If you are a regular reader of Posh Voyage, you will find that the hotels I usually write about are not only the best in the city, but also hidden gems that give you a sense of uniqueness.

Let me start by saying that this 91-room hotel is President Obama’s go-to spot when hosting lavish dinners; after all, it is only 4 blocks away from The White House. He has been at the hotel 17 times in the past 2 years, so you can imagine the fun stories the Manager shared with me about the Secret Service.

The Jefferson Hotel is reminiscent of walking into your own historic home (minus the tired rooms). A complete renovation in 2009 has achieved the perfect balance between a historic and a fresh hotel. From heavenly rooms to drop-dead gorgeous bathrooms, the Milstein family did it exactly right.

The location is perfection—close enough to the key locations, but far away enough to unwind after a busy day. The hotel’s décor was inspired by its namesake, so if you are a history lover, walking through the halls will prove to be quite a treat, with original documents signed by Thomas Jefferson decorating the walls.

My room was a breath of fresh air; the light colors, floor to ceiling windows, the classical music playing and the welcome amenities set the tone for my relaxing evening.
When walking in, the gorgeous Plume restaurant beams with romantic touches like candlelight’s and peonies. Plume is the signature restaurant that hosts the most decadent dinners in DC. My personal favorite dish is the Maryland blue crab risotto. Tip: Though its an appetizer, it’s so good you can ask for an entree-sized portion instead.

With a 2:1 staff to guest ratio, you will find that whatever you need is, it will be met as soon as your are finishing your sentence, literally. I checked-out of the hotel at 5am and called the Valet to have my car ready. As expected, my car was already in the front, with a cup of fresh brewed coffee and 2 members of the staff saying goodbye with smiles that belonged to the 5pm shift.

At the end of our meeting, I asked the Manager how they prepare the hotel for The President, Senators and other politicians. He gave me the following insight:
“From a preparation standpoint, we have become very efficient after hosting the President so many times! The most obvious and detailed preparations concern the security of the President, which the Secret Service spearheads”.

“Initial preparations typically begin a couple of days before and continue right until the moment he arrives. While the President’s security is clearly of the utmost importance, we insist that our other guests be treated with the respect that they deserve, and the Secret Service and White House have done an excellent job of allowing our other guests to enjoy their stay with minimal interruption while still maintaining the proper security levels.” I can attest to that, for as far as my personal experience, I felt like the First Lady during my stay.

While I might not agree with Obama on all of his decisions, staying at The Jefferson is one that I fully support!

Photographs courtesy of the property.