Occupying an entire city block above Thomas Circle, this downtown hotel is a monument to the 1960s international style of architecture. A recent exterior renovation has rendered the V-shape facade glistening white; polished black-stone accents surround the driveway and entrance. The modern treatment continues in the lobby, which is bright, airy and sparingly furnished with Mies Van Der Rohe chairs. The remainder of the space on the massive ground floor houses various conference and ball rooms - and the hotel's restaurant, 10 Thomas Circle. The motif prevails in the sleek hallways, which follow the building's V-shape, and in the guest rooms. Standard rooms are large, with clean lines, blond-wood furniture and amenities such as voicemail and dataports, in-room coffee makers and hair dryers. Suites are vast, with full living rooms with couches, two bathrooms and separate dressing areas. The hotel offers 24-hour room service, twice-daily maid service and a complimentary Washington Post. Thomas Circle is convenient to much of downtown and to many tourist attractions, but it's not the town's most pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. The outdoor swimming pool and the terrace around it have also been recently refurbished, making the hotel's country-club comfort level seem strange against the backdrop of office buildings and downtown traffic. -- Ben Abramson

Nonsmoking rooms: Yes
Health Club: Yes
Swimming Pool: Yes
Note: Full reimbursement for government employees; NY Times weekend rate.