Frommer's Review
I took the Metro to the Mandarin Oriental, but if you can afford to stay at this sumptuous hotel, you're more likely to arrive by car, limo, taxi, or perhaps yacht (the Washington waterfront is behind the hotel, across a roadway or two, but a pedestrian footbridge connects the complex with the marina and Tidal Basin). The location of this fabulously posh hotel -- at the end of a concrete peninsula called the Portals complex, which plans to include offices, retail shops, and restaurants -- is a bit odd. The government-building neighborhood is not attractive and at night these streets are not meant for strolling (there's nothing to do and they aren't terribly safe after dark).
Having said that, since it opened in March 2004, the Mandarin has been doing quite well; in fact, it has seriously upped the ante on luxury in the capital. Service is sublime. Hotel decor richly combines Asian and American traditions. The two-story lobby is a light-filled, glassed-in rotunda; the circular design used here and throughout the hotel is intended to invite good luck. Each guest room is laid out in accordance with the principles of feng shui (for example, the mirror does not face the entry door, to prevent the reflection of good fortune out of the room), and furnishings include nightstand lamps of contemporary Japanese design, replica pieces from the Smithsonian's collections, and handmade silk tapestries. On the thick-mattressed beds are sensuously beautiful Fili D'Oro linens that make you reach out your hand to touch.
Finally, the setting that separates the hotel from the rest of the city also helps create a feeling that you are away, but not away. You may not want to roam the neighborhood, but you can walk around the hotel's property, which includes terraces of landscaped gardens and views of the Tidal Basin and marina, the Jefferson Memorial, the Virginia skyline, and District buildings. Guest rooms offer these same views. And when you are on the inside, looking out from the soundproofed, elegant refuge of your room, even nearby Interstate 395 appears rather magnificent. The hotel's world-class spa, fitness center, and indoor pool offer three more reasons to stay put. The fitness center, indoor heated lap pool, and outdoor sundeck overlook the marina; the spa's Zen-like setting is the tranquil backdrop for an array of holistically luxurious treatments.
And then there's the restaurant, CityZen, whose chef, Eric Ziebold, came from the West Coast's acclaimed French Laundry: If you're of the "food can be transporting" school of thought, you'll want to dine here. The Mandarin has a more casual dining room, Café MoZU, whose cuisine includes a sushi kitchen, as well as Asian-influenced American fare.
Facilities: 2 restaurants (Modern American, Asian-influenced cafe cuisine); 2 bars; heated indoor pool in spa; fully equipped fitness center; 10,400-sq.-ft. full-service spa; 24-hr. concierge; business center w/full Internet access; 24-hr. room service; same-day laundry service; dry cleaning; 20 rooms for those w/limited mobility.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
