Best Hyatt in DC

I recently celebrated the unusual milestone of having stayed at every single Hyatt property in Washington, DC. I figured this put me in a position to share some tips for choosing the best Hyatt in DC for any given trip. Choosing the best hotel in any is a tricky endeavor since travelers all have their own personal preferences. Usually, the hotel's location ends up being the biggest factor given that location can make or break a trip. With this in mind, here are my insights for every Hyatt hotel in DC and what each one of them has to offer. This is not necessarily a ranking in any particular order, since most properties offer compelling reasons to book depending on your plans.

Grand Hyatt Washington

The Grand Hyatt Washington is the most well-rounded option on this list. The hotel's central location is second to none, with easy access to the National Mall and many Smithsonian museums. You're also close to some excellent restaurants in a very walkable neighborhood. Meanwhile, the Grand Club Lounge offers Globalist elite members access to complimentary breakfast, snacks, appetizers, and dessert throughout the day if you're looking to save on eating costs. The small suite-to-room ratio makes it tough to receive a complimentary suite upgrade without applying a suite upgrade award. For more, check out our review.

• Location: downtown, next to the Metro Center stop
• Rooms: 902, including 31 suites
• Good for:
  • touring the main sights, including the National Mall and most Smithsonian museums
  • catching basketball or hockey games at Capital One Arena
• Pool: no

Park Hyatt Washington, DC

Hyatt's most luxurious option in the District offers excellent service in comfortable but dated rooms. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Blue Duck Tavern, which once held a Michelin star. The hotel's downside is its remote location in the otherwise lovely West End neighborhood. But without a Metro stop within walking distance, visitors must rely on taxis or rideshares for almost anything. The Park Hyatt has a lot of suites, which results to frequent complimentary upgrades. Cash rates at this property can be surprisingly affordable for a Park Hyatt, which makes for a great use of the Amex Platinum $200 Fine Hotels & Resorts credit.

• Location: West End neighborhood
• Rooms: 220, including 134 suites
• Good for:
  • travelers looking for luxury or a quieter neighborhood away from the city's hustle and bustle
  • staying near Georgetown
  • visiting students at George Washington University or Georgetown
• Pool: indoor pool open year-round

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

The Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill is a tried and true Hyatt option. The hotel's location isn't as convenient as that of the Grand Hyatt and it no longer has a Regency Club lounge. But the Hyatt Regency is still a solid option with comfortable and spacious rooms, albeit dated. Cash prices vary widely throughout the year, but the hotel can be a bargain on occasion. For more, check out our full review.

• Location: near Capitol Hill, the National Mall, and Union Station
• Rooms: 838, including 31 suites
• Good for: staying near Capitol Hill or the eastern end of the National Mall
• Pool: indoor pool open year-round

Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

This Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall is the only Hyatt Place property in DC with suites, which are quite large. Some suites even include a kitchen, which makes this hotel an excellent (and affordable) option for large families or groups. The location is not perfect but still manageable for touring the city due to its proximity to the National Mall. Surrounded by government offices, the neighborhood dies down significantly after business hours and on the weekends without many restaurant options nearby. This hotel also has a rooftop bar.

• Location: south of the National Mall, between L'Enfant Plaza Metro and Federal Center SW Metro stations
• Rooms: 214, including 16 suites
• Good for: families or large groups interesting in touring the main sights
• Pool: outdoor pool open seasonally

Thompson Washington DC

The Thompson is one of the newest Hyatt properties in the capital, having opened in January 2020. The hotel is in the Navy Yard neighborhood, making it close to Nationals Park, Barracks Row, Eastern Market, Audi Field, and the Wharf. The hotel has a nice rooftop bar with cool views and offers a great breakfast at its restaurant, Surveyor. Currently a category 4 in the World of Hyatt program, the Thompson is a great deal on points and has some surprisingly low cash rates outside of baseball season. Overall, the Thompson DC is a great hotel, although the location can be a dealbreaker depending on what you plan to do or see during your visit. Check out our full review of the Thompson DC here.

• Location: Navy Yard neighborhood, close to Nationals Park
• Rooms: 225, including suites
• Good for: visitors interested in catching a baseball or soccer game or staying near Barracks Row, Eastern Market, or Southeast DC generally
• Pool: no

Hyatt Washington DC/Convention Center

This hotel is an odd duck in Hyatt's DC portfolio. Until recently, the Hyatt Washington DC/Convention Center was a Cambria Hotel. After bringing this property into the fold, Hyatt then announced that this hotel will become a Hyatt House in the summer of 2025. This hotel is convenient for those who need to stay near Logan Circle or the Convention Center. With Logan Circle nearby, guests have access to lots of restaurants and bars frequented by locals. The hotel and rooms are good for the price, as covered in our review.

• Location: near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the Logan Circle neighborhood
• Rooms: 182, including suites
• Good for: visitors interested in exploring a more residential neighborhood
• Pool: indoor

Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End

The Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End is as solid as a Hyatt Place can be. The hotel is within walking distance to many great restaurants and is close to George Washington University. The rooms are exactly what we have come to expect of Hyatt Place properties, but they are particularly well maintained, as covered in our review.

• Location: West End, near Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, or Dupont Circle
• Rooms: 168, no suites
• Good for: those interested in staying on the western side of town without splurging for the nearby Park Hyatt
• Pool: indoor pool open year-round

Hyatt House Washington DC/The Wharf

Washington DC's Wharf area has evolved into a bustling hub of bars, restaurants, and high-end stores, along with a couple of live music venues. The Hyatt House sits at the heart of this development, making it a convenient option for those who expect to spend a lot of time at the Wharf. Beyond that, the Hyatt House is also close to the Navy Yard and not terribly far from the south side of the National Mall (though the Hyatt Place National Mall is closer and cheaper). The rooms are designed efficiently to accommodate the amenities of an extended stay property, though they are also not lacking in size. While overall a solid property, be prepared for some sticker shock. This category 5 property regularly shows cash prices far higher than even the Park Hyatt, making it hard to justify coughing up the points or cash to stay in this part of town or for a Hyatt House.

• Location: the Wharf
• Rooms: 237, including suites
• Good for: travelers looking for a full kitchen or to stay at the Wharf
• Pool: outdoor pool open seasonally

Hyatt Place Washington DC/The White House

This hotel has the distinction of having the smallest rooms by far among all the Hyatts in DC. Miraculously, the rooms still fit the standard Hyatt Place set up of a king bed (or two queens) plus a sofa bed and the usual desk/closet combo. But visitors aren't left with much floorspace at all, making it a tough pick for families. Surrounded by office buildings, the hotel is a couple of blocks north of the White House in a part of town that gets rather empty after hours and on the weekends. In terms of sightseeing, this hotel does not offer much at all beyond the White House, for which visitors are better off picking the Grand Hyatt.

• Location: downtown on K Street, between Farragut and McPherson Squares
• Rooms: 164, no suites
• Good for: staying near the K Street offices or the White House
• Pool: no

Hyatt Place Washington DC/Capitol Hill

Let's set the record straight: the Hyatt Place Washington DC/Capitol Hill is nowhere near Capitol Hill, which is at least a 30-minute walk away. Usually, this hotel is the cheapest Hyatt option in DC, whether paying with cash or points. But the savings come at the expense of proper upkeep, as noted in our review. Unless you have reason to stay in or near NoMA/Union Market, there is no reason to go out of your way to stay at this property. The savings just aren't worth it.

• Location: close to the NoMa/Gallaudet Metro stop, near Union Market
• Rooms: 200, no suites
• Good for: budget-conscious travelers looking to save cash or points regardless of location
• Pool: outdoor pool open seasonally

Best Hyatt in DC: ToP Thoughts

Choosing the best Hyatt in DC depends largely on what you're looking to do or see. Hopefully, this rundown of each Hyatt option in DC from someone who has stayed at them all can help you choose your hotel for your next trip to our nation's capital.

Which of these Hyatt properties in DC have you visited? Come share your thoughts in our Facebook group!