In historic Penn Quarter—where many of the buildings have their original tenants’ names carved into their stone exteriors—the Courtyard Washington is housed in an ornate edifice with “Riggs National Bank” carved above the entrance. The interior of columns and cornices, gold detailing, marble floors, and high ceilings are indeed reminiscent of the old bank. The bank’s old vault downstairs, whose door is now permanently propped open, is now a popular meeting room.
The rooms, bright with white curtains and golden accents, seem homey with their wall artwork, which features old black-and-white streetscape scenes from around the hotel. Rooms have either a view out to the street or toward the central courtyard.
Down a white marble staircase from the lobby is a small, five-piece fitness room and a small indoor pool/whirlpool. The hotel’s breakfast cafe is also downstairs, set up like a terrace. The hotel connects to Gordon Biersch restaurant and bar next door.
Its historic downtown location, just five blocks from the Washington Convention Center, make it a convenient choice for both museum-goers and those in for the business conference.
Amenities include in-room coffeemaker and tea, work desk, ergonomic chair, two-line speakerphone, voicemail and dataport, HDTV and in-room movies. The hotel is also equipped with a 24-hour business center with copy, fax, and printing; ATM; housekeeping service daily; laundry on-site (coin-operated); local restaurant dinner delivery; newspaper delivered to room on request or in lobby; room service (11:30 am to 11 pm); valet dry-cleaning; overnight delivery/pickup; vending machines; two meeting rooms. Pets are not allowed.
Check out Penn Quarter, which is home to Smithsonian museums and the Verizon Center.
