Here's a closer look at Washington, D.C.'s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this fall. The new and renovated Washington, D.C. venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC
What was formerly the Trump International Hotel was reinvented and debuted as the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC in June 2022. It's housed in D.C.'s third-tallest building, the Old Post Office, with a bell tower managed by the National Park Service that offers a 270-foot observation deck with some of the best views of the city. Other historic details include marble floors with markings from where post trolleys once carried mail. The hotel also boasts 263 stately guest rooms as well a 10,000-square-foot spa with six treatment rooms and couples suites. Across 38,000 square feet, a variety of meeting and event spaces abound, including the 13,200-square-foot ballroom, the historic Lincoln Library (originally used as the meeting room for Washington, D.C.’s Postal Headquarters), and the Franklin Study (pictured), which offers access to an outdoor terrace with views of—fittingly—the famous statue of Benjamin Franklin on Pennsylvania Avenue. And stay tuned: humanitarian and lauded chef José Andrés will open his small-plates concept Bazaar on-site sometime soon.
Photo: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Washington DC
Salamander Washington DC
Salamander Washington DC opened in September and has taken over what was formerly the Mandarin Oriental Washington DC. From Salamander Hotels & Resorts (the luxury hotel company founded by renowned business leader Sheila Johnson), the property boasts 373 rooms and will undergo an all-encompassing renovation that won't interrupt its operations. Transformation highlights include a renovation of the hotel’s suites, including the three-bedroom presidential suite with sweeping views of the Potomac River; the remodeling and reopening of the club lounge; the re-conceptualization and redesign of its signature restaurant and grand lobby lounge; and activating the hotel’s unique outdoor spaces that overlook D.C.’s waterfront for private events. On-property venues include the Gallery Ballroom (pictured) that, with an adjoining marble foyer and adjacent function room, can accommodate up to 400 guests for a banquet and up to 625 for a drinks reception. There's also the 8,298-square-foot Grand Ballroom and seven meeting rooms on one level.
Photo: Courtesy of Salamander Washington DC
Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf
Luxury accommodations in the nation's capitol can also be found at the newly opened Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf, which debuted Oct. 26, marking the brand's seventh property overall and the first in D.C. The new outpost is located along The Wharf, a mile-long waterfront destination set on the Potomac River. It offers 131 guest rooms and suites, three dining and bar concepts (including a pool terrace and rooftop cocktail lounge), the Spa Pendry, and 7,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space—all designed by ODA with interiors by DesignAgency. The rooftop lounge is dubbed Moonraker, and it features a Japanese-inspired menu with dishes like Tokyo-fried chicken, yellowtail sashimi, and specialty rolls. There's also Flora Flora (pictured), which leans into the flavors of Latin America and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And event spaces on-site include the art deco-inspired, 2,700-square-foot Grand Ballroom that can include the adjacent outdoor pool terrace upon request; and the 1,500-square-foot North Room on the hotel's rooftop bar level.
Photo: Courtesy of Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf
Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Convention Center
In September, Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Convention Center completed a $30 million renovation of the hotel with a fresh, modern redesign. The extensive revamp included a complete transformation of the property's 388, two-room suites, fitness center, pool and lobby, as well as an upgrade to its 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space. There's also a new on-site restaurant, Brickstones Kitchen & Bar, serving up elevated American cuisine with a variety of shareable appetizers, pizzas, flatbreads, burgers, and sandwiches. Enhancements to the property—located in D.C.'s City Center—also include the addition of a 950-square-foot hospitality suite and a 1,200-square-foot presidential suite. Planners can also expect a new lobby-level meeting room with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide abundant natural light.
Photo: Courtesy of Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Convention Center
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum reopened in October with eight new and renovated galleries in the west wing of its building in the National Mall. (The east wing still remains closed for renovations.) The changes include a more modern and engaging experience for visitors, as well as new, never-before-seen artifacts at the museum—including a WR-3 air racer built by Neal Loving and a T-38 flown by Jackie Cochran. Also displayed for the first time is the full-sized X-Wing Starfighter that appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, on loan from Lucasfilm. Private events can be held in the museum's Space Race exhibit or the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall. The museum continues to undergo a seven-year renovation that began in 2018, which includes a redesign of all 23 exhibition and presentation spaces. The entire project is expected to be complete in 2025.
Photo: Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum
