Editors' Picks

Rosewood Washington, D.C

Chic, boutique retreat in Georgetown, Elegant

1050 31st St Nw, Washington D.C. 20007

(202) 617 2400

See Website

At a Glance

Formerly the Capella Georgetown, this intimate property delivers scrumptious accommodations and high-touch service, while its bar and restaurant serve as happening watering holes for neighborhood residents.

Indagare Loves

  • The rooftop heated pool and lounge area that is reserved for hotel guests only
  • The rooftop bar CUT Above
  • The property's original contemporary art collection

Review

Tucked on a charming street just off of Georgetown’s bustling M Street, the Rosewood puts its guests in the heart of one of D.C.’s most appealing neighborhoods. The five-story brick building, which formerly housed the American Trial Lawyers Association, was gutted and glammed up to the tune of $50 million by interior designer Peter Silling. Upon stepping into the marble entrance, visitors are greeted by the jewel-toned restaurant CUT. During check-in, there is a lounge tucked away from the hustle that is reserved for hotel guests. It has a Nespresso machine, a dramatic floor-to-ceiling onyx fireplace and couches surrounded by bookshelves and local art, all of which creates the feeling of intimacy and comfort that might be found in a private club, albeit a super stylish, 21st-century one.

The main restaurant, CUT, is now a can’t-miss in Georgetown, and it swiftly gained popularity as a local hotspot when it was added in 2019. Warm and well spaced, with an open kitchen, CUT has a fresh focus on seasonal, local ingredients. In addition to the signature “Nose to Tail” beef menu, there are plenty of options from “The Garden,” “The Seafood Bar,” and “The Nest”—and everything is excellent (including the craft cocktails and robust wine list). After dinner, the peacock-green velvet chairs in the bar adjacent beckon for a nightcap—or you can head up to the rooftop lounge for twilight views.

Many of the hotel's 37 rooms (twelve of which are suites) and eight townhouses overlook the historic C&O Canal. All were designed to feel more residential than your typical hotel room with decorative details that you might find in a nearby residence, like antique parquet wood floors (from a European castle), chandeliers and contemporary artwork. Even the smallest rooms stand at an ample 425 square feet, and the marble bathrooms all have large soaking tubs or rainfall showers and Aqua di Parma toiletries. No room is exactly alike but all have places for working or lounging. The eight townhouses are carefully designed to offer a more homey experience, where ample space and privacy are paired with the same amenities available at the hotel, such as room service and daily housekeeping. They include a living room, kitchenette stocked with local olive oil and spices from a women-owned company, a small backyard and a washer/dryer. While the superb concierge team reaches out in advance of a stay to offer help with reservations, transfers or rental cars and are on standby throughout a visit twenty-four-seven, many of the things you might need them for are taken care of in advance, like complimentary wifi and laundry pressing for up to five garments. The hotel has loyal regulars who consider it a sublime home away from home in D.C.

Indagare Tip

Writes Senior Editor Elizabeth Harvey: "One of the most exciting recent arrivals to the D.C. hotel scene was the eagerly-anticipated addition of six private, four-story townhouses to the Rosewood hotel in Georgetown in 2020. Just steps from the hotel’s main entrance, these authentic Georgetown homes are ideal for privacy, whether you are simply seeking the comforts of your own space or require an oasis for an extended period of remote work or a special celebration, like graduation week. With their own private entrances on 31st Street, the townhouses are approximately 1,000 square feet in size, featuring: furnished private patios; one king bedroom (plus a sofa bed, accommodating up to four guests); a master bathroom (with a soaking tub, rainfall shower and Toto toilet) and additional bathroom with a shower; a fully equipped kitchen (the hotel can send a private chef to prepare a meal in your house); a central living room with a fireplace; a Bosch washer and dryer; and access to a personal butler—as well as to Rosewood bicycles and all of the services and amenities of the main hotel. Decorated by renowned local designer Thomas Pheasant (who has also worked on the Hay-Adams Hotel and The Blair House, the White House’s primary guest house), the Rosewood townhouses strike the perfect balance between functionality and grace—the way the best homes do. Every item is exactly where you want it to be (thanks to the attentive service), from the Smeg electric kettle and glass jar of artisanal teas to the Dyson hair dryer waiting (with multiple attachments) on its magnetic stand beside the wide his-and-hers sink. The furnishings are polished yet familiar; the space is pampering yet compact. Black-and-white photographs of D.C. taken by Pheasant himself adorn the walls, providing little windows into the city you’ve found yourself staying in. At once, you feel the place is yours—and departure is bittersweet."

Who Should Stay

Travelers who want a chic retreat in Georgetown with a cozy yet luxurious feeling—but more intimacy than the Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton.

Written by Indagare

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