So many good choices in DC and one the easiest ways to pick a hotel is to decide where most of the attractions you prefer to see are near. For us a hotel near the Mall is a good choice as that is where we spend most of our time. I enjoy an easy walk back to our room followed by a shower and nap and then a nearby place to eat.
We normally stay at the Hay-Adams in a suite when there are 3-4 of us traveling but they also have 2 QB rooms. You can get a great deal on the inner courtyard rooms although at this point in our lives we opt for a Lafayette Park room which cost a bit more. Good pricing on the LP suites on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
White House is right across the street; the Mall is w/i a short walking distance and the McPherson Sq. metro stop is around the corner. The staff is professional in demeanor and long on memory. One of the few times we eat a leisurely sit down breakfast and leave with regrets as it so delicious. It's our favorite hotel on the continental US and we stay there whenever possible.
Our last DC trip in January the room rates were beyond the pale so we stayed at the Willard Intercontinental instead. Beautiful lobby; you might enjoy finding your state's seal in the ceiling. Service was up to the standards of this type of hotel; breakfast was included and you've a choice of buffet or a la carte (the breakfast at H-A is better). Also close to the Metro and the Mall, WH, Chinatown, and Washington Monument. We stayed in the Matthew Perry suite which is quite spacious but still requires a rollaway bed which we didn't realise until our late night arrival so one of us just slept on the couch. Next day they brought up the rollaway (very comfortable) and charged us a lower room rate for the prior night's mix-up. H-A is still our fav but nice to know there's a nearby backup.
It was quite cold so we ate at Old Ebbitt's almost every night (block and1/2 away). They had a special menu for Restaurant Week which allowed us to bypass our normal choices of oysters, oysters and more oysters. Departing day we had a brunch type meal at China Chilcano, a Jose Andres restaurant that was conveniently close and not far from Ford's Theatre too.
Speaking of food, if you are touring the Mall, don't miss the cafeteria type operation at the African American Museum; good prices, well made tasty dishes and lots of seats. They frequently run out of food around 2:00 PM (yes, it's that popular) so go for the more crowded but fast moving early lunch. The American Indian Museum also has a widely regarded lunch which we arrived too late to eat at; next time. The Pavilion Café @ the Sculpture Gallery is a nice backup and seems to have longer hours.
Have fun wherever you stay and whatever you do; DC is fun!
