When planning domestic trips that mix work and leisure, most travelers are guided by the Goldilocks principle. They aren’t looking to drop a small fortune on over-the-top suites with butlers and evening turndown service. At the same time, they don’t want to settle for budget accommodations that offer little by way of design or amenities.
Instead, they seek something that feels just right. This is where Archer Hotels come into play. The family of independently-owned boutique hotels that started in 2014 with Archer New York has since grown to nine locations across the U.S.
While Archer Hotels are in tourist-friendly cities like Napa and Austin, they also can be found in less expected places like Tysons, a bustling commercial and retail hub in Northern Virginia, just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. Though Tysons may not spring to mind for hotel stays, it’s a frequent destination for business travelers—many of whom prefer to stay nearby, instead of facing another commute after a long work day. Plus: the hotel is adjacent to the McLean Silver Line Metro station, making it convenient to get around the D.C. metro area.
Another selling point is Archer Hotels’ signature blend of modern hospitality, regionally-inspired artwork curated by Deborah Goodman Davis, and playful amenities. At Archer Tysons, guests are greeted with a colorful mural of Virginia’s state bird and tree—a pair of cardinals roosting in a dogwood—by D.C. artist Nicholas Zimbro in the industrial-chic lobby, featuring exposed brick, timber floors, and plank ceilings. Throughout their stay, guests can discover more striking pieces in the public spaces, from the hallways’ map collages of Tysons and Washington, D.C. by Kirsten Kindler, to I am Junious’ hand-painted heart triptych in the hotel’s Boardroom.
The accommodations are tastefully done up with the essentials for a cozy stay, but it’s the small, complimentary touches that stand out: Fiji water, handmade salted caramels, a cute pair of “night in-night out” slippers, and a heart-printed rubber ducky. To help guests unwind even further, Archer places two books in every room: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince and a locally-inspired pick—at Archer Tyson, it’s Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. Even the fitness center is stocked with thoughtful perks: chilled Fiji water and Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes for post-workout refreshment.
AKB, the hotel’s restaurant, is a come-as-you-are spot for quality crowd-pleasing food (house-smoked wings with D.C.’s famous savory-sweet mambo sauce, carnitas street tacos, icy wedge salads). And while hotel pizzas are typically nothing to write home about, the versions here, made with from-scratch dough, are baked in a blazing-hot brick oven—yielding an irresistibly thin and crunchy crust. There’s also a terrific happy hour, offered daily between 3:00pm and 6:00pm, that draws in a quite a weekday crowd.
In lieu of a traditional loyalty program, Archer Hotels offers a $25 food and beverage credit if you book directly with the brand (via website or phone). In addition, guests who stay at three different Archer Hotel locations automatically earn a free night at a location of their choice.