Hotel Review

words by > Tony Ware

The George Washington University Inn

Washington, DC

824 New Hampshire Ave, NW 800-426-4455
www.gwuinn.com

In the serene, foliage-flushed Foggy Bottom neighborhood— scant steps from the Metro and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—The George Washington University Inn offers first-rate extended stay accommodations.

The Northwest quadrant that the inn calls home is also the site of the Department of State, quaint 19th-century laborer row houses and the infamous Watergate Hotel, as well as the inn’s namesake institute of higher learning.

Tucked inside wrought iron gates is an unassuming, whitewashed façade. Valets wait inside the cul-de-sac as you arrive, and, once you have disembarked, a gracious staff awaits in an intimate lobby of marble and beveled glass. There’s a professorial hush as you are led down narrow hallways to one of the many one-bedroom (plus sleeper sofa) suites or efficiencies with kitchenettes.

It is within the rooms that the inn pays homage beyond the university’s name to the time of Washington himself, expressed through richly veneered Colonial Williamsburg/Federalist furnishings.

Modern conveniences, however, are not forgotten, with CD players, data ports and cable—plus gaming and complimentary access to a neighboring Bally Total Fitness—joining the convenience of kitchen and laundry facilities. Views of the Potomac River are available from many radiant rooms.

Those who hunger for more indulgence, however, have the opportunity to explore. First, there are the greater sights of the historic city—the White House, the National Mall and Georgetown are all within easy reach. Then there are the wonderful Italian dishes served atNotti Bianche (www.nottibianche.com), a modern trattoria set off the lobby. In this celebrated, uncluttered nook, Anthony Chittum and his pastry chef wife Heather present interpretations of crisp classics that are bold without being battering. Hotel guests share space with pre-theater diners wooed by dishes of adroitly accessorized clarity and a thoughtful wine list.

The George Washington University Inn will have you admitting you cannot tell a lie: you left satisfied and refreshed.