Distinctive & Notable

A group of Washington D.C. investors announced plans to build the hotel in May 1926. They originally planned to call it the Milestone and projected that it would cost $750,000. 

The Phoenix Park Hotel, originally the Commodore, opened in 1927 near Union Station to serve train travelers. Designed by Frank G. Pierson in Georgian Revival style, it featured 140 rooms with private baths and full-service amenities. Its prime location and historic charm have welcomed guests to Washington for 100 years in 2027.

Opened in 1927 as Hotel Commodore, the hotel was managed by Intercity Hotels. Rooms cost $2.50 in 1932. The Cork and Bottle lounge and Melrose Restaurant were local favorites, offering dinners for $1 in 1944. Wartime liquor shortages limited lounge hours, but the spot remained popular with Capitol Hill staff, locals, and travelers throughout the 1930s and '40s.

In the 1950s and 1960s, as air travel replaced trains, downtown Washington declined, and Hotel Commodore saw fewer guests. To attract families, it offered free stays for kids under 14. In 1960, a Puerto Rican couple with eight children took advantage of the deal, and manager J.F. McCormick proudly posed with them for a local newspaper.

The hotel saw a revival in March 1974 when Danny Coleman opened The Dubliner, an authentic Irish pub, on the ground floor. Inspired by his father’s pub in Syracuse, Coleman brought Irish charm to a fitting location—Swampoodle, once home to Irish immigrants working nearby. The pub quickly became a beloved local fixture, marking a new era for the hotel.

In 1980, Danny Coleman bought the aging Hotel Commodore and transformed it into the Phoenix Park Hotel, named after Dublin’s iconic park. Renovations added larger rooms, event spaces, and a penthouse, blending historic charm with modern luxury. Completed in 1982, the revamp extended The Dubliner’s Irish theme and helped spark the neighborhood’s revitalization with a boutique hotel experience.

By 1995, the Phoenix Park Hotel had become a favorite among politicians for its luxury and location. That year, Coleman expanded the hotel with a new tower, doubling rooms and adding event spaces. During peace talks for Northern Ireland, the hotel hosted Irish delegates, while The Dubliner served as their meeting hub—playing a quiet role in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The Phoenix Park Hotel has continued to prosper and attract distinguished guests in the 21st century. Distinguished guests have included President Bill Clinton, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Speakers of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill and Paul Ryan. O’Neill chose the Phoenix Park Hotel as the site of his 80th birthday celebration. On St. Patrick’s Day in 2012, President Barack Obama dropped in for a surprise visit to the Dubliner, an event now commemorated with a plaque on the pub’s wall.

The hotel completed its most recent, $8 million renovation in June 2016, adding a crisp, contemporary design to the hotel’s guest rooms and public spaces. The elegant 2,000-square-foot Phoenix Ballroom was renovated in 2019. Aside from short breaks such as these for construction and renovation, the hotel has been in continuous operation since Hotel Commodore first opened its doors in 1927.

In more recent years, specifically 2024, the hotel has completed a redecoration of all meeting rooms, public spaces, and the hotel lobby - this redecoration ensured comfort for our guests and reflects a more modern, but classic look throughout the Phoenix Park Hotel.

In 2026, the nostalgia begins as we approach the hotel's 100th anniversary in Spring 2027. Aside from short breaks such as for construction and renovation, the hotel has been in continuous operation since Hotel Commodore first opened its doors in 1927, making it one of the longest continuously operating hostelries in the city. We are proud to host our guests as we count down the days to our historic 100th anniversary.