I visit D.C. for work more than any other city, but I had never stayed at the Lyle Hotel DC before.

This past week I had to be in D.C. for one night, and rates were pretty good across the board. I figured with a one night stay I could branch away from my usual spots and try something new. For $221 I booked The Lyle Hotel near Dupont Circle.

It wasn’t quite as good a deal as it first seemed when the rate came up because during the booking process I discovered a $34.79 “hotel fee” on top, which is basically a resort or destination fee that didn’t really come with benefits as far as I could tell (they didn’t mention any, in any case). Still, I wound up really loving the hotel for its hospitality.

I checked into the Lyle and I was helped right away. The agent at the small desk was efficient, and had a key in my hand quickly. There wasn’t any mention of status benefits, though, other than thanking me for being ‘a member’. The Lyle is a part of Lore Hotel Group, which has properties part of GHA Discover. (Readers will recall I wrote up a stay at a GHA-participating property, Kempinski Cancun, over the summer.)

It was just a one-night stay and I was on my own, and I wouldn’t even need late check-out, but I still decided to ask whether there were any benefits to be aware of?

The agent at the desk seemed a bit confused, so she began looking into her system. It turns out, she said, that they’d had some issue with the connection between their Opera system and GHA, and so they didn’t have status information on incoming guests.

By way of apology, they upgraded me to their ‘Lyle Suite’ on the top floor, offered late checkout (I declined) and sent up my food and beverage welcome amenity. They suggested their specialty banana bread which was excellent – I was shocked, since it was gluten free – and I just asked for extra waters.

The Simple Way For A Hotel To Win My Heart

How good is a staff that really goes out of their way? Room service doesn’t start until 7 a.m. There’s a coffee maker in the room, but regular readers know that I don’t love those – even if they’re cleaned (rare) I’m not going to enjoy my coffee with shelf-stable creamer.

I like just the smallest drop of it, to cut the bitterness of many coffees, but it needs to be fresh. I asked about local coffee shops that might open earlier? And they offered to brew some early for me and send it up at whatever time I wanted, so I asked for 5 a.m.

It was there at exactly 5 a.m. – and actually delicious. That’s truly the way to my heart as a hotel guest. They didn’t even charge me for it.

The Lyle Suite

My key said 802 but the room doesn’t actually have a number on the door. Signage in the hall and on the room entrance simply says ‘Lyle Suite’.

Entering the room, there’s a narrow corridor ahead into the kitchen and dining area, which also has a guest bathroom. To the right takes you into the living room (which you can also reach through the dining room) and to the left, the bedroom and main bath.

Here’s the kitchen area and dining room.

And here’s the living room.

This is the guest bath, with toilet and sink only.

Here’s the bedroom:

This is the bathroom that’s off the bedroom, which has a shower.

The room offered windows on two sides, so a fairly wide view that included the Washington Monument’s top but mostly building tops.

Restaurant

The restaurant and bar at the property were both very attractive, but on my short stay I didn’t have the chance to try either.

Lyle Hotel DC Gym And Hotel Amenities

Amenities at the property are on the basement level, a floor beneath the lobby.

The gym was about what you’d expect.

And then there were some other attractive spaces, albeit without natural light, which were empty while I was there.

The Lyle Hotel DC Bottom Line

I didn’t see a standard room here, and I doubt I’d luck into this suite again, so can’t really offer a full evaluation of the property, but what I saw I really liked.

There was only one exception: I don’t love bathrooms that lack counter space, and that was the situation even in the suite (which had two bathrooms). I’d also prefer softer bath towels.

Maybe the only hitch in the stay was that while Lore Group hotels like this one are listed as participating in the new GHA Discovery elite breakfast benefit, the person checking me in knew nothing about it.

They were taking such good care of me and I didn’t plan to eat breakfast anyway so didn’t really pursue it. I was headed to an event late morning that was going to involve tasting a bunch of different foods, and a lovely coffee service and banana bread were more than enough.

Maybe next time? I do plan to return.