Some dive into the political fray, while others prefer to rise above it, especially for meetings and events. To accommodate those who like the high road, the national capital area continues to add venues that present dramatic views of iconic sites.
Top o’ the Hay, Washington, D.C.
From its location in the heart of D.C., The Hay-Adams Hotel has had an enviable vantage point for decades. Discreet handling of VIPs is a hallmark, and a private club ambience defines the elegant atmosphere.
A multimillion-dollar 2011 renovation added one of D.C.’s most elegant rooftop venues, Top o’ the Hay. Guests enjoy panoramic views of the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John’s Church—the “Church of the Presidents”—from inside, wraparound windows and an outdoor balcony accessed by French doors.
“The rooftop space may be divided by five or used in combination, so we can host from 10 to 350 guests,” says Sara Deam, director of sales and marketing at the property. “Whatever the configuration, the rooftop spaces are totally private.”
POV Rooftop Terrace & Lounge, W Hotel, Washington, D.C.
When the 317-room W Hotel opened in 2009 behind the facade of the historic Hotel Washington, housed in a Beaux Arts building built in 1917, it added the POV (Point of View) Rooftop Terrace & Lounge, one of the most popular venues with a view in the nation’s capital.
From POV’s indoor and outdoor spaces, you’re close enough to the White House to see the glint on the sunglasses of secret service agents who patrol the mansion’s roof. And there’s the U.S. Treasury and the National Mall in the panorama as well.
The site’s amenities include a dedicated elevator to the top from ground level and spaces that accommodate 600 for receptions and up to 300 for meals.
“Featuring unparalleled views of Washington, D.C., including the White House and our iconic national landmarks, POV is the premier location in the city for events,” says Ed Baten, the hotel’s general manager. “Whether you have 600 for a reception or 10 for an intimate dinner, our team will exceed expectations and provide amazing culinary and service experiences.”
Throughout the hotel, the elegance of another era pairs with the brand’s cool profile. The walls that have witnessed more than a century of politics and history have earned a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. PageBreak
Newseum, Washington, D.C.
As the only museum dedicated to the First Amendment, the Newseum has dramatic spaces that overlook Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Gallery, the U.S. Capitol and the Canadian Embassy. In-house catering by Wolfgang Puck heightens Newseum event experiences.
Two terraces off the Newseum’s Knight Conference Center afford guests panoramic views of the iconic sites.
“The Newseum is one of Washington’s most sought-after venues for a wide range of events, from weddings to business meetings,” says Scott Williams, vice president of sales and marketing at the venue. “Our location on America’s main street—Pennsylvania Avenue—makes it an ideal spot to host important, memorable events.
Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge, Annapolis, Md.
Historic Annapolis is one of the mid-Atlantic region’s most magnetic districts, and you overlook it with a booking of the Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge’s rooftop restaurant and lounge. The casual, urban chic venue prolongs the feel of being out on the Chesapeake Bay—long after guests have retired from a day of team building or recreational sailing.
The three-story restaurant is strung with colorful lights and accommodates receptions of up to 120 people or seated diners for 70 guests. Each restaurant level presents live music Thursdays through Sundays—usually bands playing original music in genres such as folk, blue grass and jazz.
There are other reasons to stage an event at the Metropolitan. It is within walking distance of Annapolis’ waterfront and historic attractions such as the Maryland State House and the U.S. Naval Academy. It also features culinary choices created with farm-raised beef, catch-of-the-day seafood and locally sourced ingredients.
POSE Ultra Lounge, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Fort Washington, Md.
When the express lobby elevator whisks guests to POSE on the 18th and 19th levels of Marriott’s 2,000-room Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, they will truly feel as if they have arrived.
From the club’s L-shaped balcony overlooking the Maryland side of the Potomac River, they’ll marvel at daytime or nighttime views of Washington monuments upriver, plus the Virginia riverside sites of Old Town Alexandria.
Inside the club, it’s all about exotic drinks, music and high-tech light shows—an atmospheric departure from the resort’s convention center ambience, according to Joya Dortch, the property’s director of local catering.
“POSE accommodates up to 500 for receptions, and it’s a very flexible space,” Dortch says. “The atmosphere is popular for VIPs because they enjoy a scenic experience that’s quite different from the rest of the hotel.”PageBreak
Lorien Hotel & Spa, a Kimpton Hotel, Alexandria, Va.
Outdoor terraces attached to the Lorien Hotel’s sixth-floor presidential suite provide views of historic King Street in Old Town Alexandria and beyond. Total indoor and outdoor meeting and event space measures 3,500 square feet, with elegant, naturally lit areas that accommodate 100 guests for seated occasions or 125 for receptions.
“Customized meeting breaks, including private wine tastings and dinners prepared by Chef Robert Wiedmaier of BRABO, can be arranged through the hotel’s professional meeting planner team,” says Christina Hardin, the Lorien’s senior catering manager.
BRABO is adjacent to the hotel and features fine dining, a tasting room and a gourmet market—a culinary trio that’s part of the reason Alexandria enjoys a reputation as a “new” food mecca in the midst of history that dates to the colonial era.
Also in the vicinity are art galleries, antique shops, additional restaurants and entertainment spots near the King Street hotel. The atmosphere blends urban excitement with historic sites all near the nation’s capital.
Artisphere, Arlington, Va.
Arlington’s eclectic center for contemporary, visual, theater, film, dance and live music has several spaces for group rental, including 5,000 square feet of outdoor terraces that afford guests views of Washington, D.C. That space is attached to the Terrace Gallery, which showcases rotating exhibits of international, national and regional artists.
Artisphere’s interior spaces include three theaters with fixed seating: the 220-seat Dome, the 385-seat Spectrum and the 30-seat Bijou. Other venues include a ballroom for up to 150 banquet guests and an education lab for up to 30 people.
Artisphere is a short walk from Key Bridge, which connects Arlington to Georgetown, one of D.C.’s most historic and hip neighborhoods.
Frequent Meetings Focus contributor Ruth A. Hill, a resident of metro Washington, D.C., prefers to look down on the partisan political scene from the top of the W Hotel.
