Conrad Washington, DC Review: Luxury Near CityCenterDC

The Conrad Washington, DC is one of the newest and highest-end Hilton properties in the nation's capital.

Situated within a short metro ride or 15-minute walk of the city’s prestigious monuments and museums, the hotel offers a combination of easy proximity for those wanting to explore the city and comfortable, modern touches for those preferring to relax on-site.

As part of the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts portfolio, the property also provides AmEx Membership Rewards members additional perks and savings during their stay, from breakfast and other dining credits to guaranteed late checkouts and room upgrades.

Despite its location in one of America’s most historic cities, the Conrad Washington, DC sits in one of the city’s most modern neighborhoods.

The hotel is within a stone’s throw of CityCenterDC, an outdoor shopping district with high-end shops — think Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and the like.

Those hoping to use their stay as a jumping-off point for monument and museum visits have a few options. The first is by car.

Our Uber ride from the hotel to the National Mall took five to 10 minutes. If you bring a car with you to the hotel, you’ll pay $60 per night for valet parking.

To avoid traffic and parking fees, you can reach major landmarks by taking the D.C. Metro a stop or two. There are two Metro stops within a short walk of the hotel.

Many landmarks are walkable, too, if you’re able and willing. The Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Wizards and Capitals, is four-tenths of a mile away on foot.

Perhaps the destination most convenient to the hotel is the Washington Convention Center, which is just a couple of blocks away and, in fact, was visible from our hotel room window.

This Conrad property stands out with its black, all-glass look. Upon its opening in 2019, Hilton described it as “architecturally striking,” and that’s not overstating it.

You’ll take an elevator or escalator to reach the front desk. The hotel lets in extensive natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows in many rooms and a skylight in the lobby.

You’ll also find white marble throughout the building, from the floors to the walls.

Most of the views from the rooms and restaurant are of CityCenterDC and the convention center. If you do manage to catch a glimpse of the Washington Monument or U.S. Capitol from a high floor, it’ll be a distant view.

The Conrad’s main restaurant is called Estuary. The seafood restaurant includes a bar, lounge-style seating area and a larger dining room with an open-concept kitchen.

All of Estuary’s ingredients come from the Chesapeake Bay region. Yes, that means you’ll find plenty of seafood-oriented offerings — crab included — on the menu, though there’s a little something for just about any palate.

And that’s a good thing because guests who book through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts will want to eat on-site. AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts guests get a $100 food and beverage credit per stay and a $60 daily credit toward breakfast or brunch.

At our predinner happy hour, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the crispy pig ears, ceviche and hush puppies with yuzu aioli and Maryland crab (and come to think of it, we probably didn’t need dinner afterward).

Breakfast is served in the Estuary’s cozier Blue Willow Room. While I had no complaints about my bacon, egg and cheese on a croissant, anyone who doesn’t order the crab Benedict — as my wife did — will have order envy.

Because we visited on a cold night in January, the hotel’s Summit Rooftop bar was closed for the season, but it features appetizers, beverages and great views of D.C.

The hotel also has room service available late into the night, and a more upscale, personalized room and dining experience through its pricier Sakura Club.

A key perk of booking a stay through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts, or having Hilton Honors elite status, is the potential for a room upgrade, when available.

I was upgraded to a studio suite, featuring a distinct entryway, living room and sleeping area. Those hoping to watch some TV can sit on the couch or chair next to a floor-to-ceiling window.

There’s also a table for those wanting to get work done or enjoy in-room dining.

The king bed sat across from a second TV equipped with cable, Netflix and YouTube capabilities.

The nightstands are fully outfitted with plenty of USB and AC outlets, and full light controls that control the electronic “do not disturb” light outside the front door.

Featuring two sinks and marble walls, the bathroom included rain-style shower heads and large, bolted-to-the-wall shower products. These larger bottles are a nod to the sustainability initiatives many hotel chains are undertaking to reduce plastic waste.

A favorite touch of mine at higher-end hotel rooms showed up here: Nespresso machines instead of the old-school coffee makers.

The Conrad caters to business travelers and those looking for an exceptionally comfortable place to recharge in between sightseeing. To that end, you won’t find a pool or spa on-site.

However, on top of its top-notch eating and drinking locations, you’ll find expansive meeting space, event rooms and balcony seating areas overlooking CityCenterDC. The balconies are a great place to enjoy a drink or spend time outdoors.

The fitness center is well equipped with treadmills and weights alongside several Peloton bikes, as is now the case at many Hilton properties nationally.

Count us among the travelers who brought a four-legged friend along for the stay. The Conrad is a pet-friendly hotel, though you’ll have to pay a $75 nonrefundable fee.

Our French bulldog received a water bowl and Conrad-branded bandana for the visit.

Being in the middle of a concrete-dominant city neighborhood, finding pet relief areas wasn’t the simplest experience, but there are grassy spaces within a block or two in each direction.

The hotel is located along New York Avenue between 9th and 10th streets Northwest.

MetroCenter, the DC Metro system’s central-most station, is just three-tenths of a mile from the hotel. The station connects to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (blue line) and, at long last, Washington Dulles International Airport (silver line).

MetroCenter is also just a few stops from Union Station, serviced by Amtrak and commuter trains, including those arriving from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

While the Conrad Washington, DC’s proximity to D.C. landmarks and comfortable accommodations make it a great option for any visitor to the U.S. capital, the value we enjoyed as an AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts guest made the stay stand out.

We saved $360 for the one-night stay by using our $200 annual hotel credit we receive with The Platinum Card® from American Express, plus a $100 food and beverage credit and $60 for breakfast. Terms apply.

Add in complimentary premium Wi-Fi and and a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout that allowed us some morning museum visits before leaving town, and there’s no doubt the perks add up.

(Top photo courtesy of Sean Cudahy)