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104 reviews

The cab turns off Virginia Avenue, sweeps up the curved driveway

and stops before the smartly dressed bellmen at the entry of the

hotel.

The metre high lettering at the entrance leaves me in no doubt that

I have arrived at the Watergate, a name synonymous with political

intrigue, public betrayal and most recently, luxury.

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The Watergate Hotel

64% 104 reviews

#28 of 142 hotels in Washington DC

Excellent 75

Very good 22

Average 6

Poor 1

Terrible 0

Recent reviews:

"Perfect Trip at a Perfect Hotel"2 days ago

We had an absolutely fabulous visit in DC

Home North America USA Washington DC

The Watergate Hotel, USA: High end glamour and politicalintrigue, synonymous with The Watergate

Margaret Easterbrook Nov 8 2016

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The Watergate Hotel in Washington DC. Photo: Ron Blunt

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I'm initially more excited to be seeing the Watergate up close, than

about staying at this posh establishment. After all, few hotels can

boast having helped bring down a president.

The Watergate Hotel Watergate Hotel to go with Margie Easterbrook feature on theredevelopment. Supplied Photo: Ron Blunt

On the banks of the Potomac River in Foggy Bottom, one of

Washington's oldest neighbourhoods, The Watergate's unusual

almost austere façade belies the $A250 million that has been spent

reviving it as a stylish destination.

Complete with custom-made retro furniture and sleek lines that

evoke the understated elegance of the 1960s, the makeover

features a whisky bar, cigar lounge, mosaic-tiled indoor pool, spa,

and rooftop bar with 360 degree views of the US capital. Bold

colours, bio-morphic shapes and moulded edges complete the

theme.

The hotel opened in 1967 as part of a five building complex with

apartments, offices, shops and restaurants set on four hectares of

landscaped gardens with a swimming pool, sculptures and water

features.

Over the years the apartments have attracted celebrity residents

including Placido Domingo, Condoleeza Rice, Elizabeth Taylor,

politicians, staffers and a notable intern - Monica Lewinsky who

hid out at her mother's place during the Clinton impeachment.

The mid-century modernist style of Italian architect Luigi Moretti

divided opinion at the time with critics claiming the flowing design

jarred with Washington's many symmetrical neo-classical

buildings. The project's scale also caused angst.

But the controversy over the exterior was nothing compared to the

scandal created in 1972 by what is now simply known as

"Watergate" which started with a bungled burglary at the

Democratic National Committee headquarters located in offices

next to the hotel.

A series of events exposed by The Washington Post, and subsequent

Senate hearings linked the break-in to the Republican

Administration and two years later led to the resignation of Richard

Nixon – the first president in US history to resign.

While gaining notoriety through the scandal, over the years the

hotel lost its allure as a playground for the rich and famous. It

and the Watergate Hotel was the perfectplace to stay. We were in DC for a workconference for my husband and extendedweekend of college visits wi ... read moreKristin A

"Excellent! Would definitely return!"2 days ago

Stayed for a weekend visit to Washington.Staff were wonderful and very helpful. Thehotel is beautifully renovated by designer RonArad. We stayed on the 12th floor and had agreat view of ... read moreChristy M

"Outstanding Stay"2 days ago

The hotel is beautiful, the views from therooms are amazing, the hotel staff makeevery effort to be as gracious as they possiblycan. My husband and I have stayed at thehotel for two wee ... read moreGeminiDragonSanDiego

These reviews are the subjective opinions of individualtravellers and not of TripAdvisor LLC nor of itspartners.© 2014 TripAdvisor LLC

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changed hands several times and underwent various reincarnations

but the arrival of the global financial crisis effectively finished it

off.

It closed in 2007, was left vacant for many years and subsequently

fell into disrepair.

See also: Inside Donald Trump's hotel

In 2010 Jacquesand Rakel Cohen, a New York-based couple and

their Euro Capital Properties forked out $A60 million for the site

with plans to gut and rebuild. Jacques Cohen said at the time they

wanted to make a statement, not simply build a "cookie-cutter

hotel".

While recognising the allure of the Nixon link, their primary

interest was in re-creating The Watergate's appeal as a glamour

destination.

They brought in acclaimed Israeli-born, London-based architect

Ron Arad, whose bold design has featured in exhibitions around the

world including at New York's Museum of Modern Art, the

Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Barbican in London.

Picking up on the Watergate's undulating exterior, which mimics

the bends of the Potomac nearby, curves feature inside the hotel,

not just in its furnishings but in the layout of the walkways which

ensures natural light and a view from almost every aspect.

The long, sculptured brass reception desk and floor to ceiling

stainless steel pillars in the lobby set the scene on arrival of 60s

elegance mixed with modern flair.

In a cheeky and effective nod to the glamour of the period, the staff

uniforms are the work of Emmy Award winning costume designer

Janie Bryant who produced the wardrobe for the highly successful

Mad Men television series.

The bar, restaurant, front desk, concierge and housekeeping staff

each have their distinctive, Bryant-designed uniforms which are

highly tailored in keeping with the period, yet smart and

functional.

Off the lobby sits The Next Whisky Bar, an intimate retreat with

walls consisting of hundreds of filled and base-lit whisky bottles

emitting a cosy amber glow. Comfortable, red sculptured Moroso

chairs add to the vibe.

The significance of the bar's name is not lost on fans of the 60s

band, The Doors, who in Alabama Song sang "...show me the way/To

the next whisky bar/Oh, don't ask why, Oh don't ask why".

I'm not much of a whisky drinker but this central location provided

a comfortable spot for a bit of people watching and celebrity

spotting (Stevie Wonder, in my case) while feigning to read the

paper as I waited for friends.

One of the Cohens key achievements in the redevelopment was the

re-creation of the grand ballroom. In a complex move, a rooftop

garden was demolished and reinstated to enable the ballroom's

ceiling, lit by thousands of sparkling LED lights, to be raised by just

over two metres.

The Top of the Gate Bar with oversized lounges and views across

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the DC skyline is popular with hotel guests as well as locals for

uninterrupted views of the sunset while sharing Asian-inspired

tapas and having a pre-dinner drink.

The clientele is diverse and includes those in black tie catching up

before heading to the Kennedy Centre across the road to take in a

bit of ballet, Washington politicos chilling after work, and the

young fashionistas working their way through the cocktail list.

A rather urbane looking man, wearing an Akubra, makes himself

comfortable sipping a chardonnay while basking in the sunset. His

choice of headwear and laid back demeanour suggest he is a well-

travelled gent.

While there are no blatant references to the hotel's sordid past,

political junkies won't be disappointed by a series of clever and

witty acknowledgements of the notorious Nixon era and the mark

it left on American political history.

Pencils by the bedside and on the desk in guest rooms bear the

words "I stole this from the Watergate Hotel" in a clear invitation

to be pocketed (which I did) while there is a gentle reminder to

guests on room keys that there is "no need to break in".

Guests are treated to recordings of Nixon speeches when put on

hold while seeking assistance from the front desk and, in a less

obvious play on the theme, the customer service number ends in

the digits 1972.

Like everything about The Watergate even these nods to its storied

past are done with a certain sophistication which helps it meet the

promise set out in its promotional material of being

"unapologetically luxurious".

This place most definitely oozes 60s glamour and sex appeal but

with an alluring hint of past seediness.

TRIP NOTES

MORE INFORMATION

www.thewatergatehotel.com/Washington DC

GETTING THERE

Qantas flies from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Los Angeles,

with connecting American Airlines flights to Washington DC.

Phone 131313 or go to www.qantas.com.

STAYING THERE

The Watergate Hotel is at 2650 Virginia Ave NW, Washington DC.

Reservations can be made at reservations@thewatergatehotel.com.

Rooms start at $A414. Phone (844) 617 1972.

SEE & DO

The hotel is close to historic Georgetown, 2.5 kilometres from the

Washington Monument, and 2 kilometres from the Lincoln

Memorial and the White House. The National Gallery of Art, the

Newseum, the National Air and Space Museum and the other

Smithsonians are about 4 kilometres away

Margaret Easterbrook stayed as a guest of Watergate Hotel.

See also: The best hotel designs in Australia

Feedback

See also: Donald Trump hotels: Would anyone stay in a Trump

hotel now?

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