9 Cool Hotels in Washington DC

Washington DC attracts all sorts of people: tech disrupters, journalists, fun-loving travellers, Instagrammers, sightseeing families. It makes sense that there are loads of cool hotels in Washington DC, and we've covered them all so you don't have to do the boring stuff. We've discovered value-chic industrial conversions, hipsterish urban boltholes, all-out luxury escape pads and neoclassical renovations. All you have to do is scroll down this list of cool hotels in Washington DC, and start planning!

For Value chic

Hotel Hive is an effortlessly cool and cheap stay. The first micro hotel in Washington DC, set in a converted warehouse, it's a simple, industrial affair: rooms of exposed brickwork, wooden beams and ironic hipsterish writing scrawled along the walls. There's a fireplace in the trendy bar. Without a doubt, the cheapest cool hotel in Washington DC.
From the rooftop terrace bar to the lively and brooding industrial-conversion restaurant, The Graham is one of Washington DC's coolest hotels. Set in modern Georgetown, it offers stylish, spacious and light-filled rooms with some of the plumpest bedding around. A great value chic choice!

For a trendy neighbourhood

Thompson Washington DC would be one of Washington DC's coolest hotels if it was simply a question of prime location. Set in Navy Yard, arguably the trendiest district in the capital, it offers smart, sleek rooms adorned in bottom-of-the-ocean blues, ash-greys and cream-whites. The restaurant is the real draw, somewhat of a local institution: Maialino Mare, a seafood trattoria.

For a Neoclassical wonderkid

Quite simply, an explosion of colour and wildly innovative design, Riggs is so cool it hurts. In a renovated bank building, it retains the neoclassical grandeur of its former life, but with a stylish, modern makeover: expect marble columns in the restaurant and lounge, and gallery-worthy wallpaper in the plush and vibrant rooms. The French bistro is a godsend, and the light-flooded lobby is beautiful.
The Line DC is an uber-cool hotel is set in an old neoclassical church. You can expect a 60-foot high vaulted ceiling, brightly painted pews, dusty old hymnals and trendy, colourful rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and artisan furnishings. Plus with two restaurants, a cafe, and a rooftop bar - you're spoiled for choice.

Daring modernist dream

The Watergate is a swirling, metallic, modernist dance of a hotel. And while it's famous for being the setting of the scandal that brought down President Nixon, that's not the only reason why it's one of Washington DC's coolest hotels. The classy, high-tech, futuristic rooms still manage to be snug, and the rooftop bar boasts some of the best views around.

Hipster

Fun-loving randomness characterises the vibe of Moxy Washington, a place for the young and wild. There's table football, live music and cluttered objets d'art in the lobby, while the neon-lit bar serves up some wildly innovative cocktails. The rooms themselves are smart and chic, micro affairs. One of the cheapest, coolest hotels in Washington DC.

For businessmen

The Melrose Georgetown is chic luxury at its best. One of the coolest hotels in Washington DC for businessmen, not only does it have smart rooms with pop art and sink-into beds, but it boasts extensive business facilities. No wonder, then, that the State Dept. consistently sends its guests there.
If sleeping in a room with walls etched in the letters of George Washington sounds like fun to you, then you'll love The George. Aesthetically, it's New Wave art arm-wrestling with the heritage of a byegone era: Warhol-esque revisions of portraits of the USofA's esteemed founder, while the rooms are smart and gently chic, patterned almost like an Art Deco dream. The CEO's of tech-disrupting startups will like the extensive business facilities too. A place for the young and bold.

Still not sure?

Try this collection of famous hotels in Washington DC; see this list of family hotels in Washington DC; or take a look at hotels in Washington DC near the Smithsonian;
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- Hotel Hive Washington DC (Foggy Bottom) 83 rooms from AU$220
  
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  Value chic  -  A chic property offering a variety of rooms from bunks to spacious queens - making this an affordable option
  Sights nearby  -  Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Kennedy Center are all about a 10 minute walk away
  Restaurant  -  Recommended.
  
  An old converted warehouse offering a chic contemporary space with a central location. Rooms are simply styled with exposed brick whitewashed and beams left exposed. From spacious queens to bunk rooms there's a range of options meaning some come in at very reasonable rates. See More
  
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- The Graham Washington DC (Georgetown) 57 rooms from AU$235
  
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  Sights nearby  -  The White House and Lincolns Monument are favourites, and do not forget The Old Stone House is the oldest house in Georgetown.
  Views  -  Great views from hotel
  Lively  -  Hip and happening.
  Full of character
  Recommended by  -  Tablet
  
  Modern Georgetown hotel resting in a quiet, historical resident area stones throw from the city lights. Modern rooms house marble bathrooms and comfortable beds. The bar on the roof terrace and The Alex restaurant are both casual and lively. Great spot for exploring restaurants and the city. See More
  
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- Thompson Washington DC Washington DC (Navy Yard) 225 rooms from AU$302
  
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  City Style  -  A sophisticated space that offers clean contemporary design and one of the city's hottest restaurants
  Local exploring  -  Boasting a very central location just minutes from Anacostia waterfront and marina in Navys Yard
  Foodies  -  Maialino Mare, is a seafood-focused sister spot to New York City's Roman trattoria
  Designer  -  Uniquely designed interiors.
  
  A seriously luxe hotel set in Navy Yard, one of the city's trendiest districts. Rooms perfectly merge the industrial building's original features with contemporary minimalist design. However, it's the restaurant Maialino Mare that's really got guests clamouring for a reservation - simply superb! See More
  
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- The George, Washington DC Washington DC (Capitol Hill) 139 rooms from AU$327
  
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  Sights nearby  -  Absorb some of DC's rich history at the museums and monuments of National Mall.
  Restrictions on children  -  No children
  Lively  -  Hip and happening.
  Designer  -  Uniquely designed interiors.
  
  Cutting edge downtown hotel with every modern convenience. Rooms are spacious, chic and extremely comfortable. Minutes from DC’s hottest attractions and metro lines. Explore like a local! See More
  
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- Riggs Washington DC (Penn Quarter) 181 rooms from AU$435
  
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  City Style  -  The hoteliers have done a stellar job here, blending the grandeur of the old bank building with some cool contemporary style
  Bar  -  Arguably one of the most inventive cocktail lists offered in the city in this elegant bar
  Sights nearby  -  Visit the iconic Washington Monument and the Memorial Mall or the U.S. Capitol
  Designer  -  Uniquely designed interiors.
  
  This is a special place. An old bank building, with all the associated grandeur and large proportions, completely overhauled with gallery-worthy contemporary style. Rooms are all individually designed; there is a superb french bistro and a bar that's sure to keep you coming back! See More
  
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- The Line DC Washington DC (Adams Morgan) 220 rooms from AU$589
  
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  City Style  -  A neoclassical church expertly transformed into a hip hotel- painted pews, brass features, prayer books and vintage furnishings
  Foodies  -  There are four world class restaurants as well as a cafe, and a bar- each offering something completely different
  Sights nearby  -  The 18th-century Washington National Cathedral is nearby and as the second largest in the US is worth checking out
  Local markets  -  This area boasts a couple of funky flea markets, as well as Idle Time Books filled with out of print treasures
  Recommended by  -  Mr & Mrs Smith, Tablet
  
  This neoclassical church has been expertly metamorphosed into a hip hotel in Adams Morgan district, Washington. Old and new have been meshed together to create a new ironic definition of worship, glorifying style and swagger above all else. Everything from rooms to restaurants will impress. See More
  
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- The Watergate Hotel Washington DC (Foggy Bottom) 336 rooms from AU$698
  
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  City Style  -  An uber slick hotel in the heart of the city.
  Sights nearby  -  Visit the oldest federal cultual institution in the states, the Library of Congress.
  Swimming Pool  -  15m indoor heated pool with 3 lap lanes and a dedicated aerobics area
  Views  -  Great views from hotel
  
  A luxury hotel on the banks of the Potomac River. Smart rooms feature floor to ceiling windows, modern furniture, soft hues and plenty of space. Entertainment comes from the bevvy of food and beverage options with a whisky bar, rooftop bar and French-American restaurant. Fabulous. See More
  
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- Moxy Washington Washington DC (Downtown) 200 rooms from AU$157
  
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  Lively  -  With frequent live music preformed in the lobby - this hotel has a fun vibe
  Value chic  -  Some rooms feature bunk beds which come in at very reasonable rates
  City Style  -  An utterly contemporary stay with a trendy industral feel
  Sailing  -  Hire a paddle boat at Tidal Basin and spend a leisurely afternoon paddling about
  
  A modern hotel located in the city centre. The cavernous lobby is packed full of entertainment from football tables to live music, which sets the tone for this lively hotel. Rooms are achingly hip with expansive windows lending fabulous city views and modern bathrooms separated by frosted glass. See More
  
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- The Melrose Georgetown Washington DC (Georgetown) 240 rooms from AU$262
  
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  Sights nearby  -  The White House, Lincoln Memorial, The Smithsonian Museums, The National Museums of Natural History and many more!
  Designer  -  Uniquely designed interiors.
  Restaurant  -  Recommended.
  
  Chic luxury hotel, in the upmarket area of Georgetown. Sleek, sophisticated and luxurious - the decor hits the perfect balance between modern minimalism and opulence. Experience the seasonal, inventive "farm-to-fork" cuisine at Jardenea Restaurant. An elegant and contemporary base in the capital. See More
  
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