pointstopictures Situated at the crossroads of Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan, the Washington Hilton hotel is in the heart of Washington, DC. Boasting a rich legacy dating back to its opening in 1965, the hotel has played host to presidents, dignitaries, and esteemed guests from around the world. The hotel still hosts the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The Washington Hilton is located at 1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. and nestled among two of D.C.’s most sought-after neighborhoods, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan, the hotel offers guests a prime location within close proximity to a most D.C attractions such as the White House, Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and more. All major D.C. attractions are within a 20 minute drive. You can also take the subway to reach all the major attractions. With 1,107 rooms and suites, the hotel might feel like a maze. However, the hotel caters to your every need with impeccable service – indulge in a leisurely swim in the seasonal outdoor heated pool, sweat it out at the well-appointed gym, or relax at the outdoor plaza.
Join us as we embark on a journey through this iconic property, where history meets modern luxury in the heart of D.C. See the bottom of this post for our quantitative score.
Loyalty Program
As the name suggests, the Washington Hilton is affiliated with Hilton Honors. Hilton does not have a published award chart but a room in May 2024 costs around $165+taxes or 40,000 points.The hotels also charges a daily $25 resort fee but also offers $25 breakfast credit, bike rental and more.
Parking
The hotel does not have self parking but does offer valet parking. However, there are enough metered street parking available right outside the hotel. These are 2 hour parking spots that you can pay with the parkmobile app. There are several parking garages nearby.
Check-In Experience
From the moment you step foot into the Washington Hilton lobby, you’re greeted with a sense of grandeur and refinement. Following a meticulous renovation, the lobby blends mid-century design elements with modern comforts. Bold geometric shapes intersect with sleek furnishings, creating an atmosphere of understated luxury.
There are two check-in counters, one for the diamond and gold members and the other for all the other guests. The valet counter can also store your bags. There is also a concierge counter that can arrange tours and anything else you might need. The lobby has a large waiting area with power outlets, chairs, and couches, which will make your wait comfortable.
The lobby has four bar/restaurant that you can use. The lobby also has a market that is very convenient if you need water, snacks, and souvenirs. At a corner of the lobby there is also a small gift shop that sells souvenirs, t-shirts, and some books.
Washington Hilton Room Review
The rooms have a sleek, modern design and was well-equipped with all the essentials. The rooms are spotlessly clean and has a welcoming ambiance and they had enough storage space. However, there is no mini fridge or mini bar in the rooms.
The large windows offered a good view of the plaza area. However, with the big building right across the plaza, you won’t be able to see far.
Room Decor
The room was minimally decorated. The hotel theme is definitely a business one, they are not going for the luxury theme. That being said, everything was very functional and comfortable.
Bed
The bed was soft and comfortable. Each bed had multiple pillows with various softness levels. As you would expect from a Hilton in a prime location, the beds were clean and housekeeping staff made the bed well.
Each room had glass work table. There is enough charging ports and a coffee maker. Surprisingly, there was no stationary such as a pad or pen provided, which can be a little inconvenient.
The room had a large TV that worked well. Interestingly, this was not a smart TV with streaming options. As a result, if you wanted to catch-up on your favorite show, you could not do that on this TV. The channel line-up is normal with some pay-per-view movie options.
Bathroom
The bathroom at was clean with enough towels and amenities. The bathroom was spotlessly clean, which is what mattered most. The rest of the amenities were what you would expect – towels, drinkware, soap, and a few other things.
The toiletries are from Crabtree, and the quality was nice.
Other Amenities
The Washington Hilton has several nice amenities, including a large patio, a car rental counter, well equipped gym, and an outdoor pool.
The Washington Hilton features a well-equipped gym that is exclusively accessible to guests, requiring a card swipe for entry. The facility includes multiple treadmills, free weights, a variety of benches, and a squat rack. Additionally, it is stocked with towels, sanitizers, and water for convenience.
The Washington Hilton features a rooftop pool offering stunning city views. This pool is exclusively for guests, accessible only with a room key card. The rooftop area includes a bar and several chaise lounges, along with ample towels for convenience. Interestingly, the outdoor pool is heated, though it might still be too chilly for use in the winter months. Additionally, cabanas, showers, changing rooms, and bathrooms are available for pool users.
Several other complementary amenities are available for guests. These include ear plugs, noise machine, and more.
The hotel also offers digital key for room access, checkout, and hotel guide. Especially, this is very useful since it is very easy to get in touch with the front desk quickly.
Washington Hilton Dining Options
The hotel has four restaurant in the lobby. Note that the hotel charges a $25 resort fee but also provides a $25 breakfast credit which helps offset the fee.
Breakfast
The Four Oaks restaurant provides à la carte options and breakfast buffet. Breakfast is continental with several fruit, waffle and egg options.
The breakfast fruit bar had several fresh fruit options.
The buffet also provided mini waffles and several bread and croissant options.
The buffet had eggs, bacon, potatoes, and grilled vegetables. The food in the buffet tasted fine but was simple and straightforward.
There were several other restaurants and bars in the lobby, presenting a wide variety of food and drinks.
Checking Out
Checking out is easy. Similar to most North American hotels, this hotels does not require you to stop by at the front desk. You can drop off your keys in a box (or not), and you will be automatically checked out. Checkout time is 11AM, though elite members can extend the stay by a couple of hours and beyond that, there is a $25/hour fee for late checkout.
Attractions around the Washington Hilton
The hotel provides flexible tour options from the hotel. You can book and be picked up from the lobby, which is very convenient if you want a guided tour of DC.
The hotel is located near Dupont metro and you can take a subway to most of DC and certainly to all the major attractions. The daily pass is $13/day/person in 2024 and provides unlimited rides.
Tidbits: The hotel has a plaque marking it as the national historical place. The plaque below mentions President Reagan was shot here but later recovered and returned to the hotel several times.
Quantitative Review
We understand that reviews are often biased. We reduce the bias by providing quantitative analysis of the products we review. The Washington Hilton scored 77/100, which places it as one of the solid business hotel.
| Aspect | Notes | Score (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in Process | Efficient and friendly | 8 |
| Room Quality | – Comfort: Excellent beds and furnishings. | 8 |
| – Cleanliness: Generally well-maintained room and bathroom, minor inconsistencies. | 9 | |
| – Amenities: High-quality toiletries, full sized products, good coffee and minibar | 6 | |
| Dining Options | – Food Quality: Good | 6 |
| – Variety: Diverse menu, caters to different dietary needs. | 7 | |
| Service Quality | Attentive and courteous staff | 8 |
| Facilities | – Pool/Gym/Spa: Well-equipped and clean. | 9 |
| Location and Accessibility | 4 miles from downtown. Centrally located for the area, easy access to attractions and transport. | 8 |
| Value for Money | Prices are quiet low but offer quality service. ($200-250/night, 40000 Hilton Honor points) | 8 |
| Total | 77/100 |
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