The Mandarin Oriental in the Nation’s Capital is unlike any other hotel in the area. It is much more than a hotel. It’s an experience.
To start: location, location, location. Being situated on the southwest waterfront makes Mandarin Oriental the only hotel offering views of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument, Potomac Tidal Basin, and Washington Marina. With 38 thousand square feet of meeting space, a four-star spa and triple A rated restaurant “CityZen,” there is no lack of luxury here.
Upon entering the 400-room hotel’s foyer, you’re greeted with an expansive space, shiny marble floors, oak finishes, and a lovely rotunda. Directly in front of you is Empress Lounge, a sunken meeting space where Martini’s may be sipped, live entertainment may be enjoyed, and new friends can be made. As the Mandarin just celebrated its fifth birthday, it has the great advantage being a new facility. The feeling of space made our stay that much sweeter, thanks, in part, to wider hallways and higher ceilings. You get the feeling of entering “an expanse,” and even the footprint of the bathroom is quite large, because, as Hotel Manager Erich Hosbach explains, it’s “Where most of our guests spend most of their time.”
Upon entering my room, a lovely suite overlooking the Jefferson Memorial with a separate sitting area and bedroom, several feng shui principals were clearly at work. They’re subtleties that at first you may not immediately or consciously notice. But, the beds – adorned with the softest cotton sheets and silk linens - are situated so as to draw in energy and natural light. The desks are positioned so that a guest never has their back to the door. The Obi’s above each bed are all handmade and unique, special for each guest. The color scheme is earth tones, and very relaxing. For business travelers, the Mandarin provides free high speed internet access and local calls. My room felt like more of a private oasis - a resort feel - that just isn’t duplicated anywhere else in the D.C. area.
The bathrooms are crafted in exquisite Chinese marble, while high definition flat screen televisions adorn both the bathroom and living and bedrooms. The huge soaking tub is not to be missed, as you may not even make it to the Spa for treatments, because you’ll probably want to stay in and run a hot bath instead, as I did. After a long soak, showering off with the oversized overhead nozzle is as refreshing as a dip in an icy pool on a hot summer day. Towels are pure white cotton fluffiness, and beg you to wrap yourself up in them, unless, of course, you prefer the comfy cotton robes and slippers the Mandarin also provides. And speaking of provisions, forget about forgetting your toothpaste or shampoo, sewing kit or shower gel: all these little luxuries that often a traveler forgets to toss in their travel bag are already awaiting you in your room. There’s no need to even call down to room service for them, even though if more is necessary, they’ll gladly provide.
Nightly turn-down service was also another welcome surprise, with the bathroom spruced up and the bed remade after an afternoon nap. Fresh towels were placed in the bathroom, trash taken out, and everything given a fresh clean-up, so once I returned to my room, it felt as bright as it did when I first arrived.
While the Mandarin Oriental is still establishing itself as a highly recognizable luxury brand in the United States, with hotels in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Miami - and targets for Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, where international travelers are sure to descend – the reputation for international luxury the Mandarin has established, immediately sets it apart from any other hotel brand. Mandarin Oriental now operates or is developing 40 hotels representing 10,000 rooms in 24 countries, with 16 hotels in Asia, 14 in the Americas, and 10 in Europe and North Africa.
The Mandarin is on the cusp of what’s new, and what’s changing, much like the city of Washington D.C. itself, during this new Presidential Administration. Travelers looking for unique experiences, seeking to build a new history for themselves in this historic city, will feel right at home in the Mandarin.
Guests are typically entrepreneurs, leisure travelers, politicos, young professionals, and the Mandarin has become a fantastic place to meet and greet a diversity of successful individuals and age groups without adhering to a traditional “club” formula.
Ah, the Club, “Tai Pan.” What a club it is. Located on the Executive Floor, this Lifestyle Club is open to select Mandarin guests, as well as outside members who reside in the Washington, D.C. area. With a large and well-appointed private room and meeting space, fireplace, dedicated personal concierge service (Alex is fantastic!), gym membership, discounts on valet parking, complimentary hotel rooms throughout the year, and a fabulous restaurant/bar area, Tai Pan is, as Hosbach states, “Finally a club that’s not part of the Establishment.” The club promotes a work/life balance, with a focus on health, wellness, calm, and serenity while affording members and guests the opportunity to convene in a serene and expertly appointed atmosphere.
At Café MoZU within the club Tai Pan, a complimentary breakfast was available each morning with fresh fruit including luscious strawberries, coffee and tea, various continental breakfast items, and more. The bar is open until late evening, and cocktails are available throughout the day. Taking one to one of the comfortable oversized sofas in front of the fireplace is a lovely way to wind down after a long day. The food is excellent, as well. With a focus on health, you’ll find dishes like grilled salmon and white rice with edamamme, as well as a variety of salads, soups, and other Asian-inspired fare. Of course, the hotel also has a full-service restaurant and twenty-four hour room service. One of my favorite personal touches was the bottled Voss water, cookies, fruit, and nuts delivered upon my first night’s stay: A delicious and pleasant way to cap an evening.
As was the case for the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama, Celebrities often frequent the Mandarin, and it’s no wonder. The Presidential Suite has been known to host the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. And while the hotel remains mum on whom, exactly, is ever staying there, it’s a safe bet to say at any given point in time, a famous face has chosen to lodge with the Mandarin during their stay in D.C. Chief Justices, lobbyists, Congressmen, Senators, Hollywood Celebrities and Musicians, the Mandarin maintains the upmost discretion with its guests… but you can only imagine who fills its rooms. As the host hotel for the Kennedy Center Honors, recently Dancer/Choreographer Twyla Tharp, Singer/Actress Beyoncé and Comedian/Actor Jack Black, were among the guests.
The Mandarin Spa is an integral component of all their hotels. It is different, in that they focus on ritual, holistic healing, pampering, and nurturing. It’s not your typical cosmetic spa. The way the spa works is that instead of purchasing a specific treatment, you actually purchase “time rituals,” and buy time in the spa versus have, for example, a “one hour facial.”
The Mandarin is the perfect combination of luxury and flexibility. With such amenities as a cleansing rose water foot bath, the therapist determines a guest’s “dosha” and your body’s reaction to various stimuli. That evaluation helps determine whether you may need, for example, a seaweed wrap versus a mud wrap, and what type of time ritual is best for you.
Certainly, manicures and pedicures are available, as is morning yoga and Thai massage, to increase guests’ overall stretching and flexibility. An indoor lap pool also provides an additional healing outlet for exercise.
A particular feature called the “Heat and Water Experience” encourages a guests’ good energy, through amethyst crystal steam rooms. Even the experience of the Shower is unique and special: guests may select various settings including “rainforest,” which sets the shower to green lights and a shower pattern similar to a rainfall. For men, there is a plunge pool, for women, a crushed ice bath. Color therapy is also integrated into the relaxation lounge, where magazines, books, and tea abound. And for gentlemen who love the heat, a dry sauna is also available.
The four-star spa is the number one spa in the region, a virtual urban oasis tucked into the downstairs portion of the Mandarin hotel. There is also a weight room and personal trainer within the spa to assist guests wishing to work on their physique.
The Mandarin, and its Spa, is all about Pampering: Anticipating guests’ needs, versus reacting to them. You’ll find this all the way down to the wake-up calls you receive (upon request) in the morning, where you’ll be greeted by a live Mandarin staff member, who will also gladly provide you with the forecast.
The Mandarin is unique in every way. For an urban oasis within the Nation’s Capital, simply check in and let your worries fall away. You’ll be cared for as family. Perhaps, even better! www.mandarinoriental.com
