Hotel Nell - Union Market

Everything felt easy and pleasant from start to finish. The room was comfortable and thoughtfully detailed, making it easy to unwind. The property was clean, quiet, and well maintained, and every interaction with staff was positive and professional. A truly exceptional experience.

The one good thing during our stay was the front desk attendant. We planned to stay three days but cut it to one night and moved to another hotel. This place badly needs improvement. The beds were dirty, very small, and uncomfortable for two people. The walls were so thin we heard everything from upstairs, downstairs, and next door. The TVs didn’t work, and the bathrooms weren’t properly cleaned, with old bodily fluids still there. Loud music played late without any rules, so I wouldn’t call this hotel family-friendly. The AC was stuck at 80 and couldn’t be turned down, making the room like a furnace at night. I usually avoid leaving negative reviews, but I felt I had to.

The room’s layout was so cramped that basic comfort suffered. I was in a two-twin-bed room of about 120 square feet, with almost no room left to move once both beds were in place. The mini fridge sat beside a bed and basically served as a nightstand. The metal bed frames were very basic, the mattresses were poor quality, and each bed had just one thin pillow. I slept badly and woke with stiffness and discomfort. The little corner shower, about 2x2, had a fabric curtain and felt temporary and budget-level. The bathroom didn’t improve things. Really, the main difference from a hostel was the white bedding. The air was so dry it felt uncomfortable to breathe, especially at night, and that made sleep even worse. After staying there, I don’t understand the high rating. The reviews don’t match what I experienced, so I’m sharing this to help other travelers decide.

We spent five days at hotel nell during our D.C trip, and I came away with mixed feelings. The food options are a strong point: breakfast and coffee were great, and the rooftop bar was really nice, with affordable gourmet tacos. The front desk staff were extremely kind and explained everything well. For that alone, I’d give five stars. The room was another story. The TV didn’t work, which was inconvenient for a longer visit, though not the worst thing. The beds were among the worst I’ve slept on, and we both went home achy. The walls were so thin we could hear the person next door whispering. We chose the smallest room, and it was very cramped with no place for luggage, but that part was on us and would probably be fine for one person. Reserved parking was $45 a night; it was worth it for our longer stay, though for just a night or two I’d park down the street. I still give four stars because the staff were great, and I don’t blame them for the lousy rooms. PS: If you stay here, check out cafe maman down the street. Best coffee ever!