Well-heeled guests converge under the gold-capped dome in the lobby, from corporate travelers to celebrities to couples attending a performance at the Kennedy Center, 6 blocks away. Lofty ceilings, large mirrors, and contemporary furniture convey an aura of relaxed elegance. In the upstairs halls, there are bowls of fruit for guests.

Covering 16 rolling acres, this hotel is perched on a small bluff overlooking Rock Creek Park. The hotel comprises three towers; most activity takes place in the sprawling atrium lobby between the two newer buildings. The small lobby in the oldest building (c. 1928) has a boutique-hotel look, with parquet floors and French antiques. Groups and wedding parties appreciate the hotels garden setting, wide array of amenities, and location in a residential neighborhood next to a Metro station, Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan.