Friendship Heights Condos in Chevy Chase MD: Which Building Is Right for You?
What is the best condo building in Friendship Heights for you? You have lots of choices. If you are considering condo living in Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights is one of the most convenient — and surprisingly varied — places to start your search. After 38 years helping buyers and sellers throughout Bethesda and Chevy Chase, I have a good sense of the differences between the Willoughby, the Carleton, the Elizabeth and 4920 N Park. Each building has its own personality. Some are perfect for downsizers who want space and services without the maintenance of a house. Others work beautifully for busy professionals who want Metro access and walkability. Some feel more traditional and quiet, while others are vibrant and social.
Here’s how I explain the differences to clients when we tour them together.
The Willoughby: Best for Amenities and Value
The Willoughby has long been one of the most recognizable condo buildings in Friendship Heights — and for good reason. It offers an impressive list of amenities at a price point that is often more affordable than some neighboring buildings. The Willoughby might be the best condo building in Friendship Heights for you.
Residents love the amenities of the Willoughby: the roof top pool, the fitness center, the front desks at the Willard and Friendship Blvd entrances, the convenience store, the fantastic views from the upper floors, and the restaurant access.
One of the biggest strengths of The Willoughby is flexibility. Buyers can often find studio condos, junior one bedrooms, and even three-bedroom condos perfect for families. Some of the condos at the Willoughby have been beautifully updated while others are waiting for the new owner’s special touch.
One thing I often tell buyers: the Willoughby was built in an era when floor plans tended to be more generous. Mid-Century Modern means lots of space and big windows, Many units offer larger living rooms, dining areas, balconies, walk in closets and lots of storage compared to some newer construction condos. Buyers can find studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts in the building. That combination of size plus amenities often creates a compelling value proposition in Chevy Chase. Newer luxury buildings nearby such as 4620 North Park Condos or The Elizabeth Condominium may offer newer finishes, but many buyers are surprised by how much more space they can purchase at the Willoughby.
For downsizers, The Willoughby can work very well if you want full-service living without the highest price tags in the neighborhood. It is also one of the best choices for people who want to walk absolutely everywhere. Metro, shops, restaurants, Whole Foods, Bloomingdale’s, and coffee shops are all right outside the door. The building has a lively feel with residents of all ages, including many families because of the Somerset school district.
The Willoughby is perfect for buyers wanting strong amenities, people who love to walk, downsizers who want value, buyers who travel frequently and want to lock and leave, and anyone who wants to use the metro to commute. Clearly, the Willoughby with its many amenities and multiple choices in units is perfect for lots of different buyers.
Sale History at the Willoughby
Here’s what’s for sale right now at the Willard Avenue side of the WIlloughby. Be sure to ask me what else is for sale at the WIlloughby on the Friendship Blvd side!
The Elizabeth: Best for Luxury Downsizing
The Elizabeth at 4601 N Park Avenue has a very different personality from The Willoughby. It feels quieter, more private, and more upscale. Owners report that the service from the staff is phenomenal from the front desk to the repair people on staff.
The Elizabeth might be the best condo building in Friendship Heights if you looking for a high-rise elegant building in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Do you expect a full-service building with a great 24-hour front desk? Do you like to swim in an indoor pool in your own condo building? Then you should start your condo search with the Elizabeth! The Elizabeth Condos are in the heart of Friendship Heights and an easy walk to everything that you might ever want!
Many longtime Chevy Chase and Bethesda homeowners choose The Elizabeth when downsizing because: the units are usually larger, and the floor plans feel gracious and traditional. The lobby and common spaces have a refined atmosphere that appeals to buyers transitioning from larger single-family homes. I love the piano and library area off the main lobby, which always exude a calm quiet feeling.
Residents enjoy: the indoor pool, the only one along North Park, the fitness center, the library and party spaces and the valet and concierge services and the quiet, serene common areas. Another important feature that makes the Elizabeth popular is that the building has washers and dryers in each unit. If your priority is comfort, quiet, space, and comfortable service, The Elizabeth is often the top choice. This condo community is not the most expensive building along North Park Avenue, but it is a great option for people looking for a more upscale feeling at a reasonable price.
The Elizabeth condo fees include gas and electric, water and sewer, common area maintenance and custodial services, exterior building maintenance, lawn maintenance, management, master insurance policy, reserve funds, trash removal, snow removal and trash removal. There is a 24 hour front desk and controlled entry. Other amenities include the indoor pool, sauna, exercise room, beautiful lobby with piano, media room, party room and satellite TV. There is even a shuttle that goes from the front door of the Elizabeth to the metro and shopping.
Floor plans at the Elizabeth Condos in Friendship Heights
Built in 1975, the Elizabeth condos are a high rise building of eighteen floors and approximately 363 units in total, including several commercial properties.
The smallest condos at the Elizabeth are a spacious 708 square feet for the one bedroom one bath units, found in 05 East tier. Larger one bedrooms in the 10, 12 and 15 tiers are 860-950 square feet of space. The 02 tier is still a one bedroom but with a bath and a half and nearly 1000 square feet of space. If you want large – then you should look for the 08 tier with 1650 feet of living space and three bedrooms and three full baths. Whatever your needs for space, there is a floor plan for you at the Elizabeth.
Pets at the Elizabeth
Unlike some of its neighbors, the Elizabeth is pet friendly and there are nearby parks to walk in with your dog. In addition, the Capital Crescent Trail is a short stroll from the Elizabeth and that Trail is a perfect place to take long walks with Fido!
The Carleton: Best Hidden Gem Feeling
The Carleton is smaller and newer than its neighbors, the Elizabeth and 4620 North Park. The level of luxury at the Carleton is closer to its nearby
neighbor, Somerset House. With only eleven floors and 149 units in total, the Carleton has a more intimate feel than the other condo communities in Friendship Heights, Everything you need is nearby. You can walk to grocery stores like Whole Foods and the new Amazon grocery store and fine shops such as Tiffany’s, Brooks Brothers and Bloomingdale. There are good restaurants nearby such as Clyde’s and Lia’s. The Metro gets you into DC easily to visit the museums and big department stores. The Carleton tends to fly slightly under the radar compared to some of the better-known Friendship Heights buildings, but many residents absolutely love it. The building has a more intimate, residential feeling. Buyers often notice immediately that it feels less busy than some neighboring towers.
What makes The Carleton especially appealing is its spacious floor plans, the large windows, many renovated units, a strong sense of community and excellent value relative to size. This is a great building for downsizers moving from larger homes in Bethesda or Chevy Chase. The building is more peaceful than some larger buildings nearby while still being very close to Friendship Heights and its many amenities. Since this building is a bit older than the more recently built condo buildings in Bethesda, it often has larger units and definitely at a better price!
The Carleton is also popular with buyers who want a full-service building but prefer a quieter atmosphere.
To see what is on the market or recently sold:
For whom is the Carleton a good match?
Buyers looking for a quiet building and a sense of community fall in love with the Carleton. and think that it is the best condo building in Friendship Heights. Buyers who are downsizing and want value and comfort gravitate to the Carleton. Buyers who can afford the slightly higher prices but still want to have great walkability and access to metro think that the Carleton is their perfect match.
4620 North Park: Best for Modern Luxury and Metro Access
4620 North Park is one of the newer luxury condo options in Friendship Heights, and it definitely has a more contemporary style. The building feels polished, sleek, and modern with large windows, luxury finishes, balconies in some units, an outdoor pool and fitness center plus a front desk, and a newly renovated lobby and common areas that strike just the right note of up-to-date style. This building has just gone through the agony of updating its elevators, thereby
sparing any new homeowners that misery of waiting for an elevator to come. Built in 1973, 4620 N Park is a high rise building with seventeen floors and approximately 290 units in total. Life at 4620 N Park is glorious. Everything you need is nearby from grocery stores like the Whole Foods and Giant to fine shops and stores like Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale, good restaurants like Sushi-Ko, movie theaters and commuter routes around the city. Located on Park Avenue, 4620 N Park condominiums is one of the smaller condo buildings on the street. Parking is never a problem here with the parking garage and lots of spaces for the residents! Plus… You can leave your car in the garage for weeks on end because the Friendship Heights Metro is just a few blocks away and provides easy access to DC and the rest of the metro area. As your relocation specialist, I definitely recommend this one.
It is also exceptionally convenient to Metro. If you are commuting into DC or simply want easy access to downtown Bethesda and Northwest Washington, the location is hard to beat and it is very walkable. Restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, coffee shops, and fitness studios are all within minutes.
Is 4620 N Park the best condo building in Friendship Heights?
Buyers who want modern finishes, a lock and leave lifestyle or buyers who want newer design fall in love with 4620 N Park. The building is smaller than the Willoughby and the Elizabeth and slightly more expensive than those. The lobby is more upscale than the Willoughby and the pool is on the main level and pleasantly protected by the building and some trees which shade the patio next to it. Buyers love the proximity to the metro and restaurants like Lia’s and Clydes. As Friendship Heights continues to grow and redefine itself, buyers will be glad to have the new Trader Joe’s, Total Wine and HomeGoods in addition to Amazon Prime and Whole Foods.
What is for Sale at 4620 N Park?
There are typically at least one or two units for sale at 4620 N Park. Here is what is available now – and you may decide that it is the best condo building in Friendship Heights for you.
Which Friendship Heights Condo Is Closest to Metro?
The Willoughby is generally considered to be the closest to the Metro and the easiest walk. For buyers who plan to use Metro daily, even small differences in distance can matter — especially in bad weather.
Which Building Is Best for Downsizers?
After many years helping downsizers make this transition, here is my general guidance:
The Elizabeth
- Larger floor plans
- Peaceful atmosphere but mid-sized building
- Indoor pool
- Excellent services
- Washers and dryers in unit
- Pets allowed
The Willoughby
- Tremendous convenience
- Full amenities
- Wide range of price points – best for first time homebuyers
- No washers and dryers in unit
- Outdoor roof pool
- Not pet friendly
The Carleton
- Residential feeling
- Spacious layouts
- Less hectic environment
- Washers and dryers in unit
- Outdoor pool
- Dogs and cats okay
4620 North Park
- Contemporary finishes
- Excellent Metro access
- Luxury urban feel
- Cats Ok
- Outdoor pool
- Washers and dryers in unit
The “best” condo building in Friendship Heights really depends on what matters most to you:
- Walkability?
- Space?
- Quiet?
- Amenities?
- Luxury service?
- Modern design?
- Budget?
- Pets?
- Washers and dryers in unit
- Pool?
That’s why touring several buildings is so important.
Why Buyers Love Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights continues to attract buyers because it combines walkability and metro access with shopping and restaurants. Friendship Heights is close to DC and is growing with the addition of new stores like Trader Joe’s, Total Wine, Home Goods and Amazon Prime. If you are looking for a full service condo building, chances are that you will find a great place in one of these buildings.
For many buyers, it offers the perfect middle ground between urban convenience and suburban comfort and for downsizers especially, the ability to lock the door and travel without worrying about home maintenance is incredibly appealing.
Thinking About Buying or Downsizing in a condo in Friendship Heights?
After 38 years selling homes and condos in Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Northwest DC, I help buyers compare not just floor plans and prices — but lifestyles. Every building has its own culture, strengths, and personality. The right fit can make all the difference. If you are considering a move to Friendship Heights, I’d be happy to help you compare buildings, understand pricing trends, and find the condo that truly fits the next chapter of your life. You can reach me at 240-401-5577 or email me at lise@lisehowe.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Friendship Heights condo has the best amenities?
The Willoughby is often considered the strongest overall amenities value with its rooftop pool, fitness center, convenience store, restaurant and full-service features.
Which building is best for downsizers?
The Elizabeth is especially popular with downsizers because of its larger floor plans, elegant atmosphere, in unit washers and dryers, plentiful parking, indoor pool and luxury services.
Which condo is closest to Friendship Heights Metro?
The Willoughby is the closest and most convenient to Metro.
Are Friendship Heights condos good investments?
Many buyers value Friendship Heights for its walkability, strong location, Metro access, and enduring demand from downsizers and professionals.
Which building feels the quietest?
The Carleton and 4620 N Park tend to offer the calmest, most residential atmosphere.