Considering that the St. Regis Washington, D.C. is located just steps from the White House, it might not come as a surprise that every president since Calvin Coolidge is said to have visited. But the hotel—which has been open since 1926—isn’t only a destination for politicians; other guests who’ve visited the elegant property include Joan Crawford, Jacqueline Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. (The property’s director of operations, Alaina Sweeney, notes, “Jimmy Carter used to sneak in through the window to get his haircut in the barbershop, and then when the White House was undergoing renovations, he would sneak in through that same window to come dine in our restaurant.”)

Today, travelers visit the property—usually arriving through the front door—and its 182 guest rooms for its proximity to the halls of power, but also for what’s inside it, including the Mediterranean restaurant Alhambra, the popular St. Regis Bar (try the local, Old Bay-spiked take on the brand’s iconic Bloody Mary), and more than 11,000 square feet of event space. Another draw? A recent renovation that Sweeney says, “kept that historic charm but upgraded the modern luxury. You can sit in your hotel room that was built in 1926 while streaming Netflix.”

Here, Sweeney shares the details of her own favorite room as well as how to get the most out of any trip to the nation’s capital.

What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?

We have eight St. Regis Suites throughout the hotel, but my personal favorite is the one on the seventh floor. Having an older building like this, we have a lot of really unique architectural designs, and all the rooms on the seventh floor have really high, arched windows that go down to the floor. They offer beautiful views as well as a lot of natural light. Another perk is that the layout is very functional. It's a one bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom, with a separate living room, so you have room to entertain. And thanks to its corner position, you get the K Street view on one side and the 16th Street plaza on the other. It's a room we can really pride ourselves on.

How much does it cost per night?

It starts at about $999 per night.

How would you describe the guests and the vibe at the hotel?

Our guest is a trendsetter who's confident in themselves, somebody who is a decision maker but also knows how to unwind with elegance and style. For us, it begins with the lobby, which is my favorite part of the hotel. It's where we do our afternoon tea, and where guests can come—whether they're visiting for leisure ot just taking the afternoon off of work—and take park in that ritual. And we highly encourage joining us at 6 p.m. every night, when we do our champagne sabrage. It's our way of celebrating the transition from afternoon to evening each day.

What feeling about Washington, D.C. do you hope to give to guests?

There's the wide array of guests that we host, all the way from dignitaries to business travelers or even families seeking out a luxurious stay in Washington. I go back to the lobby, which has that kind of glamorous East Coast city architecture and design. My favorite part about Washington is that we don't have the building heights that other East Coast cities do, so you get to enjoy that architecture while still being able to see the sky and the green grass.

What’s a local attraction that you always recommend?

My personal favorite is seeing the monuments at night. Even if you've seen them before, it's spectacular. We also have so many landmarks and museums, it can be fun to wander off the beaten path to discover the hidden gems and local flavors that make D.C. truly unforgettable, like the Kreeger Museum, Rock Creek Park, or Meridian Hill Park.