[mappress]

I had been hearing a lot about the new W launched this Summer in DC so this past weekend I decided to head downtown and check it out with a group of friends.  In general, I’m a big fan of Starwood Hotels so had high expectations walking in, tempered slightly by some of the stories I had heard from friends who had trouble getting in.  Thankfully, we didn’t have any issues at the door and I was more than impressed with the overall experience of the venue.

Cost – $$$

Service – B+
I had heard some negative things about issues getting in the front door and up to the lounge but we didn’t encounter anything significant.  In fact, one of the hostesses went out of her way to walk us from the main foyer through the restaurant and down to the wine bar.  One of my companions found our server to be a little short but nothing worth causing a stir over.  In the upstairs lounge I had a pretty positive impression of the general staff.

Food – B
I didn’t really have a chance to try the food in the restaurant so this is an incomplete rating.  We ordered some snacks in the wine bar and I thought the portions were a bit meager.  We ordered a couple bottles of wine and although I was very satisfied with the Sauvignon Blanc, we ordered a Bourgogne Pinor Noir and it was served chilled.  Very odd.

Decor – A
I thought it was a bit extravagant and gaudy than some of the other W hotels – think “A Clockwork Orange” meets French Victorian.   Don’t take that the wrong way – I really loved the over-the-top sensibility in the place – a stark contrast to the majority of other hotels in DC.  You honestly feel like you’ve been transported into a completely different vector in the time-space continuum when you step in the doors – somewhere a lot cooler than your typical DC venue.

Feel – A
I loved it.  I thought the crowd was fantastic and unlike your typical DC lounge, you can actually carry on a conversation.  Between the deck, lounge and wine bar there is something for everyone and you can easily make an entire night out of a trip to the W.  On top of the consistently well construed diversity in the venue, it is one of the more socially friendly spaces in the DC nightlife scene.  I’m sure I’ll be making frequent trips back throughout the remainder of the Summer.

admin