The Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle

Rumor has it, the hip-hop stars from Cypress Hill partied at the hotel during my stay; while I was long asleep. What does this tell us? The hotel is cool enough for rappers, yet quiet enough for an aging guest to sleep through it in blissful comfort.

Make no mistake, the 335-room hotel is an animated hotel, arguably even more so than its former sister Kimpton-managed hotels in the D.C. area (the George, Helix, Madera, and Monaco hotels, among others). Its "Art in Motion" theme thrives on a sense of fun, not pretentiousness, and while the front desk clerks might list their "artistic inspiration" on their nametags, the selections range from the genius (Joan Miro) to the influential (Biggie Smalls) to the inexplicable (Jean-Claude Van Damme). Adding to the lively mix, there's a popular bar (with great happy hour specials), an occassional high-profile art exhibition (partnered with the renowned Phillips Collection), evening wine tastings paired with Wii tennis tournaments, colorful room schemes, minibars stocked with Garfield Pez dispensers, and animal-print bathrobes. And the hotel fits well into its happening-yet-down-to-earth Dupont Circle location, an area that has become boutique hotel central.

That said, it's not quite as in-the-know-hip as Donovan House, and the rooms are smaller than the other nearby Kimptons like the Helix and the Madera (both of which offer a similar level style, service, and comfort). Still, it's a sound choice for the price (especially considering all the fun extras). To paraphrase B-Real from Cypress Hill, you'd have to be at least a little insane in the membrane not to consider this hotel.

In general, the hotel staff makes a diligent effort to learn each guests' name -- a level of attention that separates the smaller boutiques from big chains (although at 335 rooms, the hotel fits somewhere in between) -- and I found the concierge to be knowledgeable and helpful.

• 24-hour room service
• Food and drink service available at the pool during the summer
• Free newspapers, including USA Today and The New York Times (including Sunday)
• Valet parking is costly, with in-out privileges.
• Turndown service available upon request
• Knowledgable concierge and front desk staff
• Free daily wine reception; free coffee and tea each morning in the "living room" and a coffeemaker with free coffee packets can be delivered to your room on request

Dupont Circle mixes residential, commercial and nocturnal entities in a homey neighborhood package that's not too far from the tourist attractions. Block by block, Dupont Circle encompasses a number of different things to do and see, such as Embassy Row, well-kept brick brownstones, art galleries (including the renowned Phillips Collection), and historic buildings such as the Cathedral of St. Matthew (where J.F.K.'s funeral was held) and the Woodrow Wilson House, the only presidential museum in the district.

But to most visitors, Dupont Circle also means nightlife. Unlike many parts of Washington, it's been a bohemian enclave for decades and is often considered the heart of gay life in Washington. There are watering holes of all kinds, from the divey Big Hunt to the upscale 18th Street Lounge, to Apex, a popular gay dance club for more than 25 years.

• 15-minute cab ride to Union Station, D.C.'s main station with Amtrak, Metro, and commuter rail service
• The closest Metro stop, Dupont Circle, is two blocks away.
• 20- to 30-minute cab ride to [http://www.mwaa.com/national/ Reagan National Airport; 30-minute, Metro trip to Dupont Circle
• 45- to 60-minute cab ride to Dulles International Airport
• Five- to 10-minute drive to the White House and the National Mall, including the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian Institution

Befitting the "Art in Motion" theme, the rooms at the Hotel have more flair than a typical chain hotel. Voguish touches like the faux bearskin blanket, the Mosaic lamps, the illuminated nightstands, the leather headboard, the mirrored side table, and the paintings on the wall give the room a distinctive flavor.

• Starting at 280 square feet, the standard "Deluxe" guest room (either a queen or king-size bed) is about the average size of a D.C. hotel room.
• Comfortable beds: a high-quality Sealy mattresses; down pillows (foam upon request); down duvet; 200-thread-count Frette linens
• Cramped bathroom; the toilet sits inches away from the shower
• iHome, iPod-docking alarm clock
• Large, 37-inch flat-screen TV with 40 plus channels, on-demand movies and video games
• DVD player with free movies at front desk (more titles for kids than for grown-ups)
• Animal-print bathrobes
• Electronic safe, large enough for a 17-inch laptop
• Free Wi-Fi
• Stocked minibar
• Special guest rooms: "Tall" rooms feature 90-inch-long king beds; "Motion" have cardio machines (or a ballet bar); "Spa King" rooms have a Fuji soaking tub for two.

• 24-hour gym: Precor machines; full rack of dumbbells; plenty of exercise mats and balls; free apples
• 40-foot outdoor pool; only available in warm weather
• 24-hour business center (just two computers and a printer); Internet is charged in the business center, but Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel
• Lobby wine reception, held every day
• No spa facilities, but in-room treatments are available

Between the seasonal pool with toys, the on-demand video games, free children's DVD selections, free milk and cookies, and a kids' menu, the hotel has more family offerings than tend to be found at boutique hotels.

• 40-foot outdoor pool, available in warm weather
• During the daily wine reception, the hotel hosts Wii tennis tournaments
• Free cribs; rollaways charged per night
• Room outlets have baby-proof covers.
• Kids' menu from room service

The dimly-lit 173-seat Urbana restaurant offers a mixture of dishes from northern Italy and southern France (as well as a solid wine list) from the up-and-coming young chef, Alex Bollinger. The bar at Urbana -- which serves signature cocktails, small plates, and brick-oven pizzas -- can be hopping on the weekends, though it generally caters to a more mature crowd than many of the other bars in Dupont Circle.

• 24-hour room service; an extensive menu from Urbana
• Free wine reception in the lobby
• Cheap oysters, pizzas, beers and wines during Urbana's happy hour

In my room, there were handful of smudges on the glass, stains on the wall, a crack on the face of the DVD player, and a bit of dander on the desk chair, but not enough to call the hotel anything but clean. The fitness center, in particular, was especially well maintained.

The hotel strives to be the most pet-friendly in the business. In addition to all the free perks, there's also a pet concierge who can provide further information about dog walking, pet sitting, pet massages, gourmet treats during the evening turndown, old newspapers, and helpful contact information.

• No deposit, no charge for pets
• Pet-free floors available
• Free pet treats, food bowls, mat, bed, and other goodies
• "Bark Bar," a water bar for thirsty dogs outside the hotel
• "The Dish," a pet lounging area inside the hotel