Concierge.com's insider take:

Overlooking the Potomac River, this hotel is located in the former Georgetown Incinerator, a distinctive, turn-of-the-century red-brick building complete with a 130-foot smokestack. It's our favorite of the four Ritz-Carltons in the region (the others are located downtown, near the Pentagon, and in McLean, Virginia). The 86 rooms and suites have an intimate, masculine charm and handsome contemporary furniture—some in dark leather, others in shades of red or gold with lively accents, such as orange silk pillows. They're also pretty spacious: At 2,980 square feet (plus nearly 800 square feet of terrace overlooking the river), the Royal Potomac Suite is a top contender for the title of most luxurious in town. The hotel's interior design takes full advantage of the building's history: lots of brick and ironwork, incendiary themes (Fahrenheit restaurant, Degrees bar), and a lobby lounge with a working fireplace (with a welcoming just-lit aroma). The service is polished, and the spa is the only one in Washington with Prada treatments on its menu.