We had hoped to enjoy our stay at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, but unfortunately our experience felt cold and unwelcoming. We stayed just one night while in town for a comedy show and a short getaway.
To be fair, there were a couple of bright spots. A woman at the concierge desk was genuinely helpful, kindly guiding us to a restaurant across the street since the hotel restaurant was closed. The valet attendant, Raphael, was also exceptionally friendly and welcoming.
Our room experience, however, was disappointing. We were initially assigned a larger room on the 5th floor that felt cold, tired, and dated, with little warmth or character. More importantly, my husband has a disability that prevents him from using a tub-style shower, so we requested a room change. The second room, on the 6th floor, was much smaller but warmer and had a walk-in shower, which we appreciated. While the bathroom appeared slightly more updated, the towels were thin and far from the plush quality one expects at a hotel of this caliber. The bed was comfortable enough, but the bedside table had glass rings on it that showed it had not been wiped clean from the previous guests, the other table in the room had similar water marks and the heater was extremely loud. Even on the lowest setting, the noise was disruptive enough that my husband was concerned he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Our biggest disappointment, however, was the experience at The Edgar Bar & Kitchen. After our show, we arrived around 9:50 p.m. As we were being seated, the server immediately informed us—rather brusquely—that it was too late to order food. While we only intended to have cocktails, the way this was communicated felt dismissive and unpleasant. During our brief visit, staff hovered in a way that felt more like pressure to order another drink than attentive service. We don’t feel that taking 30 minutes to enjoy a cocktail is unreasonable, yet the atmosphere made us uncomfortable.
The following morning at breakfast, the restaurant was quite busy, which we understand—especially since it appears to be the hotel’s only dining option. Busy is fine; unfriendly is not. The service felt rushed and impersonal. My husband’s coffee was poured so hurriedly that the pot was pulled away before his cup was full or even upright, resulting in repeated spills. It felt as though the staff were serving without ever really seeing the guests in front of them.
That said, the food itself was good. My breakfast of banana bread with scrambled eggs was enjoyable and arrived hot.
Ultimately, for us, staff make or break a hotel experience, and sadly, with the exception of a few individuals, the service at The Mayflower fell short and left us feeling unwelcome.
