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Book The Hay-Adams with VIP Benefits

Best for

Choose The Hay-Adams for a first Washington visit focused on the capital's landmarks, with the White House just across Lafayette Square.

What makes it special

Visit Off The Record for cocktails among political cartoons, a playful introduction to Washington's political culture without needing an invitation.

Room to consider

Consider a Premier Room for views of Lafayette Park's trees and a choice of one king bed or two double beds.

Insider tip

Plan dinner elsewhere on Sundays, when The Lafayette is closed for the evening; the concierge can help with restaurant reservations.

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The Hay-Adams

The Hay-Adams is a landmark hotel on Lafayette Square in Washington, DC. At 800 16th Street NW, it stands opposite the park and St. John's Church, with the White House beyond the square. The hotel has 145 accommodations, comprising 124 guestrooms and 21 suites. The Lafayette restaurant, Off The Record bar and private event rooms give it a life beyond overnight stays.

Ultra Luxury

4.6/5 96 Member Reviews 72% Upgrade Rate

Rooms

Hotel Style

Charming

Leisure

Fitness

Experiences

Culture
City Vibe

Facilities

Pet Friendly
Wheelchair Accessible
Connecting Rooms

Rooms & Suites at The Hay-Adams

Superior Room

245–385 sqft

From 470 USD

Bed choices define the Superior Room's different versions. Regular rates offer one double, one queen or two double beds. Accessible versions have a king bed....

Deluxe Executive Studio

440 sqft

From 578 USD

A courtyard outlook gives the Deluxe Executive Studio its own setting. This selected 440-square-foot studio has a queen bed and a sitting area with a...

Park View Room

385 sqft

From 694 USD

Lafayette Park fills the outlook from the Park View Room, which measures 385 square feet. Choose one king bed or two double beds through your...

Deluxe Room

345–385 sqft

From 740 USD

The Deluxe Room comes with a king bed or two double beds, depending on the rate you choose. These selected rooms measure 345 to 385...

Premier Room

385 sqft

From 972 USD

South-facing views over Lafayette Square give the Premier Room a strong sense of place. It measures 385 square feet and offers a king bed or...

Park View Junior Suite

540 sqft

From 1’042 USD

South-facing windows look over Lafayette Park and the Washington Monument from the Park View Junior Suite. Its 540 square feet contain a king bed and...

Luxury White House Junior Suite

540 sqft

From 1’204 USD

White House views distinguish this selected Luxury White House Junior Suite. The space measures 540 square feet and has a king bed. The Junior Suite's...

Church View Luxury Suite

710 sqft

From 1’436 USD

Leafy views of St. John's Church frame the Church View Luxury Suite. Its 710 square feet include a separate king bedroom and living room. A...

Park View Luxury Suite

1,095 sqft

From 1’900 USD

With 1,095 square feet, the Park View Luxury Suite has a separate king bedroom and a large living room. Views take in Lafayette Park and...

The hotel takes its name from John Hay and Henry Adams, whose former homes once stood on this site. John Hay served as private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and later as Secretary of State. Henry Adams was a historian whose home became part of Washington's literary and political salon culture.

The current hotel opened in 1928. Architect Mihran Mesrobian designed it in the Italian Renaissance style, replacing the two houses with an apartment hotel. Wood paneling from Hay's residence was reused in what is now the Hay-Adams Room. That surviving material is a direct link between the original houses and today's gathering spaces.

Classic Rooms measure 245 to 345 square feet and have a double or queen bed. Deluxe Rooms range from 345 to 440 square feet, with a king, two doubles, or a queen and sleeper sofa. The bedding arrangements differ within the category, so specify the layout you need. A Deluxe Room can also connect to another room or suite, which is useful for families who want separate sleeping spaces. Confirm the connecting arrangement when reserving rather than treating it as an arrival request.

Premier Rooms face Lafayette Park and have a king or two double beds within 385 square feet. A park view should not be read as a promise of an unobstructed White House view; establish the exact outlook if that is central to your stay.

The Lafayette Park View Junior Suites combine the sleeping and living areas in 540 square feet. A king bed, sleeper sofa and four long windows face south toward the park and Washington Monument. For a separate bedroom, the 710-square-foot St. John's Church View Suites add a living room and a bathroom with both a walk-in shower and soaking tub. Their connecting Deluxe Room option can add another bedroom.

The named suites, including Federal and Presidential suites, add separate living areas. The 1,480-square-foot Federal Suite has a butler's pantry, two full bathrooms and a dining table for ten. The Presidential Suite is smaller, at 1,095 square feet, but its eighth-floor position gives views of the White House, Lafayette Park and Washington Monument. It also has a working gas fireplace. Both can gain a second bedroom through a connecting room; that room needs to be reserved as part of the arrangement.

Accessible accommodation includes king-bedded rooms with accessible tubs and a one-bedroom suite with a roll-in shower. Visual alarms and adapted controls are among the listed features. The bathroom layout is an important difference between these options, so discuss the equipment and circulation space you require before selecting a room.

The Lafayette is the hotel's main restaurant, serving contemporary American cuisine. By day, natural light fills the dining room; candlelight changes its mood in the evening. Breakfast and weekday lunch provide daytime options, while brunch is served on weekends. Dinner is not available on Sunday evenings.

The current dinner menu includes red snapper, scallops, lamb and filet, alongside rigatoni with roasted cauliflower. Menus can change, so confirm any particular dish or dietary requirement with the restaurant when making a reservation.

Behind glass doors, The Lafayette's Private Dining Room seats up to sixteen for lunch or dinner. The team can plan a menu for the occasion. It is a separate arrangement from reserving a restaurant table, and a useful option for a family celebration or a working meal that needs its own room.

Off The Record keeps its Washington character in the details. Political caricatures hang on the walls, and illustrated coasters have been part of the bar since 2015. The hotel's collaborators include Ann Telnaes, Kevin Kallaugher and Matt Wuerker.

The drinks menu includes a pear martini, a rye Old Fashioned and nonalcoholic choices. Food goes beyond small snacks, with oysters, a burger and steak frites among the current dishes. The bar opens daily, though food service ends before the bar closes. Seating is first-come, first-served, with no reservations or private-event bookings, so use the hotel's dedicated event rooms for a gathering that requires a confirmed space.

Top of the Hay occupies the hotel's private top floor, with White House and city views. French doors open onto a wraparound balcony, allowing an event to use both indoor and outdoor space. It is a private function venue, not a rooftop bar with routine access for overnight guests. Weddings, meetings and receptions here are planned with the events team.

Other rooms bring different architectural details to a gathering. The Hay-Adams Room has rich woodwork, decorative ceilings and two working gas fireplaces. The Concorde Room uses hand-painted wallpaper and crystal chandeliers, with tall windows admitting daylight.

The second-floor fitness room has cardio equipment, weights and a TRX suspension trainer, plus a changing area and shower. For a treatment, the concierge can arrange an in-room massage or help reserve a visit to an outside spa. Room service is available around the clock.

Lafayette Park provides a pedestrian view of the White House's North Portico. Access to the park and surrounding areas can change without notice because of security closures, so allow flexibility when setting out. The National Mall lies south of the White House.

The nearby Renwick Gallery, at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street, focuses on craft and decorative art. Regular admission does not require tickets, making it an option between scheduled appointments or meals. An accessible entrance is on 17th Street. The gallery is separate from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's main building, a useful distinction when planning a museum visit.

For arrivals by road, the hotel driveway is on 16th Street NW. The concierge can arrange taxis, limousines or rental cars, and valet parking is available. Metro provides another option: Reagan National Airport is on the Blue and Yellow lines, while Dulles Airport is on the Silver Line. Farragut West, near the Renwick, serves the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. Check the current journey and service status before leaving the airport.

Why we love this hotel

The Lafayette's Maryland Crab Cake Benedict brings regional seafood to weekend brunch, pairing poached eggs and hollandaise with a local Chesapeake favourite.

The concierge can arrange massages in your room, giving you a private way to unwind without visiting an outside spa.

Day rentals of hotel bicycles offer an alternative to taxis for exploring Washington, with bikes allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.