The W Hotel Washington, D.C. – Opening July 8, 2009

 

The long awaited W Hotel Washington, DC is scheduled to open in just over 3 weeks.  Rumors about the new W, formerly Hotel Washington, have been much written about here, here, and here.  It even has its own facebook page. 

The Washington Post’s Going Out Gurus got an early preview and wrote about what to expect: 

An elevator speeds customers to the rooftop bar, which has very different indoor and outdoor sections. Inside, the modern, one-room main bar has just 66 seats. Large windows soar almost to the 20-foot ceilings and offer views of Pennsylvania Avenue. (The best spots in the house will probably not be at the low counter that runs along the bar, but at the circular tables for two that line the southern-facing windows.)

And then there’s the outdoor deck. Some may remember the cramped conditions that Hotel Washington offered — plastic picnic chairs and tables jammed on top of each other. Not anymore. Adding about four feet to the awning-style ceiling helps. Capping the seats at 104 is a good move, too, so you can have some privacy at your table as you gaze over at the East Wing.

The bar has a funky grass-style covering to match the prospective menu: seasonal drinks and a selection of tapas and light snacks. (No decision has been made about whether or not the rooftop will allow smoking.)

As far as we can tell, from the above rendering, we LOVE what the folks at the W (Starwood) have done with the roof-top terrace.  We’re not-so-sure about guest rooms (pics below), but for Washingtonians the only thing that really counts is the view from the top.  Which comes free with the purchase of a cocktail or a meal.

Location:  515 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004  (one block from the White House).

Website:  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3279