Where to Stay in Penn Quarter, Washington, D.C.

Good for

• Luxury travelers
• Architecture lovers
• Couples

Couples and travelers who want a striking, design-led luxury stay in a genuinely historic downtown building.

Why we like it

• Occupies the ornate former Riggs National Bank building, with soaring ceilings and architectural details a new-build hotel couldn't replicate
• Silver Lyan, the cocktail bar in the old bank vault, is a distinctive touch that also works well for an evening out
• Central Penn Quarter location, an easy walk to the National Portrait Gallery, Capital One Arena, and the National Mall

What to know

• This is a design-focused luxury property rather than a sprawling resort — expect a boutique-scale hotel, not extensive amenities like a large spa or pool
• Weekday rates run noticeably higher than weekends, reflecting the downtown business-travel crowd

Good for

• Luxury travelers
• Couples

Couples and travelers who want the highest tier of downtown luxury, with a genuinely central, walkable location.

Why we like it

• Sits directly on Pennsylvania Avenue, putting the White House, National Mall, and CityCenterDC's shops and restaurants within an easy walk
• A full-service spa and fitness center, uncommon among the boutique hotels elsewhere in this guide
• Peacock Alley, the on-site restaurant, gives you a solid option for breakfast or dinner without leaving the building

What to know

• This is a full-price luxury property — rates run well above the other hotels in this guide
• Its grand scale means a more traditional hotel feel than the boutique properties nearby, which suits some travelers better than others

Good for

• Architecture lovers
• Couples
• First-time visitors

First-time visitors and couples who want a historic, design-forward hotel within a short walk of the National Mall's museums.

Why we like it

• Occupies the restored 1839 General Post Office building, giving rooms unusually high ceilings and tall arched windows for a downtown hotel
• A block from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, and about a 12-minute walk to the National Mall
• Dirty Habit, the on-site restaurant and bar, is a genuine draw on its own, not just a hotel amenity

What to know

• Rooms facing F Street can pick up some street noise; ask for a courtyard-facing room if you're a light sleeper
• It's an older building, so room layouts and sizes vary more than in a purpose-built hotel

Good for

• Budget travelers
• First-time visitors

Budget-minded and first-time visitors who want a well-located downtown base without paying for a full-size room they won't spend much time in.

Why we like it

• A few minutes' walk from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, with easy access to the rest of the Metro system
• Efficient, well-thought-out room layouts that make good use of a small footprint
• Noticeably lower rates than most other hotels in this guide, without giving up a central location

What to know

• Rooms are genuinely compact — a good fit if you're mostly out during the day, less so if you want space to spread out
• It sits right in the Chinatown/Capital One Arena stretch, which gets busy and loud on game nights