Washington, D.C. Hotels Get Creative

A vinyl copy of Eric Clapton’s Layla is playing on the turntable and Boz Scaggs is up next. Then I think I’ll broaden my musical horizons and spin Eydie Gormé’s Latin-pop hits. It’s all part of a relaxing evening in my hotel room at Yours Truly D.C., one of two new lodging spots in the district that I’m experiencing (the other is AC Hotel.) These creative hotels inaugurate concepts in comfortable, affordable luxury. In the case of Yours Truly, a visit is like kicking back on a comfortable couch at a friend’s house and hanging awhile. Every King Suite comes with a turntable and access to a curated vinyl library. So, here I am, singing a few bars with Boz on Lido Shuffle … “one for the roooooaaad.”

Form and Function

It’s about time the D.C. hotel scene had an infusion of vitality. Both Yours Truly, DC and AC Hotel Washington DC Downtown focus on a sense of space, blending form and function in their minimalist designs. The concept for AC Hotel was born via Spanish entrepreneur Antonio Catalan who, in his own travels, reflected that, “There has to be a different way that I can travel comfortably.” AC Hotels have grown to over 90 properties throughout the US & Europe, with the new D.C. unit the brand’s first in the district. “It’s high-end but not stuffy,” an AC Hotel staff member tells me. Having stayed in many five-star hotels, I totally “get” the more accessible concept of these hotels … the Yours Truly’s lobby lounge has become one of the most Instagram-ed spaces in D.C.

So, don’t expect butler service, ok? Instead, find yourself dancing to vinyls in a Yours Truly room that’s Boho chic—and at the right price, from the mid-$200’s to $350 range, depending on room type. Like AC Hotel, Yours Truly features utility in its elegant design: open closets (forget the heavy armoire-look), uncluttered workspaces, ample storage space for bags, and spa showers. Add groovy Warhol-inspired art in the Yours Truly rooms, vintage Persian carpets, and the 45’s, and it achieves cool with just the right dose of casual.

DC’s Most Instagram-able Space

Heading downstairs to the lobby level, I find myself admiring the open, airy Mercy Me, the hotel’s cafe, restaurant, and cocktail bar rolled into one. The enormous room boasts a glass wall that opens to the street. It’s perfect for social distancing, but also sports cozy spots for intimates. Furnishings in warm sunset hues of burnt orange and gold tempered with earthy tones combine for a gorgeous décor reminding me of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The cuisine presents intriguing options like a vegan-tartare native to the Amazon rainforest, a Surinamese pot pie, and a South American seafood soup poured over coconut-rice “arancini,” i.e. crispy fried rice balls.

Patrons with culinary whims can stir things up in the Yours Truly “cooking suite,” a large private room showcasing an open kitchen and dining space. I myself prefer to spend time in El Donut Shoppe—the record shop—conversing with the owner, Brooklyn, about the best recent vinyl finds.

Light and Easy at AC Hotel

AC Hotel also features wonderful décor with an art installation above the lounge, designed by German “lightpaper” sculptor Anke Neumann. Thousands of fiber optic lights cast a translucent glow over undulating paper panels that mirror the flow of the nearby Potomac River. Below it, high-backed leather chairs are reminiscent of an elegant study. They’re accompanied by comfy, big-pillowed wraparound couches, worthy of a few minutes rest to peruse the art, architectural, and fashion books on display in this very special “library” curated by Antonia Catalonia. Behind reception, copper tiles splashed with cherry blossoms form the shape of the Capitol. In the hallways’ red and grey felt pieces resemble a window frame in Union Station, the colors matching the nearby metro lines.

Like at Yours Truly, my spartan AC Hotel room provides plenty of space to tuck away my bags. At dusk I venture to the lobby’s Mod Bar for a signature AC Gin and Tonic (with a special Spanish tonic water.) Other choices include handcrafted cocktails, specialty wines, and Spanish-inspired tapas, as well as a full menu. An outdoor patio and a rooftop terrace overlook downtown.

The Golden Triangle

Both creative hotels are in the city’s Northwest section, a golden triangle of activity bounded by Dupont Circle, the cusp of Georgetown and the White House. They are also within walking distance of major metro stops. Valet parking is available, of course!