The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection

The Mayflower Hotel is the grand old hotel of Washington, and staying here feels like stepping into the city's twentieth-century political history. It opened in 1925 on Connecticut Avenue, a few blocks north of the White House, and quickly became the social center of official Washington; Harry Truman famously called it the city's second-best address, after the White House itself. Its public spaces are the attraction: a long, gilded promenade lobby with chandeliers and marble running a full block, and the Grand Ballroom, which has hosted inaugural balls and countless state and society events. The hotel's lore is rich. J. Edgar Hoover lunched here almost every day for years, and the hotel's restaurant, Edgar Bar and Kitchen, is named for him; it serves American brasserie food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch and weekday happy hour. Hotel tradition also holds that Franklin Roosevelt worked on his first inaugural address in one of its suites. Rooms and suites have marble bathrooms and traditional decor, and the 2,200-square-foot Mayflower Suite, with its private terrace, is one of the largest in the city. The hotel is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, so Bonvoy members earn points, and amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, concierge, mobile key and daily housekeeping. The location is a strength: Farragut North Metro is a block away, Dupont Circle and the Phillips Collection are a short walk north, and the White House is about ten minutes south. The honest notes: some rooms are compact for the price, pets are not allowed, and valet parking is expensive. Fit: history lovers, couples, first-timers and business travelers who want a classic, central address.

The Mayflower was built as a showpiece in the boom years of the 1920s, and its timing was perfect: it opened in time for Calvin Coolidge's inaugural celebrations and became the place where Washington's powerful lived, dined and met. Over the decades it hosted presidents, foreign leaders, movie stars and journalists, and it remains a favorite for galas, conferences and political events, which means the lobby often hums with suits and name badges. The hotel has been renovated several times while keeping its historic public rooms, and its location on Connecticut Avenue puts it in the middle of the downtown business district, close to the lobbying firms and think tanks of K Street, which keeps it busy midweek and often better value on weekends.

Room craft: ask for a higher floor and a renovated room, and consider a deluxe or suite category if space matters, since standard rooms in historic hotels can be snug. Walk the full length of the promenade, peek into the ballroom when it is not in use, and have at least one breakfast or drink at Edgar. The hotel's central location makes it easy to walk to Dupont Circle for dinner and to the White House area in the morning.

Practicals: 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, between L and M Streets. Farragut North Metro (Red Line) is a block away, and Farragut West (Blue, Orange and Silver) is a short walk. Check-in from 4 p.m., noon check-out. Valet parking is available at a daily rate. Fit: history lovers, couples, first-timers and anyone who wants old Washington glamour in the center of town.