A review of the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. and its renovated rooms

It’s not every day that one can say they’re staying at a hotel so famed for hosting presidents, foreign dignitaries and other important figures that it’s lovingly called the “Residence of Presidents,” even in a city as full of historic hotels as our nation’s capital.

Yet from the moment you pull up to the beaux arts-style Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. — which, in its current state, has stood within a short stroll of the White House and the Washington Monument, among other iconic local landmarks, for over a century — it’s clear you’re in for a stately stay unlike most.

While the Pennsylvania Avenue fixture has long been a standout among Washington hotels (particularly ones bookable with points), after completing a refresh of its 335 guest rooms and suites in July, it has become an even more appealing option for travelers, especially IHG One Rewards elite members.

Here’s what my stay at the iconic Willard was like and what you can expect should you decide to visit.

What it’s like at the Willard InterContinental

You’ll find plenty of historic hotels throughout Washington, D.C., but few offer as much historical significance as the Willard.

Despite initial struggles to draw guests when it first opened in 1818, by 1853, the property welcomed its first presidential patron, Franklin Pierce, starting a tradition of presidents choosing the Willard for important occasions. Former President John Tyler chaired the Peace Conference (an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to avoid the Civil War) at the property. Former President Ulysses S. Grant frequented the hotel’s lobby to unwind with a glass of brandy and a cigar, coining the term “lobbyist” during one such visit. Even former President Abraham Lincoln briefly used the Willard as his primary residence ahead of his inauguration.

Given its storied past, it’s unsurprising that the property remains a popular option for history lovers and guests seeking a classic hotel experience close to Washington’s famous sites. Old-school hospitality by way of suited-up staff assisting guests with any request — sometimes even before requests are made — is apparent the second you arrive, and elegant, eye-catching decor awaits around every corner. In fact, the hotel features so many thoughtful touches that many are easy to miss, particularly in the grandiose lobby (more on that below).

How much the Willard InterContinental costs — and how to book it

A variety of accommodation options, including entry-level Classic Rooms (offering 300 to 550 square feet), Premium Rooms with or without a Washington Monument view (measuring 325 to 450 square feet) and a selection of up-to-2,300-square-foot suites — some named after famous former guests, such as opera singer Jenny Lind and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. — are available at the Willard.

Room prices vary depending on the accommodation chosen and the time of year — generally, they’re at their highest when Washington’s famous cherry blossoms are in bloom, in the summer and around Christmas. A quick peek at IHG’s website shows rates for Classic Rooms start at $364 a night (including taxes and fees), while rates for a one-bedroom suite with a Washington Monument view, the category I selected for my two-night booking, start at $892 per night (including taxes and fees).

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

For my particular dates in late August at the pricier “Pet Getaway” rate I chose for my stay with my dog, Bailey, the cash price was $1,286 per night (including taxes and fees). This ended up being a terrific rate for the suite I was assigned for my stay, as my top-tier Diamond Elite status and extra-charge Ambassador membership resulted in an upgrade to a spacious Oval Suite, which would’ve cost me $2,119 per night (including taxes and fees) out of pocket.

No award rates were available for my stay dates. However, you can typically expect to redeem 49,000 to 120,000 IHG One Rewards points per night for an award stay in a Classic- or Premium-designated room.

If, like me, you’re keen on racking up as many IHG points as possible to earn (or maintain) elite status in the IHG One Rewards program, be sure to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for IHG stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic IHG elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

Rooms at the Willard InterContinental

Much to my delight, three weeks before starting my stay at the Willard, I discovered in the IHG app that my reservation showed my room booking had changed … for the better. Instead of noting the “1 Bedroom Suite Washington Monument View” category I had chosen, my booking now showed a “1 Bedroom Suite 1 King Washington Monument View” with photos of an Oval Suite, suggesting I would receive an upgrade upon arrival. Historically, seeing my upgrade in advance in the app has been common for prior Willard stays, though I was in for a real treat with this upgrade — the best I’ve received to date.

For our late-August visit, Bailey and I were assigned the Julia Ward Howe Suite in the southeast corner of the third floor. Measuring 1,100 square feet, the suite — named for the Civil War-era abolitionist and writer best known for writing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” — features two entrances: one next to the elevators and another around the corner at the end of a discreet hall.

Upon entering the foyer from the main door, I was immediately drawn to the marble hall leading to a portrait of the suite’s namesake before discovering a powder room and a butler’s pantry with a minifridge, a Nespresso machine and a microwave immediately to the left. Walking toward the portrait, I was then faced with a choice: Turn left to go to the bedroom, or turn right to see the living area.

Heading left brought me past a closet with ample hanging space and a luggage rack before entering the bedroom. Featuring two windows for a decent amount of natural light, the bedroom was organized into various zones, including a work area with a desk, a sleeping space with a comfortable king-size bed topped with plenty of plush pillows, and a leisure corner with a cozy chair and ottoman ideal for reading or watching TV.

I appreciated the bedroom’s thoughtful layout. Even the traditional decor — which I normally wouldn’t gravitate toward — offered a refined ambience that felt appropriate given the property’s age (without appearing dated).

1 of 2

CHRISTINE GALLIPEAU/THE POINTS GUY

Just past the bedroom was another hall with a second closet leading to the second entrance and the main bathroom, which felt surprisingly small given the otherwise spacious feel of the suite, perhaps due to its lack of a second vanity. The bathroom was otherwise well appointed, though, offering a marble walk-in shower, a separate tub (also surrounded by marble), Byredo Bal d’Afrique bath amenities, a sink with a light-up mirror and — an unexpected find — a smart toilet.

Turning back toward the foyer, just beyond the portrait of Howe, I discovered the highlight of the suite: a spectacular living room similar in shape to the famed Oval Office at the White House. I loved the custom curved sofa topped with pillows in various green hues and the beautiful mural inspired by Howe’s “Passion-Flowers” book of poetry, as well as the cloudlike shadows depicted on the ceiling when the stunning chandelier illuminated the room. All together, they created a relaxing, inviting space ideal for lounging — or playing, as Bailey preferred.

The small dining nook just off the living room was an added bonus, as it came with a terrific peekaboo view of the Washington Monument I enjoyed while dining in the suite.

What I ate at the Willard InterContinental

There’s only one sit-down restaurant, Cafe du Parc, available at the Willard, and it offers a range of French brasserie-inspired dishes every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Exact menu options change seasonally, but expect dishes like beef bourguignon ($45), steak frites ($47) and Muscovy duck breast topped with a bitter orange sauce ($43).

Because Bailey was with me, I skipped dining in the restaurant in favor of ordering room service.

The room service menu mostly mirrored the dine-in menu, just with a smaller selection of dishes.

I decided to keep things simple and stick with a couple of classics, ordering a Caesar salad ($18) and the Willard Burger ($26). Each dish was plentiful portion-wise and reasonably priced, especially given the daily $20 food-and-beverage credit that’s part of the nightly $35 resort fee and the additional $20 food-and-beverage credit I receive as an Ambassador member (both of which were applied to the room service charge at checkout). They were also spot-on in terms of flavor, requiring no additional salt or pepper — this pepper-loving editor rarely finds a dish she doesn’t add extra pepper to. I was particularly fond of the seasoned potato wedges that came with my burger, as well as the burger’s toppings — fried onions, raclette cheese and truffle aioli — though the meat itself was unevenly cooked.

As for breakfast, thanks to my Diamond Elite status, I selected complimentary breakfast (in the form of a $45 credit) as my welcome amenity, which I ordered each morning as takeout from Cafe du Parc’s coffee shop, Le Cafe.

I chose the avocado toast with two over-easy eggs (normally $21) and an iced latte (normally $6) the first morning, which was a tasty, light (but still satisfying) meal to enjoy on a hot late-summer day. On my final morning, I went with a stack of traditional buttermilk pancakes (normally $19) to accompany another iced latte and loved how the former was vanilla-forward in flavor.

1 of 2

CHRISTINE GALLIPEAU/THE POINTS GUY

To use up the resort fee’s daily $20 food-and-beverage credit on the second day of my stay, I also visited Le Cafe for a midday snack, choosing a flaky almond croissant (normally $5.75) and an iced mocha (normally $6.50). Each satisfied my craving for something sweet before dinner.

Amenities and things to do at the Willard InterContinental

1 of 2

CHRISTINE GALLIPEAU/THE POINTS GUY

Chances are you’ll spend most of your stay away from the property checking out some of Washington’s famous sites and museums, but when you choose to linger on-site, you’ll have a few noteworthy amenities to use.

• The Willard Spa is the place to go for an extra dose of pampering. Tucked away on the second floor, the space offers a range of treatments, including classic massages, facials and body wraps, plus a selection of Hydrafacial services.
• Within the spa lies a well-appointed fitness center featuring various Peloton, Life Fitness and Technogym machines. It’s accessible 24 hours a day with your room key.
• For an evening nightcap, there’s the Willard’s famous Round Robin Bar, a wood-heavy, see-and-be-seen space with an eye-catching circular bar. Be sure to order the mint julep; it has been a staple here since 1830.
• At the hotel’s Peacock Alley (or its tea room, on select days), you can enjoy afternoon tea (advance reservations required). There’s even a holiday version of the experience available around Christmas.
• In addition to offering families loaner cribs and strollers, the hotel has a children’s library that little ones can visit to borrow books. Kids can also earn “Duck Bucks” to redeem for treats at the cafe.

Insider tips for staying at the Willard InterContinental

• The winter holidays are extra magical at the Willard, as the property displays an impressive gingerbread scene, offers nightly caroling in the lobby and has gorgeously decorated trees both inside and out. It’s also a couple of blocks from the National Christmas Tree set up annually in President’s Park.
• It’s easy to walk to many of Washington’s most popular sites from the hotel. Within a day, you can check out the White House, the World War I Memorial, the Washington Monument and a Smithsonian museum or two — depending on how action-packed you want your day to be — all without a car.
• If you’re traveling with a four-legged friend, consider choosing the “Pet Getaway” rate. Although the hotel was unable to provide the pet amenity kit the rate covers for this stay, during prior visits, the kit has come with all kinds of pet essentials, such as potty bags, a collapsible water bowl, treats and a toy. The $200 nonrefundable pet cleaning fee is also included in the pet rate.
• While in the lobby, be sure to pay close attention to the coffered ceiling. Each light fixture hanging from it is surrounded by four state seals, each representing one of the Lower 48 states. The seals for the other two U.S. states, Alaska and Hawaii, can be found on the back pillars of the hotel’s Peacock Alley.

Accessibility

At the Williard, accessibility features include visual alarms in halls and braille on signage. All public spaces, including the restaurant and the cafe, also have accessible entrances. There’s a wheelchair-accessible parking space outside the main entrance as well.

Inside the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant rooms, guests will find grab bars, handrails and safety bars in the bathrooms, as well as lower door locks. Service animals are also permitted.

Bottom line

Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of luxe digs or simply seek proximity to Washington’s famous sites, chances are you’ll enjoy staying at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. Its refurbished suites are fresh while still honoring the property’s centuries-old legacy as a top hotel for politicians, celebrities and everyone in between. Not to mention, the service provided to those with and without elite status is top-notch, making it an ideal choice for locals (like me) and visitors alike — even if it costs a little more than average upfront.

Related reading: