Hotel Monaco, Alexandria, VA
October 21, 2010
After flying all day back from Rome, I was due in Washington for a two day meeting. I’ve found that avoiding the HOV restrictions in Washington requires either staying in the city the night before or driving in insanely early. This time, I chose to stay close to the city at the Hotel Monaco in Alexandria, VA.
Hotel Monaco is a Kimpton, and you already know how I feel about that chain. I’m pleased to report that the staff at the Monaco is excellent, interactive, and mostly informed. I recommend the rooms with balconies that overlook the internal courtyard. Here’s the view from room 447.
Bathrooms are fairly standard as far as Kimptons go. Nice marble shower over a heavy duty tub in the case of the Monaco. The shower I took after 10 hours in a plane felt great.
The wallpaper actually looks slightly spiffier in person than it does in these pictures. Very tasteful.
On the strength of its staff, the Hotel Monaco earns a five showerheads rating. I’ve stayed here before and I will stay here again.
Mixology-wise, Alexandria has a superb mixologist at the Restaurant Eve bar where they make a majority of their own ingredients. Also the bartender at the Majestic Cafe is very good and knowledgeable. He turned me on to Leopolds Gin which is made in Virginia.
March 10, 2011 at 5:41 pm
[…] can see the note (replete with references to previous stays) leaning on a bottle of wine next to a tasty selection of fruit and […]