Tabard Inn

Room 8 was freezing. The window had a draft so bad the bathroom might as well have been open to the outside, and we had no hot water. We told the front desk we couldn't shower and got an apology, but no offer of another room or even somewhere else to shower. At 2 a.m. I wasn't going to wake my sleeping wife to ask to move, and when we tried to shower at 10 a.m. the cold made it impossible. The plastic shield hanging in the shower and the weather stripping taped around the window made it look like they already knew about the problem. When we raised it, we were told someone would look into it. This was my 40th birthday, and the awful stay is hard to forget. My wife and I work in the service industry and choose nice restaurants and boutique hotels expecting good service. The Tabors Inn did nothing to make up for the experience. Alba, please don't suggest that a different choice from us would have changed the outcome, or claim not to have known about the window when those patches were there. Room 8 seems like the last room they'd assign, and we were the last guests to check in Saturday night. I'll never return and will warn people.

We didn't stay at Tabard Inn on this visit, so the five stars reflect my earlier experiences. We chose its restaurant for a family dinner before Christmas because, back when we lived in DC, we often came for drinks or dinner. The patio was lovely in summer, and the cozy spot by the fire was nice in winter. My first oysters were here, and I was hooked. When I worked near Connecticut and N, I sometimes came for lunch several times a week. It's a terrific institution: the service is consistently superb, the menu interesting, and the drinks excellent. Whenever work or family brings me to the nation's capital, Tabard Inn is always my choice.

The hotel staff and restaurant team were incredibly kind. I enjoyed the simple two-egg breakfast with chicken sausage, which was cooked just right, and the orange marmalade with toast is worth trying. It's a cute historic hotel, though there is no TV or elevator. One employee carried my heavy bag upstairs.

After my other booking was cancelled at the last minute, Tabard Inn took me in and handled my late check-in wonderfully. The place has a cozy, charming character, the restaurant food is delicious, and I tried almost everything on the breakfast menu. It's also well located, about a 20 to 25 minute walk from several neighborhoods. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quaint place to stay, and I'm grateful for the great hospitality.