The Melrose Georgetown Hotel

I was at an event at Four Seasons, and this was the overflow hotel. It was well worth staying here. The building is historic, so the rooms show a little wear, but they’re still good. The lobby coffee, just off the elevators, was great to grab and go. In-room coffee makers were a bit loud, though manageable. There were full umbrellas in the closet too, a nice touch. The highlight was “Z,” the lobby bartender. She was engaging and cool, and our conversations made the stay much more enjoyable. Walking to Four Seasons, downtown Georgetown, or other places wasn’t bad, and Uber was usually available and arrived quickly when needed.

The room layout worked really well, with a living room up front and the bedroom tucked around the corner for privacy. The King bed was outstanding, and the pillows were great. Switching back to a Queen at home will be hard. Jen saved the best for last. A few practical things could be improved. There weren’t enough accessible outlets for phones, laptops, GoPro cameras, and wireless headphones. During our stay on February 20, 2026, the building had an HVAC problem and blew hot air despite the February weather. Opening the windows to let in the 35° D.C. air solved it surprisingly well. The single-handle shower control spins all the way around without a clear stop, so it took a bit to figure out the temperature and on-off positions. The wall-mounted Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers looked fancy but dispensed inconsistently and dribbled down the bottles. Bath towels were smaller than I expected. I liked the embroidered dark “Makeup” towel, a thoughtful detail. The baggage attendant was friendly and suggested SpotHero since there’s no dedicated self-parking. With that tip I found overnight parking nearby for $25 instead of paying $76 for valet. Overall, the layout and bed were excellent, and the stay was very good, but a few details kept it from five stars.

The location was the best part of our three-night stay at the Melrose Georgetown Hotel. There are lots of great places to eat nearby, from casual to upscale, and you can easily reach downtown D.C. We rented a car but used it only one day. Uber is excellent in downtown D.C., so walking and rideshares are a good way to save money. There’s no free parking, and valet costs $70 a day. Check-in was pleasant, the night staff were kind and laid back, and the lobby looked fancy. There was also a $300 hold for the stay, which I assume was $100 per night. The rooms didn’t match the lobby’s high-end look and need a major update: paint and furniture, a deep clean, AC and heating repairs, and bathroom drains. The sides of the bed were covered in dust and old debris, there was an old booger on the headboard, the sink was clogged, and the bathroom was tiny. We cleaned the room ourselves the first night and kept doing so for the next three nights. We figured if it wasn’t cleaned before we arrived, what difference would it make afterward? If you don’t need everything to be fancy and just want a reasonably priced place downtown, these things may not bother you. A fee hadn’t been disclosed up front, so I’d call the front desk and ask about every fee before booking. Checkout felt sketchy. The older woman took my keys and said I’d be checked out after the morning audit, as if I had no choice, without offering other options. I didn’t get an email or printed receipt at checkout, and the next day I still hadn’t received a final receipt. If you use valet and need your car before 7 a.m., you have to walk with security to retrieve it. The garage is tiny, and the parking spaces are difficult to get out of. It took me five minutes to pull out of mine. I’d recommend the hotel if you only need somewhere near downtown and aren’t concerned about hotel quality. Otherwise, I can’t recommend the Melrose Georgetown Hotel.

We had a really good stay and would recommend it for a visit to D.C. Staff were welcoming and polite, and the hotel was well kept, especially the foyer and carpeted corridors. Free hot drinks at reception were a nice extra. Our large corner suite had lovely leafy views over Georgetown and Washington DC, with plenty of space and a comfortable bed. The air conditioning was a little unreliable. It’s good value for an exceptional hotel, at the edge of Georgetown and a short walk from central DC and Foggy Bottom metro station.