Moving at a snail’s pace along M Street, you’ll pass Wisconsin Avenue, the crossroads of Georgetown, and while there’ll almost definitely be bumper-to-bumper traffic and crowds of shoppers, which reflect the popularity of the area, it isn’t annoying at all, thanks to the colorful—borderline theatrical—scene out the window.
A seemingly unending line of Federal-style rowhouses flank the street, narrow cobblestone alleyways beckon seductively, and sunglass-donned diners sip espressos at sidewalk cafes, and the fairytale continues as you slip off the hustle-bustle just before The Stone House (which is considered this city’s oldest structure) onto 31st Street.
It dips down toward the waterfront, and just past the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is your destination, the aptly-named Canal House, Georgetown’s newest hotel, which opened February 2025. It presents neat-as-a-pin, a seven-story charcoal-washed stylish boutique, and on the cobblestone sidewalk, the doorman flashes a greeting and grabs luggage.
In the hazy distance, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Potomac River before letting the revolving door whisks you into the wood-paneled lounge starring a come-hither bar. At every turn, Canal House is poised to launch your exploration of tony Georgetown and wider D.C..
Why stay at Canal House of Georgetown?
If you cherish walkability and boutique hotels like I do, you’ll love Canal House. Talk about sticker shock: land comes at a premium in Georgetown and the waterfront area (south of the canal) is really Georgetown’s last point of redevelopment.
As if waving a wand, the property brought to life a bláse, nondescript office building and combined it with two classic rowhouses. The canal, currently undergoing renovations, is a muse for the hotel, influencing the menu of its signature restaurant. It’s also pet-friendly and the waterfront greenspace is steps away, ideal for morning walks and people-watching.
What are the rooms like at Canal House of Georgetown?
My 202 square-feet Deluxe King room was delightfully outfitted: narrow and rectangular-shaped, it had a clean minimalist design, with a thin bench running along the wall to put my things. I’m a light traveler, but if you arrive with those jumbo suitcases, space tightens fast. I noted the courtyard was just outside my window and expected to hear the faint chatter of guests and diners during our stay, but it was gloriously quiet. Why? Well, that’d be thanks to the fact that Canal House is (wisely) obsessed about sound-proofing—and it’s certainly paid off.
One of the many things I adore about this property is that re-adapting an office building and historic, protected townhomes forced inventive, outside-the-box thinking. The 107-room, 8-category property is no cookie-cutter project: room layouts and sizes run the gamut, maxing out with the townhouses at up to 846 square-feet, and views take in the courtyard, neighborhood or the river. Want outdoor access? Spend a tad more for a King Balcony or the King Terrace—with a rooftop terrace featuring jaw-dropping views.
What is the food like at Canal House of Georgetown?
The inhouse restaurant C&O Lounge takes its inspiration from the neighboring 184.5-mile canal. There’s a children’s menu and overall, prices are normal by Georgetown standards. I’d definitely take them up on artisanal fare and fresh catch from the area, and since 80 percent of the menu is locally-sourced, this isn’t hard.
For drinks, belly up to the bar or sit near the lobby fire to sip a Lockhouse Old Fashioned ($18), a cocktail celebrating the seven 200-year-old lockhouses along the canal. You can choose from smoked options—cherry, apple, oak, or hickory. If you’re feeling hoppy, try the Port City IPA ($9), a local beer from Alexandria, Virginia (across the Potomac River), or chase the sun outside in the courtyard with a C&O Creek Cooler ($17) in hand—vodka, fresh sliced cucumbers, mint, lime juice and club soda.
When the full kitchen roars to life at 5pm, you can opt to dine al fresco or in the library, whatever fits your mood. Expect Chesapeake flavors and regional seafood such as the pan-seared local rockfish from the bay ($28) or the salmon tartare from Atlantic waters ($18), which was my personal favorite.
I’m light on breakfast and opted for the serve-yourself wide-ranging buffet ($22), with European-style savory meats and cheeses and sweet choices like berries and yogurt, but made-to-order plates are on offer too and those start at $12.
What is the service like at Canal House of Georgetown?
I immediately made fast friends with the front desk, who seemed to know all the guests, and made themselves available for any and all questions about the area. Whatever your first language, they’ve got you covered: the combined team is fluent in 5-6 languages.
At a nearby wine shop, my husband and I stumbled on a bottle of Chianti Classico from a Tuscan vineyard we once visited, and back at the hotel, we asked for a bottle opener and wine glasses which the bartender fished out for promptly. Our experience throughout our stay was excellent, and the only slight mix-up we witnessed was with a family’s dinner order, which was dealt with swiftly and with apologies.
What are the amenities like at Canal House of Georgetown?
Let’s be honest: when you visit Georgetown you spend time out-and-about, exploring. The hotel gets it, and has a 24-7 gym to keep you fit for the action. It isn’t going to get their feelings hurt when you buzz off-property first thing every day. In fact, nothing makes them more chuffed than priming you for another day gallivanting around the capital city.
A swoon-inducing courtyard with a firepit is there to catch you at the day’s end when you’re knackered. During my stay, you could find me there soaking up the fine weather.
The library is magnetic, with cozy dark wood and a wall of books—my ideal kind of spot for nightcaps. Take note of the light fixtures: the hotel artistically weaves Washington D.C.’s national flower, the rose, into its design, such as with the dainty rose-shaped sconces.
What’s the area like around Canal House of Georgetown?
Best explored on foot, old-timey Georgetown finds ways to pull you back in time while simultaneously satisfying every modern day whim. Legends like JFK and Jackie and Elizabeth Taylor, and further back, Thomas Jefferson and Francis Scott Key were once residents of the neighborhood, and I’d recommend walking the streets to absorb historic highlights like Georgetown University and Martin’s Tavern where JFK proposed to Jackie.
There’s a shedload of high-end shopping to be done nearby, with outposts from brands like Rag & Bone, SKIMS, Sézane found in Georgetown, and the food-and-drink scene is equally extravagant.
La Bonne Vache and Osteria Mozza, where the Obamas dined are close by, and bringing one of the world’s top 50 bars from Buenos Aires is the newly opened Florería Atlántico with its sister restaurant, Brasero Atlántico. I found myself a regular at the coffee roastery, Grace Street Coffee, a 5-minute stroll from the hotel.
At the Georgetown Waterfront Park, watch incoming planes zig-zag along the path of the Potomac River and go ga-ga at views of D.C. in the distance. Throw on your sneakers and walk to the White House, which is less than two-miles away, and pass by the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall via a paved path running parallel to the river—though the train from Foggy Bottom is also an option.
Live music is steps from the hotel at the capital’s oldest venue, Blues Alley Jazz.
Why you should book a stay at The Canal House of Georgetown
Georgetown has long been dominated by the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, but Canal House shakes things up with its boutique intimacy and polished features minus the mind-numbing price-tag. It’s not cheap (nothing is in Georgetown), but given the location, it’s totally sensible.
Insider tip: you’ll find the best on Sundays and Thursdays, especially from between January and February and July and August (when Congress is out, go figure!). Feeling bougie? Reserve a terrace room for some killer views. Overall, the hotel is primed for travelers obsessed with being smack-dab in the middle of a genuinely cool neighborhood while visiting the capital.
DETAILS
Address: 1023 31st St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Price: Rooms start at $339 per night
Closest transport: Foggy Bottom Metro station (15-minute walk); Reagan National Airport (20-minute drive)
Book now: via Booking.com
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