It's on a lovely tree-lined, quiet, safe, residential street. I got a Kimpton flash sale rate, to attend a conference at the Mayflower, a 5 minute walk. The building used to be apartments and condos, so room layout is unique. The L-shaped room was huge, the purple couch a jazzy touch next to a retro white chair. Nice work area in the "L." Swiveling large flat screen tv, which I watched from the fabulous bed. Bed linens are pristine and high quality, and the pile of pillows offers every possible option, soft to very firm. Bedside tables with plenty of outlets for electronics. Electric kettle, mini-bar, safe.
The color scheme is soothing: pale blue and green patterned carpet, new and clean; pale blue green/cream abstractly striped wallpaper.
Bath is small with ultra-modern sink, tile floor, makeup mirror, and decent lighting. Water pressure was a bit muted (mandated flow controls), but the rainshower head was modern. I did not like the strong minty scent of the wall-mounted bath gel, as it was not compatible with my perfume. I used the unscented bar soap after the first shower. The towels are high quality, thick and thirsty.
The bonus is a large "dressing room" with a vanity and mirror, stool, and floor length mirror, where I spread out all my cosmetics, bags, etc. No light in that room, however (light comes from bath and hall).
Heavy drapes in the bedroom control the natural light that floods in through huge windows all across the front. The large mirror there provides the best light to apply makeup. No street noise on the 8th floor.
Building exterior is unassuming. Inside, a small lobby in front of the bar/dining room. Lots of cozy seating areas to enjoy the wine hour. I only made the wine hour my arrival night. The quality of the wine was good, and the young man pouring was gracious and welcoming.
The service overall was outstanding. A shout out for Kelley, who seems to be omniscient, anticipating guests' needs. More applause for the young gentleman and young lady who provided dinner advice the night I arrived, and for the friendly housekeeping staff.
The special rate probably influenced my review. If I had paid a lot more I might have looked for problems: the steps leading to the elevator, making it tricky to pull baggage to/from the elevator. However, Kelley is always on alert to make sure guests don't take on more than they should, and she is very petite. The halls and elevator are not fancy, but carpet is new and clean. Had to request a shower cap. Cotton swabs were not provided; fortunately I brought some. Tea bags were not replaced, but the restaurant offers complimentary coffee and tea every morning. The coffee was a bit weak for my taste; maybe it's a D.C. thing.
17th Street (thanks, Kelley) offers an array of dining options with a casual 'hood vibe.
The value here is in the terrific quiet but central location, huge rooms, the bonus room, and the Kimpton "touch."
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
January 16, 2013
Hi 1happytraveler12,
Thank you for this awesome review! Kelly is basically a service rock star. Our guests love her and she's a joy to work with. I'm really sorry about the tea and I've reviewed this with the good folks on our housekeeping team to ensure that we're paying closer attention moving forward. The coffee we serve is completely organic. I'm not a coffee drinker personally. But, I suspect that going au naturale likely results in a slight decrease in potency.
I'm glad to hear that your stay was an enjoyable one on the whole and we hope you come back soon.
Thanks again,
Donte
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