The Jefferson

As the capital city of the United States it’s only natural that Washington D.C. should be home to a fair number of grand, historic luxury hotels. Not all of them are quite as old-world as they seem, though. The Jefferson certainly has all the opulence and historical atmosphere you’d expect from one of the original grand dames, and the fact that it’s mostly the result of a 2009 renovation is neither here nor there.

What’s important is that the Jefferson combines old-world aesthetics with boutique-era services, amenities, and personality. The rooms are classic in design, but modern in function, with iPads in every room and suite and charging stations in the desks. Premier and Deluxe rooms are lavish, and the First Lady and Presidential suites are positively opulent — the latter featuring no fewer than five balconies with extraordinary views of the city and its monuments.

To all that is added a restaurant, The Greenhouse, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch under the hotel’s historic skylight, and Quill, an upscale cocktail bar and lounge. It’s a seemingly impossible blend, equal parts historical luxury hotel and contemporary boutique hotel, but The Jefferson carries it off.