The Watergate Hotel

It’s a shame there isn’t just a rating of ‘good’ here. Make no mistake THE WATERGATE is a good hotel. It has all you need, it has very quirky but 70’s chic rooms. With a very active and almost claustrophobic AC system. However, in its struggle to ‘be classy’, in its quest to be a ‘legend reborn’ it misses the mark in many ways. One cannot help but feel that the primary focus of the hotel is to extract the maximum amount of cash for the littlest effort. This is true of most high end hotels. However, The Watergate doesn’t do enough in terms of its in room experience to deliver the high watermark that the best hotels have. The decor is becoming tired, the lighting and curtain system are in major need of an overhaul to bring them into the 2020’s. The coffee machines - the bog standard nespresso. No extra flourishes. No sense of style other than the one they settled on in when it reopened. Lurking just beneath the surface is a plain ordinary business hotel in a complex that has seen much better days. Sure it’s good, beds are nice. Linen fresh and kept great by a super strong housekeeping team. Try as it might though it doesn’t raise itself out of ‘good’ to very good or even excellent as a whole experience. There is one aspect to the hotel that is legendary. The front desk and staff team. Professional but full of personality, efficient and kind and sort out problems immediately. They are the level of very good and very excellent. If you come for legend and the vibe it’s okay, if you want to spend the money you will pay here somewhere else for more service, more room thought, luxuriant surrounds then you can find better elsewhere. Also, a bug bear of mine on trip advisor is the classic ‘pas ag’ or ‘we hear you ‘ response from hotel management. This is a review, a snapshot in time and if you crave feedback, then an honest opinion based on that moment in time is all one can give.

I stayed in The Americana Suite this past weekend and it was such a joy-- impeccably clean, beautifully decorated (truly on theme) with all the luxe touches, a wraparound balcony with stunning views of the Potomac River and Kennedy Center, and very spacious (1400 sq ft). Highly recommend! Our dining experience at KingBird was divine. The chef impressed us with every sip + bite during dinnertime, including our drinks and dessert! Top of The Gate is a must-visit after dinner for a night-cap and vibey view of the city at night. I've never had an esthetician who could decongest my skin quite like the woman who did my facial at the spa-- this is exactly what my skin needed! Everyone was so welcoming, friendly, and attentive. We cannot wait to return!

The staff was exceptional. They were very kind and welcoming. They were also very helpful, answered any questions that we had.

The rooms we booked were not allocated to us on arrival. EVENTUALLY after a lot of aggravation they moved us. They have an indoor pool which is okay but has a lot of grime and tiles missing. The spa was closed for the most of our stay. Opposite the hotel has works going on which we was not told about and caused excess noise. The restaurant has a very limited menu. Overall this was a very disappointing experience and is not a 5 star hotel. No reason to choose this hotel, my advise is to book elsewhere.

Arrived late due to a six hour flight delay. No one would help us with our luggage. Had to load the bell cart ourselves and push it to our room. Room had standing water in the carpet by the window either from the AC or the rain outside. There’s no gift shop or little store to get any snacks or drinks. There’s no complimentary coffee in the lobby. A large coffee costs $10. The hotel manager called after the fact to apologize for our inattentive arrival. Talk is cheap bro.