I booked this place last minute, and the pricing felt quite reasonable for the area…read more
Upon check-in, the hotel had a lively, buzzing atmosphere. I will say that the spaces appear larger in photos than they are in reality, but it felt more cozy than cramped, which worked well for us. The room itself wasn't particularly spacious--fairly typical for DC--but we were pleasantly surprised with an upgrade from a queen to a king bed. The bathroom, however, was more spacious than expected.
The interiors are stylish and distinctive, with a strong purple and pink theme. There are tributes throughout the property to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other women activists, which gives the hotel a unique personality. If that's not your preference, there are plenty of similarly priced hotels nearby--but I personally appreciated the concept.
The location was a big plus. We were able to walk to most major attractions, and when needed, public transportation (bus and train) was just a 5-10 minute walk away.
Food was a highlight. The shawarma wings were excellent--though I would have liked a touch more salt--and the pickled chilies and cooling yogurt-based dip were unexpected but complemented the dish very well. The burger and fries were also standout items. The happy hour burger, priced at $10, was filling and well worth it. As someone who takes potatoes seriously, I can say the fries were done right.
Drinks were equally impressive. We tried a mix of wines, beers, a Negroni, and a few cocktails--all were well-executed.
One minor disappointment was the handling of the "unlimited" coffee, tea, and water mentioned at check-in. While appreciated in theory, they did run out of both coffee and water during our stay. It might be more practical to have refill stations rather than distributing limited cans after advertising unlimited availability.
On a positive note, they did give us a welcome nutribar at check in and there were apples to pick at the lobby, which was a nice touch.
Overall, the service was excellent, with the exception of one staff interaction. However, I wouldn't judge the entire experience based on a single instance--everyone has off days.
Overall, a very good stay with strong highlights in design, location, and food.