Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown

Contemporary and brightly decorated, this Hilton Garden Inn has an open lobby that offers plenty of comfortable leather chairs, sofas, and ottomans to relax in, including some in front of a gas fireplace. Multiple TVs and a lobby bar invite travelers to linger -- but guests here are typically on the go, exploring the world-famous sights or conducting business, so there's not much mingling going on in the public spaces. The convenient location and spacious, well-equipped rooms attract mainly business travelers during the week, while families exploring the nation’s capital typically stay here on the weekends. This is a busy hotel that handles its traffic well. 

The Hilton Garden Inn is located on 14th and I Streets, a fairly quiet block in the downtown D.C. business district. The immediate area doesn't offer much in the way of nightlife, but there are numerous restaurants nearby as well as a metro station right across the street. Many top attractions are within walking distance, too.- One-minute walk to the McPherson Square Metro station

• Eight-minute walk to the White House
• 14-minute walk to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
• 15-minute walk to the Smithsonian Museum of American History
• Six-minute metro ride to the National Mall
• 12-minute metro ride to Union Station
• 15-minute drive to Reagan National Airport (18 minutes by metro)
• 40-minute drive to Dulles International Airport (60 minutes by metro)

Guest rooms feature tasteful contemporary decor highlighted by gray-and-white patterned carpeting. Taupe drapes and accent walls nicely complement the white duvets and cream padded headboards, and pops of color come from green armchairs and ottomans. Wood furniture with an amber finish includes bureaus that hold microwaves, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers -- amenities that help make the hotel popular with business travelers and families alike. All rooms also have work desks with ergonomic chairs.Rooms are fairly large. The Standard King we saw had plenty of space for a roomy desk as well as an armchair, ottoman, and small marble side table. Standard Double-Doubles are also available, as are King One-Bedroom Suites with separate sitting areas that have sleeper sofas and additional 32-inch flat-screen TVs. The rooms are clean and remain generally well maintained following a 2012 renovation, but some furnishings are showing signs of wear. Bathrooms are average in size, but they are bright and feature roomy, tan granite vanities and white tiling framing the shower/tub combos. Free Wi-Fi and safes are standard amenities. Rooms on higher floors tend to get less noise from the busy street below. Most views are little more than the surrounding buildings.

This mid-range Hilton Garden Inn features something many of its downtown DC competitors don’t -- an indoor pool. It’s a bit small, but has an adjacent shower and places to sit. The fitness center is also on the small side, but it's well equipped with weight machines, free weights, and Precor cardio machines (including treadmills with TVs). The Grist Mill Restaurant and Bar is a full-service eatery that offers both a hot buffet and an a la carte menu for breakfast, as well as American classics during the day. Free coffee and tea are available throughout the day in the lobby. The 24/7 Pavilion Pantry sells sundries, drinks, and food as well. Travelers needing fresh clothes are well cared for here, with a guest laundry room and valet dry cleaning and laundry. The business center is open 24/7, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, which has meeting space that can accommodate up to 155 people. Parking is valet only and expensive, but a garage next door offers slightly better rates.