First Look: Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf
French opulence, American style.
The American capital’s southwest waterfront has been transformed by the opening of Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf, the seventh addition to the Pendry Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Part of the U-shaped Parcel 8 development by New York’s ODA Architecture, this boutique hotel began welcoming guests in October 2022.
For the interiors, Pendry partnered with Toronto’s DesignAgency, who found inspiration in the grandeur of European hotel design, starting with the softly lit lobby featuring oak shelving, a vintage French Louis XVI Carrara marble mantel, and curved seating. The 131 guest rooms and suites with sweeping views of the nearby Tidal Basin have four-poster beds, sleek wood storage, and classically styled bathrooms along with layered linens, arched doorways, round rugs, and curved chairs.
After exploring the capital city’s monuments such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial or the National Gallery of Art, guests can enjoy an aperitif at one of the Pendry’s three dining options, overseen by executive chef Barry Koslow, formerly of DC’s Watergate and W Hotels.
Bar Pendry features signature cocktails, including the Aggregate Hospitality with Plymouth gin, champagne, lemon, and simple syrup. Decorated in crimson and moody blue, the ambiance of this modern speakeasy is enhanced by velvet-panelled walls, antique mirrors, bronze accents, parquet flooring, and a vintage emperador marble mantel.
The menu of Flora Flora, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, focuses on the flavours of Peru and Mexico with many plant-forward options. The light-filled dining room has light oak furniture, a colour palette of sage green and terra cotta, and sepia-toned historical murals. The restaurant’s wraparound bar does double duty inside and out, also serving the pool deck where guests can sip and snack while relaxing on the nearby lounge chairs or in the cabanas.
Up on the roof, the glamorous Moonraker restaurant/bar offers waterfront views from bar stools upholstered in blue velvet at the circular bar below dramatic brass pendants or clusters of low-slung deep-blue lounge chairs. The Japanese-inspired menu features small bites such as Tokyo fried chicken, sushi, and sashimi. And on warm nights, Moonraker’s outdoor patio is sure to lure Capitol Hill dealmakers for a Ménage à Dom: a trio of Dom Perignon champagnes.
Additional amenities include a fitness centre open 24/7 with Technogym equipment, Spa Pendry offering customized spa treatments and access to a eucalyptus steam room, and a second-floor ballroom, strikingly decorated in black and white with brass lighting, diamond-patterned carpet, and a gold ceiling.
Photography by Christian Horan.
