Washington, DC--

When our staff began to sort through the emails requesting more local hotel and restaurant coverage we came across a recommendation of the M Street Bar and Grill and the St. Gregory Hotel located in the heart of Downtown Washington, D.C at 2033 M Street. We took the opportunity to stay of one of the hidden gems close enough for conducting business downtown in the financial district or close enough to walk to all of the historical value Washington has to offer.

Once you step inside of the hotel, you will be warmly greeted by their attentive staff and Marilyn Monroe dancing on the subway grate replicating the famous photograph from the famous movie The Seven Year Itch. Wait, you say how is that possible? Well the St. Gregory has brought a little bit of history to the hotel with a life sized replica of Monroe with her famous dance on an air vent with her dress blowing upward from the air. The statue offers a throwback to the hotel days of yesteryear and like Monroe’s stunning beauty the statue reflects the fresh perspective of a perfect hotel experience that the St. Gregory strives for when each guest walks through the front doors.

Like many boutique hotels that have popped up in Washington over the past few years, the St. Gregory lives up to the quality guests can expect from boutique properties nationwide. Combined with its service and quality of the suites, the St. Gregory is putting some of the legendary Washington hotel properties to shame that many travelers have called home for over 50 years.

While the St. Gregory may not boast a huge lobby or tons of meeting space, they do have a great lounge area in the front of the hotel with ceiling to floor windows showcasing a great street view with plenty of comfy couches and chairs to talk business or put together a plan to see the monuments for a day.

The 3,000 square feet of meeting space is a great way to incorporate a meeting into more of an intimate setting with a ballroom that can be split into three sections and two board rooms with video conferencing capabilities. The St. Gregory is a small company’s dream hotel.

With 100 suites and 37 deluxe rooms and 16 “sky” rooms which have a two sided balcony, each guest will be treated to what might be an even better than home experience. When we opened the door to our suite, again the detail towards perfection is shown in little things such as the fresh flowers placed inside of the room that gave this suite one of the most intense odors of outdoor freshness that other hotels would love to have. The white orchids, roses and a few other flowers placed directly on the table in the living area really showcase how the staff goes further than just checking you in at the front desk.

While most people will enjoy the layout the suites offer, there is a room for all types of budgets at this hotel. The “sky” room comes complete with a wrap around balcony that could hold 50 people for your own cocktail hour, if so desired. The balcony wrapping around the entire room is the best feature we have seen at a city hotel of this type in many years.

We really liked the enormous bathroom with marble floors, and the free standing wash basin with all of the best soaps and shampoos. Run out of towels or soap, just place a call to the front desk, we did, and within five minutes of a phone call to the front desk, a fresh supply arrived to our room. They are all about service at the St. Gregory.

If you are a tourist visiting Washington and have walked all day looking at the various sights that surround the National Mall, then heaven awaits you when you return in the bedroom. The calming colors of beige, olive and crème trim make for a very easy way to put a wary traveler to sleep. The mattress allows you to dive right into extra pillows and with the way this bed sleeps, if you want to forget about your day in Washington, this is the best way.

All of the rooms and suites at the St. Gregory hotel will cause you to think twice about leaving before the start of a long day and have you fiending for it after the end of one. If the walls were made of chocolate, it would be safe to say this place would truly be heaven on earth, or at least a dream wonderland.

Another feature we liked were the cookies placed on the bedside table. It is the little features that make the St. Gregory feel a lot more like home.

Guests can expect to find a morning complimentary continental breakfast that includes coffee, tea, juice, yogurt, and two types of pastries. While we opted to head downstairs for the highly recommended Sunday Brunch at M Street Bar and Grill, the continental breakfast is a great choice for those on the run.

If you are looking for a hotel that hits a homerun and certainly won’t leave you stranded on the bases for a service or quality, then look no further than the St. Gregory as they certainly put the “sweet” into suites when it comes to a pleasant hotel experience.

Please also read our review of the award winning dining and cocktails available at M Street Bar and Grill located right on the lobby level of the hotel. Like the St. Gregory, it too has a great experience that you will tell your friends about

For more information on the St. Gregory visit their website listed above or call the hotel direct at 202 530-3600