During my last trip to the District of Columbia, I spent the night at the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC. While not luxurious, it is extremely convenient and remains a hotel I will return to.
Grand Hyatt Washington, DC Review
Booking
When I traveled to DC for the Dole funeral, my friends in Vienna, VA were out of town, so I decided to stay in downtown Washington. I had originally looked at the Thompson, now part of Hyatt, but the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC, at $120/night plus tax, was less than half the price. As I just needed a place to lay my head, I chose the Grand Hyatt.
Check-In (+ Late Check-Out)
I took arrived at the hotel at about 12:30pm and found the lobby deserted. The lobby is a massive atrium with rooms on all four sides.
A very kind agent checked me in, thanking me for my Globalist status and apologizing that there were not suites available. Despite having a whopping 897 rooms, the hotel offers only 26 suites and all were apparently booked. I asked if a late checkout (beyond 4:00pm) might be possible, noting my flight back to Los Angeles the following evening did not depart until 10:00pm.
Without hesitation, he asked if 8:00pm was late enough and coded my card for that long. Despite the low occupancy, however, my room was not ready and I was invited to wait in the Grand Club on the top floor. I proceeded upstairs and worked for the next 90 minutes, then took a coffee break (I walked to Bluestone Lane…the lounge coffee is not great). By the time I returned, my room was ready.
Guest Room
The rooms are utterly lacking in character. With fluorescent lights, dull colors and a tired print of the U.S. Capitol on the wall, I found the room to be rather depressing. Plus, every time I’ve stayed here (four time now) I always receive a room with a courtyard view (and a window that doesn’t even open).
Plugs were nearby the bed and desk, however, and the alarm clock had a pair of USB-A plugs.
A hotel guide and room service menu have been replaced by QR codes.
The bathroom was even more industrial—I cannot believe the toilet had the sort of toilet flushers you see in a gas station bathroom. The granite countertop and dark wood finish, though probably vogue 20 years ago, is past its prime. But in reality, it was fine. It was clean. It served its purpose.
Toiletries were from Balmain and I do prefer the Pharmacopia brand at Hyatt Regency hotels better.
A refrigerator (empty) and small coffee maker were also in the room. The coffee machine used Keurig pods, which were provided.
Fitness Center
For years, the Grand Hyatt owned (or at least used) the Washington Center Health Club for its guests, which is right outside the south entrance to the hotel in an office lobby.
Without even thinking about it, I went there to workout. The door was unlocked and I enjoyed a very nice workout then 20 minutes in the sauna after.
But when I re-entered the hotel, I saw a sign for the fitness center indicating it was on the lower level. Indeed, I found that Hyatt no longer operates the adjacent Washington Center Health Club and now has its own (smaller) fitness area…with no showers or sauna…on the lower level (it was actually quite a maze to find it).
Oops.
Meeting Space + Common Areas
Below the lobby are several ballrooms for banquets, weddings, or meetings.
On the lobby level is a Starbucks and one level down is a Fed Ex Office.
Grand Club Lounge
As a Globalist World of Hyatt member, I was granted access to the Grand Club, which includes breakfast in the morning, snacks throughout the day, and appetizers plus liquor (for purchase) in the evening.
During the afternoon while I waited for my room, trail mix, whole fruit, cereal, yogurt, hardboiled eggs, and freshly cut fruit was available along with coffee, soft drinks, juice, or milk. I wasn’t hungry, but appreciate that breakfast seems to extend all afternoon if you sleep in.
I was not present for the evening spread, but when I returned in the morning I found exactly the same selection as the previous afternoon, along with croissants, muffins, and warm breakfast sandwiches.
This is a far cry from what breakfast looked like prior to the pandemic, which include smoked meats and salmon, scrambled eggs, French Toast, and yogurt parfaits.
Dining
Breakfast is served each morning in the Cabinet restaurant, one level below the lobby, which offers a buffet and a la carte items from 7:00am to 10:00am. Cure Bar & Bistro is open from 5:00pm to 8:00pm each day and styles itself as a “farm to table” restaurant.
Location
I mentioned location earlier and must emphasize this is the main reason I chose this hotel. After landing in National Airpot, I took the Metro Blue Line to Metro Center, which is just a couple blocks from the hotel. From the hotel, I easily walked to dinner and the following morning walked to the Watergate building for a meeting. For tourist and business travelers, the location is difficult to beat.
CONCLUSION
I appreciated the kind service and late checkout at this hotel. The location is also very convenient. Other than that, there’s nothing about the hotel that is particularly noteworthy in a good or bad way. I’d absolutely return, but this is not a hotel I get excited about.
@ Matthew — This is a pretty lame hotel. I doubt we would ever choose to stay there again.
An upcoming renovation to the guestrooms and bathrooms is being planned now, I understand, and will address most of the deficiencies you note.
Good to hear.
Uhh, $120 a night, convenient, access to food and snacks and beverages all day, comfortable place to do work, a late checkout, and you are unimpressed? I have paid a lot more for a lot less in NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco. Sounds like my next visit to DC will be here at these prices.
I think the fact that I stay here over the Willard and Park Hyatt is a strong testament to the value I find here. I still find the rooms and lounges depressing. I love the other hotels too. That said, I will return. Why? Exactly the value you outline. Money talks.
@ Matthew — And so does time. Life is too short to skip the Willard.
Matthew- there is a direct connection to Metro Center from the Grand Hyatt via the office building and tunnel next door. You never have to step foot outside. Look it up online- it will save you some time and keep you warm for your next visit.
Thanks Bob! I certainly missed it.
The club lounge breakfast offerings look pretty weak. Were you offered restaurant breakfast as a Globalist?
I was not.
He should have been. We stayed in late October ’21 and could order whatever we wanted for breakfast. That is quite a value. The food was quite good overall, and I appreciated that we could call down and pick it up to take it back to the room.
Interesting. I was told that this was not an option.
Club lounge dinner offerings were OK – a hot sandwich (like a mini burger) and 1 other item. They go pretty quickly and I didn’t see them get refilled so you have to be prompt.
Agreed that this location is by far the best of the Hyatt options. It’s a huge step down from the Park Hyatt (which has also been consistently available at the Gov’t rate during the pandemic), but so much more convenient. The new fitness center is a dungeon, but still better equipped than most (including the PH). I’ve stayed half a dozen times in the past few months, and still get depressed every time I stop by the club in the morning for sustenance–I hesitate to call it breakfast because it isn’t, and I simply cannot stand the coffee and grab something on the way to my first meeting of the day.
The coffee truly is horrible. I’m not a Starbucks fan, but this is far worse (though branded as Starbucks). I would think Starbucks would not like its brand sullied!
Timely review. Had made plans to use a Cat 1-4 certificate there (at Grand Hyatt) in two weeks following a concert at the Capital One Arena. Alas, postponement of the concert was announced a few days ago and so I cancelled the reservation yesterday. Was curious what it was like inside, so this review covers it. If you have the bucks (or Hilton points or free night cert), the Conrad Washington DC a block away is quite nice.
The part about using the Washington Center Health Club was funny, I guess you upgraded yourself, lol.
I likened the fitness center more to a bomb shelter than a dungeon. Thanks for the Washington Center Health Club comments, I’ll give that a try during my next stay which is booked for April (hopefully to see the cherry blossoms among other things). Although I thought the hotel fitness center was adequate, the Washington Center Health Club looks more better :-).
The club breakfast offerings you picture and describe are significantly increased from my (first) stay in November although I was offered the option of free Globalist breakfast in the restaurant (buffet or menu on weekends, menu only weekdays). I’m not a foodie, I was fine with the club breakfast offered in November; if what you describe is offered in April I’ll be more than satisfied, looks like they cram quite a spread into a relatively small space.
One cool thing about this hotel, first I experienced after hundreds of prior hotel stays. I had a room on the 12th floor, same as the Grand Club Lounge. When swiping/holding the room key on the elevator key card reader, the “12” button automatically lit, didn’t have to press any buttons to get to the 12th floor.
Your readers might be interested to know WHY the fitness center is 4 or 5 levels below street level and the restaurant, meeting rooms, ballrooms and Fed Ex Office are all 1 to 3 levels below the street. After I noticed that DC had few (if any) tall buildings I did a little research. The “Height of Buildings Act of 1910 was an Act of Congress passed by the 61st United States Congress on June 1, 1910 to limit the height of buildings in District of Columbia, amending the Height of Buildings Act of 1899. The new height restriction law was more comprehensive than the previous law, and generally restricts building heights along residential streets to 90 feet (27 m), and along commercial corridors to the width of the right-of-way of the street or avenue on which a building fronts, or a maximum of 130 feet, whichever is shorter.”
Great comment. Thanks for the DC history lesson. I love that there are no skyscrapers in the city.
Stayed at the Grand Hyatt just before the pandemic, and agree with your comments at the beginning. Sure, it ain’t the height of luxury, but good for sleeping, and a great location. The Starbucks is (or at least was when I was there), the only one in the US where you could actually get a shot (of alcohol!) in your cup of brew!
But yeah, that toilet – sheesh…
Go to Seattle & you’ll find several alcohol serving locations.
Being from DC, the area around the GH has certainly evolved. With the new high end luxury shops right out the door and a quick walk to the Convention Center and Penn Quarter (and really just about everything in NW). With that said, The Conrad shares the same neighborhood and is far better (and new). Given those rates though, wow…just for location alone that’s insane. You would be hard pressed to find $120 a night at a Hampton Inn in Lorton, VA.
Solid review. The GH has been my go-to for several years as it is within walking distance to our DC office. As you pointed out, it is very convenient to Metro Center and the various lines that cross there. Easy commute from DCA.
The two things I always liked about the GH were the club where I found the offerings and staff to be just fine, and the Washington Center Health Club use. While I was not able to self-upgrade last time I was there, I did buy a day pass.
The rooms are rather drab and the hotel overall looks rather beat-up Nice to see a refresh forthcoming.
But, as you noted once you stay at the Park Hyatt, or the Willard, it’s hard to adjust to the Grand Hyatt.
I found the capuchino at Foxtrot to be far superior in quality to the other chains. I just stayed at that property. The employees are superbly trained. The high thread count bed sheets felt like satin. The TV could use premium channels instead of pay per view. What’s with YouTube not synching with Chromecast? The lounge atmosphere reminded me the coffee shop scenes from Friends. The afternoon tea snacks consisted of mezze and grilled cheese finger sandwiches. The manager came by and greeted every guest by name.
An open club lounge in the USA?! I almost want to travel there just to see that rare artifact.