Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.

What makes Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC different from other Five-Star hotels?

The Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC stands out among Four-Star hotels in D.C. because it is the only luxury hotel on the southwest waterfront. In addition to offering the area’s largest outdoor event space (the 4,000-square-foot event lawn overlooks the water), the hotel arguably has the finest spa in the city as well as in-house restaurant CityZen, a contemporary American concept from celebrated James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ziebold, formerly of the French Laundry. Just minutes from the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, the monuments, the tidal basin, downtown business districts and just a few metro stops from prime area attractions and Capitol Hill, the hotel has hosted VIPs, heads of state and celebrities since its 2004 opening. Inside, you’ll find large rooms designed with feng shui in mind, many with ocean or monument views (a rarity in a town located on the water), spacious bathrooms with rain-head showers and separate soaking tubs, and complimentary access to a 50-foot indoor lap pool and fitness center with Technogym equipment. At 400 rooms, the hotel is large, but manages to offer personal attention, from discreet service to clean, simple rooms that reflect the Asian philosophy of the brand without going overboard.

  • What five things do you love most about the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC?

    There’s much to like about the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC. The luxury hotel has everything from a standout spa to beautiful waterfront views. Read on for the five things we love the most about the hotel:

    1. The location. It’s the only luxury hotel on the southwest waterfront. For locals, this means the hotel is an intimate getaway set apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. For tourists, it’s an easy walk to the Smithsonian museums and monuments.
    2. The spa. It’s arguably the city’s finest, and at 10,000 square feet, the Four-Star spa is one of the largest. Book the Asian-inspired Bamboo Massage, similar to a hot stone but with the use of heated bamboo rods. Even if you can’t fit in a treatment, hotel guests get to use the spa’s great facilities for free.
    3. The restaurant. CityZen is one of the best in the D.C. area and the seasonal menu changes so frequently, it’s easy to return again and again for new dining experiences. You’re guaranteed a great meal: James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ziebold, formerly of the French Laundry, helms the Four-Star restaurant.
    4. The views. Even city view rooms boast vistas at the Washington Monument, an easy and charming reminder that you’re staying in the nation’s capital.
    5. The service. Despite the Four-Star hotel’s large size, it lives up to expectations with discreet, personalized service and friendly staff.

  • What can the concierge at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC do for me?

    From check-in to checkout at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC, the personalized service from the concierge and staff at the Four-Star hotel was the highlight of our recent stay. You will be greeted by name from most members of the hotel staff, including the concierge team. Guests in the Tai Pan rooms at the Washington, D.C., hotel enjoy their own dedicated concierge staff, but everyone can visit the main concierge desk. Among the easier requests, the concierge tracked down a Lincoln bobblehead for a guest who couldn’t go home without one. On the more difficult side, the concierge once had a billionaire guest staying in the Presidential Suite who decided to entertain a head of state visiting the city at the last minute. He requested a specific fish delicacy that no restaurant in D.C. carried. Within 45 minutes on a Sunday morning, the concierge had tracked down the fish and arranged for preparation by the hotel’s award-winning chef. Though you don’t need to have a craving for a rare fish for the concierge to help you; whether you need dinner reservations or directions to the nearest monument, the concierge at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC can hook you up.

  • What are the bathrooms like in the rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC?

    Bathrooms at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC come decked out in marble and tile. They are on the small side and don’t have any high-tech amenities, but they offer good light and thoughtful touches such as lighted makeup mirrors and several hooks for robes and towels. Plus, they are outfitted with full soaking tubs and a separate standing shower. Standard rooms feature a single sink but several suites offer dual sinks. Added amenities such as shaving and dental kits are available upon request. The shower wasn’t spacious and didn’t feature a pressure-adjustable showerhead, but the water pressure and heat were still more than adequate to scrub ourselves clean. A hairdryer is kept in a bag in a drawer for you to use at your convenience. Towels are fresh, oversized, comfortable and plentiful, and all rooms boast Gilchrist and Soames bath products.

  • Which rooms have the best views at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC?

    Rooms facing the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC’s quiet and serene courtyard are popular, but it’s the Water View rooms, overlooking the waterfront or Tidal Basin (and Jefferson Memorial), that afford the best views. City View rooms on higher floors boast vistas of famed landmarks such as the Washington Monument.

    With 3,500 square feet, the three-bedroom Presidential Suite offers the height of luxury. Panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling windows stretch from Georgetown to Old Town, offering vistas of the National Cathedral, Lincoln Memorial, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, among other historical landmarks. Booking the Presidential Suite will guarantee views of all the city’s major sites, reminding you every time you glance out the window that you’re staying in the nation’s capital.