaking up free Wi-Fi. A scenic bike path follows the C&O Canal, alongside which lies the Rosewood Washington D.C.—a 1960s red-brick office building transformed into a hotel in 2013. It features 49 rooms and suites, six private townhouses, a rooftop pool, and a fitness center. The four-story, 1,000-square-foot townhouses can accommodate up to four guests (with connecting options available) and boast luxurious amenities like Bosch washer/dryer, Toto toilets, heated marble floors, daily housekeeping, and turndown service.

In 2016, Rosewood took the helm, enhancing the property with meticulous attention to detail—hand-upholstered furnishings, silk drapes, and a selection of eclectic artwork in each room. The hotel embraces local culture with a calendar of experiences, including champagne and caviar dinners at Wolfgang Puck’s Cut restaurant and guided tours during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Plus, Georgetown University’s main campus is just a 10-minute stroll away. Rates from $650.

Thompson Washington D.C.

Opened in early 2020, the Thompson seamlessly blends into the Navy Yard, a historic neighborhood experiencing a revival. Just a home run away from Nationals Park, the hotel boasts views of the Anacostia River and the city skyline. Expect an abundance of crisp navy blue accents and nautical curves throughout the interiors, reflecting the area’s heritage as a hub for shipping and shipbuilding. Guests will also appreciate industrial elements like soaring ceilings and tall, metal-framed windows in both guest rooms and communal areas.

The ground floor previously featured Danny Meyer’s seafood trattoria, Maialino Mare, which closed in 2022, now replaced by the American supper club, Surveyor. However, the Rooftop at Thompson remains the hotel's standout feature, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious outdoor terrace, making it a year-round favorite for enjoying sunset views over the river. In line with its Culture Lives Here initiative, the hotel has partnered with D.C. fashion entrepreneur Aaron Crist of Hyde Closet to offer personalized styling services to guests, whether for a single outfit or an “unlimited” wardrobe for their stay. Rates from $307.

Waldorf Astoria Washington, D.C.

What a remarkable shift for the former Trump hotel: Acquired by a Miami-based investment firm for $375 million in 2021 and subsequently leased to Hilton, the Old Post Office Building has been transformed into a Waldorf Astoria. The constant presence of protestors has vanished, replaced by groups of business travelers savoring coffee and perusing actual newspapers in Peacock Alley, a stunning grand atrium filled with tufted banquettes and inviting natural light.

The 263 guest rooms and suites are nothing short of opulent, adorned with softly glowing chandeliers and lavish frames encasing plush king-size beds. The on-site spa features six treatment rooms, a Himalayan salt therapy room, and a tranquil relaxation area with secluded resting cocoons. It feels noticeably calmer here these days. Rates from $709.

Willard InterContinental D.C.

The Willard boasts a rich history that predates the American Civil War, originally known as Willard’s City Hotel, serving as a residence for both presidents (Franklin Pierce) and vice presidents (Calvin Coolidge). Legend has it that President Ulysses S. Grant coined the term “lobbyist” in this very spot, referring to those who interrupted his moments of relaxation with cigars and brandy in the lobby. In 1901, the original brick structure was demolished and replaced by the Beaux-Arts hotel we see today, now a proud icon on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the Willard InterContinental has shifted from its role as a backup White House to a more family- and pet-friendly establishment, featuring classic rooms and suites adorned in navy, ivory, and gray. Guests can indulge in a French brasserie and enjoy delightful afternoon tea. The engaging Kids’ Concierge program (for ages 11 and under) allows younger visitors to earn “Duck Bucks,” redeemable at Le Café inside Café du Parc. Starting at $631.

Earlier contributions by Julia Cosgrove, Christian Mirasol, Ann Shields, Devorah Lev-Tov, and Sandra Ramani. Rates apply for non-holiday weekends in May.