InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C. by IHG
by the TopOfHotel team
The Willard is a chance to sleep inside a living legend of Washington, just two blocks from the White House — its history, grand Beaux-Arts atmosphere and hard-to-match location matter more here than how new the rooms are.
The Willard is a chance to sleep inside a living legend of Washington, just two blocks from the White House — its history, grand Beaux-Arts atmosphere and hard-to-match location matter more here than how new the rooms are.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a grand stone building on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a few steps from the White House, that has watched more than two centuries of American history go by — that is The Willard. The hotel's origins go back to 1818, while the ornate Beaux-Arts building you see today was built in 1901 by Henry Hardenbergh, the same architect behind The Plaza in New York. The roughly 335 rooms and suites have been renovated to feel more modern while keeping a warm, classic tone — heavy curtains, traditional-style furniture and the kind of detail you get from an old grand hotel. Open the door and you feel a quiet sense of class that new-builds find hard to copy. Beds are comfortable, the marble bathrooms look smart, and many higher-floor rooms look out over the capital and its monuments. Anyone who loves classic style with a story in every wall will likely fall for this place from the first step into the lobby.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is the atmosphere and the common spaces packed with history. The first highlight is Peacock Alley, the long corridor down the middle of the building lined with marble columns, mosaic floors and chandeliers; it was once a meeting place for presidents, diplomats and people there to lobby on various matters — said to be where the word "lobbyist" comes from. Walk its length and it feels like stepping back more than a hundred years. Next is the Round Robin Bar, a legendary circular bar where bartenders serve classic cocktails like the mint julep among dark wood walls and portraits of figures from the past. For food there is Café du Parc, a French brasserie on Pennsylvania Avenue with outdoor tables and a city view, plus a much-talked-about afternoon tea in a grand setting. There is also a 24-hour fitness center, concierge and butler service, and historic event spaces and a ballroom still in real use. The overall feel is a refined kind of luxury that makes you feel part of the capital's history.
Location and getting there
Location is genuinely The Willard's strongest card. The hotel sits on Pennsylvania Avenue, the key axis linking the White House and the Capitol, with the White House only about two blocks away — an easy walk for photos. Step out the door and you reach Freedom Plaza, and a little further on you hit the National Mall, the wide green ringed by the Smithsonian museums, the Washington Monument and various memorials you can visit for free. Around the hotel is the Downtown district, with restaurants, theaters and government buildings to explore. Getting around the city is very easy because Metro Center station (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver lines), the city's main metro hub, is about a 3-minute walk. From there you can jump on the subway to any neighborhood without relying on taxis. If you like a car-free trip — exploring the capital on foot alongside the metro, then coming back to a classic historic building — this location scores a perfect ten.
Things to know before booking
To help you decide, here is the straight talk. First, this is a 100-plus-year-old historic building. The rooms are renovated, but some room types still run fairly small to the original floor plan, and a few corners may look older or worn with age. Anyone expecting a wide, open room like a new-build may need to adjust expectations and see the charm here as story and atmosphere rather than newness. Second is cost — rates sit at the high end, and as a central-city hotel the parking is valet with an extra nightly charge, plus there may be a daily destination fee at times, so check clearly when you book. Third, rooms facing Pennsylvania Avenue can pick up traffic or event noise from the events held out front, which happens often given the central location; if you are a light sleeper, ask for a room not facing the main street. Some reviews also note the service is not always as consistent as the price on busy days or during big events. None of this is a deal-breaker, but it is worth knowing so your expectations match what this place sets out to offer.
Our take
After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C. is a hotel that sells "living history plus a grand Beaux-Arts atmosphere plus a hard-to-match location near the White House" with full confidence. If your mental image of the trip is sleeping in a building that has hosted countless presidents, strolling through Peacock Alley, sipping a mint julep in the Round Robin Bar, then waking up a few blocks from the White House and the National Mall, this is a choice that stays with you. But if you mainly care about wide rooms, newness and value per square meter, the age of the building and the fairly high rates may give you pause. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best for couples, history lovers and business travelers who want to soak up the legend and central location of Washington, D.C.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A living-legend historic hotel with origins back to 1818; the current building is a 1901 Beaux-Arts design by Henry Hardenbergh — the kind of atmosphere newer hotels simply cannot deliver.
- Excellent location on Pennsylvania Avenue, about 2 blocks on foot to the White House and roughly a 3-minute walk to the Metro Center subway station.
- The lobby and Peacock Alley corridor are striking, with marble columns, high ceilings and chandeliers — a spot reviewers say feels like stepping back in time the moment you walk in.
- The Round Robin Bar is a legendary circular bar serving classic cocktails, alongside the street-side French Café du Parc and a much-talked-about afternoon tea.
- You can walk to Freedom Plaza, the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums and the Washington Monument, all within easy reach — ideal for exploring the capital on foot.
- This is a 100-plus-year-old historic building, so some room types run fairly small and a few corners look dated, even after renovation. If you want a wide, airy room like a new-build hotel, adjust your expectations and value the story and atmosphere over newness.
- Rates sit at the high end, and as a central-city hotel the parking is valet with an extra nightly charge, plus there may be a daily destination fee at times — worth checking when you book.
- Rooms facing Pennsylvania Avenue can pick up traffic or event noise from the events often held out front, and some reviews feel the service is not always as consistent as the price on busy days.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Washington, D.C.
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Insider Tips
- Stroll through Peacock Alley, the historic corridor in the middle of the building, then stop for a cocktail at the Round Robin Bar — it is the signature Willard experience and well worth doing.
- If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room not facing Pennsylvania Avenue to avoid traffic and event noise, and ask about the most recently renovated rooms.
- Use Metro Center station (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver lines), about a 3-minute walk, to ride the subway to the National Mall, the Smithsonian and other neighborhoods very easily.