Legendary Watergate Hotel Reopens Its Doors
June 15, 2016
Credit: Paul Morigi, Getty Images
International New York-based real estate developer, Euro Capital Properties, announced June 14 the opening of The Watergate Hotel after undergoing an extensive $125 million renovation to restore the property to its historic exuberance. The hotel has been closed for renovations since 2007.
An American icon situated on the banks of the Potomac River, The Watergate Hotel offers a luxurious urban resort experience for the world’s most discerning leisure and business travelers. Originally designed by Italian architect Luigi Moretti in 1961 to look like a sail on the Potomac, the hotel made waves with its groundbreaking contemporary style and came to epitomize the fabulous lifestyle and sophistication of its time when it opened in March 1967.
Rooms with a View
The hotel consists of 336 stylish guest rooms designed for comfort and sophistication, half of which include lavish balconies. Six Diplomat Suites, 24 premier suites and two stately Presidential Suites offer the highest standard of luxury accommodations. Each guest room features natural light along with plush bedding, floor-to-ceiling Zebrano marble bathrooms with solid granite vanities, superior in-room amenities, 24-hour in-room dining, cutting edge technology, diffusers featuring the hotel’s signature Red Flower Oakwood scent and more.
Destination Dining
An array of options are overseen by executive chef Michael Santoro.
- Kingbird is a dual-concept restaurant offering a contemporary dining room with an energetic bar, riverfront outdoor seating and an elegant dining room for a prix fixe dinner. The menu features ingredient-driven American cuisine with a French twist, paired with an impressive, global wine list.
- The Next Whisky Bar, seamlessly carved into the lobby, stands vertical with an undulating wall of custom whisky bottles featuring labels sculpted and stamped out of metal, bathing the space in a bronze glow. An expansive spirit list highlights whisky, bourbon and rye from small batch producers and large distillers, and a variety of cigars will be available for purchase to enjoy on the terrace or rooftop.
- Top of the Gate, a palatial rooftop with 360-degree views of the Potomac River, Capitol and Washington Monument will open this summer. The hotel’s first-ever rooftop lounge is clad with heat lamps and a fire pit and features bottle service, signature cocktails and Asian street food.
Opulent Spa Services
The Watergate Hotel will debut Argentta Spa in early summer. The 12,000-sf facility features eight treatment suites, a unisex steam room and nail salon, male and female changing rooms, sauna and steam rooms and a relaxation area for guests to unwind pre-and post-treatment. The space also boasts an over-sized 15-yard indoor, saltwater pool as well as a whirlpool, an aqua aerobic space, barre studio and a state-of-the-art gym.
Meetings & Events
Ideal for all types of events, the hotel features 27,000 sf of meeting and function space with 11 flexible indoor/outdoor spaces. A new addition to the historic property, the elegant 7,000-sf Moretti Grand Ballroom, features state-of-the-art technology, LED light panels and a statement wall built from Gucci marble along with an additional 10,000 sf of outdoor space overlooking the Potomac.