This downtown 1963 opening blends elegance and chic in a manner that'll appeal to most tastes but doesn't come across as generic. While the Madison claims its 365 guest rooms are "European inspired," the hotelier is referring to the decor, not the room size, which is spacious. In-room amenities include a Keurig, daily newspaper delivery and C.O. Bigelow products, so guests have no excuse for being tired, uninformed or dry.

183 rooms might be too many for a hotel to be considered a boutique, but this Kimpton property pulls it off. It's located in Penn Quarter near Chinatown, which, as it's 2013 and not 1993, is a good thing. Expect all the usual quirky Kimpton amenities: in-room goldfish (upon request), complimentary nightly wine hours and flashy robes that befit the Perry's drag brunch dressing room.

It's P.O.V. Rooftop Terrace bar affords a view of the White House and testifies to the bureaucratic city's love of acronyms. Located next to the White House, the vibe—"where Italian Renaissance meets modern cool"—seems better suited to a Silvio Berlusconi bunga bunga party. But while there are plenty of quality lodging options near the No Drama Obama's house, none of them can lay claim to "modern cool."

The contemporary, art-filled, 222-room spot claims to be the "city’s only five-star, five-diamond luxury hotel." And would the Four Seasons ever lie? A current series of renovations are focusing on its restaurant, Seasons, (completed in Feb. 2012), ENO Wine Bar (scheduled for early 2013) and event space.

Art deco meets modern chic in this 238-room cosmopolitan hotel that declares itself "an embassy of style" (let's assume they're thinking French embassy and not Albanian). Clearly comfort is en vogue: all rooms "featue Sofitels luxurious feathertop and duvet sleep system—SoBed." The red drapes and walls at its Le Bar lounge evoke the waiting room in Twin Peaks. A few stiff craft cocktails and maybe The Man from Another Place will start looking like Agent Cooper.

Yes, it's a conference hotel (29 meeting rooms!), but D.C. is the Capital of Conferences and this 737-room behemoth is one of nicest and best situated options. All rooms at the up-market Marriott brand that's not quite Ritz-Carlton feature 300-thread-count sheets and 37-inch TVs that easily connect to your laptop. So you can use the big screen to preview your PowerPoint. Or stream porn. (Your choice.)

A Victorian Mansion built in 1864, this 54-room inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. So while it's a 5-minute walk to the Convention Center, it's hardly a typical convention hotel. Whether it remains quaint after a planned 54-room expansion, however is a legit question (as is how long those renovations will take.

One of the few resort-type hotels, Southern Living ranked its outdoor heated pool as one of the 10 best in the South. It's 834 rooms are located on 11 acres and are just four blocks from the National Zoo — close enough to walk but not smell the elephants from your room.

One block from the White House, this old school luxury hotel's Round Robin Bar draws the powerful to plot running the world and tourists to take pictures of them while they do. Almost every U.S. prez since Franklin Pierce himself has stayed here, Mark Twain drafted two books in the hotel and Walt Whitman name checked the joint in his poems.

This 96-room boutique declares it "exemplifies all that its namesake, Thomas Jefferson, held dear – intricately thought-out design, twenty elegantly appointed suites, the most modern amenities, gastronomic excellence and, of course, exceptional personalized service." T.J. had an opinion on hotel suites? Who knew?

Reserved for guests only during the day, its rooftop pool with a wooden deck and stunning vista of D.C. transforms into the hip open-to-all DNV Rooftop Bar at night (take that L'Enfant Plaza pool). Bonus: Pimm's Cup on tap. Oh yeah, the Kimpton boutique hotel underneath it all is pretty damn cool too.

Sadly its Renaissance-level service doesn't befit such a historic hotel. But as many guests are there simply to do hookers and/or coke, who cares about turndown service? Travelers looking for stays longer than 15 minutes though will enjoy the 1925 opening's spacious rooms and classical decor. Fun game: hang out in the bar and guess who's a hooker.

Aimed at long-term business travelers, its one- and two-bedroom suites include full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and Bosch washer and dryers. And its modern-yet-comfortable style (Bulgari bath products, marble bathroom floors and walls) mean while it's easy to get cozy here, you're not likely to confuse it for your apartment.

Amongst the regulars in this turn of the 20th century inn's 40 guest rooms is a ghost (don't worry; he doesn't require a rollout). Coziness in a period setting — all rooms are unique — comes at the expense of elevators and TVs. Also note that its website's FAQ includes the question, "What does 'shared bath' mean?"