Best Luxury Hotels in District of Columbia

Awarded the prestigious Michelin Key, The Dupont Circle Hotel is a luxurious hotel in the heart of Washington, D.C. with a host of world-class facilities. The hotel boasts a selection of comfortable and contemporary guestrooms and suites and features the spacious, 9th-floor Penthouse Suite with a private balcony overlooking the Washington Monument. Guests can dine in any of the multiple on-site restaurants and bars including the Michelin-recommended The Pembroke restaurant and the chic Doyle and Co Coffee Bar. There is a 24-hour fitness centre for exclusive guest use and a range of sophisticated event spaces. This hotel is pet friendly.

Viceroy Washington DC is a contemporary boutique hotel in Downtown DC. The hotel comprises 178 deluxe guestrooms and suites including the spacious King Suite overlooking the city. There are multiple on-site dining venues offering Mid-Atlantic cuisine at Dovetail Bar & Restaurant, house-baked goods at BPM Coffee & Wine, and poolside specialty cocktails at Hush Rooftop Bar. Guests are invited to take advantage of the wellness facilities on offer including in-room spa treatments and the round-the-clock fitness centre with a Peloton bike. There is an expansive outdoor patio and seasonal rooftop pool for guest use. Guests at Viceroy Washington DC will also receive exclusive discounts on local events and excursions. This hotel is pet friendly.

While many of DC’s luxe hotels are grand, large establishments, the Rosewood bucks the trend as an intimate boutique hotel with a high-end approach. Set beside the canal, it gives access to a leafier side of the city, although the eponymous monument can still be seen from the rooftop. And it’s here, at the top of the building, that the Rosewod’s pool (and a pool bar) is found. Guests can also dine with a view of the canal in the Grill Room and drink in the club-style Rye Bar. Rooms at the Rosewood are bang on-trend, yet supremely elegant, with espresso machines, Pratesi linens, touch-panel tech and monsoon showers.

The iconic former Post Office of Washington DC has been beautifully restored and transformed into the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC that is seen today. Located on the bustling Pennsylvania Avenue, the hotel is conveniently located close to some of the city’s major attractions such as The White House, the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The hotel is comprised of 263 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites featuring the city’s largest offering – the two-bedroom, bi-level Waldorf Townhouse, a 6,300sqft retreat with every modern comfort and private entrance. The hotel’s culinary offerings boast Michelin-starred The Bazaar by José Andrés and the options of dining underneath an impressive atrium roof featuring sophisticated chandeliers and elegant design. There is also the indulgent, Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa and the option of 24-hour room service. The on-site spa provides a Himalayan Salt Therapy Room and a team of treatment specialists while there is also a fully equipped fitness room. The hotel is pet friendly.

Located in the historic West End, between Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom and within easy reach of the capital’s most celebrated cultural institutions is The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. The hotel’s interiors evoke the classic grandeur of the city and brings a sense of place by showcasing locally inspired art. Home to 300 guestrooms and suites, ranging from executive and one-bedroom suites to two Presidential Suites and the signature Ritz-Carlton Suite. Guests seeking additional privacy and personalised service should opt for Club Level Access, which includes a dedicated concierge and selected food and beverage offerings for members throughout the day and evening.

Dining takes place across two venues, the Quadtrant Bar and Lounge, celebrated for innovative cocktails and cuisine, along with acclaimed restaurant The Saga. Wellness services are provided through the adjacent 100,000 sq ft Equinox Sports Club, which features an indoor saltwater lap pool, boxing area, full-sized basketball court and a comprehensive Mind Body programme.

Standing today as the Riggs Washington DC Hotel, the former headquarters of Riggs National Bank, known as the Bank of Presidents, offers luxurious and unique accommodation to travellers from around the world. The hotel is comprised of 181 carefully designed guestrooms and suites with elements reflecting the building’s history with the exquisite Riggs Suite being housed in the former boardroom complete with ornate ceilings and fireplace. There are also accessible rooms and spaces on site. Guests are invited to make the most of the all-day on-site dining at the splendid Café Riggs which puts a contemporary twist on the concept of a classic brasserie. In the building’s original bank vault you’ll find the Silver Lyan Bar, the first bar by Mr Lyan outside of Europe. Guests can take full advantage of the 24-hour Riggs Gym or opt for the complimentary guest bikes to explore the city and make the most of your stay.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. is widely regarded as the finest address in the capital, a hotel of choice for royalty, presidents and prime ministers. Located just two blocks from the White House and within easy walking distance of the nation’s most celebrated museums, monuments and galleries.

Its 182 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, including a meticulously finished 2,500 square foot Presidential Suite, pair original Palladian windows and Italian Renaissance Louis XVI chandeliers with custom-designed contemporary furnishings. Guests staying in suites are afforded the signature St. Regis Butler Service, with complimentary pressing, unpacking and packing and beverage service, alongside 24-hour private dining and a dedicated concierge.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Alhambra, celebrates fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a stunning space that honours the building’s historic character. The St. Regis Bar is the setting for signature cocktails and premier wines, while each evening at six o’clock, the gracious lobby becomes the stage for the hotel’s celebrated Champagne Sabering ritual, one of the brand’s most cherished traditions.

This building has seen plenty of illustrious figures pass through its doors since opening in the 19th century. Nicknamed the Residence of Presidents (it’s close to the city’s premier address), the hotel is a celebrity haunt, with five-star service. The Round Robin Bar (described as the Oval Office of bars by Conde Nast Traveller) dates back to 1847 and specialises in handmade cocktails, while by day, it’s a sophisticated spot for afternoon tea. Cafe du Parc is a Forbes Travel Guide recommended French brasserie, while Le Cafe is its coffee shop sibling, with delicious pastries, entrees and a petite menu.

The Washington Marriott at Metro Center sits at the very heart of downtown Washington, DC, adjacent to the city’s Metro Center Station. Following the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation, the property has been transformed with redesigned guestrooms and suites, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with Peloton equipment, and a refreshed indoor pool.

The showpiece of the transformation is Spotted Zebra: Kitchen, Cocktails & Contradictions, a street-level dining destination with a personality as bold as its name. The concept takes playful inspiration from the political lore of the capital, its name a tongue-in-cheek nod to an infamous gaffe by a former Senator, while the hotel also offers the M Club, an exclusive lounge open around the clock for Marriott Bonvoy Elite and Club-paying members, providing complimentary food and beverage throughout the day from hot breakfast to evening hors d’oeuvres and premium drinks.

Around the corner from The Hay-Adams is the very grown-up Sofitel. It utilises a moodier decor palette than many of its local competitors, with darker hues, black and white vintage French posters and velvet upholstery. The hotel has a restaurant – Opaline Bar & Brasserie with an outdoor seating area and a fitness centre. 237 guest rooms take on a fairly minimalist style, with theatrical colours (lots of black and red), modern artworks and conveniences like blackout curtains and king-sized beds.

The Mayflower, Autograph Collection is one of the capital’s most celebrated addresses, known fondly as the Grande Dame of Washington and famously dubbed the city’s second best address by President Harry Truman. Having opened its doors in 1925 and recently marking its centennial years, it was described as the golden age of hotel construction, the ten-story Beaux-Arts building a masterpiece of grandeur and elaborate detailing, its lavish lobby adorned with 23-karat gilding, the most gold leaf in any public space in Washington after the Library of Congress.

The hotel comprises approximately 581 rooms and suites and has long attracted foreign dignitaries, heads of state and Hollywood royalty. Facilities includea a 24-hour gym, and its own curated DC walking tour. The hotel’s signature dining destination Edgar Bar & Kitchen pays homage to the capital’s great power players through modern brasserie-style cuisine, cocktails and a seen-to-be-seen atmosphere, its name a tribute to J. Edgar Hoover, who dined at the hotel for over two decades.

Located on one of the most storied addresses in Washington D.C, standing on the former site of Shoomaker’s, the celebrated 19th century gathering place for politicians and statesmen and home to the celebrated Rickey cocktail first served in 1883. The hotel opened in 1984, and as the very first JW Marriott hotel (in the entire world) it was named by Bill Marriott in honour of his father, so the property holds a singular place in both the city and the brand’s legacy. Conveniently located in the downtown area, it offers a sophisticated retreat reflecting the brand’s signature commitment to refined design, holistic well-being, and meaningful connections.