1733 N St NW, Washington DC, United States | (251) 219-4428
Spacious, stylish rooms with iPod stereos, minibars, and yoga mats
Rooms available with extra yoga gear or cardio machines
Weekly comedy and jazz nights
Free daily wine hour
Free access to pool and facilities at YMCA (located around the corner)
Small, attractive bar serving breakfast and dinner
Free Wi-Fi (with online Kimpton loyalty member sign-up)
Pet-friendly with free treats and bowls available
Free use of hotel bicycles
Within walking distance of the metro and attractions in Dupont Circle
Not within walking distance of the National Mall
No on-site fitness center
No pool
Valet-only parking is pricey
This upper-middle-range property is a block from the center of Dupont Circle, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Spacious rooms, funky modern style, and freebies like daily wine, loaner bicycles, and Wi-Fi make Topaz a good value for the area -- depending on when you book. As the oldest Kimpton property in the city, this 99-room hotel lacks some of the luster (and amenities) of Hotel Palomar and Hotel Rouge -- two similarly priced Kimpton properties in the neighborhood.
Scene
A boutique hotel with modern Moroccan style
Built as an apartment complex in the 1960s, the 10-story Topaz was the first Kimpton property on the East Coast. A small lobby and a dark bar/restaurant on the first floor feature a mash-up of Moroccan and modern decor. Design-wise, it has some highlights -- colorful bohemian seating and a curved, vintage-looking bar -- but overall, the public spaces fall just slightly short of the bold style that Kimpton is known for.The Topaz is one of four Kimpton hotels in the Dupont Circle area. While they're all solid picks for location and style, they each have different amenities and decor. The Topaz features weekly comedy and jazz nights, fitness-friendly rooms with yoga mats (upgraded rooms with ellipticals, stationary bikes, or treadmill are also available), and free use of hotel bicycles. Like all Kimpton hotels, the Topaz has a daily happy hour in the lobby with free wine and snacks.The Topaz lacks a fitness center, but provides free passes to a YMCA around the corner. Guests craving an on-site pool and gym should consider the Hotel Palomar, about four blocks west.
Location
A short walk from many of D.C.’s hippest restaurants, bars, and shops
The Topaz Hotel is located in the southeast section of Dupont Circle -- a bohemian D.C. neighborhood that is known for its restaurants, bars, coffee shops, independent stores, and small art galleries. Some locals refer to this part of town as the “gay-borhood,” due its numerous gay bars and annual parades. The closest well-known tourist attraction is The White House, which is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Washington’s “Embassy Row” is one block away on Massachusetts Avenue, and the Dupont Circle metro station is a six-minute walk away.
Rooms
Spacious, stylish rooms with modest bathrooms
The Topaz’s 99 rooms are furnished with a mix of modern and retro decor. Expect two-poster beds with blue frames, plush white bedding, and a dreamy painting of a blue eye above the headboard. The white and gold striped wallpaper, edgy accent mirrors, and patterns on the pillows and curtains are bold without being overdone. The building originally functioned as an apartment complex, so the rooms are quite spacious (though the bathrooms are on the small side). Most rooms come with one king-size bed, and 35 rooms have two queens. “Yoga” and “Energy” rooms have slightly more square footage and include yoga gear and cardio machines, respectively. In-room perks include fully stocked minibars, flat-screen TVs, iPod stereos, yoga mats, animal-print bathrobes and electric teakettles. DVD players are available upon request.
Features
Free bicycles, wine hour, and a combined bar and restaurant
The hotel bar, Topaz Bar, provides room service and offers breakfast and dinner daily. The bar is closed during the day, so don’t count on an afternoon cocktail. Free wine and snacks are provided in the lobby each evening.A small business center and ATM machine are located on the basement level. The Topaz lacks a fitness center, but provides free passes to a YMCA around the corner. Free bicycles are also available for guests. Pets are welcome at no extra charge, and the hotel provides bowls, treats, plastic cleanup bags, and more. In-room massages are available from an outside company.