Lyle Is the Washington D.C. Local Everyone Can Agree On

Lyle Washington D.C.
Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
Breezy and Easygoing, $$

Washington, D.C. is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, it’s a highly-designed national showpiece, with spacious boulevards, rich and accessible cultural institutions, historic monuments, and plenty of green spaces. On the other, it’s a messy swamp (the people, as well as the weather) of bickering gotcha pundits with shifting (and shifty) alliances, of social disparity and gross income inequality, of amorphous “statehood” with no actual representation. It’s a lot.

Which makes the Lore Group’s latest hotel, Lyle Washington D.C., an awfully nice place to come home to at the end of a day navigating the city. If sister hotel Riggs DC across town is the more upscale choice — elegantly dressed and ready to win the negotiation stylishly — Lyle is the cute-sneakers-and-white-tee place to have a bottle of wine with a good friend at the end of the day or to top off the week (and gear up for the next) at a lively weekend brunch.

Located on New Hampshire Avenue a short walk from Dupont Circle, the building has great Art Deco bones that have been accented with warm woods and white furnishings. The colors pops are deep and subtle reds and oranges. The hanging tapestries located behind reception and on all the floors have an Ancient Greek vibe; the artwork in the restaurant and rooms leans more towards the geometric than the representational. That Lyle is very affordable and staffed by helpful, friendly people makes the experience even better.

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At a Glance

The Vibe: Relaxed and unpretentious.

Standout Detail: The design. Lore Creative Director Jacu Strauss paired Art Deco with billowing and plush white textiles really nicely.

This Place Is Perfect For: Business, political, and diplomatic travelers with more style than money; visitors who want an easy and welcoming place to stay.

Rooms: The Lyle’s 196 rooms and suites come in a handful of configurations, with two queen beds or one king bed. Seven rooms are ADA. Some rooms have kitchenettes, some have round tables and two chairs, some have sofas. My kitchenette was stocked with Civic vodka and Borough bourbon and a basket with Righteous Fellow craft jerky, Pringles, peanut M&Ms, Ferris Nut Co. mixed nuts. Laurent Perrier champagne sat alongside Diet Coke and Pellegrino in the mini fridge. If you request a corner room, your reward will be great views from large windows. My bathroom got extra points for having enough space for my products and makeup and for being stocked with full-sized DS&DURGA bath products. The Lyle Suite in the penthouse has an L-shaped sofa and a dining table that could host a small party; the suite can be expanded to one, two, or three bedrooms. The walls, curtains, bedding, chairs, and sofas are a crisp and neat white, the carpets are a pale beige, the headboard and other furniture and accents are warm and burl woods. The whole effect is very serene and relaxing. If you had a crazy day in DC, this would be a very easy place to recover.

Food + Drink: In-house restaurant Lyle’s serves a contemporary American menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A small private dining room can accommodate more intimate meals; Bar at Lyle’s is spacious and social. If you’re here on a weekend, you might be tempted to join the party at the weekend brunch.

On Site: The hotel has nice options for events. I spent a morning working at the high table in the Gallery; the next day it was set up with catering for the meeting in the adjacent Parlor, which had a long conference table. The lower level, called the Conservatory, is divided into a few rooms, one set up with a dining table, and two living areas with sofas and chairs, another with a super long white sofa, tables, and chairs. The Pantry is where you’d get the refreshments for whatever you were doing down here — working alone, hosting a cocktail party, powering through a team meeting. Gauzy white curtains and lots of plants help the space feel bright even though there aren’t any windows. Also on the lower level is a gym.

What to Do Nearby

Dupont Circle (and its metro stop) is a short walk away, from which it’s easy to access popular DC attractions. The hotel has a great and up to date list of local and hotel activities — from art walks to kayak tours.

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