Henley Park Hotel: beautiful historic Washington DC
Henley Park Hotel exterior
My last post included some of thephotography of architecture in Washington DC. In the city for a travel trade show, I was able to get in a few hours to shoot and eat – two of my favorite things in the world. I also was able to go to the Holocaust Museum, watch someone spin noodles in Chinatown, and met some great people along the way. In that last post, I purposefully neglected to include photos of the hotel I stayed in, knowing that it deserved a post of its own.
The Henley Park Hotel wasn’t even on my radar. When I travel for business, since I am usually traveling alone, I tend to book at the hotels that are cooperating with the show, often offering a discounted rate for participants. This particular show, the Travel & Adventure Show, was one I did with the Maine Office of Tourism. Others from the group also had originally book at the show hotel, in this case, the Embassy Suites. One of them happened upon the Henley Park Hotel, with a better room rate than the Embassy Suites, and a block closer to the Washington Convention Center. We all changed our reservations and saved nearly two hundred dollars over the four night stay. I was a bit hesitant at first, given my inclination to the presumed safety of a hotel chain, but knowing the others would be there somehow made the transition easy.
Entry driveway at Henley Park Hotel
I was stunned by the beauty of this historic hotel. From my arrival, through check in, and getting my bags to the room, every niche and corner was tapestry-marble-carved-glowing-old-cool-hotel.
It was kind of a quiet early evening and given how accommodating the hotel staff had been when I got there, I didn’t hesitate to ask if it would be ok for me to walk around the lobby, lounge, restaurant and parlor taking photos. They just smiled and said “of course”, like they were humoring a child. They were in a way.
Before I began my self guided tour of the building, I did take some photos in my room. I have included my thoughts in my Hotel Room Review on my travel blog Lovetheviewfromhere.com.
The images that follow will be included on my image gallery for Washington DC.
Here are some of my favorites:
Tourist info available in this alcove off of the main lobby.
Chandelier in parlor with fireplace
Piano in lounge – look at those windows!
Close up of the windows with wall covering.
In the lounge at the hotel
The main lobby of the hotel.
Cool wall covering and lighting in lounge
Elevator floor indicator
Dining room of the hotel.
Chandelier of dining room – courtyard
Table set for many – leaded windows behind, cool lighting
Private dining and a game of chess on the way to the lounge
The hotel staff was wonderful and welcoming. The continental breakfast included warm croissants, fresh fruit and endless coffee. I could appreciate the management’s attention to the details in maintaining this building’s design. A marker in the lobby said it was originally an apartment building named the Tudor Hall, “a grand residence favored by senators, congressmen and other notables of Washington society.”
For hotel info here’s their website: www.henleypark.com
Be sure to tell them where you read about how gorgeous it is – and no, I’m not compensated for writing and shooting there – if anything I ask to be politely tolerated.
great photos!!!