The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown occupies the site of the historic Georgetown Incinerator, whose 130-foot chimney still rises over the hotel and the attached luxury condominiums. This might sound less than appealing, but there is nothing dingy or industrial about the extensively renovated building, and anyway, it's a building with character, certainly preferable to the white-columned opulence of some other Ritz-Carlton hotels. It's in the spirit of so many loft conversions in rehabilitated downtown areas of many great cities — the people who once wouldn't have dared walk around the neighborhood at night are now buying million-dollar homes made from the bricks of disused factories.

The location is excellent, on a quiet side street, but just minutes from the White House, the Smithsonian, and hundreds of other famous places. Within walking distance are a number of Georgetown's fashionable restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, and the Ritz complex itself holds a 14-screen cineplex. The complex is also home to one of the world's most recognizable celebrities — Michael Jordan lives in one of the 28 luxury residences that share the Ritz site.

Rooms are decorated in red, gold, and green, complementing the brick exterior of the incinerator building and the greenery alongside the Potomac River. Some rooms and suites have views of the river, others the Kennedy Center — all are decorated in the sleek, refined style one would expect from a Ritz-Carlton. High-speed internet, powered laptop safes, and the services of the Technology butler all cater to the wired traveler, and the conference and business facilities are very extensive (naturally, given the expected clientele, of dignitaries and celebrities).

There is, of course, a signature restaurant, called Fahrenheit (it's located on the top floor of what was the incinerator building), but the real story is Degrees, the bar, which is packed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday night with late-twenties and early-thirties Beltway political groupies. In some sense, what the Chateau Marmont is to actors, rockers, and models, the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton is to the Washington elite.

But this DC elite is a fussier crowd than their LA counterparts, and that's why this is a Ritz-Carlton and not an achingly hip little boutique. The cool place to stay in Washington still has a day spa, oversized marble baths, and Ambassador and Presidential suites (which are still not as large as the Royal Potomac suite). Try finding twice-daily housekeeping or plush Ritz terry robes at an LA fashion hotel...