Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

A conversion of a landmark 1930s building, it was renovated in 2015 with inspiration taken from the art deco period

BACKGROUND Part of Accorhotels, the five-star Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square opened in 2002 as a conversion of a landmark 1930s building. It was renovated in 2015, with inspiration taken from the art deco period.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel’s entrance is marked by French and American flags and, on arrival, polite and polished doormen rush to help with luggage. The long reception hall is flanked by a turquoise leather banquette facing the lifts, which is handy when you are waiting for someone. It took a few minutes to receive my room key as someone else had arrived with a couple of small dogs, which was resulting in some form filling.

WHERE IS IT? An excellent location on 15th Street NW, one block from the White House and 42km from Washington Dulles International airport. It’s easy to get around the city with Ubers but it’s also very walkable, although distances can be deceptively long.

ROOMS There are 237 rooms (including 17 suites) across six categories – Superior and Luxury rooms, and Junior, Junior Executive, Prestige and Presidential suites. Entry-level Superior rooms in this 12-floor hotel start from 34 sqm, while suites start from 40 sqm.

Apart from the Presidential suite, which is decorated in blue, all rooms have the same red, black, white and grey décor. It’s smart and contemporary. Standard facilities include desks, 55-inch HD TVs, minibars, safes, Bose radios and irons/ironing boards.

Wifi was free but didn’t work well – on one occasion I had to go to a nearby café. There didn’t seem to be a paid-for highspeed option – I could use email and Facetime Audio but not video-call.

My Luxury corner room had a city view (some rooms look internally). It was very light, which was great, but having to adjust the blinds for all the windows was a bit fiddly (in the evening there is turndown service so staff get it ready for the night). The signature Sofitel So Bed was extremely comfortable. All bathrooms have a separate tub and walk-in shower. Junior Executive suites and above have a living room and sofa bed, plus coffee and tea, which I missed in my room.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Just off the lobby is Le Bar, which proved a handy place to pop in for a free takeaway filter coffee early in the morning and to charge my laptop in the afternoon before heading for the airport. Opposite is ICI Urban Bistro, which I visited one morning for breakfast. I had a French press (US$6) and a three-egg omelette (US$17), which was very good. Staff were fantastic – very warm and welcoming. It had a good buzz about the place – Le Bar was more lively in the evenings. In warmer weather you can sit out on the street-side terrace and order a lunch of French onion soup (US$8), salade Lyonnaise (US$14) or steak frites (US$35).

MEETING FACILITIES The 150 sqm Paris ballroom holds 180 delegates theatre-style. Five smaller rooms seat from ten in a boardroom layout to 75 people theatre-style.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is a decent fitness centre with cardio equipment, weights, medicine balls and a Kinesis machine. While there is no spa, in-room massages can be arranged. Jenny Southan

VERDICT The poor wifi had a detrimental effect on my stay but otherwise it was a very comfortable business hotel in a superb location near the White House.

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in November started from US$258 for a Superior room.

CONTACT 806 15th Street NW; tel +1 202 730 8800; sofitel.com