If You Can't Afford the Lincoln Bedroom....The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.
Written: Sep 30 '01 (Updated Feb 01 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Historic hotel across from the best address in town
Cons: The cost can be prohibitive if you do not get a discount
The Bottom Line: One of the best locations in town, handsome public rooms and well maintained rooms all add up to a positive experience. Service cannot be faulted.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: The Hay Adams Hotel |
The Hay-Adams sits on some of the best real-estate in Washington. Built on the site of the mansion of John Hay, it is directly across from the White House.
Lobby
The lobby manages that delicate balance between being grand and imposing , yet warm and intimate at the same time. Mellow wood paneling, nice Federal pieces here and there and an elaborate Gothic plaster ceiling all create a unique lobby. Fortunately, the damage done to the lobby in the early 80's has been erased. This hotel has had many, many owners in its long history, and quite a few of them did not realize the gem they had. Their ugly attempts at remodeling have been swept away. The lobby feels like a private club.
Dining
One of Washington's most notable "power" dining spots is the sunny and cheerful Lafayette Room. Breakfast here is a tradition among the movers and shakers of Washington's power elite. There is nothing to complain about on the menu except the prices, which are very steep indeed. I cannot report first-hand on other meals here, but I have never heard complaints from anyone. The "Off the Record" bar is downstairs, and is just what it should be-a crowded, smoky (but handsome), dark room crammed full of politicians and their parasites. They have one of the best Scotch lists in D.C.. Good champagne selection too, but the prices for the good bottles won't have you celebrating.
Rooms and Suites
We had a suite without a view, unless you enjoy brick walls and air conditioning ducts. It was partly our fault. We were offered a room with a head-on view of the White House. Being a fool for extra space, I opted for the larger (junior) suite. The furniture was fairly standard-nice reproduction Georgian pieces appropriate to the setting. If you do not like chintz, stay elsewhere. If Mario Buatta (the "Prince of Chintz")had nothing to do with the design here, I would be surprised. The bath was Lilliputian in scale. I know that this is an older building, but they really might have done something with the bathrooms to make them larger. The towels and other amenities are of superior quality, and the bath was immaculate. It was merely very old. Usually, I am very tolerant of old fixtures-especially in historic buildings. However, when one is paying "rack rate" (we were not), I could easily see purple faces at the Front Desk about this. Standard rooms vary in size considerably. The ones facing 16th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue are mostly large, while those in the back are usually small. The corner suites overlooking St. John's Church and the White House are the most coveted.
Room Service
We ordered room service on evening after tramping all over the White House and the Capitol building. Going downstairs was too much of an ordeal. The cart arrived at exactly thirty minutes on the dot and was set up promptly. No nasty little plastic trays here, or those ugly steel room service covers with the hole in the middle. The soup was served for us, and the dishes for the next course were placed below on a warming tray. Very well done. The food was also quite good, coming as it did from the same kitchen as the Lafayette Room.
Concierge
The concierge staff is very professional. Ask them almost anything and they will have an answer promptly. They also volunteered to deliver a gift to a friend in one of the White House offices for us-excellent service.
General
I have known some people who have worked here, and many of them displayed the arrogance one sometimes finds in expensive hotels. I am pleased to report both that those I knew who were this way no longer work there, and that my own experience here was only that of engaging and pleasant staff.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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