Our stay here was a belated birthday gift for me and we took our dogs along as well. The dogs are definitely huge fans since they were greeted with treats and attention, two things they can't get enough of. The room was large and comfortable, although our view was of the HVAC system. However, it was dog ready with bowls and dog beds so the view didn't matter that much to us. We also appreciated being on the second floor which made taking them in and out for walks a simple task. All in all, a very enjoyable stay!

This hotel has a cool, but not too cool, urban vibe. The rooms are stylish and comfortable, with a well stocked mini bar. The bar and restaurant are fun. American comfort food and great cocktails. The wifi is very fast, which is really important or business travellers these days. The staff training must be great because these guys couldn't be more friendly or helpful. Great neighbourhood too.

When I arrived by taxi on business travel, I had too much luggage to handle both the entrance doors and my luggage easily by myself. Madera employee Raymond came jogging out to make sure I had help getting in the hotel. Thanks, Raymond. That's a nice way to be greeted! Kiah at the front desk was exceptionally helpful at check-in (and told me she and other Kimpton employees were doing the AIDS Walk in DC today -- go Kimpton!). Both her and Raymond are as good as it gets when it comes to hotel front desk employees. Thank you for your patience, friendliness and hospitality.

My room is very similar to the one I had at The Rouge, another Kimpton property in DC -- layout, size, etc. Location is also A+. I had an easy walk to Hank's Oyster Bar and to Whole Foods. The bathroom is a bit small, but one of the facilities staff told me that room renovations are planned in the near future (and that might affect bathroom size, room layout, etc.). My room was clean and quiet.

I ate at Firefly, the hotel's restaurant, and I was also wowed with customer service there. I sat at a seat in the bar that allowed for a view into the kitchen, which I enjoyed a lot. It was like a real life Top Chef viewing experience. My servers at the bar were attentive but not pesky; they allowed me to taste wines before ordering, advised me with ordering and took A+ care of me. Try the peanut butter ice cream sandwich dessert! Delicious.

With each stay at a Kimpton property, I find myself more wowed with Kimpton hotels, in general. Thank you to Kiah and Raymond and to the bar staff who took such good care of me.

On my last trip to DC a couple of years ago, I stayed at the Palomar, another Kimpton property and was very happy there. In fact, I stayed there twice. Thought I would try another of their hotels on a recent visit a few weeks ago. This time I was very disappointed. The room was tattered: the lamp on the desk had a torn shade and the chair had a big stain on it. In addition, the bathroom was literally a closet with only a tub and toilet. The sink was located on the other side of the bathroom door. For $300+ a night, I expected more. Would not go back there.