It was not bad but it was not amazing either. The room was nice a and clean. The decor was funky as expected. The staff was hit or miss. Some people were nicer then others, and while no one was rude no one was trying to be friendly either. For example there was no lotion supplied in the room, when I asked for some I was told that "they run out but there is 7-11 on the corner", not quite the answer I was hoping for. And speaking of toiletries, the brand that they are using has a very strong minty smell to it, that was making our eyes water while shampooing. Unfortunately there is no other option, so we had to make a trip to 7-11 after all. Upon our arrival there was no doorman to be found and when traveling with kids its always nice to have some help unloading. Our suite did not have a pull out couch as promised at the time of reservation, it was not a big deal as the couch was big enough for our young kids to sleep on comfortably, but just not quite what we have expected. It was all little things, but those little things in my opinion are what make or break a hotel.
While the stay was just fine there nothing about Helix to rave about...

This hotel really is 'cool.' Room decorations are very modern from the wall hangings and sheer curtains to the striped futon couch and retro dresser / mini bar. The mini bar, by the way, has a good variety of standards (beer, juice, chips, water, Snickers) with the added fun of wax lips, pop-rocks, various medicinal packets, a yoga CD, DC map and more. And if you sign up for their free points program, you get a $10 mini-bar tab and free wifi! Did I mention the free champagne & wine at 5pm everyday? Well there you are. The gym is TINY and not very useful but if you can get a free pass to the Y a few blocks away which is huge (limited #, they go eary in the AM). The downsides to this place are location (not SUPER close to a metro) and breakfast (typical crappy continental) though there are menu options too. Looking forward to staying here again!

One of the truly great experiences I have ever shared with friends is their joy in discovering this great hotel! The staff, the location, and the discount for owning a Prius wow! And location is terrific, nice restaurants. Each stay t the Helix makes me look forward to the next. Little touches like the robes, the quality towels a bit of home.

This is the fourth Kimpton hotel that I've visited. My favorite has been the Monaco in Washington DC -- dramatic and gorgeous rooms; wonderful restaurant. The Kimpton Argonaut in San Francisco on Fisherman's Wharf was pretty lousy -- paper thin walls where the neighbor's snoring kept me awake all night long and allowed me to evesdrop on every conversation next door. The Donovan House had a tattered charm.

For me the Helix was a disappointment. The internet -- a favorite feature at Kimptons -- was glacial. The room was small and worn down, with swaths of veneer missing from the bed. The stopper in the bathroom sink didn't work, and I had to reach under the sink for a disconnected lever to unstop the drain. There was no hair dryer, and when we called for one, it took more than 30 minutes to deliver.

Still, the staff, as always at Kimpton, was very nice, and the location is wonderful. It's good for one night, but for a longer stay, I'd rather spend my time at the Donovan House, which is just down the street.