Frommer's Review
Open since June 2000, the St. Gregory is an affordable luxury property, whose ambience and decor evince a sophisticated coziness that makes one feel totally at ease. A $3-million sprucing-up in 2006-07 pushed decor toward a comfortably contemporary and sexy look, replacing furniture, linens, and carpeting with plusher versions throughout the hotel. Wingback chairs; soft benches in place of coffee tables; high-backed, boxlike sofas in red-based weave patterns; coffee-and-cream colored, textured carpeting; oversized silk-fabric-covered slipper chairs; multilayered mattresses and fluffy bedspreads are just some of the fresh appointments. Flatscreen TVs are in the rooms; flat-panel TVs are in the suites. At street level, meanwhile, the St. Gregory has pushed out the front of the building to accommodate its greenhouse-like lounge, Norma Jean's, named in honor of Marilyn Monroe, a sculpture (by J. Seward Johnson) of whom presides here. The glamorous 21 M Lounge opened in spring 2007. Situated at the corner of 21st and M streets, not far from Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and the White House, the St. Gregory is just a stone's throw from some of the city's best restaurants.
Most of the guest rooms are one-bedroom suites, with a separate living room and bedroom, and with a pullout sofa in the living room. For privacy and views, choose one of the 16 "sky" suites on the top three floors, each with terrace and city overlooks. Of the 100 suites, 85 have pantry kitchens, including microwaves, ovens, and full-size refrigerators (the other 15 suites have no kitchens). The remaining 54 units are either king or two double beds.
Three whole floors of the hotel are reserved for club-level rooms. Crystal Waters, Denyce Graves, Dianne Reeves, Naomi Judd, and Mikhail Baryshnikov are among the many performers who gravitate to the hotel. The St. Gregory offers special rates to long-term and government guests, and to those from the diplomatic community. If you don't fall into one of those categories, check the hotel's website for great deals like the often available "One Dollar Clearance Sale": You pay a set price -- this can fluctuate, sometimes $199, sometimes $289 -- the first night and only $1 for the second night, for Friday and Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday stays.
Facilities: Restaurant (contemporary American); coffee bar; bar/lounge; state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as access (for $20 fee) to the nearby and larger Sports Club/LA health club at the Ritz-Carlton; concierge; tour desk; self-serve 24-hr. business center; room service (6:30am-10:30pm); massage; babysitting; coin-op laundry room; same-day laundry service; dry cleaning; concierge-level rooms; 6 rooms for those w/limited mobility, 2 w/roll-in showers.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
