Not many hotels have as colorful a
history as the Liberty Hotel, which
was once a prison. Elements of the
building’s past remain throughout.
The original catwalks are still in the
lobby, and there are vestiges of jail
cells in the lobby bar, but the 90-foot
central rotunda and cupola are lovely.
With five sultry restaurants and bars
with tongue-in-cheek names such as
Clink and Alibi, no one would mind
being locked up here for a night.
Doubles from $299; libertyhotel.com
Intimate and off the beaten track, the Normandy Hotel is on a residential street with
embassies for neighbors. Despite the restful
location, it’s only a short walk to D. C.’s happening Dupont Circle neighborhood and the
Metro. After a renovation in 2009, the hotel’s
interiors are simple and elegant. There is a
working fireplace in the lounge, original artwork on the walls and handcrafted furniture
in the 75 guest rooms. Doubles from $199;
doylecollection.com
Donovan House
Washington
Donovan House breaks
the conservative D.C.
mold, offering designer
accommodations at a
reasonable price. The
hotel was opened in
2008 by the New York
City–based Thompson
Hotels group, known for
its hip properties. The
smallish lobby and 193
guest rooms, outfitted
with modern furniture
by Studio Gaia, would be
at home on a Star Wars
movie set. The heated
rooftop pool, available
exclusively to hotel
guests by day, transforms
into a trendy D.C. lounge
by night. Doubles from
$179; thompsonhotels.com
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