Just a short walking distance away from Union Station at the nation’s capital is the Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington DC. This charming hotel provides a warm welcome to travelers and is a comfortable base to explore the city.
Phoenix Park Hotel is a historic hotel that has its roots in the 1920s, dating back to 1927. It was originally known as The Commodore and was favored for its location close to Capitol Hill. In 1982, the hotel changed owners and was renamed after Phoenix Park in Dublin Ireland. This link is underscored with the Dubliner Restaurant and Pub on the ground floor.
The hotel is around 690 feet or 200 metres away from Union Station, making it convenient for those who are arriving in Washington D.C. by Amtrak train and looking for accommodation close to the train station.
A green marquee stretches out over the driveway, bidding welcome to arriving guests to the handsome red brick building.
Inside, you will be greeted by the front desk counter. A comfortable seating area provides a spot where guests can lounge around for a while if they need to wait their turn.
From the ground floor, two elevators behind the check in counter take guests up to their rooms.
One interesting detail at the elevators is a slot where for postal mail. This chute goes all the way from the upper floors down to the ground floor. We are not sure if it is still in operation but it is still an interesting curiosity.
Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington DC Room Review
The room that we stayed at was on the corner and looked out at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum across the junction of Massachusetts Avenue NE and North Capitol Street NW.
There are five different room layouts. The Phoenix Park Hotel room that we stayed at opened up into a short foyer with the bathroom on the left and the sleeping area up ahead.
There were two beds with a small table and chair at the foot of the beds. The decor of the Phoenix Park Hotel room felt classic yet contemporary with nice big windows that looked out over the street below. We liked the decor of the room.
A television stood in the corner of the room.
The toilet was decently sized. However, one issue that we came across was that the screen for the shower area was not very effective and water would leak out from the bottom to the dry area whenever we showered.
The room that we booked did not come with any coffee or tea making facilities. However, this was more than compensated for because there was a communal lounge on the second floor with coffee and tea making facilities.
Overall, the room felt spacious and comfortable enough for four.
We enjoyed the room, however, there was a small issue with the housekeeping. On one of the days that we returned to the room, we found a wet cloth left in the room. This must have been left behind by the housekeeping. It would have been preferable that more attention was paid to the details.
Amenities at Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington DC
What we appreciated the most was the lounge area on the second floor.
There was not only comfortable seats where we could sit down for a while but coffee machines that were free to use.
It was easy to grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and take it back to the room.
The lounge area on level two is also accessible from the ground floor via a set of stairs.
The second floor is also where the microwave and water dispenser is located. This is a common microwave that guests can use to heat up food.
A small business centre can also be found on the second floor.
Other amenities at the Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington DC include a gym in the basement. There is also a washing machine and dryer, and there are ice machines on selected floors.
Food at Phoenix Park Hotel
The Dubliner Irish pub on the ground floor is the hotel’s dining establishment. Open to the public, it can also be reached from the hotel via a door that is connected to the hotel lobby area.
We had breakfast there one day. You can get cooked breakfast items like eggs, sausages and toast. The room that we had booked did not come with breakfast so we paid for our breakfast at The Dubliner at Phoenix Park Hotel separately.
The majority of the other closest food options can be found at the Washington Union Station. There is a food court area with fast food along with a few other eateries.
There is also a supermarket located within the train station if you need to pick up something
One evening, we did order dinner at The Dubliner to take up to our room to eat. Personally, we found the food to be overly salty. However, what we did appreciate was that since The Dubliner and Phoenix Park Hotel are both run by the hotel, we were able to get a pint of beer in a glass to take up to enjoy in the hotel room.
Overall Review of Phoenix Park Hotel
On the whole, Phoenix Park Hotel is a good choice for those who are visiting Washington DC, especially for those who may be arriving by train. It has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2002.
The room is comfortable, but depending on the room you are given, you might find some of the facilities to be showing their age.
There are not that many food options around the hotel so you may have to plan.
It takes around 20 minutes to walk from the hotel to Chinatown in one direction and to the Capitol in another direction.
You can find out more by visiting the Phoenix Park Hotel website.
Where: 520 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20001
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