Condo

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Very good

5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

Garage parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Outdoor barbecue
Internet access

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 2

1 Double Sofa Bed

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 4

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen

About this property

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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Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 22

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to 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 rubbish

Turn off the lights and lock the doors

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

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

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

Property Registration Number 5007242201001530

About the area

Washington

Northwest, a neighbourhood in Washington, is home to this condo. Union Station Shopping Center and Tysons Corner Center are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Smithsonian Institution and National Museum of Natural History. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Capital One Arena or Nationals Park.

Washington, DC

What's nearby

Howard Theatre - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
Howard University - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
Walter E. Washington Convention Center - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
Smithsonian American Art Museum - 2 min drive - 1.7 km
Capital One Arena - 3 min drive - 2.1 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

‪Sost - ‬6 min walk
‪The Little Gay Pub - ‬6 min walk
‪Kiki - ‬7 min walk
‪Nellie's Sports Bar - ‬7 min walk
‪All Souls Bar - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft?

As of 9 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft on 18 May 2026 start from NZ$1,760, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft?

On-site parking is available at the property.

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

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

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

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft located?

Located in Northwest, this condo building is within a 15-minute walk of Howard Theatre and Howard University. Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Smithsonian American Art Museum are also within 1 mile (2 km). Shaw Station is 5 minutes by foot and U Street Station is 9 minutes.

8.4

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

8.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Check-in

8.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

8.4/10

Listing accuracy

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Renee B.

8 March 2026

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rose L.

20 January 2026

Judson L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Reunion

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

MCM weekend

Couple of us came down for the MCM my 3 yr old nephew was entertained the entire time with all the workings and dress up equipment required to be a fireman !! While the rest of us enjoyed group dinners in the spacious easily entertaining kitchen loved the entire weekend thanks DC firehouse !!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

Response from VrboOwner on 4 December 2022

Glad you enjoyed your stay!

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica C.

16 March 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

6/10 Okay

katherine h.

19 July 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication

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

Verified

8/10 Good

Patricia W.

29 December 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Women of V.

29 October 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

6/10 Okay

Dianne K.

23 February 2025

Liked: Location

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in

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

Verified

8/10 Good

Mary C.

30 July 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

4/10 Poor

Lisa B.

28 March 2023

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

4/10 Poor

Carol L.

6 October 2025

Liked: Location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

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

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

Response from VrboOwner on 24 October 2025

Carol, I’ve never had such an unfair review of my property. Everyone else before and after you gives it 4 to 5 stars and praise is my design and my affordability for so much space and such an expensive city. Do not ever come to my property again after your horrible and unfair review, you don’t deserve to spend time. It’s such a beautiful property anymore.

Verified

4/10 Poor

Shauna H.

23 June 2025

Liked: Check-in, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

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

Verified

8/10 Good

Valerie H.

28 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

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

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Merlin B.

7 December 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Firehouse

This property was exactly what our family was looking for on our trip to Washington D.C. Staying at a site of historic significance was great and the location was wonderful. Wish we could rate the location six stars. The rooftop view at night was a thrill.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mike Abbenante

Languages:

Spanish

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Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Photo gallery for Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Reviews

Popular amenities

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Living Room 1

Living Room 2

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Spaces

About this property

Historic DC Firehouse Penthouse Loft

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

Similar properties

4-bedroom 3.5-bath house in gorgeous Downtown Washington DC Walk Everywhere

House Rules

Children

Events

Pets

Smoking

Check-out instructions

Important information

You need to know

About the area

Washington

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Very good

8.2/10

9.0/10

8.8/10

9.6/10

8.4/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Renee B.

Renee B.

10/10 Excellent

Rose L.

Rose L.

6/10 Okay

Cristina- R.

Cristina- R.

10/10 Excellent

James D.

James D.

8/10 Good

Judson L.

Judson L.

4/10 Poor

Diane B.

Diane B.

10/10 Excellent

Edward N.

Great place in an awesome neighborhood

Edward N.

10/10 Excellent

brooks m.

Great Place

brooks m.

10/10 Excellent

Dori J.

Great place to stay!

Dori J.

10/10 Excellent

Monica S.

Reunion