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Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Condo near Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington

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Photo gallery for Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Smart TV, fireplace
5 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets
Smart TV, fireplace
Exterior
Interior

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Entire condo

5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Washington, DC
  • Place, Howard University
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Place, Walter E. Washington Convention Center
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Capital One Arena
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Washington, DC (IAD-Washington Dulles Intl.)
    ‪58 min drive‬

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About the neighborhood

Washington

Northwest stay.Your stay at this Northwest condo places you within 2 miles (3 km) of White House and Smithsonian Institution. National Mall and Union Station Shopping Center are also within 2 miles (3 km).
View more Condo Rentals in WashingtonOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Howard Theatre - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Howard University - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Walter E. Washington Convention Center - 14 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • CityCenterDC - 18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Capital One Arena - 5 min drive - 1.1 miles

Getting around

  • Shaw Station - 5 min walk
  • New Carrollton Station - 15 min drive
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sost - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪The Little Gay Pub - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Kiki - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪All Souls Bar - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Habesha - ‬6 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire condo to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Located in the Shaw neighborhood, one of DC's most hip, slick and cool areas, The Firehouse on R housed the first Fully African American Fire company in Washington DC! Built in 1884 and fully renovated in 2017 by a world famous interior designer and TV celebrity, the Firehouse merges exposed architectural beauty with historic photography and modern amenities/design. Total space is roughly 3000 square feet (or 280 square meters). Penthouse sleeps 14 comfortably with 5 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. 2 parking spaces & amenities included in price.

As seen on Netflix's TV Series "Stay Here" (Season 1, Episode 8)

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Exterior
Washington Plaza Hotel
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the condo: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Stovetop

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Minimum check-in age: 22

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:

Load and start the dishwasher

Gather used towels

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash

Turn off the lights and lock the doors

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number 5007242201001530

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft Condo

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft Washington

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft Condo Washington

Frequently asked questions

How close is Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft to the airport?

This condo is 7.4 mi (25-min drive) away from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this condo.

Does Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft offer free breakfast?

This condo does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft?

No, there is no casino at this condo, but MGM National Harbor Casino (17-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft?

Free parking is not available at this condo.

Does Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft have a pool?

This condo does not have a pool.

Does Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this condo.

How close is Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft to downtown Washington?

This condo is 0.7 mi away from Washington.

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Daryn R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent job preserving and documenting the history of this Firehouse! Well appointed and had everything we needed for a family trip to DC. Great location and convenient to all of the city’s events and attractions. Would definitely stay here again if ever in DC again.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Renee B., Mullica Hill, NJ US

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location for our weekend getaway. Plenty of room and just as advertised. Close to everything and great neighborhood.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Rose L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place for a large group to get to spend time together! Great location in the city and lots of room.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Patricia W.

Liked: Cleanliness
This vrbo was wonderful. My extended family (3 generations ranging in age from 12 - 76) just returned from spending Christmas week there.The firehouse is the absolute cleanest vrbo we have stayed in - which to us is a huge plus. The kitchen was the best stocked vrbo kitchen we've experienced. I was nervous about that, since I was cooking dinner for us. No issue at all! Plenty dishes, utensils, cooking pots/pans and all tools needed to do a traditional turkey dinner for Christmas. There was 1 burner that didn't work....but we worked around it and had no other issues with the kitchen.The firehouse was nice and roomy allowing us the space we needed when we were together too much on any given day. The only room that seemed lacking was the middle living room. We all thought it could use a big table/chair set up or fooseball table. But no complaints, we just didn't use the room except when my husband worked remotely from there 1 day.We really had no complaints. There were a couple outlets that didnt work (particularly in the front bathroom) but we just did our hair in one of the other 3 bathrooms. It appears there is electrical work that is being done (maybe new lighting) which will be helpful. It didn't cause us issues and was out of any harms way....just something we noticed Would def recommend the Firehouse for a unique stay that had all the creature comforts of home. The host was very attentive and responsive as well which is always nice
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025

4/10 Poor

Diane B.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Spoke with owner and he indicated he would be taking care of some of maintenance issues we found. We rented this property to celebrate our 50th anniversary with our kids and grandkids and it was very disappointing that the beautiful photos posted of the property didn’t match what we experienced when we arrived. This was our first time experience with VRBO.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Carol L.

Disliked: Cleanliness
The Firehouse VRBO was a huge disappointment for the price. The original concept was innovative and potentially practical, but it appeared that it has not been maintained since the original renovation. While the marketing boasts 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, two of the bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor appear not to have been part of the renovation design. Two years ago, our same group stayed at the VRBO in Charleston and had no complaints. We’re not a difficult group of travelers.Safety Concerns-Exposed line voltage electrical wires and open junction boxes in several locations in the house, including a hard-wired smoke detector-Frayed cords and exposed wiring on hanging lamp-Trip hazards at the top of the stairs due to the broken tile at the top of the stairs and at the first-floor entrance.-Lights and outlets in first floor bathroom are non-functioning. Overhead light in a first floor bedroom non-functioning.-There is an open junction box sitting on the wooden rafters in the front bedroom on the 3rd floor-There is no evidence of a recent fire or building inspection.Disappointments-The entire house was dirty! We had to request that the front bathroom floor be cleaned.-The upholstery on the furniture was very worn and filthy.-Extremely dirty and stained carpeting in the front two bedrooms and the hallway between the rooms-Poor condition of the ball and claw tub._ No towel bars to hang wet towels
stained carpeting
dirty furniture
broken tile at the top of the stairs
exposed junction box
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

James D.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was awesome staying in the historic firehouse! The house was very clean and slept 10 people very comfortably. The location is great, and the host was very responsive before we checked in. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Cristina- R.

Loved the location to down town, loved the host communication.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Mary C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun Experience

Overall we had a good stay. The property was clean and ready for us upon arrival. We were a family of 10 so we had plenty of sleeping areas. The bedrooms just inside the door were terribly hot throughout our stay, they have 1 fan in there which just doesn’t do what is needed during the hotter months apparently. The upstairs bedrooms stayed cool but there is some dripping from the vents onto the floors/bed. There are lots of stairs so just be ready for that. It had one working washer and dryer on the main floor, the one in the upstairs bedroom didn’t work for us but we were happy to have the one. They could use tvs in the bedrooms, the lighting throughout the apartment is different, and there aren’t outlets in all the bathrooms, but you can make it all work.It is a unique space and they tried to keep with the theme of the building in the decor so sometimes function is lost to that. Some couches/chairs could use updating but again, it all worked. They did have towels, some bathroom supplies, dishes, etc. which are convenient to have. D
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Judson L.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was a fun place to stay. Very unique.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Shauna H.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Misleading Listing & Poor Conditions – Not Worth the Price

This rental was a huge disappointment. There was no hot water for the first two days, and on day four, the water shut off completely for 20 minutes. We later learned the owner knew in advance due to plumbing work below but never told us—and ignored our calls during the outage. We were offered only one night’s refund, and VRBO support was no help.The listing photos are very outdated—at least 8 years old—and don’t reflect the current condition. The upstairs electricity didn’t work, ceiling holes were exposed, and lights didn’t work in some rooms. The beds were not as described—one bunk bed had a mattress under two inches thick, and others were uncomfortable.We also found underwear in the dryer, hair in the shower, and the shower knob wasn’t attached. The Wi-Fi only worked in the living room, and there were old boards in the rafters. On the last day, a rat ran through the house.The location and historic charm can’t make up for the poor maintenance, misleading listing, and lack of accountability. Not worth the money.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Holly B.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

4/10 Poor

melanie h.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Unique property, but there were rodents

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Roberta K.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great historic property!

We had a great stay. The place was located in a good area convenient to metro. We utilized both the metro and uber. There was a grocery store about 15 minute walk away. The house was clean. There were pots, dishes and dishwasher which came in handy with kids. Overall great little vacation. We hope to stay here again in the future!!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica C.

Liked: Cleanliness

A Unique Setting for Lasting Memories

We had an incredible weekend staying at this beautifully converted firehouse in Washington, DC! Our group of 13 women (ages 21-45) found the space to be absolutely perfect for our getaway. The layout is fantastic, with plenty of comfortable sleeping accommodations that allowed everyone to have their own space while still feeling connected. The open common areas made it easy to gather, whether for meals, games, or just relaxing.The amenities were well thought out and easy to find, making our stay seamless from start to finish. Whether we were staying in and enjoying the unique charm of the firehouse or heading out to explore DC, the location worked perfectly. The neighborhood felt safe, and we had no trouble getting to restaurants, bars, and local attractions.This is an ideal spot for a large group looking for a fun and memorable stay. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Dianne K.

Disliked: Cleanliness

The Historical Place in Good Location

Upon entering it had not been cleaned. Contacted owner and was told they would be out Sunday morning to clean. Refrigerator not working at all, had to use. Very small unit that came from somewhere. The grandkids enjoyed staying and said it was close to almost everything. Suggestion, let people know how many stairs they must climb. Anyone with a disability couldn’t do it. Was told we would receive a refund for. Our cleaning deposit.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Durann N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dori J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place to stay!

The location was great - within easy walking distance of the metro stop, restaurants, and grocery stores. There was plenty of room for our group. The historical character of the architecture is wonderful. Overall, a great experience. We highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Edward N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place in an awesome neighborhood

It’s a great place with lots of space for everyone. We enjoyed our stay. Close to the Metro and awesome restaurants. Highly recommended
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

katherine h.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Bed Linen s /bath towels

Alot of stairs for carrying luggage and cooler /needed updated bed linens and not alot of towels no wash cloths owner needs to check why Led lights under upstairs cabinets not sure why it was there Check for hidden cameras ,Over all things were nice /but not great.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gara F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Epic stay

Perfect location … awesome vibe …. beautiful architecture … incredible photography … super comfy beds … we will be back. This place is a gem and Michael is an excellent host. The AC kept us cool when we came in from the 100 degree heat. Thank you for hosting our meaningful and memorable week in DC! Thank you for having us.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Women of V.

Liked: Cleanliness

DC Firehouse

Excellent Everything! Owner was super gracious. Mike “Firehouse” keeps a nice lodging. Roomy enough for all 5 of us. Two TVs. Washer and dryers, extra blankets. Easy location, walking, biking. Uber comes at lightening speed. Close to DC’s most visited monuments. Highly reccomend The Unconventional Diner for breakfast. As an historic African American Collective, we were bowled over by the history of this site, which is curated on the walls and windows. You will enjoy a carefree and beautiful stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Valerie H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Unique historic property in great neighborhood

We enjoyed our stay so much at the old firehouse. The Shaw district is amazing, plenty of restaurants within walking distance and only a couple blocks from the Metro. It was super convenient. The property has great space to accommodate a larger group and so much character. Overall, we enjoyed the experience. However, the space could use a bit of TLC to replace missing knobs and handles. Also, there are two washer/dryer locations - however, only one washer and one dryer worked. And not on the same floor. This is an easy enough fix and I am sure it is on the landlords list to do. My biggest disappointment was that there was not really a good area to gather, like around a table. We like to gather and play games. The only viable spot was the kitchen counter, which had a large sink in the middle, making it tough for everyone to co-mingle. Also, the stools are too high for the counter, so your knees are bumping underneath if you weren't careful, which was painful. I recommend putting a gathering table and chairs in one of the rooms.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

4/10 Poor

Lisa B., Washington DC

Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location but….

Even though the firehouse is cool, historic and a good location, it needs some attention. One refrigerator door pull is missing. The stove is dirty, could not get all burners to work and one stove pull was held on by a wire. Upstairs bedroom smells moldy. Couldn’t get the fireplace to work. Shower turns on with pliers and carpet worn out and stained.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023