Skip to content
List your business

Best Hotels in Washington DC (2026)

Where you stay in Washington makes a big difference to how you experience the city. Downtown and the area around Lafayette Square put you within walking distance of the White House and the National Mall, and this is where the grand historic hotels are, including The Hay-Adams, the Willard InterContinental and The Jefferson. Penn Quarter, home to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in the old General Post Office building, is close to the museums, theatres and restaurants at the east end of the Mall and has good Metro links.

For a quieter base, Georgetown and its edges offer historic streets and the waterfront, and the Four Seasons sits at the gateway to the neighbourhood with a spa and indoor pool. Dupont Circle suits travellers who want a residential feel, and the Tabard Inn there has operated since 1922. Adams Morgan, where The LINE DC occupies a former church, is best for nightlife. Budget travellers should look at Foggy Bottom, where Hotel Hive's compact rooms keep costs down within reach of the Lincoln Memorial. Prices rise sharply during the cherry blossom season and major events, so book early for spring.

8 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 hotels in Washington DC

  1. The Hay-Adams Historic luxury hotel, Lafayette SquareA 1928 luxury hotel facing Lafayette Square and the White House, with a fine-dining restaurant, a well-known bar and a rooftop with city views.
  2. The Jefferson Boutique luxury hotel, DowntownAn independent luxury hotel in a 1923 Beaux-Arts building at 16th and M Streets, with 99 rooms, two Michelin Keys and the Michelin-starred restaurant Plume.
  3. Willard InterContinental Washington Historic grand hotel, DowntownThe historic grand hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue where Lincoln stayed before his inauguration, with the Round Robin Bar, a spa and afternoon tea.

Hotel

1. The Hay-Adams

Historic luxury hotel$$$$Lafayette Square

A 1928 luxury hotel facing Lafayette Square and the White House, with a fine-dining restaurant, a well-known bar and a rooftop with city views.

View details — The Hay-Adams

Hotel

2. The Jefferson

Boutique luxury hotel$$$$Downtown

An independent luxury hotel in a 1923 Beaux-Arts building at 16th and M Streets, with 99 rooms, two Michelin Keys and the Michelin-starred restaurant Plume.

View details — The Jefferson

Hotel

5. The LINE DC

Design hotel in a former church$$$Adams Morgan

A design-led hotel in a former church in Adams Morgan, with the No Goodbyes restaurant and bar, a coffee shop and rooftop views over the city.

View details — The LINE DC

Hotel

7. Hotel Hive

Micro-hotel$$Foggy Bottom

A micro-hotel in a historic Foggy Bottom building, with compact rooms, a rooftop bar with city views and a pizza restaurant downstairs.

View details — Hotel Hive

Hotel

8. Tabard Inn

Historic inn$$Dupont Circle

A historic Dupont Circle inn opened in 1922, with more than two dozen individually styled rooms and a restaurant serving breakfast, brunch and dinner.

View details — Tabard Inn