Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

We recently returned from a long weekend stay at a lovely hotel situated in the best location in DC, literally right next to the White House.We really enjoyed the room, the public areas and the food but I was really disappointed by the reception and front desk experience. The front desk person , the first impression and the first exchange was subpar. She never looked up to greet us, I finally said Hello and the first sentence out was”Can I have an ID?” No Welcome to Sofitel or great to have you here. She then handed us the card keys, wordlessly, and I then asked her permission to inquire re breakfast, facilities at which she rolled her eyes and my husband and I just headed towards the elevators in total silence.

A little underwhelming for what’s supposed to be a 5-star hotel. There was no doorman, no concierge to assist with luggage upon check-in, and no slippers in the room. The landline phone didn’t work, and to top it off, the front desk lady on duty around 4:30 p.m. today was not welcoming. After a 20-hour travel day, this was especially disappointing. I had to use my mobile to call the general hotel number just to ask about slippers, during which I also mentioned that the landline didn’t work. She didn’t acknowledge it at all—her tone was indifferent and it didn’t sit right with me. I ended up calling again, and only then did she send someone from engineering to check the phone. The lack of initiative was glaring. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the same staff member mentioned in all the negative reviews—there’s definitely a bad vibe at that front desk. The hotel felt noticeably understaffed, especially at the front, where a proper welcome really sets the tone. It’s frustrating that repeated complaints about front desk service haven’t led to any improvements. We’ve been loyal Accor members for over a decade, and the experience at Sofitel in Vietnam has always been far superior. I still have two nights left, but after this start, I’m feeling quite discouraged.

The lovation is oerfect, the hotel rooms qre very comfortable, quite and well equipped. The wellness is great. The personnel is very kind and attentive.

We were really looking forward to our stay at the Sofitel Lafayette in Washington, D.C., especially given its reputation and central location. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. Before our trip, I emailed the hotel requesting dinner recommendations to help plan our stay and never received a response. That was the first sign that communication and service might not be up to par. Once we arrived, we had to ask three separate times at the front desk for the bottle of wine that was included with our Expedia points booking. This felt like an unnecessary hassle and left us feeling like we were being brushed off rather than welcomed. When it finally did arrive, there were no fresh wine glasses or ice provided—another detail overlooked. Our room also lacked the proper towels, and the refrigerator had a strong, unpleasant odor, as though something had spoiled inside and hadn’t been properly cleaned. To make matters worse, the toilet was leaking, and when it was serviced, we returned to find our door left ajar, which felt like a serious breach of security and trust. Overall, the hotel just feels tired—from service to amenities—and it’s clear that attention to detail has slipped. We hope Sofitel takes this feedback seriously, as it’s not at all reflective of the luxury experience the brand is known for. A refresh in both service standards and room maintenance is definitely needed.

I helped to host a multi-day meeting in the hotel's ballroom. Overall, the meeting was a good experience. The ballroom was in good condition, and it was easy to coordinate with hotel staff, who were responsive to requests. I appreciated that the ballroom had windows to the street. Food was good, with some French touches. Presentation of the food was elegant. I've had better hotel food, but I've also had far worse hotel food. The lobby of the hotel is relatively small, but elegantly appointed. Restrooms were large enough for a big group to take a break and were always clean. Some of the meeting attendees did complain about the front desk staff being transactional and not very polite, including nearly always staring at their computers vs. interacting with guests. Overall, it was a good experience for the meeting.