The Best Hotels to Book Near the National Mall

Looking to stay in a suite during your time in Washington DC? The State Plaza Hotel, in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, offers nothing less with their all-suite hotel. There’s a mild art deco flavor to the interior design of each suite, with patterned curtains and carpets, gilded mirrors and chrome lamps. The deluxe suites contain a kitchen, with a microwave oven and refrigerator.

For a trendy, modern hotel in Foggy Bottom, Hotel Hive has you covered. Think bare brick, exposed ceiling pipes and beams, and minimalist decor – and you’ll be picturing something akin to the Hotel Hive’s comfortable rooms and functional common space. Some of the twin rooms have bunk beds. The highlight is the excellent rooftop Hive Bar, with views from the terrace seating over towards George Washington University and beyond.

Head up to the rooftop terrace at the citizenM Washington DC Capitol and you’ll be able to see not only the Capitol building, but also the whole tree line of the National Mall – which is a mere two blocks from the hotel. The colorful common spaces here are enlivened by a Pop art meets contemporary design sensibility that includes bright ceiling murals and eclectic collections of curios and portraits. Rooms are small but packed with modern features such as mood lighting and rainfall showers.

Just a few blocks south of the National Mall is the Hyatt Place, a hotel that does a remarkable job of balancing budget with generous space in soothingly decorated rooms, each of which have separate sitting and sleeping areas. The Hyatt is also big on amenities, with a bar and restaurant that both stay open 24 hours a day, an outdoor pool and a fitness center with running machines, ellipticals and free weights.

Planning on staying in Washington DC for a while? The Residence Inn is equally open to short- and long-stay guests, who opt to stay in comfort in the one- or two-bedroom suites. Plenty of thought has gone into making a longer stay here as comfortable as possible – rooms have separate dining and sitting areas, a kitchen equipped with a full-size refrigerator, stovetop and dishwasher, and free breakfast in the mornings. There’s also a grocery delivery service here.

The sleek, glass-fronted Canopy overlooks a wharf on a channel of the Potomac River. The hotel is packed with impressive features: the elaborate interior design of the lobby area includes multi-story light fixtures and soothing water features, while the rooms have wood-paneled walls and elegant tiled bathrooms. A chaise lounge placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling window makes it easy to take in the view. You can also rent a bike for free from the hotel to explore this riverfront area.

A little further afield are the apartments of National at Courthouse, on the Arlington side of the river from the National Mall. These serviced rooms are a few minutes from the Courthouse metro station, which is only five stops from Smithsonian station on the National Mall. This is a great choice if you’re looking for more spacious accommodation than those on the DC side of the river tend to offer. There’s a kitchen with an oven and tall fridge, laundry facilities and plenty of storage space.

Luxury and the Mandarin Oriental are inseparable entities, so if you’re looking for the ultimate in comfort and amenities from your hotel, this option – tucked between the riverfront and Holocaust Memorial Museum – is a winner. Even the simplest rooms here have plenty of space, dressed with elegant, floral designs in duck egg blue and mahogany tones. True to all Mandarin Oriental properties, there is a fine-dining restaurant. The rates also include access to the fitness center and Olympic-sized pool.