My check-in was friendly and my room was huge with a layout that made no sense (huge bedroom area, medium sized unnecessary makeup area and claustrophobic bathroom) . The amenity of the flat screen TV as listed on their website was not in the room I stayed in. I don't know if it's something they are gradually installing but I was under the impression that it was available in all rooms. The decor of the room was fun and colorful - the view was decent. I appreciated the quiet and the bed was very comfortable (however the pillows were tiny). My least favorite thing was definitely the tiny bathroom in which I couldn't even close the door to use without having some feeling claustrophobia.

I stayed a total of three nights and unfortunately I called one evening for a suggestion where to eat for dinner and the front desk (who also act the role of concierge) suggested California Pizza Kitchen (!) Luckily I stayed in my room and found some great places in Dupont Circle & Adams Morgan online (where there is free WiFi).

Overall, I have been a guest at a number Kimpton properties before and I would have to say I was least impressed with this. I was glad I was paying such a low rate to stay in the heart of DC because if I was paying more I would have probably asked for a better room. The bed was VERY comfortable and the decor was great.

DETAILS:
Date/length of stay: June 20, 2008 (3 nights)
Purpose of trip: Leisure
Room #/type: 1011, King Bed
Rate/Booking site: ~$117/night through Orbitz.com

REVIEW:
Overall: This is my second stay at a Kimpton hotel and I am quickly becoming a fan of this company. Just about every aspect of our stay was near perfect. I would be happy to stay here again.

Check-in/staff: The check-in was very quick and friendly and my requests for a high-floor room away from the elevator were honored. Throughout our stay the staff were very friendly and always greeted us upon leaving or coming back to the hotel. We did not have any special requests during our stay, nor did we use any concierge-type services, so I cannot comment on their effectiveness in this area.

Room: The room was spotless and in great condition. The furnishings and decor were all in good condition and the bed was VERY comfortable. The room was a pretty good size for our needs, although the bathroom was a bit small--there is a little alcove right off the bathroom that they should consider merging with the bathroom to make it larger. The desk is set into a little alcove off the bed area, which provides plenty of space. MY ONLY COMPLAINT--something seemed to be wrong with the building A/C during our stay and on one night, it wasn't working at all. We opened the windows and were able to get some cool air, so we slept ok--on that night the lobby was also hot/stuffy, so it must have been more than just our room that had this problem. The other nights the A/C operated fine.

Location: great! Just a few blocks from Dupont Circle with many great shops and restaurants within walking distance.

Hotel dining: We didn't try the Topaz lounge for food/drinks, but had breakfast nearby at Luna Grill and Diner--very good hearty way to start the day. We had breakfast one day at Kramerbooks cafe and that was mediocre.

Other amenities: there is no pool or fitness center on site--I think you can get a pass to the YMCA from the front desk. We did not use the business center, but the in-room wireless internet access worked perfectly--fast and easy to use.

Kimpton InTouch (the Kimpton loyalty program) experience: I was greeted and welcomed back by name by the front desk staff at check-in. There were also cookies, bottled water and a nice note from the hotel staff waiting in our room. Very nice touches.

We stayed a week at Topaz Hotel and had a very pleasant time. It is few minutes walk to Dupont circle. We booked two connecting rooms for our family of four. Not only the rooms are very big and comfortable, but are nicely decorated. The hotel is on a relatively quiet street, so street noise was not an issue. Beds were very comfortable, pillows too.

Hotel staff was very friendly and went beyond my expectations to help and arrange transportation, printing, etc. The only hiccup was that two stuffed animals were misplaced during housekeeping and were not found by the time we checked out. I am sure everybody did their best, but I guess there was not enough time.

We did try the bar/restaurant one night when it was pouring outside and the selection was not very big, but the food was very good. Breakfast was good, but pricey.

Overall, very nice stay and would definitely come back soon.

The Topaz Hotel is about three blocks from hot and hip Dupont Circle down the street from the National Assn of Broadcasters and Connecticut Ave.

This is a small boutique style hotel. My room was surprisingly large, quiet, with an excellent bed, sitting room sofa, chair, desk and chair, TV and separate shower/bathroom. The room decor was eclectic: something between antique and leopard skin. Free wifi service and ipod radio made it digitally modern. The room was immaculate and comfy. There is a restaurant downstairs or hundreds of food places and stores just a short walk outside. I would definitely stay here again.