Perfect place for families to stay in Washington DC – Omni Shoreham Hotel (review)

Looking for a quiet upscale hotel in Washington DC with a resort, park-like setting?

Omni Shoreham is the perfect place to stay while visiting our nation’s capital. This resort provides a quiet and relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Located just minutes away from Reagan National Airport, the National Mall, and all of the major attractions, guests can easily visit their favorite Smithsonian Museums, Capitol Hill, or any other site they desire.

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My daughter and I stayed at the Omni Shoreham recently for a mother/daughter trip before she headed back to school. This year she’s a high school senior and so our time together is limited. I wanted to make sure we had a memorable experience before the school year got underway. The Omni Shoreham did not disappoint. In partnership with Omni Hotels, we spent 4 days in Washington D.C and stayed in a spacious suite overlooking Rock Creek Park. It was a quiet retreat for the two of us and we enjoyed every minute. Here, let me share a few reasons the Omni Shoreham should be your go-to hotel when visiting Washington D.C with your family.

Omni Shoreham Hotel

The Omni Shoreham Hotel is a historic hotel located in Washington, D.C.’s Woodley Park neighborhood. It is NW of the National Mall

The hotel first opened its doors in 1930. This luxury hotel hosted U.S. Presidents, foreign dignitaries, and numerous celebrities including the Beatles back in 1964. Today the Omni Shoreham is just as relevant, if not more so. It has undergone extensive renovations in recent years and now features 834 guest rooms and suites, many with spectacular views of Rock Creek Park, one of the country’s oldest urban parks.

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The Omni Shoreham Hotel is a great choice for families visiting Washington DC. Here’s why:

1. Spacious Rooms and Suites

The Omni Shoreham offers a variety of room and suite options to accommodate families of all sizes. We stayed in a two-queen suite which was plenty of space for the two of us. The suites at the Omni Shoreham feature separate living areas with sofa beds, meaning everyone can have their own space to relax after a long day of sightseeing.

King and two queen rooms are also available with ample space for a family of four. All rooms come equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee maker, free wifi, flat-screen TVS, and in-room safes large enough to accommodate a laptop.

The beds are extremely comfortable with crisp white linens and plenty of pillows. I’m not sure about you, but when I travel with my family we often have different sleep schedules. One of us is up early while the other likes to sleep in. That’s why I love that each bed in the room has its own reading light. This way everyone can stay up as late or wake up as early as they’d like without disturbing the others. Plus the curtains are truly black out to ensure a good night’s sleep.

2. Resort Setting

The Omni Shoreham Hotel is set on 11 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds in Northwest Washington DC. The hotel’s beautifully landscaped, park-like setting provides a tranquil oasis for guests, yet it’s still within walking distance of all the major attractions, the Woodley Park Metro Station, and some of the best shopping and dining in the city.

There are quiet seating areas located around the property for guests to enjoy the gardens and fountain. There are also outdoor firepits that are lit nightly, weather permitting. They provide the perfect spot for s’mores and conversation with family and new friends. I thoroughly enjoyed relaxing around the firepit at night with my daughter recounting our adventures from the day.

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3. Heated Pool and Fitness Center

The Omni Shoreham Hotel features a heated, outdoor pool. The pool area also has a sundeck with plenty of seating for guests to enjoy the beautiful weather, read a book, or take a nap. It’s voted one of the South’s Best Pools, by Southern Living magazine and a great way to cool off after a day of sightseeing in the summer heat.

The poolside Pool Bar offers a variety of drinks and light fare for guests to enjoy poolside. For Summer 2022, Omni Hotels debuted their Summer Water and Color Menu which features shareables, tropical themed entrees, mocktails, and cocktails brimming with natural color and fresh flavors.

The hotel also has a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio machines, free weights, and resistance training equipment. The fitness center is complimentary for guests and is open 24 hours a day. I love that they have yoga mats available for guests to use. I took advantage of the fitness center one morning and enjoyed a quiet yoga session before starting my day.

4. Dining Choices

The Omni Shoreham Hotel features several on-site dining options to please every member of the family. For breakfast, you can get grab-and-go fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee just off the lobby. 

If you have time for a sit-down breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the hotel’s signature restaurant, Robert’s restaurant, offers an exquisite farm-to-table dining experience. The Poolside Bar that I mentioned above is also open for lunch and dinner and features a variety of shareables, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more.

For those times when you just want to relax in your room, the Omni Shoreham Hotel offers 24-hour room service.

Nearby,  you’ll also find an array of international cuisine options in the vicinity of the Metro station, about a 4-minute walk. There’s French, Japanese, American,  and more, so you’re sure to find something to please everyone in your group.

Splash of Summer Package

Book the Splash of Summer package which includes a $100 food and beverage credit to use at any of these restaurants during your stay and a complimentary beach towel.

5. Close to Many Family-Friendly Activities

Omni Shoreham Hotel is located adjacent to Rock Creek Park, offering miles of hiking and biking trails for the outdoor enthusiasts in your group. The hotel concierge can arrange bicycle rentals for guests to use during their stay or you can rent a bike from the kiosk at Calvert Street NW and Connecticut Avenue NW.

The hotel’s location is within walking distance to the National Zoo, Woodley Park Playground, and the National Cathedral. One piece of advice shared with me is to take the L2 bus to the zoo instead of walking, however. The zoo is uphill from the hotel. It’s doable if you’re up for the challenge, but if not, the bus is a much easier option. The L2 bus stop is right in front of the hotel and will drop you off right in front of the zoo entrance for $2 per person. It’s money well spent.

The National Mall and Reagan National Airport are about 15 minute away by car or 40 minutes by metro. So it’s a great hotel for families flying into Reagan for a vacation in D.C.

Final Thoughts

The D.C.’s Omni Shoreham is a great hotel for families. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the on-site amenities are top-notch, and the location is convenient for getting around DC. I highly recommend it for your next trip to D.C.!

The thing I enjoyed the most was the sense of history in the hotel. It felt like I was staying in a place with a lot of character, unlike some of the newer hotels that can feel a little cold and sterile. Second, I enjoyed the park-like setting and the proximity to Rock Creek Park. It made be forget that I was still in the city. And last, I loved the food options. From the pool bar to the on-site restaurants to the international cuisine nearby, there’s something for everyone at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Have you stayed at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in D.C.? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Thank you to the Omni Shoreham for providing a complimentary room in exchange for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.