Generally, when we travel through DC, hubby and I would opt for the no-frills business hotel (think: JW Marriott or the W Hotel). However, this time around, I thought we’d switch it up and stay at one of the more modern, boutique lodgings available in this town. Enter – the Monaco hotel – occupying what used to be DC’s first Post Office and the Tariff Office, and originally designed by the architect Robert Mills, better known for the Washington Monument.
Apart from living inside a piece of history (which is neat, particularly in this town!), the rooms are also quite funky and boasts some eclectic touches by the LA-based designer Cheryl Rowley. The cheetah/zebra-printed bathrobes plus the goldfish in your room concept is extra cheeky and certainly lends much-needed style & character in a city that’s better known for its conservatism rather than its fashion-forwardness. For all of these factors, I must say, I was quite impressed by the design-savvy hotel.
The best part? The location is bar-none (right across from the lovely Smithsonian Portrait Gallery as well as the super-interactive Spy Museum), not to mention just a quick hop to Union Station (if you happen to be traveling via Amtrak like we were). Also… happy hour every night! How can you pass that up? I’ll definitely have to add this hotel to my list the next time I’m traveling through DC.
