Vacationers, dignitaries and politicos have a wide range of ultraluxury resorts to select from once they head to Washington, D.C. However which reigns supreme?
I used to be eager on testing out Rosewood Washington, D.C. on a latest journey to the U.S. capital metropolis, as I used to be fortunate to spend just a few days earlier this yr on the extra leisure-oriented Rosewood Phuket in Thailand. How properly does this luxe model translate from the sandy shores of paradise to the nucleus of political energy? You heard it right here first: It is simply as fabulous as you would possibly anticipate.
Whereas Rosewood’s D.C. aura is solely totally different from that of its Thai sibling, there are clearly widespread threads when it comes to anticipatory service and a spotlight to element that preserve vacationers coming again to the model.
What it is like at Rosewood Washington, DC
Rosewood Washington, D.C. is a handy 15-minute drive from Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA). The intimate brownstone clocks in at solely 49 visitor rooms and suites, plus a further eight townhouses for these trying to splurge and really feel actually at dwelling within the surrounding Georgetown neighborhood. The resort is located alongside the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (an idyllic stroll for these eager on some cardio to begin the day) on a quiet aspect avenue off Georgetown’s bustling M Avenue, so that you’re near the motion of certainly one of D.C.’s most-popular neighborhoods with out being overwhelmed.
Runners or these simply on the lookout for a stroll with a view can head just some blocks south and be on the shoreline of the Potomac River in a matter of minutes.
Checking in
I arrived at Rosewood Washington, D.C. late on a Sunday afternoon and was instantly greeted by a porter who took my baggage and walked me to the small check-in space. The model’s signature residential-style really feel was instantly obvious at this property, because it wasn’t a lot a foyer because it was a cluster of smaller rooms: The principle lobby featured a small seating space, whereas the check-in space was simply two podiums in entrance of a small financial institution of elevators. There was a comfortable library with some seating and a fire simply off the check-in space.
The employees was pleasant and fast to assist me e-book a dinner reservation at Lower by Wolfgang Puck (extra on that beneath) earlier than I went upstairs to my premier nook king room. The check-in space is perhaps cozy, however the resort’s smaller room rely possible prevents crowding at check-in or checkout.
How a lot Rosewood Washington, DC prices and how one can e-book
My keep in a premier nook king room included a complimentary evening in addition to a particular media charge, however the identical room begins at $782 per evening by way of fall. Vacationers can e-book immediately by way of Rosewood and preserve an eye fixed out for specials and seasonal charges.
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Alternatively, these with The Platinum Card® from American Specific can e-book by way of the American Specific Tremendous Lodges + Resorts platform, whereby company can take pleasure in elitelike advantages like midday check-in, availability-based upgrades, day by day breakfast, assured late checkout and a $100 food-and-beverage credit score to make use of on-site.
Rooms at Rosewood Washington, DC
The entry to my premier nook king room was in a quiet, barely eliminated vestibule from the primary fifth-floor hall. The design scheme of the resort leans into impartial tones with pops of enjoyable, just like the colourful portrait of Abraham Lincoln hanging simply exterior my room.
Inside, I used to be handled to a spacious, well-appointed room that was luxurious with out being overly stuffy. The mirrored cover king mattress was the design point of interest of the room, and there was a small seating space with a view towards the river.
{Couples} touring collectively have loads of storage inside darkish wooden built-in cabinetry within the lobby of the visitor room, and there have been extras like bathrobes, slippers and a protected for putting valuables.
There was a big workstation within the room, good for taking work calls and consuming breakfast the primary morning of my keep. In-room eating comes from Lower downstairs, and you’ll entry the complete menu of the restaurant. The free Wi-Fi within the room was speedy and able to taking work conferences by way of Zoom, and I appreciated small particulars elsewhere within the room, like electrical retailers constructed into the drawers of every bedside nightstand.
Lodge data and in-room eating menus have been accessible by way of QR codes on the big TV, and complimentary tea and Nespresso espresso have been out there. The minibar on the TV stand had alcoholic drinks and snacks out there for a further price.
The expansive toilet featured a stand-alone soaking tub, an arrogance desk for ending touches earlier than going out and a glass-enclosed rainfall bathe. Wall-mounted Diptyque merchandise have been within the bathe, whereas bathtub salts and a tube of Diptyque physique wash (good for bubble baths) have been on a rack hanging on the tub.
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Twice-daily housekeeping stored the room in tip-top form all through my keep, and I would discover considerate touches, together with a microfiber towel left beside my laptop computer sooner or later and Rosewood-branded plastic luggage left at turndown my remaining evening to retailer liquids earlier than inserting these in my carry-on to fly dwelling, following service.
A mixture of agency and fluffy pillows and Garnier-Thiebaut linens made for restful shut-eye every evening within the king-size mattress, and a bedside contact panel managed lighting in addition to the drapes (making for much more restful sleep because of the blackout shades).
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What to eat at Rosewood Washington, DC
The meals is scrumptious and costly at Rosewood Washington, D.C. However hey, that is ultraluxury, child.
Lower Above, the resort’s rooftop bar and lounge, options a mixture of wine, cocktails and small bites. Making an attempt my hardest to put on my Sally Quinn socialite hat one afternoon, I met a former co-worker upstairs at Lower Above to catch up. A glass of rose set me again $19, which is not low-cost but in addition is not the worst I’ve seen at a D.C. resort — plus, the view was price somewhat value premium. A lot of the area is below a tent, so it feels extra intimate than simply any common rooftop bar.
The actual kicker to the resort invoice was anytime I needed to do a meal involving Lower downstairs, the place it was simpler to clear the $100 threshold than it was to stay to a smaller price ticket. However do not let the worth tag deter you: This can be a scrumptious place to impress and entertain in the event you save up for a special day.
The dimly lit restaurant is split right into a lounge space, an expansive bar and an open-concept kitchen and eating room. The secluded banquettes and seating areas gave the entire expertise a clandestine vibe, as if this was the place you go for love, secrets and techniques or, in my case, kicking again with a e-book whereas navigating by way of a number of programs of dinner.
I adopted the pleasant waiter’s recommendation to begin with some bluefin tuna sashimi ($38) earlier than a predominant course of half a grilled Amish rooster ($38), which was served with a chimichurri sauce on prime of a mattress of greens. I added extras like a bread basket ($12) and grilled asparagus ($17). Drinks and cocktails appeared a bit steeper than costs upstairs, as a martini was $30 whereas a glass of Oregon pinot noir was $25.
Service was pleasant and on no account pushy, and it even got here with some pointers for what to order from Lower the subsequent morning for breakfast. The meals was flavorful and much superior to a “common” resort restaurant, however the seafood bar and steaks are clearly the showstoppers right here — I abstained from the latter as a result of I felt like I is perhaps pushing my expense report with the $38 rooster (which was juicy and crispy in all the best locations, displaying Wolfgang Puck would possibly give Ina Garten competitors within the roast rooster division).
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I needed to work early the subsequent morning, so I made a decision to order room service from Lower because the crew had been touting the provision of the complete menu. A number of Rosewood crew members talked about the egg white, sun-dried tomato and goat cheese frittata ($26) as a favourite, so I ordered that together with a aspect of bacon ($12), an iced americano ($8) and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice ($12). You can actually discover one thing extra inexpensive within the surrounding blocks of Georgetown, however the supply was quick (lower than a half-hour to reach at my door), and the hearty meal was each bit as scrumptious and filling because it was the handy begin I wanted for a Monday morning.
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Whereas I ate dinner out my second evening on the Rosewood, I went downstairs to Lower for my remaining breakfast earlier than checkout. The avocado toast ($21) topped with a poached egg was one other hearty eating spotlight amid a sunny begin to the day. Lower gave the impression to be extra in style at time for supper, but it surely additionally seemed to be dwelling to a couple energy breakfast conferences. Whereas Lower Above was quieter throughout my Sunday afternoon rendezvous with a buddy, it was surprisingly bustling on the Monday evening of my keep — however nonetheless a calming retreat for a nightcap earlier than retiring for the night.
Facilities and issues to do at Rosewood Washington, DC
Vacationers can have loads to do at Rosewood Washington, D.C., however needless to say the resort does not have as a lot elbow room as a number of the model’s different properties all over the world. Whereas I didn’t indulge in a single, you may organize in-room spa remedies. There may be additionally a small health middle on the identical rooftop stage as Lower Above; the all-day facility contains a Peloton bike, a Peloton treadmill, an air bike, free weights and numerous medication balls. There was a small deck exterior the health club to stretch or observe yoga alfresco must you want some recent air together with your health.
However the actual wellness showstopper on the highest ground is Rosewood’s infinity pool, which is open all day and overlooks the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts, the Potomac River and the Washington Monument. A built-in hearth added an expensive flourish to the smooth, darkish stone pool space’s on-top-of-the-political-world vibe. Through the day and early night, doorways are open to permit company to splash somewhat exterior, however these are shut throughout in a single day hours.
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For these trying to unwind with a e-book exterior or simply work on a tan, there was a big deck simply exterior the pool space with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Again downstairs, the resort has complimentary bikes for company to make use of to pedal across the metropolis and see its many sights.
Insider suggestions for staying at Rosewood Washington, DC
Listed below are just a few further suggestions and issues to know earlier than planning your go to to Rosewood Washington, D.C.:
- Be aware of peak journey occasions to Washington, D.C., as political occasions, school graduations and school move-in weeks can all ship already expensive nightly charges into the stratosphere.
- Lower is scrumptious, and the employees is enjoyable to talk with — however the restaurant can be very expensive. Take pleasure in a meal right here, however make sure you benefit from the surrounding eating scene, too, which actually has extra selection when it comes to menu pricing.
- Georgetown College, The Watergate Lodge and the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts are the closest sights to the Rosewood and a simple stroll. For those who’re trying to see the White Home, the Washington Monument or the sights alongside the Nationwide Mall, plan for no less than a 30-minute stroll or think about hailing an Uber or Lyft.
- Taxis and ride-hailing providers are probably the most handy methods to get to Rosewood Washington, D.C. from both of the town’s predominant airports. The Foggy Backside-GWU Metro station is the closest subway cease and is an 18-minute stroll from the resort.
Accessibility
Rosewood Washington, D.C. has many accessible options to make this an ultraluxury expertise for all. Some, however not all, of the resort’s accessible options embrace an accessible entry to the resort and thru the foyer as much as visitor rooms. Superior king visitor rooms with roll-in showers and guard rails can be found. Visitor rooms on the second by way of fifth flooring of the resort are outfitted with etched and Braille numbers, whereas corridors on the primary by way of fifth flooring are outfitted with visible and audible alarms.
Lodge elevators are outfitted with etched and Braille signage. Major ground public restrooms are wheelchair accessible and now have etched and Braille signage. Lower, Lower Above and the health middle all have an accessible path of journey.
Backside line
Folks would possibly dream of a decadent getaway to a Rosewood resort in any variety of slices of paradise all over the world, however Rosewood Washington, D.C. proves the luxe model nonetheless punches above the ultraluxury pack relating to metropolis resorts.
The small room rely meant employees members behaved extra like buddies internet hosting you of their Georgetown brownstone for just a few nights. Positive, stated buddies is perhaps charging a hefty bit for meals and drinks, however you may run into steep bar and restaurant tabs at resorts nowhere as good as this elsewhere in Washington, D.C.
Proximity to energy does not come low-cost, however the privateness, polish and panache of the Rosewood make the nightly charges price it.
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