The Liaison, an Affinia hotel is located right near Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and a quick walk to Union Station. The 343-room boutique hotel is designed with a feel for the city. Black and white pictures of a suited man in various Washington locations adorn the hallways. The photos have an espionage feel to them and the darkened lobby gives off a definite secretiveness that is fun.
We stayed at the Liaison as a weekend getaway and it proved to be a quiet, clean and an enjoyable stay. While we did not use the destination restaurant, Art & Soul, created by former chef to Oprah, Art Smith we did hear some good reviews of the establishment. The hotel has a spa, freebies like contact lens solution, which goes beyond the toothpaste as a usual freebie, a universal charger, a fitness kit with a yoga mat, ankle weights, and exercise DVDs. The Liaison also has an extensive pillow menu that includes, among others, a “sound pillow” with built-in speakers and an iPod hookup. If you are looking for something unique, fun and a bit different while in this area of the city then it is a nice hotel.
The rooms are sized accordingly for a city hotel and I loved the decor. It was clean, modern and the whole espionage, “meet me at a secret location” vibe continues in the rooms. Tiny cards on the desk are left like notes with your “mission”, if you choose to accept it. It was perfect for a weekend getaway. Our king bed was comfortable and the room was clean. What I disliked was the bathroom. The golden light was too dark and the space was cramped. The eco-friendly Gilchrist & Soames toiletries are a nice touch, including the ones in pump form in the shower. However, our bathroom had seen better days. The dark wood sink and cabinet was small and chipped. The wallpaper was peeling and the whole bathroom felt shoddy and slapped together. For a hotel that was only opened in October 2008 it shouldn’t look this way.
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. It is a quiet location, the neighborhood is dead at night, and the hotel does offer a special feel. A spa, indoor pool and rooftop pool are available as is a fitness room. A bar in the lobby with stylish couches is a nice touch as well. Service was good, not exceptional, but good. We had no complaints.
MPR Rating: Three Stars.
Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are the writers at MPR’s only.
