The Best Places to Stay in Southwest

A sharp-angled modernist building on the Southwest Waterfront, a short distance from Capitol Hill but feeling nothing like it. This 131-room hotel from the Montage group holds a rooftop bar with a circular bar and Potomac views, an all-day Latin American restaurant with water vistas, and a moody ground-floor bar wrapped in navy and gold palms. Check-in happens seated, at a desk by a fireplace, which sets the residential tone. It holds a Michelin Key.

1. Michelin Guide 1 Key
2. Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Recommended

A terrace overlooking the Washington Marina keeps the vibe grounded even though the Jefferson Memorial is a short walk away. This 373-room hotel on the Southwest Waterfront sits close to The Wharf and the National Mall, with a lobby that signals money without shouting. Chef Kwame Onwuachi's Afro-Caribbean restaurant Dōgon runs separately downstairs, and the spa gives you a reason to stay in.

1. Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Recommended
2. Michelin Guide Selected Hotels