Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Review

The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill is a reliable and convenient option for travelers looking to stay near the Capitol or the National Mall. Elite status recognition at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill is quite strong, which always makes for a more pleasant stay. Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or with the whole family, this property can deliver a pleasant stay. In this Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Review, we show why travelers should keep this hotel in mind for their next visit to the District.

Location

The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill is aptly named since it is right next to Capitol Hill, making it one of the most convenient options for those looking to stay near the Hill (and not just among Hyatts). The hotel is within walking distance to Union Station for those arriving by Amtrak. Judiciary Square and Union Station are the nearest Metro stops, both being about equidistant.

In terms of sights, the Capitol and the National Mall are within walking distance. This makes it easy to reach many of the Smithsonian museums as well as the sights on Capitol Hill, such as the Library of Congress and the Capitol building.

For touring the city in general, the Hyatt Regency's location is pretty good, but I still prefer the Grand Hyatt's location.

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill : Booking Cost

The Hyatt Regency is a Category 5 property in the World of Hyatt program. Here are the award costs for a standard room:

• 17,000 points off-peak
• 20,000 points standard
• 23,000 points peak

As with other hotels in DC, pricing fluctuates a lot depending on the time of year and on whether there are any big events taking place in town. The Hyatt Regency itself is a popular spot for conventions, so that can certainly affect the cash price. Calculating the cents per point value for any potential redemption is a quick and easy way to check whether you're better off paying cash or redeeming points.

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill – Capitol Suite

I stay at this property often when traveling to DC for work and have stayed at many different rooms and suites thus far. Overall, the rooms are comfortable and functional, albeit a bit dated.

The Hyatt Regency is pretty good with giving complimentary suite upgrades to World of Hyatt Globalist members. I receive some sort of suite upgrade more often than not, even when conventions are taking place at the hotel.

My favorite room at the Hyatt Regency thus far has been the Capitol Suite, which is extremely functional and practical. This suite is set up well for those looking to host a small meeting or gathering in a more intimate setting. The suite has a conference/dining table that seats 4 guests along with a living room, and a large writing desk sits between the two spaces.

The bedroom is tucked away behind sliding doors that offer privacy if someone wants to go to sleep while others are still in the suite. The bathroom features a large bathtub and a separate shower. The toilet has a separate sink and can be closed off from the rest of the bathroom to form a half-bath. This allows visitors to use the half-bath without interfering with the rest of the bathroom or having to go through the bedroom.

Despite being the hotel being close to major streets and thoroughfares, the rooms are soundproofed quite well. I have never been disturbed by any outside noise in any of the rooms.

Property/Amenities

The hotel offers a gym and indoor pool in what must be one of the quirkiest set ups I have ever seen. The gym is scattered among three main areas: a small room with lots of large exercise equipment; a second space with yoga mats and rowing machines; and a third area with free weights, a couple of Peloton bikes, and several treadmills. Meanwhile, the swimming pool sits in the middle of all these different spaces.

Depending on what you're doing at the gym, you'll walk right past the pool from one set to the next. Quirkiness aside, the gym offers plenty of options and is spacious, so it's rare to feel crowded. The massive atrium covering the gym and pool also sheds in a lot of natural light.

Regency Lounge

The Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill is following a trend among some Hyatt Regency properties of replacing their Regency Club in favor of a “Globalist Lounge.” In short, these properties are eschewing food and beverage services while still making the space available for Globalist members.

The Globalist Lounge at this hotel offers bottled water, a Nespresso machine, and a business center with printing capabilities. The space is an option for those who need a quiet space to work if their room is unavailable.

Elite Status Recognition

Elite status recognition at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill is quite robust. The staff is upfront about benefits and perks during check-in. Globalist members also receive an envelope with information about their benefits and a voucher valid for the hotel's convenience store. In addition, there is usually a bowl of fruit, some snacks, and a couple of extra water bottles waiting for me in my room upon checking in.

As mentioned, complimentary suite upgrades can happen often, especially for shorter stays. I am particularly surprised every time I receive an upgrade despite there being a conference (or multiple conferences) taking place at the Hyatt Regency. This is in stark contrast to the Grand Hyatt, where complimentary suite upgrades have been rare in my experience.

Dining at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

While DC has no lack of amazing restaurants, there aren't any good options within walking distance of the Hyatt Regency. The hotel's restaurant, Article One, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lobby bar–Article One Lounge–offers drinks and appetizers as well.

Globalist Breakfast

Globalist members enjoy complimentary breakfast at Article One. Although the restaurant offers buffet and à la carte options, Globalist breakfast is limited to the buffet.

The buffet includes all of the traditional breakfast foods one might expect. Offerings include scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, grits, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, cold cuts, fresh fruits, smoke salmon, and yogurt. While none of the food will blow you away, the quality and flavor is consistent and make for a solid complimentary breakfast to start your day.

Service is consistent and efficient. Globalist members just need to present their voucher when sitting down and you're all set. No need to sign anything once you are ready to leave.

Article One Restaurant

In addition to breakfast, Article One serves lunch and dinner. The restaurant focuses on American fare and there is bound to be something for everyone on the menu. So if you're looking for a decent meal without walking far, Article One has you covered.

Like the breakfast buffet, the food at Article One is reliable and solid without conjuring any life-changing memories.

Article One Lounge

The lobby bar features a combination of four massive screens showing different games in the evenings, which makes for a lively spot to grab a drink or an appetizer. The lounge gets particularly busy when there is a convention or two at the hotel.

Service is friendly and efficient no matter how busy the lounge gets.

Travel Traders Convenience Store

Travel Traders is the hotel's market/convenience store located in the lobby. The store has everything a traveler may forget to pack and they also offer Starbucks coffee and snacks to-go. This is where Globalist members can use any vouchers received at check-in.

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Review: ToP Thoughts

The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill is a reliable option if you're looking to visit DC as a tourist or need to stay near Capitol Hill. Unlike the misleading Hyatt Place that is nowhere near the Capitol, this hotel is actually next to Capitol Hill. The rooms are a bit dated (to not mention the outside of the building), but the Hyatt Regency still makes for a comfortable stay. The convenient location and dearth of options nearby enable the Hyatt Regency to command a higher price tag (whether with points or cash) than most of us would like, but you can still find some cheaper stays here and there.