The Mandarin Oriental, near the Southwest Waterfront in Washington DC, is a carnival of architecture and design. To step through the doors is to dive into a sea of marble, limestone and glass: the lobby was inspired by the work of John Russell Pope, designer of the Jefferson Memorial, and boasts the familiar domed ceiling and column placement of the neighbouring landmark. The columns are American walnut and white oak, and the patterned Emperador and Amarillo yellow marble floor beneath a rotunda of gold and silver leaf is as striking as it is serene.
Just beyond the circular lobby is the Empress Lounge, a sunken enclave with inviting overstuffed furnishings resplendent with rich, warm tones. A wall of glass looks over a tranquil Zen garden and opens to an expansive flagstone patio for al fresco seating. All is under the watchful eye of the Empress Dowager, depicted in a gigantic oil painting which looms over the lounge.
Lap of luxury
Guestrooms and suites delight with décor that fuses Asian simplicity with traditional touches, all set against the hotel’s signature water and city views. Rooms are decorated in a golden palate with sumptuous fabrics, while the jaw-dropping views are lightly diffused through crepe silk window dressings. Deluxe guestrooms measure between 40 and 65sq m; the three-bedroom Presidential Suite comes in at 325sq m, and was named one of world’s greatest suites by Elite Traveller. Panoramic views from oversized windows stretch from Georgetown to Old Town, offering vistas of city landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial, with its tranquil Tidal Basin and famed cherry trees.
The hotel features two celebrated eateries: the regionally influenced all-day restaurant Sou’Wester and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen, with celebrated chef Eric Ziebold. Sou’Wester boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for a bright and airy experience of comfortable and approachable American favourites, each with a southern lilt. CityZen is a culinary journey set within effortless service and hints of the elements; a wall of dancing flames reflects in the chrome étagères and on a carved wall of stainless steel behind the bar.
Over 3,500sq m of executive meeting space is also available, allowing up to 700 guests at grand occasions as well as intimate diners to experience Mandarin Oriental’s signature service and award winning cuisine.
Capital comfort
The spa at Mandarin Oriental offers a blend of eastern and western wellness, reaching far beyond any traditional spa experience. Visitors can check in for a Signature Time Ritual or select from the many exclusive seasonal therapies regularly featured.
This Zen sanctuary is the region’s only Mobil Four-Star spa, and has also been recognised by readers of Spa Finder magazine as one of the top ten urban hotel spas in the United States of America.
It also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness centre with Italian designed TechnoGym fitness equipment, and offers an indoor swimming pool with tranquil views through floor to ceiling windows.
Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC is a destination unto itself; an urban oasis perched on the edge of the most powerful city in the world.
Tel: +1 202 554 8588; mowas-sales@mohg.com; www.mandarinoriental.com
