Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Georgetown Area

The Hilton Garden Inn has a sleek, modern look from the start, with a striking white-marble front desk framed by dark-wood paneling. There's an attractive lobby lounge with midcentury-inspired sofas done in cobalt-blue velvet, set in front of a gas fireplace that's also framed in marble. Contemporary lighting fixtures suspended from the high ceiling above make the space bright and inviting. The hotel is generally quiet, and it sees an uptick in tourists during peak summer months. The Café Deluxe is a popular lunch spot for local workers and guest alike. It’s a distinctive eatery, with a marble bar, lots of large windows, and stamped metal ceilings. 

The hotel is centrally located on the corner of M and 22nd Streets in the West End between the heart of downtown and Georgetown (14 minutes by metro). It’s an eight-minute walk to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro station, and nine minutes on foot to lively DuPont Circle’s station. Some of the foreign embassies are nearby, as are some of the city’s most upscale hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt, and Fairmont. A Walgreens pharmacy is across the street from the property, and several restaurants are a short walk away as well. George Washington University campus is an 11-minute walk, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach The White House and the Smithsonian museums via metro. Reagan National Airport is 15 minutes by car (35 minutes by metro), while Dulles International Airport is a 40-minute drive (70 minutes by metro).

Guest rooms feature some interesting decorative elements. There's striking blue wallpaper with a subtle peacock feather pattern on accent walls, and floral-print throw pillows set on seating finished with grommets. The rest of the decor is rather traditional, with beige walls, white duvets, and dark-wood furniture that includes desks with office chairs. Padded leather headboards, colorful contemporary art, and photos of D.C. row houses are tasteful touches. Large windows bring in plenty of natural light, but some rooms overlook alleys (others offer street views). Standard Kings and Double Queens are 350 square feet, with plenty of space for armchairs tucked in corners, and Deluxe rooms feature sleeper sofas. Amenities enhance rooms' appeal, with Keurig coffeemakers, 39-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, microwaves, and mini-fridges. In-room Wi-Fi is free, but guests need to sign up for the hotel's rewards program. Bathrooms are contemporary and relatively spacious, with roomy granite vanities, excellent lighting, and dark-brown laminate wood floors. Half of the rooms have shower/tub combos, while other rooms include walk-in showers with clear glass doors. Units are generally quiet, but some of them – especially those on lower floors – can hear some ambient street noise.

This Hilton Garden Inn is a full-service property with an excellent amenities package. Café Deluxe is an American-style bistro that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with some creative twists like Ahi tuna tacos and grilled meatloaf. It also has a full bar. For snacks, soft drinks, and sundries, there's a 24-hour convenience store off the lobby.

Another highlight is the rooftop, which offers excellent views of the city, and has a seasonal lap pool surrounded by loungers and covered tables, plus a lovely garden terrace near it with plush outdoor furniture. The on-site fitness center features an excellent selection of Precor cardio machines, each with its own video screen. The gym also has free weights and a Precor strength-training machine.  

Other amenities include a 24-hour business center with free printing, meeting space for up to 300 people, a guest laundry room with one washer and multiple dryers, valet dry cleaning and laundry service, concierge and room service, and free weekday newspapers. Wi-Fi is free, but it requires signing up for the Hilton Honors rewards program. Parking is valet-only and quite expensive, even by Washington D.C. standards.