Variety’s the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.

                                                                    The Task (1785)–‘The Timepiece’ (Book II, lines 606-7)

It is perhaps at this point that I should mention that I am sipping on a tongue-teasingly delicious Hay Adams’ spin-off of a spicy Bloody Mary that has inspired these musings.

An iconic landmark in the capital of the USA, The Hay Adams epitomises old money, power, style and traditional elegance, with a clientele to match. It is where class meets chic and “nothing is overlooked except the White House”.HAYADAMScn_image_2.size.hay-adams-hotel-washington-d-c--washington-district-of-columbia-103381-3

Location, location, location

Just a stone’s throw away from The White House, St. John’s Church, the “Church of the Presidents”, and the lush Lafayette Garden, the neo-classical building housing the Hay Adams really is at the centre of it all, in America’s political powerhouse. Within a short walk is a range of museums – from the incredible collection of the National Gallery of Art to the Smithsonian Institute – and just a little further away is Georgetown, the stylish neighbourhood bordering the Potomac River, with its eponymous University and a quirky shopping district.

The Rooms

Decorated in a traditional European style, the bedrooms are elegant and spacious, with a separate work area. An all-marble bathroom with Etro products and silky smooth bathrobes invite you to relax which is exactly what I did. The views of The White House are unique and awe-inspiring for obvious reasons.

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The ‘Off the Record’ Bar

Aptly named for this hot bed of global politics, the bar is a meeting place for power brokers engaged in sotto voce conversations reverberating off the deep red walls. The jazzy interior and the palpable energy around you create a charged and exhilarating atmosphere.

I was equally impressed by the level of service in the Lafayette restaurant. “Any type of omelette you want” was the waiter’s response to an indecisive client’s query.

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Last word

Subtlety, elegance and discretion define this hotel whose reputation is legendary.

800 16TH St NW
Washington, DC 20006
T: 202.638.6600
http://www.hayadams.com/

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