Review: Conrad Washington DC is perfect for an upscale getaway

Conrad Washington DC – Introduction and Booking

With a quick weekend trip to Washington DC, this time, I decided to skip the historic and traditional InterContinental Willard for the contemporary and chic Conrad. Nestled in the CityCenter downtown district, the Conrad is right in the heart of all the bougie shops.

A deluxe room at the Conrad typically goes for 85,000 Hilton points per night.  If you don’t find this standard pricing, expect to pay two to three times the points for a dynamically priced redemption. For my one night stay, I opted to pay cash. I managed to secure a rate of $226 USD using a corporate rate through my employer. The standard rate for a deluxe room was just over $100 more for the same date.

Conrad Washington DC – Arrival and Check-in

Stepping into the lobby, I was greeted by a sleek and minimalist design. There was a modest reception desk in the centre and a cozy seating area to the side. The front desk associate preoccupied with other guests, directed me to the main reception desk on the third floor.

Conrad – Reception Desk

Elevators

I took the elevator, and upon arriving on the third floor, I was welcomed by another front desk associate. He acknowledged my humble Hilton Gold status. This status entitled me to the following benefits:

• Room upgrade based on availability
• Daily Food and Beverage (F&B) credit for up to two people at U.S. properties

The credit amount varies by hotel brand, and it only applies to certain Hilton properties in the U.S. For upscale properties, such as the Conrad, the daily credit is $25 or up to $50 if you’re booking is for two people.

Since my stay was short, I was hopeful that I would score a suite. Reality set in as the front desk associate cheerfully informed me that I’d been upgraded to a city-view room. I was staying at a U.S. property, after all, so I had to temper my expectations. 🙂

Conrad Washington DC – Deluxe King Bedroom

With keys in hand, I made my way to my assigned room 723 on the 7^th floor, taking in the atrium-style layout that opened in the centre with rooms all around in this 10-floor hotel. I found that it was reminiscent of the Hilton Buenos Aires minus the glass ceiling.

Atrium

Walking into the room, to the right was the closet where you had to pull out the door to open it. Within it were the typical items, such as bathrobes, slippers, iron, a safe and a generous number of hangers. Most importantly, one of the closet doors had a full length mirror. To the left of the hallway was a modern bathroom with the exact grey/white tile design as the ones around the elevators and reception area. Not very original!

Bathroom Vanity and sink

Shower with a Tub

Past the hallway was the bedroom, continuing with a minimalist design. In the centre was a low-profile king-sized bed. Facing the bed was a TV and a small seating area with stylish, albeit somewhat uncomfortable chairs.

Adjacent to the TV was the minibar area, complete with a Nespresso machine alongside a kettle, recognizing the often neglected tea enthusiasts. The room was fully equipped with many electrical and USB outlets. This also included switches to control the lights and blackout curtains as well as one for requesting housekeeping.

Deluxe King Bedroom

Seating area

Seating area

Minibar

Staying connected

I found the room could have used a splash of colour to give it more life, but it had all the essentials for a comfortable stay. There was also turndown service, where they left me slippers near the bed along with a chocolate treat on the night table, which I ate before I took a picture of it.

Conrad Washington DC – Dining and Breakfast

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served at Conrad’s signature restaurant, Estuary. On weekends, they serve brunch. Estuary serves American cuisine blended with flavours from the Philippines. Dishes are prepared by Chef Ria Montes, paying homage to her Filipino roots.

Their dinner menu was pretty heavy on seafood, served fresh from the Chesapeake Bay. I decided to have a light dinner there. I ordered the Caesar salad, which was unique to other Caesar salads I’ve had in the past because of the addition of the anchovy cashew crumble. I’m not sure if it was the crumble or something else, but it had quite a bit of kick to it.

Estuary Menu

Estuary Lounge Menu

Estuary – Caesar salad

The one thing I really like about the F&B credit is the flexibility. You can use it for any meal, so you’re not limited to using it for breakfast. I used this credit to cover the cost of my dinner.

The next morning, I returned to the Estuary to have brunch. I loved that they offered a large selection of loose-leaf teas. Their brunch menu offered typical American breakfast dishes such as omelette, pancake, benedict, and avocado toast in addition to lunch items such as crab roll, shrimp and grits, and even oysters.

Estuary – Table set

Estuary – Omelette

Overall, I enjoyed the ambiance of the Estuary. The servers were welcoming and attentive. The only negative was the steep menu prices. The F&B credit doesn’t go very far here, especially if you’re using the $50 credit for two people.

Conrad Washington DC – Facilities

Beyond dining, this hotel features Summit at Conrad’s rooftop bar. As you sip your drinks, you get to enjoy panoramic views of Downtown DC, the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. It was closed during my visit, but it opens in the spring, weather permitting.

On the third floor, you’ll find a decent sized gym, with a solid selection of cardio equipment, including Peloton bikes. They also had a generous amount of water bottles, a bowl of fruits and snacks, which they seemed not to replenish often.

Gym amenities

Gym – Cardio fun

Gym – Peloton bikes

Conrad Washington DC – Takeaway

While the Conrad Washington DC doesn’t have the impressive history of the Willard, it is a functional hotel in a great location. For a quick getaway, it had all I needed to make my stay comfortable. I found the service was welcoming and I enjoyed all the upscale amenities it offered. Although I appreciated the calm vibe this hotel had, I felt it could benefit from a bit more character to truly stand out.