Our stay was disappointing. To start: the rooms were uncomfortable. The mattresses were stiff and the pillows were lumpy. The thermostat seemed to have a mind of its own, only working during the day to cool the room and then switching to heat in the middle of the night. There was also a lingering damp smell that we couldn't identify in both rooms we booked. The bathrooms were the kicker. Whoever designed the bathroom layouts should never be allowed to do anything ever again. Flickering lights over the sink, an aggressive sink tap, weak shower pressure. The showers were the worst. Not accessible, no traction on the shower floor, and the water puddles in one corner of the shower after you’re done. The reason I highlight the showers is because one of the members of my party has neuropathy in his feet and the showers presented an unforeseen safety risk for him when showering. While the staff didn’t seem wholly unreasonable, the automatic and undisclosed gratuity added to all bills at any time of day is frustrating. The location was nice but I personally wouldn't book with this hotel again.

Checking in was amazing, Esteban greeted us and made the moment feel special. The rooms were fantastic with a great view. Unfortunately things that should have been a quick our bad let me fix that, like a dirty Champaign glass with some kind of dried brown and yellow liquid in our room set, made us feel like we were inconveniencing the front desk gentleman (did not get his name). And requesting a bucket of ice to the room taking 3 hours and 3 phone calls to the front desk. Thankfully did not ruin our honeymoon getaway overall but not the service you expect at a nicer hotel establishment.

Have been privileged during my life to have stayed at a large number of 4 & 5 star hotels around the US, parts of the world and many in DC when I needed a quick staycation Been hearing & reading about The ZENA HOTEL, so the advent of hot weather and also needing a long awaited quick getaway were the motivators, including sampling that part of town with easy access to The National Woman’s Museum (recently joined) and a few newer restaurants I had been waiting to sample. Been in VA, DC and mostly MOCO since began arrived at law school in 1970. Am a long time foodie and cook often too. The hotel physical plant exceeded my expectations. My upgraded corner room was excellent and the large windows looked out over the Circle, with elevate views of both landmark church Circle properties. The rooftop pool worked out quite well every day, whether crowded or serene Arriving right before lunch last Friday, decided to order brunch to sample the food. My short ribs and egg dish was both yummy and satisfying, which offering perked up my food interest immediately to want to dine there more often. Met the F & B manager Faith, who really impressed me with her food acumen and dedication to customer taste satisfaction. Well, from that good start Incontinued to try the cocktails and dinner twice more, and each time the food was well prepared and tasty. Before I checked out on Sunday, mostly stayed in my room, watched Sunday Morning, Face the Nation, The British Open Final Round, ran some local errands, and had the front desk download some key documents I needed to review again from a complicate case I had just completed. Stephanie at the front desk swiftly and professionally greatly assisted me every step of the way. My local staycation was certainly of fine resort quality, in the heart of DC and easily exceeded my expectations. The service throughout my stay was both helpful and exemplary. Well done ZENA.

I stayed here earlier this week with my family while attending a conference in town. We chose to check out Hotel Zena instead of staying closer to the convention center, and it was a great decision. The property has a unique aesthetic focused on women's empowerment. Arrival & Service Arrival, check-in, and valet were entirely smooth and professional. A huge shout-out to Sardia at the front desk. She was fantastic from start to finish, explaining all the amenities during a friendly check-in and ensuring our bill was perfectly accurate at check-out. The Room & Location The room was clean, well-maintained, and comfortable. We had no issues at all and got a great night's sleep each evening. The location of the hotel is also excellent and made getting around very easy. Amenities The lobby features a pool table, which my daughters loved and played several times during our stay. They also checked out the rooftop pool, but since the weather was incredibly hot outside, they didn't stay long. Overall We definitely enjoyed our time here. Between the great amenities for the kids and the stellar service from Sardia, we would absolutely recommend Hotel Zena for a D.C. stay.

I never leave bad reviews but i did not have a good experience. Walked into a musty/earthy smelling room and just brushed it off. Went to shower and saw splotches of black on the ground and realized the water pressure from the shower pushed the black mold in one of the corners out. Notified the front desk and told me that someone would come to “clean it up”. I then asked for a new room cause i didn’t feel comfortable staying in here and they told me they were full and couldn’t accommodate. Not a good experience.

It took me a while to think about what I would write as a review because I am so obsessed with the bartender that works there name Lex She was actually the reason why this was my second time coming back to this location she even remembered me and my sister, which made us feel overly impressed and welcomed!Her customer service, efficiency and hospitality was amazing. 10 out of 10!!!! However everything else was not as I enjoyed the last trip they messed up our rooms as well as Incorrectly charged us that frustrated the whole process of checking in and checking out. This may have been my last time going there. I hate to say but Lex really is the reason I won’t be going into any more details about how horrible the check-in and check out experience was. I hope they keep her and appreciates her as much as we did!

Hotel Zena has a lot going for it. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful throughout my stay, and when a small billing error occurred, it was investigated and corrected before I checked out. The location is excellent and very walkable, and I enjoyed the women-empowerment theme and unique design throughout the lobby and hallways. Unfortunately, the rooms felt dated despite past renovations, and the bathrooms could use a refresh. The biggest drawback was the bed and pillows, which were extremely uncomfortable and made it difficult to get a good night's sleep during my five-night stay. Overall, great service and location, but the room comfort needs improvement.

I recently stayed at Hotel Zena in Washington, DC from Tuesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 10. We chose this hotel because of its convenient work location and all the hype it gets on TikTok. Based on the videos, it seemed like it would be a really nice place to stay. Unfortunately, the hotel didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The location was definitely convenient, but overall the experience felt a little lackluster — especially considering the price. One of the first downsides was the $59 per night parking fee, which felt excessive. The hotel staff also wasn’t particularly friendly or welcoming. One thing that really concerned me was the security issue involving room keys. My friend flew in from Florida on Wednesday, May 6 while I was at work. I had originally planned to leave a key for her under her name at the front desk. Instead, she was able to go to the desk, provide only my first and last name, show her own ID — even though her name was never listed on the reservation — and they still gave her a room key. She texted me afterward saying she was already on her way up to the room. Considering guests also have to use their key cards to access the elevators and floors, that situation honestly made me uncomfortable. The hotel does serve breakfast, lunch, and possibly dinner onsite, although we never ate there. To be honest, there was never much activity or even the smell of food that made it feel like a lively dining area. They also advertised a happy hour from 5–7 PM, but we didn’t attend. Outside of the room key situation, I will say the area itself felt safe. There were National Guard members frequently walking around the neighborhood, and there’s a Wawa and CVS directly across the street. I actually walked over around 10:30 PM one night to grab a late snack after my flight arrived late Tuesday evening. We stayed in a two-queen room, and the space felt pretty tight for DC standards. The room itself also seemed older than expected. We did have a nice view overlooking Thomas Circle and what I believe was the National City Christian Church, which was probably one of the better parts of the stay. Overall, I just wanted to share my honest experience for anyone considering Hotel Zena. It wasn’t terrible, but for the amount I paid per night, I definitely feel like there are better hotel options in the area. Do your research and due diligence before booking.

Stayed at Hotel Zena for two days and had a great experience. From check-in to checkout, the staff was professional, polite, and welcoming. The whole hotel has a true upscale vibe. The room was well designed (especially the shower), and everything from room service to valet ran smoothly. We also had a great city view overlooking a rotunda-style area, which made the stay even better. What stood out most was how respected and taken care of we felt—it had a luxury, penthouse-style feel without being over the top. Definitely worth it.

We recently stayed here on a reservation booked through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, which includes a $100 property credit. At checkout, the process felt rushed and we were essentially brushed off. We were told the receipt would be emailed to us, but we never received it. After traveling home, we had to call the hotel later that day just to obtain a copy of the folio. It was only then that we discovered the $100 FHR property credit had not been applied because the wrong card was used at checkout. At no point during checkout were we reminded that payment needed to be made with the Amex card to receive the benefit, despite the reservation being flagged as FHR. Had the checkout process not been rushed, there is a strong chance this could have been corrected on the spot. There was also no ability for them to unpost the charge and run it with the correct card. While I understand there are program rules, the lack of communication and the dismissive checkout experience were disappointing. If you book through Amex FHR, double check your folio before leaving and make sure you pay with your Amex card. Will be looking elsewhere on return trips to DC and would recommend the same.