Riggs Washington DC

Rooms and decor

Picture a stately stone bank building from the 1890s in the middle of Penn Quarter that held the accounts of presidents and power players for over a century, then one day got turned into a playful design boutique — that's the charm of Riggs Washington DC. The original building was the Riggs National Bank, one of the capital's oldest banks, before the European hotel group Lore Group took it on for a major restoration and opened it as a hotel in 2020. The roughly 181 rooms and suites take their concept from US First Ladies, so each style has its own character and color tone — from emerald green and deep blue to warm pink — set against bold furniture, statement wallpaper and brass details that mix old-world feel with something contemporary. Open the door and you can tell right away this isn't a chain room that looks the same the world over; it's a space with its own personality and story. The beds are soft and comfortable and the bathrooms are nicely done with pretty tilework. If you like a hotel that photographs well and leads with design, you'll likely be sold from the first step.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is eating and drinking with real character. The ground floor holds Café Riggs, a European-style brasserie set in the old banking hall, with high ceilings, classic stone columns and soft light pouring in. It serves food all day, from breakfast and brunch through to dinner, and plenty of reviews say the room is beautiful enough to feel like dining in a small palace. The most talked-about feature, though, is Silver Lyan, a cocktail bar hidden in the bank's old underground vault — the work of Ryan Chetiyawardana, known as Mr Lyan, the world-renowned bartender behind famous London bars. Here the menu plays with the story of crossing the Atlantic between the old world and the new, in a moody, low-lit setting that has ranked among the world's best bars. Just heading down the stairs for a drink is a highlight many travelers point to from their whole trip. For other amenities there's a fitness center, friendly boutique-style service, and the hotel is pet-friendly, so it works if you're bringing a four-legged friend along.

Location and getting there

The location is a dream for anyone who wants to explore Washington, D.C. on foot. The hotel sits on F Street in the heart of Penn Quarter, one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods, surrounded by museums, theaters, restaurants and bars. Step out the door and you're a few paces from the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, while the National Mall — the long green expanse lined with Smithsonian museums, monuments and the Capitol — is an easy walk away. Sports or concert fans have Capital One Arena right nearby. Getting around is easy too, because the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, a hub for the Red, Green and Yellow lines, is only about a 5-minute walk away. From there the Metro takes you to Georgetown, Dupont Circle, the airport or other neighborhoods in just a few stops. If you like a trip where you ditch the car, walk the city all day and come back to a stylish design hotel sitting right in the middle of everything, this location delivers.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here's the straight talk. The thing reviews flag most often is room size and views: this is a boutique in an old bank building, so some room types run fairly small and a few have limited views or face neighboring buildings rather than a pretty city outlook. If you want a large room with an open view, choose your room type carefully and ask which direction it faces when you book. Second is amenities — there's no pool and no spa, and the gym is modest, so anyone planning a resort-style stay with lots of in-hotel activities may find it thin, because the draw here is design, atmosphere and location rather than a packed amenity list. Third is noise and bustle: Penn Quarter is lively, especially on event or game nights at Capital One Arena, and Silver Lyan is popular enough to fill up on some evenings. Rooms on lower floors or near common areas can pick up some of that buzz, so if you're a light sleeper, ask for a higher floor or a room set further back. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing so your expectations match what the place sets out to offer.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Riggs Washington DC nails the combination of "a historic bank building with charm, distinctive design, a renowned cocktail bar and a walkable location." If your trip in your head looks like staying in an old building with a story, waking up to brunch in the high-ceilinged banking hall at Café Riggs, then heading down at night for cocktails in the underground vault at Silver Lyan before strolling to the National Mall in minutes, this is a fun, good-value pick at this price. But if you mainly care about large rooms, great views, a pool and a full set of amenities, the boutique nature here may leave you feeling something's missing. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best suited to couples, design lovers and travelers after a stylish, storied stay in the middle of Washington, D.C.