Haute Hotels: The Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. Highly Recommended by Whom You Know! Where History Continues to Be Made. Only Hotel in DC to Be Named to Top 100 Hotels in the World by Travel & Leisure!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we are now thrilled to know The Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C.
A bastion of old-world excellence paired with the perfect modern touch, we knew we would love it! In 1927, Washington, D.C. developer Harry Wardman bought and razed both homes in this spot and replaced them with the Hay-Adams House, an Italian, Renaissance-style 138-room apartment-hotel design by the architect Mirhan Mesrobian. Opened in 1928, the $900,000 structure featured impressive architectural embellishments and intricate ceiling motifs. Many historic details have been preserved carefully, and in October 2001, the hotel underwent a $20 million renovation. The Hay-Adams is privately owned.
It's a time-honored tradition of Presidents to visit The Hay-Adams...and now not only do President McKinley and Peachy Deegan share a birthday, but also they share a favorite Washington, D.C. Hotel.
When someone asks you what you're going to do with your American History degree, writing about historical American businesses of excellence is a fabulous answer.
Marco Ingels checked us in with a smile, and from the moment we walked in, it was clear to us that The Hay-Adams holds attention to detail in as high esteem as we do, and higher than any other hotel we have reviewed anywhere. We love detail and it matters; we notice everything.
Yes, the hotel is gorgeous and all that you will see below is representative of the 5-star hotel that it is, but are you wondering, are the people nice?
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
And they are!
Once we checked in, we're sure you'll all shocked that Peachy made a beeline for 1264 Wisconsin Avenue, another place that Presidents love (every President from Truman to George W. Bush (did you see what he is up to with Bono! HBO just told us today...) has dined at Martin's Tavern) but when we returned, we chatted with who was at the front desk.
We met Marco Ingels, Allyson McMillen, Fabio Perla, Alfredo Ramirez and Franziska Boelke. Another Washington trip, we met Paul Carabello who was nice enough to direct us to General Manager Hans Bruland. Though we did not meet Hans in person this trip, he was tops to work with. And, he's Independent Hotelier of the World for 2015:
http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/11/10/785630/10155719/en/HOTELS-Magazine-Honors-Hans-Bruland-as-Independent-Hotelier-of-the-World-2015.html
Our policy is we always work directly with Hotel GM's directly unless there is a person that is the owner.
http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/11/10/785630/10155719/en/HOTELS-Magazine-Honors-Hans-Bruland-as-Independent-Hotelier-of-the-World-2015.html
Our policy is we always work directly with Hotel GM's directly unless there is a person that is the owner.
Peachy Deegan is wearing Julia Jordan, Paul Mayer Attitudes and Hair by Edward Tricomi and Joel Warren (although done by herself on this day! Maybe if we review a golf resort Joel will come...)
The fabulous Allyson McMillen!
The amazing Marco Ingels!
Team!
It doesn't matter to us if a place is 5-star and the people are fewer than 5....but these people we met were a 6. That's why they are at The Hay-Adams. We've said it once and we'll say it again and many times over: there is never, ever a great brand without great people behind it.
It doesn't matter to us if a place is 5-star and the people are fewer than 5....but these people we met were a 6. That's why they are at The Hay-Adams. We've said it once and we'll say it again and many times over: there is never, ever a great brand without great people behind it.
When we walked in the door, our room looked exactly like this.
Here is a video of going into the room later at night.
Here is a video of going into the room later at night.
We never edit the pictures; it really is this gorgeous.
As you approach the phenomenal view, you will get very excited!
See the three arches? We had one of them, and we believe it was the one on the left:
A trio of tangerines and some absolutely gorgeous PEACHY roses greeted us:
The lighting in the rooms is just right: bright enough to see without being overpowering.
The television and mini-bar are tucked away with class.
Our room chandelier, and a spot to sit and read.
Not only do you have one closet, but you have TWO closets in this room.
(Hallak can appreciate the quantity of clothes we have while we appreciate the quality of their care.)
And, you have three mirrors:
And, beaucoup de hangers:
In the bathroom, we loved the dimmer switch which we turned way up for makeup application and down as a nightlight. And everywhere in between, to try it out!
There is a smart shelf and fluffy white towels that are terribly luxurious.
The shower has gold fixtures and a removable spray handle from the shower nozzle.
Lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner await you along with soap of course.
There were no emergencies when we were there, but it is nice to know that there is a plan on the door.
We are pleased to say the shower cap has a furry elastic in it:
You never know when you're going to need to use the phone...
Let's look at the view again before Peachy heads to Billy's for Filet Mignon:
This view is one of the best ever; if you have a special occasion to celebrate, it is the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. Or, you can just celebrate your life itself like we do! The only reason you need to see this view is that you haven't seen it before, and then you're only going to want to see it again.
Inside the room, the ceiling detail is exquisite:
Believe it or not, we hand write a lot.
Especially when the pens are as attractive a shade as this one:
We like to see a Bible in the drawer by the bedside:
A book on how The Hay-Adams is among:
In the desk drawer, you will find a helpful kit:
And if you are new to the area, many ideas:
We love their tagline: The Hay-Adams-Where nothing is overlooked but the White House!
View from the outside:
The driveway is also gorgeous:
Remember this intersection!!!
Peachy's room at left:
Waiting for the seventh floor elevator you will witness more beauty. If she feels comfortable in the place, Peachy will politely speak to you if she is sharing an elevator with you. To the person we met in the elevator when we first arrived-nice to meet you! We had no idea of the work you've done, which we are fabulously impressed with, until we saw your picture in the Washington Post the next day. We review movies and would be delighted to work with you too! (we hope you remembered our site!)
You know we love Chandeliers!
The lobby (Eloise, take a break from The Plaza and come visit Hans!):
The flowers are perfect in the lobby also:
A golden mailbox for posting postcards:
We did notice a lovely bar downstairs, but did not indulge as we were booked at restaurants where we like to drink with our meal.
We were delighted to meet Jaime Montes de Oca at their hotel restaurant during breakfast.
Coffee is essential in life and we approve of the coffee they use.
We are glad to say that they do have skim milk!
Orange Juice is fresh squeezed:
Berries for breakfast were ideal:
We had even more coffee on our balcony in our Martin's Tavern mug.
Night time views:
Before you knew it, it was time for breakfast again.
Again, great coffee. Some places are not consistent. Coffee absolutely needs to be consistent...(or no one is going to want to be around Peachy!)
We liked the sun coming in:
And, we delighted in the only honeydew juice we've ever had.
It was wonderful!
This day, we tried the smoked salmon bagel and we were very happy with the salmon!
More coffee!
They are also quite literary!
Avid readers know that Whom You Know is named after Peachy's 10th grade English class at Miss Porter's (thank you Mover and Shaker Rennie McQuilkin for helping us with our first internship in Washington also!)
Avid readers know that Whom You Know is named after Peachy's 10th grade English class at Miss Porter's (thank you Mover and Shaker Rennie McQuilkin for helping us with our first internship in Washington also!)
Their site tells us:
WHERE LITERARY CROWDS HONOR LITERARY MASTERS
Recreating a literary tradition that began in the late 1800s when the homes of John Hay and Henry Adams were the center of Washington's intellectual and social gatherings, The Hay-Adams Author Series hosts outstanding writers in a magnificent setting with great food and drink and lively conversation.
WHERE HISTORY CONTINUES TO BE MADE
RECREATING A GRAND LITERARY TRADITION
The Hay-Adams Author Series recreates a grand literary tradition established by John Hay and Henry Adams in the late 1800s. At the time, their homes were the center of Washington's intellectual and social gatherings, featuring such notable authors as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton and Henry James.
John Hay served as a personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Secretary of State under both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Adams – the grandson and great-grandson of U.S. Presidents – was a historian and professor at Harvard. Both men were also accomplished writers who had worked as journalists, written presidential biographies and published novels.
In 2005, The Hay-Adams Author Series was launched by Kay Enokido, President of the Hay-Adams, to renew the spirit of discourse that had once occurred on the very land where our historic hotel stands today, in the center of downtown Washington, D.C. The tradition lives on as we now host the most distinguished authors of our time to celebrate their work and share fine food, drink and lively conversation in a magnificent setting.Past Authors
WHERE STORIES ARE SHARED AND MADE
SCOTT A BERG
Scott A Berg, Pulitzer Prize Winner and American Biographer, and author of Wilson
ALICE McDermott
Alice McDermott, American writer and university professor, and author of Someone
JOHN TALIAFERRO
John Taliaferro, former senior editor at Newsweek, and author of All the Great Prizes: The Life of John Hay From Lincoln to Roosevelt
WALTER ISAACSON
Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, and author of the biography Steve Jobs
JOYCE CAROL OATES
Joyce Carol Oates, the recipient of the National Medal of Humanities, one of the most acclaimed writers in the world today, and author of Mudwoman
TONY HOROWITZ AND GERALDINE BROOKS
Pulitzer Prize-winning couple and authors, respectively, of Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War and Caleb's Crossing: A Novel
TONI MORRISON
National Book Festival Creative Achievement Award recipient, Pulitzer Prize winner, Nobel Laureate, and bestselling author of Beloved and A Mercy
DAVID MCCULLOUGH
Two-time Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, and author of The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris
RON CHERNOW
Pulitzer Prize winning author of Washington: A Life
ISABEL ALLENDE
National Book Festival Creative Achievement Award recipient and celebrated Latin American author of Island Beneath the Sea: A Novel
JOHN FEINSTEIN
Acclaimed sportswriter and bestselling author of Moment of Glory: The Year Underdogs Ruled Golf
JOHN GRISHAM
National Book Festival Creative Achievement Award recipient and bestselling author of legal thrillers includingThe Associate
MAYA ANGELOU
Renaissance woman, poet, historian and author of Letter to My Daughter
ROBERT BENNETT
Legendary Washington, D.C., lawyer and author of In the Ring: The Trials of a Washington Lawyer
JENNA BUSH
Daughter of President George W. Bush and author of Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope
MARCUS MABRY
Former Edward R. Murrow Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power
MARIE ARANA
National Book Award and John Sargent Prize finalist, and author of Cellophane
ROBERT MERRY
Award-winning political reporter and author of Sands of Empire: Missionary Zeal, American Foreign Policy, and the Hazards of Global Ambition
PATRICIA O'TOOLE
Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of When Trumpets Call: Theodore Roosevelt after the White House
Although the Hay-Adams says that the only thing they overlook is the White House, we think from the White House's point of view in Peachy's hypothetical Presidency, there's only one place where the White House guests would stay...and w
hen Peachy is President, she thinks she'll stay at The Hay-Adams!
(especially when Mover and Shaker Geoffrey Bradfield is redecorating The White House!)
Whom You Know Highly Recommends The Hay-Adams!
Be there on your next trip to Washington, and ask if you may please have a room with a view.
800 16TH ST NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
Their site tells us:
Hotel Overview:
WHERE EXCEPTIONAL KNOWS NO EXCEPTIONS
Surrounded by unparalleled panoramic views of the White House, Lafayette Square, Lafayette Park and St. John's Church, the "Church of the Presidents," The Hay-Adams, a historic Washington, DC hotel, is just moments away from some of the most significant destinations and famous monuments in the country.
Originally designed and built as a residential hotel in the 1920s, today our boutique hotel in downtown Washington, DC has the distinct presence of a private mansion where guests can retreat. With 145 guestrooms, including 21 suites, we pride ourselves on exceptional service in a discreet, intimate atmosphere.
WHERE HISTORY CONTINUES TO BE MADE
Early Days
Centered in downtown Washington, D.C., The Hay-Adams is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Named for the distinguished residents, John Hay and Henry Adams, our historic hotel is now a popular destination among visitors and Washingtonians.
John Hay served as a personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, and later as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, as well as Secretary of State under both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Adams was a historian and Harvard professor, and the descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Both men were accomplished writers.
In 1884, the architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed elaborate, Romanesque homes at the corner of 16th and H Streets for Hay and Adams. The site soon became a bustling scene of intellectual activity. Together with their wives, Clara Hay and Marian Adams, as well as noted geologist Clarence King, Hay and Adams formed a close friendship. The group dubbed themselves "Five of Hearts," and even had custom china and a letterhead made to feature the moniker. For years, the homes served as Washington's leading salons, alive with stimulating discussions about literature, art, science and politics. Famous guests such as Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Henry James and the sculptor August Saint-Gaudens stopped in from near and far.
Hay died in 1905 and, after Clara died in 1914, ownership of the home was passed to their daughter Alice Wadsworth and her husband, Senator James Wadsworth. After Adams died in 1918, the Wadsworths purchased the property and leased it to the Brazilian Embassy.
FROM HOME TO HOTEL
In 1927, Washington, D.C., developer Harry Wardman bought and razed both homes. He replaced them with the Hay-Adams House, an Italian Renaissance-style, 138-room apartment-hotel design by the architect Mirhan Mesrobian. Opened in 1928, the $900,000 structure featured impressive architectural embellishments such as Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders, walnut wainscoting, and intricate ceiling treatments featuring Elizabethan and Tudor motifs. Wood paneling from the Hay residence was repurposed in the public space now known as the Hay-Adams Room. Many historic details have been carefully preserved to this day.
Guests were drawn to the hotel by its unparalleled proximity to the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John's Church. The hotel played host to prominent out-of-towners and Washington's elite, including Ethel Barrymore, Amelia Earhart, Sinclair Lewis and Charles Lindbergh. They enjoyed the setting and views, as well as the large suites, kitchens, steam heat, elevators, circulating ice water and, in 1930, Washington, D.C.'s first air-conditioned dining room.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
In October 2001, the hotel closed its doors for a major $20 million renovation under the eye of acclaimed Washington, D.C., designer Thomas Pheasant. In March 2002, The Hay-Adams re-emerged fully restored.
Additional renovations occurred in June 2010, including elevator improvements and rooftop enhancements. A stunning roof terrace with panoramic views, Top of the Hay, was completed in January 2011.
Upholding the reputation for excellence that The Hay-Adams has built over the years, we continue to celebrate and provide the classic hospitality introduced by our historic hotel's namesakes. Privately owned, and managed and operated by our dedicated staff, The Hay-Adams exemplifies heritage, elegance and comfort at the heart of the nation's capital.
