Checking In: A First Look at D.C.'s New Hipster Hotel

I've been wondering what all that construction was a few blocks away from The Post at the old Holiday Inn, and now that I've seen the completed project -- the Donovan House hotel -- I can say I'm impressedt. The modishly swish hotel is the first Thompson Hotels property to set up shop in the District. The cool-luxe company also owns lodgings in New York City, Toronto and California, including the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, where celebrities are part of the decor.

Granted, the D.C. property likely won't draw such a red carpet crowd, but since its opening on March 28, the hotel has been fully booked with New Yorkers and Europeans. For Thomas Circle, that qualifies as exotic.

For those who already have a bed in town, dropping at least $249 for a room might seem excessively indulgent. However, a stop by the lobby won't cost a cent. When I popped over, no one chided me for playing on the furniture, which featured lots of leather, throw pillows and a stunning floral arrangement made of wood (utility-wise, it works as a bench backboard). I swiveled in an olive-green leather chair with sides tall enough to obstruct my peripheral view (keeps the fans guessing whose under that crown of hair), but had the most fun swinging in a giant egg suspended from a ceiling by silver poles.

But remember, a lobby is not a playground: I banged into small white tables and bumped into a wall that was once snow white but now brandishes a small smudge. Put it on my bill.

The hotel was once a Holiday Inn. You could guess from the elevators, which are small and slow. All other vestiges of the chain, however, have been replaced with deep purple rugs in the hallways, treated leather furniture and headboards in the rooms, and futuristic showers that bulge into the living space and glow like a "Star Trek" transporter.

For a review of the place by someone who actually spent the night, check out the Hotelchatter blog, which includes room photos.

There are some drawbacks, of course. First, the location on 14th Street NW. The nearest neighbors are a CVS, a retirement home (some rooms overlook their outdoor social space) and a Residence Inn. Shopping, dining, major attractions and even the Metro require some footwork. In addition, its restaurant, of which a celebrity chef is reportedly attached, won't be open until fall, and the rooftop bar won't start cocktail hour until summer. Even then, the bar might not be open to the publc.

I'm already plotting my Peeping Thompson spots on the sidewalk below.

By Andrea Sachs |  April 3, 2008; 6:12 AM ET  | Category:  Andrea Sachs , Hotels
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