My husband and I stayed here with another couple on the 15th and 16th of December 2006 and we thought this was a sweet, boutique hotel.

The decor is quirky and fun. The rooms are spotless and fairly large. (The carpets looked new). The staff is friendly and helpful.

The location is central to all the sites and yet it is on a quiet block.

We had drinks at the bar--a fun place to hang out although, as NYers we've become unaccustomed to the smoke. Oh well.

We didn't have breakfast at the hotel because my friend has stayed here before and wasnt' impressed with the breakfast, so we went next door to the Habberd Inn.

I loved the shampoo and conditioner, the hotel provided.

I can't think of thing to complain about. We would stay here again.

Pros: Style, location, price, friendliness
Cons: Maybe a little too "pet friendly"


Modern, hip, *and* down-to-earth... how often do you get to stay in a place that is trendy yet welcoming? It's a tough balance to achieve, but the Topaz does it.

We arrived late at night after a grueling drive from NYC. The staff was warm, courteous and sympathetic. Our room (basic 2-queens) was incredibly spacious and very comfortable - a haven. And the price?!? I was traveling on government business and the rate was well below the established per diem, a rarity in Washington DC.

The décor and staff uniforms are a little funny - they are going for a kind of zen theme to everything - the contrivance of this can at times make you feel like you're staying in a Disney-managed property. However, this theme leads them to offer in-room Tazo teas and free smoothies in the lobby, so I guess I'm a fan.

The hotel is pet-friendly, which (though not a current pet owner) I did not mind until I observed several large, dark stains in the carpet. This was the only deficiency in cleanliness I noticed, but due to the well-advertised pet policy, it kindof grossed me out.

The staff really was fantastic. When we arrived late at night, they told us that street parking would be free due to a holiday the next day which meant that we would not need to pay the $20-something for hotel parking. Upon arriving at our room, one of the desk clerks called to tell us that he'd double-checked and there would not be free street parking after all. He then personally came to our room, picked up our keys, and parked our car in the garage for free that night, because he felt bad about giving us incorrect information originally (when it was no big deal), On top of all this, he refused any kind of a tip. We were incredibly impressed.

I stayed at the Topaz for the weekend, and thought it was a lovely boutique hotel tucked away on a quiet street in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. It's very close to the metro and there was lots of free parking on street--which is rare in a city. I was surprised by other reviews here, and I certainly didn't find Topaz to be dingy or tired looking at all. In fact, the room looked like it was newly renovated and was absolutely enormous. It was also on the top floor and we had good views. For the rate we paid, it was an incredible deal. The service was not quite as attentive as some other Kimpton hotels I've visited, but it was friendly nevertheless.

This is a great hotel for the price. My room was nice, spacious and clean, complete with Aveda amenities. This was my 3rd stay at the Topaz, and was consistent with my previous experiences. The hotel is in an excellent location, near shopping, Starbucks, and nightlife. I didn't observe any worn carpets. My king room (511) was at the end of the hall and away from the elevators, so it was very quiet. The staff handled my simple requests efficiently. I even worked out at the YMCA for a nominal fee of $5. The bar is great, offers great drinks (Blue Nirvana) and appetizers. Certain drinks are half off between 5 and 7 I think, otherwise youpay a hefty price ($9 and up) for premiums, which is expected at any hotel bar.

If you like the opposite of big, corporate hotels, this one is great.