Great neighborhood, great value
I booked a long weekend to tour DC with a visitor from Japan. I chose the River Inn because of its location and price. Having lived in Washington, I knew that the George Washington University region was safe, close to many tourist locations and easily accessible to the metro. What surprised me was how delightful the River Inn was.
We arrived mid morning and encountered a very kind desk clerk who found a room ready for us. I had booked a smallish room for a great price (with breakfast), and was offered a considerable upgrade at a a great deal, so I took it. I was not disappointed. The room was huge and looked as though it had once been a good sized apartment - with a large living room, dining table and well appointed kitchen (no oven, but a good microwave). There was coffee in the bean and a grinder so you can make coffee as you like it in the coffee pot provided. The bath and bedroom with two double beds were modestly sized, but clean and very acceptable. The furniture in the living area was in fine condition, not fancy, but serviceable. 
Our room came with a full American breakfast at the Dish restaurant. Service was very pleasant, and the breakfast was good - more than I could eat. We also stopped at Dish for a glass of wine in the evening, and we found the service pleasant and very friendly. The restaurant filled up a bit early - about 6 PM, which we attributed to locals catching an early dinner before heading to the Kennedy Center for a show a couple of blocks away. 
The River Inn is located adjacent to the GW campus and is only 2 blocks from the Metro station, which provides accessibility to many other locations throughout the city. Georgetown is only 5 blocks away, the Kennedy Center is only two, and the Lincoln Memorial, WWII and Korean Memorial are about 5 blocks in another direction. There is a Trade Joes two blocks away to pick up some groceries and a Whole Foods around the corner to accommodate the grocery gourmet. I would say that this hotel is perfectly located to access traveling necessities and enjoy the sites and entertainment. Importantly it is a safe location - as we were two women walking alone. 
I like to exercise when I travel, so I used the fitness room. It is small but the equipment is clean and in good condition. It is located adjacent to the business center where visitors can print boarding passes. 
All in all, I would say this was very pleasant surprise - an excellent value for the money. I would definitely stay here again.