The Wink

Located in sleepy Foggy Bottom, the upper-middle-range The Wink has a bit more spunk than most of D.C.'s other Marriott hotels. A 2015 renovation made the lobby significantly more stylish. Busy carpeting was ripped up and replaced with warm hardwood floors and modern black-and-white rugs. Generic, mismatched furniture was also swapped out with contemporary black and gold seating and hip throw pillows. With walls of large windows that let in plenty of natural light, it's a pleasant space to gather in, do some work, or read the paper. The clientele here is composed mainly of business travelers, and due to the Foggy Bottom location, might not be the best choice for leisure tourists, though it gets plenty of those as well.

The Wink has a convenient location within the West End. The area is decidedly sleepier than Georgetown, its wealthier, more historic neighbor that's about a 20-minute walk west. The downside to the neighborhood is a relative lack of restaurants, cafes, or signs of life -- for those you'll need to head to Dupont Circle, a 10-minute walk (or quick taxi ride) away, or to nearby Georgetown.- Seven-minute walk to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop

• 10-minute walk to Dupont Circle
• 20-minute walk to Georgetown and some of the city's best shopping and restaurants
• 22-minute walk (or 12-minute taxi ride) to the White House
• 26-minute walk to Lincoln Memorial (or 10-minute taxi ride)
• 16- to 20-minute drive to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, or 21 minutes via public transportation

Rooms are average in size and feature chain-like decor that's modern and pleasant enough. Striped carpets in earth tones are paired with striped cream and white wallpaper. Stripes also feature on the beds, which have black headboards adorned with striped squares as well as black-and-white bedskirts. Contemporary light-wood furniture includes work desks with ergonomic chairs.Some of the rooms are a bit small and several past guests have complained about the size; entry-level rooms start at 275 square feet (25 square meters), but Junior Suites offer more space at 400 square feet (36 square meters), while Suites are 750 square feet (68 square meters). Suites also have sitting areas or separate living rooms. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffee/tea-making facilities, electronic safes, clock radios, and irons/ironing boards, but Wi-Fi incurs a fee (it's free for Marriott Rewards members). Bathrooms are small and outfitted with either shower/tub combos or walk-in showers. Aveda toiletries and hairdryers are provided.

M Brasserie, the in-house restaurant, serves buffet and a la carte breakfast -- though some guests complain that it's pricey. There's also an Illy Caffe on-site that's open for breakfast and lunch and offers outdoor seating. MBar serves cocktails and other drinks, as well as a light food menu for lunch and dinner. Room service is available. Guests staying in Club-level rooms and suites have free access to the Club Lounge, which offers various free beverages like coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks as well as midday snacks, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert. There's also a small shop in the lobby that stocks snacks, drinks, and sundries.The fitness center, though a bit small and lacking windows, offers modern equipment, including cardio machines with personal TV screens. Other amenities offered by the hotel include 11 meeting and event rooms, totaling 12,250 square feet of space. There's a business center available for guest use. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and public areas, but incurs a fee for in-room use. Only valet parking is available on-site, and it's pricey.