08 March 2026
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The best hotels in D.C. exist on a fairly obvious spectrum. On one end are the storied accommodations, like the Hay-Adams, long host to dignitaries and businesspeople about their serious business. On the other are Washington hotels like the Eaton, a colorfully designed community hub with a packed and decidedly contemporary event calendar.
Distinguished with Keys, the hotel equivalent of the Star for restaurants, each of the seven D.C. accommodations below fall somewhere along that path from traditional to cutting-edge. But no matter their style, they are comfortable, welcoming spaces and important landmarks in their neighborhoods. Full of some of the most beloved rooftops, bars and restaurants in the Capital, each is a fantastic complement to a booming D.C. dining scene.
Head below for a rundown of Inspectors’ top hotels in D.C., or head here for all 26 D.C. hotels in our selection.
The Hay-Adams
What it’s all about: Across from the White House, a vision of D.C. at its most stately that gives way to a surprisingly irreverent basement watering hole.The 98-year-old Hay-Adams is directly across the street from the White House, a reinvention of two even older buildings, one belonging to John Hay — personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln, and the other to Henry Adams — grandson of President John Adams. The modern hotel and its guests are hardly any less pedigreed, and the lobby-level restaurant is the spot for what must be some of the most high-powered breakfasts and business lunches in the city.
A favorite for repeat travelers and those with White House business, this stately One-Key will also appeal to those without a security detail. On the weekends, it's where multigenerational families find a nice base in dignified, traditional accommodations for visits to the sights like those of the National Mall. And in a hotel with an opulent event space that was once the first restaurant in the city with air conditioning, the Off the Record basement bar — adorned in bright reds and caricatures of political figures — is a delightful, tongue-in-cheek culture shock to finish the night alongside gossiping political staffers.
Restaurants nearby: Shōtō, The Bombay Club
Riggs Washington
What it’s all about: A One-Key takes a historic bank building and fills it with some of the most lively and celebrated spaces in downtown D.C.The Riggs pays tribute to the bones of this former, grandiose bank through design references and actual preservation efforts. But in its liveliness and bright choice of style, it is among the most refreshing breaks from tradition in the city. Rooms are jewel-toned and joyous, with a mini-bar cheekily designed as a bank vault, and a series of First Lady suites in distinct color schemes and references to such forgotten figures as Ida McKinley and Caroline Harrison.
But along with the central location near the convention center, Chinatown and the Smithsonian museums, it is the restaurant and cocktail bar that will distinguish the Riggs for most travelers. The MICHELIN-selected Café Riggs spends weekdays as a bright, open space where guests post up with their laptops under a 30-foot floral display and order the staff-favorite omelet; evenings are for Wagyu beef tartar and chocolate soufflés beside arched doorways and marble columns.
Meanwhile, descend to the basement, past a massive vault door, and find another vibe entirely at Silver Lyan. With nearly every "best bar" award to its name, planning for a new menu begins some six months before a launch — but you need not pour over the cocktail list; just tell a bartender something like what you had for breakfast that morning and your favorite color and watch them work.
Restaurants nearby: minibar by José Andrés, Rania, Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel
Pendry Washington DC — The Wharf
What it's all about: A luxe, One-Key base in a brand-new district on the waterfront.Before you learn about the hotel, you need to know a little bit about the Wharf itself, a more or less brand new development in 2017 after billions of dollars of city investment. The revitalized waterfront is a 20-minute walk from the monuments of the National Mall, but the festive feel is more in the tradition of an upmarket Coney Island in New York City or a Navy Pier in Chicago, than it is the traditional sightseeing of downtown.
The Pendry is the only luxury hotel in the area, a sleek, contemporary base from which to enjoy the markets, restaurants, nearby concert venues and the community by the water. The only hotel on this list with a substantial pool — outdoor, but heated year round — there is also a moderate size spa, a signature Pendry cocktail lounge on the ground floor, and a the visual party that is the Art Deco rooftop cocktail bar, Moonraker, with views of the Cherry Blossoms of Potomac Park and nearly panoramic views of the city.
Restaurants nearby: Fish Shop, Del Mar, Dōgon
The Jefferson
What it's all about: Near the White House, an extremely dignified, intimate Two-Key hideaway like few others in the world.The Jefferson is in many respects the quieter younger sibling to the Hay-Adams. Also near the White House and drawing the rich and powerful for its exceptional service and amenities, the scene here is all about discretion. Certainly you could remain anonymous at the Hay-Adams, but you could just as easily pop into a bustling dining room or lively basement bar. At the Jefferson, public spaces are elegant but tiny, with the Greenhouse restaurant like a little cathedral of light for its guests to lunch under a wide skylight and the Quill, a small cocktail bar in stately wood paneling that seems purpose built for intellectual banter over a stiff martini.
Adding to the ambience is the setting of this 1923 apartment building that still feels residential. On the ground floor, wind your way past little alcove lounges with private meeting spaces. If you're lucky enough to stay the night, take the small elevator up to the basic tier rooms, well-fashioned and conservative in their design, or suites that add opulence in the form of oil paintings and chandeliers. Most will come here for business, but the Jefferson is also no stranger to families or pets.
Restaurants nearby: Dauphine's, Residents Cafe & Bar, Raw Omakase, Grazie Nonna
Dupont Circle Hotel
What it's all about: A smart One-Key for professionals and leisure travelers that provides its own attractions in lively Dupont Circle.The hipper ambassadors or diplomats will feel at home here, but those in the more down-to-earth professions will too. It’s the only hotel actually on the Dupont Circle, which gives this cool, artsy and more residential section of the city its name, and has a business-casual vibe and dining spaces that draw in locals celebrating every kind of occasion. The MICHELIN-Selected Pembroke restaurant is spacious and lively, with large windows overlooking the park. The Doyle is the on-site bar, itself a sophisticated but celebratory space for a cocktail, or one for hotel guests to post up during the day with a laptop.
But besides those favorites, and rooms that start at comfortable and functional and escalate in size until they're bursting with living rooms and terraces, it is through the neighborhood that most savvy travelers will discover the hotel. Nearly a dozen MICHELIN restaurants reside in the area and its surroundings, along with some of D.C.'s best nightlife and shopping. The rest of the city — from Georgetown to the National Mall — is just a short cab ride in any direction.
Restaurants Nearby: Amparo Fondita, Obelisk, Astoria DC, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Residents Cafe & Bar, Balos Estiatorio, Chang Chang
Rosewood Washington
What it's all about: The best hotel in Georgetown is a luxe landing in one of the city's most charming neighborhoods.In the heart of Georgetown, among the pretty townhouses and high-end boutiques, the Two-Key Rosewood blends nicely into its canal-adjacent setting. When filled, the canal adds a pleasant, European ambience to an already exceedingly pleasant setting; however, at all times, the refined, clean-lined design provides fancy digs for a well-to-do clientele whether here for embassy business or nights at Wolfgang Puck's CUT. The latter is a special draw in particular when the namesake chef comes to town to work at the open kitchen.
The quality of the Rosewood brand more or less speaks for itself, but a few details bear special mention. One of the only public — and fully winterized — roof spaces in Georgetown, the rooftop bar, CUT Above, is a must year-round for locals and travelers alike. The tiny indoor infinity pool is a special space unlike any other in the city, with its own built-in fireplace along the water. And the one-bedroom residences are like full-service apartments, set in quintessential Georgetown townhouses just behind the hotel.
Restaurants nearby: Fiola Mare, Das, 1789
Eaton DC
What it's all about: Youthful and bold, a lively community hub with a little of everything in the heart of the city.Rooms come with pops of color and vinyl collections, while the hotel is like a community unto itself: there's a dedicated coworking space, fitness center, spa treatment rooms, infrared saunas, yoga studio and even a radio station — and that's before mentioning the café and two bars, both soundtracked by frequent DJ sets. In other words, Eaton DC is nothing less than its own ecosystem, and it feels nothing like the traditional D.C. mainstays.
Opened in 2018, it is still one of the most unique hotels in the Capital all these years later, with an event calendar packed with offerings like a “TIbetan bowl sound bath for mental health and emotional well-being,” R&B yoga, and exclusive record listening parties. The Eaton is the prime example of how the D.C. scene has developed over the years: tradition is no longer everything here.
Restaurants nearby: Seven Reasons, Cranes
Header image: The light-filled Greenhouse restaurant at the Two-Key Jefferson, one of the best hotels in Washington, D.C.
