Swann HousevsThe Hay-Adams
Both hotels are praised by reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, The Hay-Adams ranks significantly better than Swann House. The Hay-Adams scores 96 with endorsements from 22 publications like Gayot, BlackBook and Oyster.
Swann House
1808 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC, DC 20009
From $259/night
- Free Internet
- Free Breakfast
- Concierge
- Pool
- Business Center
- Air Conditioning
Frommer's
"Among D.C's stable of wonderful B&Bs, Swann House stands out." Full review
Concierge
"A tiny jewel. The 12 rooms in this B&B all have period details and pleasant decor, each with a unique style—taste (and budget) will determine your choice."
Insight Guides
"Heavy on the romance, this bed and breakfast in Dupont Circle is also a gorgeous 19th-century mansion."
Lonely Planet
"A dozen rooms are peppered around an exquisite 1883 Romanesque mansion, all just set off enough from Dupont to be quiet, but close enough to the action for you to get raucous." Full review
i
A dozen rooms are peppered around an exquisite 1883 Romanesque mansion, all just set off enough from Dupont to be quiet, but close enough to the action for you to get raucous, if you so choose.
Travel + Leisure
"A nip of sherry from a crystal tumbler in this house's aristocratic sitting room may make you feel like a guest in a very elegant private home—and so you are." Full review
i
In summer, cool off in the outdoor pool, private behind a trellised wall.
DK Eyewitness
"Sometimes described as the best B&B in the city, this charming establishment provides modern conveniences – Wi-Fi, private baths, and cable TV – along with personal attention."
Zagat
"Housed in a turreted mansion dating to 1883, this nonsmoking B&B features 12 individually decorated rooms and suites, all with private bathrooms."
Fodor's
"You'll be hard-pressed to find a more charming inn or hosts more delightful than innkeeper Rick Verkler and his staff." Full review
Oyster
Upscale
"The four-pearl Swann House is a charming bed-and-breakfast in a quiet residential neighborhood near DuPont Circle." Full review
Time Out
"The hallways aren’t cramped and the lighting is good throughout. The pleasant rooms, which vary in their color schemes, are romantic without being twee, and some have working fireplaces and jacuzzis." Full review
The Hay-Adams Show All Reviews
16th & H Sts. NW, One Lafayette Square, Washington DC, DC 20006
From $369/night
- Pet Friendly
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Laundry Service
- Concierge
Concierge
"This venerable hotel... has such a good bird's-eye view of the First Mansion that network news divisions often book a room here just for the camera angles."
Insight Guides
"If it's good enough for the Obamas, it's good enough for the rest of us. This grand, historic hotel faces the White House and has hosted many a famous face."
Oyster
Luxury
"Quite possibly the most famous hotel in the capital, and deservedly so." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"One of the city's finest hotels, this rebuilt 19th-century residence also boasts what is arguably the city's best location." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"Constructed on the sites of the homes of John Hay and Henry Adams, this elegant hotel features beautifully restored rooms filled with antiques and boasting ornamental ceilings."
Rough Guide
"From the gold-leaf and walnut lobby to the sleek modern rooms, the Hay-Adams is one of DC’s finest hotels."
Michelin Guide
"With a view of the Executive Mansion from its location across Lafayette Square, the lauded Hay-Adams is closer to the White House than any of the city's grande-dame hotels."
Star Service
"The small porte cochere, usually clogged with luxury sedans, leads right into the period, high-ceilinged lobby, where a staff member intercepts all guests. " Full review
Gayot
"This establishment was a residential hotel in the 1920s. Today it hosts a clientele that includes pleasure travelers, ambassadors and celebrities."
BlackBook
"If you can't be the president, be his neighbor. Immediate prestige is just a slingshot's shot away from the secret service men staring back at you from the White House roof."