Featuring a certain sense of pizazz throughout as well as numerous contemporary comforts and state-of-the-art facilities, the Sofitel Washington on Lafayette Square provides all the answers to your shopping, sightseeing and entertainment dreams. Head to the Opaline Bar & Brasserie for French-inspired cuisine and a specialty cocktail. All in all this is one Washington postcode that's worthy of your attention and not just because of the White House, the Washington Monument and the National Theatre which are all within a well-aimed stone's throw from the Sofitel's front door.
Amenities
Bar
Fitness Centre/Gym
Internet Access
Laundry Service
Restaurant
Room Service
Close to City Centre
Where is it
Situated on the corner of Lafayette Square bordering the White House and close to numerous downtown sites including Smithsonian museums, war memorials and vast green parks. Transfer time from Dulles International Airport: 35 minutes.
Deluxe Luxury Rooms are 400-450 sq ft and have 1 king-size bed or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
Junior Suites are 426-475 sq ft and have a separate living area with additional TV, with 1 king-size bed in the bedroom and pullout sofa bed in the living area, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child.
Opaline Bar & Brasserie (classic French food, seasonal dishes and cocktails, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Fitness centre. Concierge. Laundry/dry-cleaning and ironing service*. Complimentary WiFi.
This hotel has a resort fee of $34.79 plus tax per room, per day (payable locally, subject to change)
Urban Experience fee includes the following:
Morning Tea & Coffee in The Lobby
Refreshing Afternoon Beverage in The Lobby
Premium WiFi Access
Morning Guided Runs
Yoga Classes
$10 Movie Credit Per Day (for Platinum ALL Members)
$10 Laundry/Dry Cleaning Credit Per Day
*Denotes local charge.
Please note: one person must be aged 21 years and over in each room at check-in.
Based on 4017 reviews
Rating summary
Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness
Traveller rating
Excellent (2634)
Very good (986)
Average (241)
Poor (106)
Terrible (50)
Lovely Hotel, very unfriendly staff
May 18, 2025Freedom784648
We recently returned from a long weekend stay at a lovely hotel situated in the best location in DC, literally right next to the White House.We really enjoyed the room, the public areas and the food but I was really disappointed by the reception and front desk experience. The front desk person , the first impression and the first exchange was…
Read more
We recently returned from a long weekend stay at a lovely hotel situated in the best location in DC, literally right next to the White House.We really enjoyed the room, the public areas and the food but I was really disappointed by the reception and front desk experience. The front desk person , the first impression and the first exchange was subpar. She never looked up to greet us, I finally said Hello and the first sentence out was”Can I have an ID?” No Welcome to Sofitel or great to have you here. She then handed us the card keys, wordlessly, and I then asked her permission to inquire re breakfast, facilities at which she rolled her eyes and my husband and I just headed towards the elevators in total silence.
Read less
Disappointing front desk lady
May 14, 2025phuong n
A little underwhelming for what’s supposed to be a 5-star hotel. There was no doorman, no concierge to assist with luggage upon check-in, and no slippers in the room. The landline phone didn’t work, and to top it off, the front desk lady on duty around 4:30 p.m. today was not welcoming. After a 20-hour travel day, this was especially…
Read more
A little underwhelming for what’s supposed to be a 5-star hotel. There was no doorman, no concierge to assist with luggage upon check-in, and no slippers in the room. The landline phone didn’t work, and to top it off, the front desk lady on duty around 4:30 p.m. today was not welcoming. After a 20-hour travel day, this was especially disappointing.
I had to use my mobile to call the general hotel number just to ask about slippers, during which I also mentioned that the landline didn’t work. She didn’t acknowledge it at all—her tone was indifferent and it didn’t sit right with me. I ended up calling again, and only then did she send someone from engineering to check the phone. The lack of initiative was glaring. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the same staff member mentioned in all the negative reviews—there’s definitely a bad vibe at that front desk.
The hotel felt noticeably understaffed, especially at the front, where a proper welcome really sets the tone. It’s frustrating that repeated complaints about front desk service haven’t led to any improvements.
We’ve been loyal Accor members for over a decade, and the experience at Sofitel in Vietnam has always been far superior. I still have two nights left, but after this start, I’m feeling quite discouraged.
Read less
Excellent
May 11, 2025560georgesfAtlantis, Florida
The lovation is oerfect, the hotel rooms qre very comfortable, quite and well equipped. The wellness is great. The personnel is very kind and attentive.
Not the Sofitel Standard We Expected
May 4, 2025Nicolla R
We were really looking forward to our stay at the Sofitel Lafayette in Washington, D.C., especially given its reputation and central location. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations.
Before our trip, I emailed the hotel requesting dinner recommendations to help plan our stay and never received a response. That was the first…
Read more
We were really looking forward to our stay at the Sofitel Lafayette in Washington, D.C., especially given its reputation and central location. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations.
Before our trip, I emailed the hotel requesting dinner recommendations to help plan our stay and never received a response. That was the first sign that communication and service might not be up to par.
Once we arrived, we had to ask three separate times at the front desk for the bottle of wine that was included with our Expedia points booking. This felt like an unnecessary hassle and left us feeling like we were being brushed off rather than welcomed. When it finally did arrive, there were no fresh wine glasses or ice provided—another detail overlooked.
Our room also lacked the proper towels, and the refrigerator had a strong, unpleasant odor, as though something had spoiled inside and hadn’t been properly cleaned. To make matters worse, the toilet was leaking, and when it was serviced, we returned to find our door left ajar, which felt like a serious breach of security and trust.
Overall, the hotel just feels tired—from service to amenities—and it’s clear that attention to detail has slipped. We hope Sofitel takes this feedback seriously, as it’s not at all reflective of the luxury experience the brand is known for. A refresh in both service standards and room maintenance is definitely needed.
Read less
Good meeting experience
May 3, 2025brmusicmanChicago, Illinois
I helped to host a multi-day meeting in the hotel's ballroom.
Overall, the meeting was a good experience. The ballroom was in good condition, and it was easy to coordinate with hotel staff, who were responsive to requests. I appreciated that the ballroom had windows to the street.
Food was good, with some French touches. Presentation of the…
Read more
I helped to host a multi-day meeting in the hotel's ballroom.
Overall, the meeting was a good experience. The ballroom was in good condition, and it was easy to coordinate with hotel staff, who were responsive to requests. I appreciated that the ballroom had windows to the street.
Food was good, with some French touches. Presentation of the food was elegant. I've had better hotel food, but I've also had far worse hotel food.
The lobby of the hotel is relatively small, but elegantly appointed. Restrooms were large enough for a big group to take a break and were always clean.
Some of the meeting attendees did complain about the front desk staff being transactional and not very polite, including nearly always staring at their computers vs. interacting with guests.
Overall, it was a good experience for the meeting.
Read less
Lovely Hotel, very unfriendly staff
