Grand Hyatt Washington

Located within an easy walk the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the K Street Central Business District, and multiple association headquarters and federal agencies, the Grand Hyatt Washington plays its role as one of the city's top business hotels quite well. With 42,000 square feet of meeting space and a full-service business center operated by FedEx, the hotel itself is also something of a destination for those in town on corporate accounts. Overall, it's a perfectly functional property, it just lacks much in the way of pizzazz. While the property's design is modern and comfortable, the overall decor -- especially in the common areas -- is understated, bordering on stiff and generic. The towering atrium is the hotel's nerve center. But between the escalators ferrying guests to and from floors, the crowds spilling out of the Starbucks, and the lines that can form at peak hours around reception, the hotel -- like so many its size -- tends to feel more like a mall than a hotel.

It's hard to argue with this hotel's location if you're in town on business, though it's also quite convenient for tourists. The Grand Hyatt sits in the heart of the Penn Quarter, within walking distance of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (three blocks), the K Street Central Business District (two blocks), and multiple federal agencies. It's also surrounded by some of the city's top dining, shopping, and entertainment venues (like the Capital One Arena and Shakespeare Theatre Company). Top nearby tourists attractions include Madame Tussauds (one block), the National Portrait Gallery (two blocks), Historic Ford's Theatre (two blocks), the National Mall (five blocks), and the White House (six blocks). In addition, the Grand Hyatt is directly connected to the Metro Center Metrorail station that services the Red, Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines. Travelers can also use the Metrorail to travel directly to Union Station (a 15 minute trip) and National Airport (30 minutes).   

Most recently overhauled in 2013, the Grand Hyatt Washington's 897 rooms and suites are incredibly spacious for central D.C., ranging from 351 to 1,456 square feet (33 to 135 square meters). The decor still felt modern enough during our 2017 visit, with dark wood furniture set against light colored walls plus custom in-room artwork that depicts D.C.’s historic architecture and famous landmarks. Though overall, the style is relatively predictable for the chain.Beds range from one king or queen to two doubles, and all rooms are tech friendly, with 42-inch flat-screen HDTVs with HDMI cabling, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and lots of conveniently located outlets for charging electronics. There are comfortable leather reading chairs with floor lamps, spacious desks with Herman Miller ergonomic chairs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, laptop-size safes, and irons and ironing boards. Bathrooms mostly feature shower/tub combos alongside marble tiling, spacious vanities, hairdryers, and June Jacobs bath amenities. Unfortunately, microwaves, bottled water, and minibars are missing. The Business Plan upgrade includes the addition of one shirt or blouse pressed per room per day, full breakfast daily per registered guest, and one bottle of water per room daily.

Given its massive size, it's perhaps no surprise that this hotel's features are numerous, however, you'll have to do without a spa or pool. The latter is especially disappointing, as the hotel removed it in 2017 (much to the disappointment of the families that pass through). However, that space was converted into what is now a full-blown gym, a handy feature for travelers in town on short business trips. It's free to use and has state-of-the-art cardiovascular machines, circuit training equipment, and free weights. A range of fitness classes, personal training, and massage options are also available for a fee. There are multiple drinking and dining outlets found on-site. CABINET is the hotel's breakfast outlet, with a comprehensive daily buffet including made-to-order omelets. On weekends it has extended hours and an a la carte brunch menu. For dinner, Cure Bar & Bistro serves an international inspired seasonal menu and excellent selection of wines, beers, and spirits. The Starbucks Reserve in the lobby is open daily; however, it has a street entrance and draws customers from outside the hotel (read: it gets busy). The hotel also a sundries shop with grab-n-go snacks and beverages as well as a gift shop. Premium members of Hyatt's loyalty program and guests who upgrade to Grand Club Room also receive access to the Club Lounge. Here, you'll find a free continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, and all-day refreshments. There's also a computer and printer in the lounge that's free to use. However, despite added seating as part of the 2013 renovation, the lounge still gets crowed in the mornings and evenings. All guests also have access to the Grand Hyatt's full-service business center operated by FedEx for a fee. Other hotel features include a concierge, shoe shine station (fee), and self check-in/check-out kiosks. For parking, guests have the option of pricey valet parking with unlimited in-and-out privileges or less expensive self-parking without in-and-out privileges.