Our third Mandarin Oriental was located outside of the downtown crush, past the Washington Memorial. Walking the distance from the W (a little over a mile in the summer heat) we were ready for refreshment and a walk-in freezer by the time we arrived. The Empress Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental D.C., located just past the lobby, serves tea buffet-style Thursday through Sunday from 2:30-4:30pm.
We loved the scones (though there was a slight dough-y taste undetected in either the Plaza’s or Peninsula’s), the smoked salmon on mini croissants, and the vegetable pinwheel sandwiches, along with the strong pot of delicious green tea.
The Mandarin Oriental D.C. Lobby and Flower Arrangement:
Afternoon Tea Buffet at the Mandarin Oriental D.C.:
Empress Lounge and Bar
Afternoon Tea Selection
Featured Hotel
W Washington D.C.
Roaringly theatric like the scene of a masquerade, the lobby of the W Washington D.C. welcomes you with more than high ceilings and plumes of red, white, and black ostrich feathers. The W's signature purple and slightly sweet room fragrance are at full crank, as is the blue light filter and showroom cluster of white couches, tall black and cream chairs, and red vinyl opera couches. We clocked in hours in the lobby catching up with friends and plunging through our latest Gilded Age read, and spent afternoons on the rooftop with our sketch book and a plate of something delicious. … Read More about W Washington D.C.
Let’s Take D.C.
Stiff with security, deviantly humid, and littered with political games, Washington D.C. appears as hopeless to most people as the island in Lord of the Flies. But step on the ground and you're surrounded by layers of design and routine brushes with history. Charge downtown for a late dinner in a hotel that's welcomed your like-minded forebearers, share afternoon tea with the international set, and wave at snipers on the White House roof as you sip a glass of bubbly. This isn't Rome, but it's decadent enough to hold its own.
What’s Happening In D.C.?
Rooftop cocktails at the W. D.C. are a must for every mid-summer visitor melting in the heat. Nothing seems more decadent than sipping a mint and berry cocktail on a weekday afternoon against the backdrop of snipers patrolling the rooftop of the White House. We love the Mixed Berry Mojito for all the reasons we love mojitos (mint, lime) and berries (sweet, slightly acidic).