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Dream in couture. The Watergate Hotel's 336 guest rooms and suites redefine luxury with lavish finishes, sleek furniture, and lush bedding, all artfully chosen with the guest in mind. Exclusive La Bottega bath amenities perfectly complement the floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms. Champagne in hand, guests can revel in these extravagant surroundings while taking in striking views of the Potomac River on private balconies.
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Nestled near Georgetown and various historic sites, The Watergate Hotel is celebrated for its location, though it may require a brisk walk to some attractions. Guests have called out the hotel's amenities like the pool, spa, and the spacious rooms with views, yet they've also reported maintenance issues and high costs. The value proposition often disappoints travelers, as overpriced services and unexpected fees overshadow their experiences.
While the cleanliness receives high marks, room comfort is hit-or-miss due to noise and HVAC problems. Service and atmosphere garner mixed reviews, blending commendations for staff with critiques of slow service and dated decor.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Timeless
Rooms
Uncomfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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It was a place where I would just go home to sleep most of the time, but the staff, including the doorman, were kinder to me, so I was relieved. The rooms were spacious and the bathrooms were large enough. Bathrobes and slippers are provided for relaxing.
As it was a high-rise facing the river, I enjoyed watching the view while drinking coffee made by the coffee machine provided at dawn. I was able to have one Kingbird breakfast. The omelette was very good.
It seems that there was a big conference going on in DC, and with hotel prices rising, it was nice to be able to stay at a relatively low price, even though it was a five-star hotel, probably because of its location a little off the center. I was comfortable.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We chose the Watergate Hotel for our 50th Wedding Anniversary because we had spent our 5/12/73 wedding night in Room 1011 of the then infamous (Nixon, Watergate hearings, political history) hotel. We asked specifically for room 1011 for our 50th, and it was set aside for us. Check-in was warm, efficient, and congratulatory. The associate, Ahmed, even showed enthusiastic interest in the vintage (1973) bill and room service menu that we brought to the hotel for its archives. A lovely bowl of fruit and a plate of tasty macaroons along with a thoughtful handwritten note from Hotel Director of Rooms Matthew Deudne greeted us in our room. The views of the river, Roosevelt Island, Harbour, Georgetown University, and sunset were spectacular. The Top of the Gate late night views of the Watergate, Kennedy Center, sparkling lights of Key Bridge and Georgetown, river, and Venus in the skies capped off the wonderful day. The next morning our brunch at Kingbird was just as charming with a warm welcome by the restaurant manager (from the Netherlands), the professional wait staff, and the thoughtful complimentary key lime dessert with a chocolate *Happy Anniversary" plaque and prosecco. When we left, the cheerful doorman brought my husband a chair while we waited for the valet. We were thrilled with every special touch during our perfect visit.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Valet parking is VERY expensive. Suggest UBER/LYFT or cab transportation instead.
The Kennedy...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Watergate Hotel, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 17 May 2023
Dear ,hf1838 Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We will relay your positive feedback to our team, especially Ahmed, Lars and Matthew. We are truly thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience at the hotel. We can't wait to welcome you back in the future! Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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Well the hotel is posh from the moment you walk in. Heavy period decor makes you feel like you’re in the 60s or 70s. I got upgraded to a suite that had a wrap around corner balcony that was huge, with great views of the interior court. All very impressive and made you feel like your (not small amount of) money was well spent.
Ate at the in-hotel restaurant, Kingbird, for breakfast and dinner, and left a little let down. $60 for ONE person breakfast buffet, and dinner entrees that went from $30-90 per person, with a la carte sides, and you’d expect a really nice experience. Unfortunately the food was good, but not great. The waitstaff almost seemed to take pains to ignore you, like footmen from Downton Abbey. The front desk staff was similar: the lady at check in barely spoke to me above a whisper and seemed disinterested. I’m not sure she smiled at all. The gentleman at checkout seemed to want to get rid of me quickly. At one point a customer tripped over an art sculpture in the lobby And fell down very forcefully and loudly. The desk staff just leaned over and looked. One asked if he was ok but didn’t move to help. No one was rude, they just tried to be inconspicuous.
The immediate surroundings of the hotel are sparse. On a busy street, your closest convenience store is a tiny gas station halfway down the block. I didn’t see a Starbucks or Dunkin or coffee or sandwich shop anywhere near. BUT, of course you are within walking distance to Georgetown, the National Mall, George Washington University, Washington Harbor, lots of great things. So overall location is great, but if you want to eat or shop outside the hotel, be prepared for at least a 7 minute walk crossing many busy streets.
I enjoyed my stay and it felt very upscale. I’d recommend it for the experience, but be prepared for stony staff and none of the immediately nearby amenities you’d find in the middle of a big city.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2024
Value
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Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 2 July 2024
Dear Chris P, Thank you for staying with us and for taking time leaving a review. We appreciate your valuable feedback and sincerely apologize for the service and interaction what you experienced. These points were shared with the team for our serious follow up and for our improvement. Please feel free to reach out to Kazuki Shibuya, our Executive Assistant Manager at kshibuya@thewatergatehotel.com for any future assistance. We hope to have the opportunity of being connected and welcoming you back in not distant future. Thank you, The Watergate Hotel
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Our room was relatively large, especially the bathroom, which had two sinks. The bed was comfortable. We had a nice view of the Potomac. And the hotel offers many luxury services that we had no use for. But the most basic point of a hotel is allowing you to sleep. Our room was next to the elevators, which are unusually loud and run almost constantly, even at night. I sleep with earplugs but was still woken by the elevators several times the first night. So we asked to change rooms and they said they’d call or text us when another room became available, but they never did, even though we stayed 5 nights. So I played white noise on my phone at full volume each subsequent night, which mostly but not entirely covered the elevator noise. Other things that we take for granted at inexpensive hotels were inadequate at this expensive hotel. They wipe all the surfaces and move your stuff around when they clean the rooms, but they didn’t replace the two Keurig coffee pods, so I had to ask for more. One day, they came to clean the room at 5:30 PM, when we had returned after a day out and didn’t want to have someone in our room cleaning. The king bed has 3 pillows, so if you want 2/person, you have to “order” a 4th pillow. The lights are all controlled by a panel next to the bed and there is no light switch near the door, so if you enter in the evening and didn’t leave the lights on all day, you have to grope around the room to get to a light switch. There is one towel bar and it is inside the shower, not outside. Like most hotels, they have a policy that if you hang up your towels, they won’t replace them each day, but they don’t follow their own policy. And the TV was smaller than what you would find at any inexpensive hotel.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Make sure your room is not next to the elevators–you won't be able to sleep if it is.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 23 May 2024
Dear ari405, Thank you for staying with us and for leaving a review. We appreciate your feedback and will address it with the appropriate parties. We apologize about the noise in your room and the inconsistences you experienced while staying with us. We do hope to have the opportunity to host you again soon. Thank you, The Watergate Hotel
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The location is a great combination of overlooking the Potomac river and the university town of Georgetown! We did get a room with a river view. The balconies had a nice table and chairs setup. Weather wise, it was too cold to sit side outside and sip morning coffee, but we did stand outside and view the activity on the river at different times of the day. The bathroom had a neat setup of the shower and tub enclosure, water pressure was great. Toiletries were a good quality, I usually use my own shampoo and conditioner, but this time I used the items provided. The inside decor of the hotel is mid-century modern so it goes well with the outside architecture. The staff was great, from the doorman ALWAYS ready to help or open the door, the reception area had someone available at the desk to help, never had to wait for someone to show up. Room service was quick when we called for any items. We had breakfast every morning at the restaurant and tried something different each time, presentation was nice and the food was delicious. All in all a great stay, we will come back!
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 4 Jan 2024
Dear E6615BSbarbarah Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We will relay your positive feedback to our team. We are truly thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience at our hotel. We can't wait to welcome you back. Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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I stayed one week at the Watergate for business reasons and, taking into account that I paid around 430 USD per night for the cheapest room with no breakfast, I was not impressed. Pros: Nice quiet room with a view of the Potomac river Great bed Nespresso machine in the room Lots of towels Quality linen
Cons: Steam room not working System was down and therefore key cards were not working Extremely expensive breakfast Minibar prices were outrageous Difficult to relax and enjoy the spa area because no one was supervising that guests comply with the rules. So there were small kids running and jumping into the pool disturbing other guests, a noisy couple listening to extremely loud music inside the jacuzzi, etc etc. Plus there were no loungers in the spa/pool area. AC not working in the meeting room
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Ask for a room in a high floor
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 16 Apr 2024
Dear Cataline M, Warm greetings from Washington. While we were thrilled to have you with us, we are sorry to read that your visit fell short of expectation and we appreciate you sharing these details. We understand there are times when we do fall short and we love nothing more than second chances so that we can ensure each of our guests have had the opportunity to truly enjoy an authentic Watergate experience. With that in mind, we hope to one day welcome you back and we invite you to be in touch if we can assist in planning your return. Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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My family stayed at the Watergate for a few days over Spring Break. It's lovely from the outside and the public spaces match. And since we wanted to be within reasonable walking distance of the monuments/memorials and museums, as well as Georgetown, this was a brilliant location - hard to beat. Although our guest room appeared to meet expectations at first glance, we quickly discovered a number of issues, most notably: a missing blackout shade (and pulls for the shades in the most bizarre and inconvenient location - like literally had to stand on a chair to gain access to one, and I am a tall person); damaged heat/AC vent covers; a toilet that clogged TWICE (the first time, it took hours for someone to come repair it due to apparent miscommunication); and a shower with wildly inconsistent temperature swings. The buffet breakfast was not enjoyable and, worst of all, we sprung for the Cherry Blossom season High Tea at $75pp. At absolute MOST, it was a $35pp experience - and that's pretty generous, considering the dry sandwiches, Costco quality pastries and lack of any substitute for prosecco other than apple cider. Nevermind the fact that we were inexplicably seated outside the actual dining area for the experience. Finally, the overall service at the hotel just did not meet the standard to be expected at this level. Aside from the concierge gentleman who was very helpful the first evening (thank you!), service unfortunately felt too amateur. Imagine, for example, a sofa bed made up with JUST a sheet, no blanket (had to request). All of this reflects some other reviews I read, but I was optimistic based on the overall rating. Sigh.
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Date of stay: April 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 10 Apr 2024
Dear kieshar2016, Warm greetings from Washington. It was a pleasure to have you join us and we thank you for sharing your review. While we were thrilled to have you with us, we are sorry to read that your visit fell short of expectation and we appreciate you sharing these details. We understand there are times when we do fall short and we love nothing more than second chances so that we can ensure each of our guests have had the opportunity to truly enjoy an authentic Watergate experience. With that in mind, we hope to one day welcome you back and we invite you to be in touch if we can assist in planning your return. Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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The rooms are tiny with two closet door mirrors infront of the bed as well as the the big side bathroom door mirror of the bed creating a very bad feng shui and horrible nightmares upon waking up in the middle of the night surrounded by mirrors. Terrible layout and decor in the tiny rooms with minimal space.
The pool and the Jacuzzi tile wall needs a deep cleaning due to yellowish brown residue build up and the water smell like urine. Upon checking out we asked for a copy of reciept which we were promised it would be emailed to us but never recieved until I had to directly call and retrieve a copy 5 days after my stay. It was a very unfortunite stay and would not consider returning or referring to anyone.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 22 Aug 2024
Dear redbunnyrabbit25, We are sorry to hear that you had mixed reviews about your stay at The Watergate Hotel from your survey. Thank you for taking the time to leave one. It is important for us to that all guests have a seamless experience. Please feel free to reach out to our Executive Assistant Manager, Kazuki Shibuya, with any details regarding your stay, questions, comments, or suggestions at kshibuya@thewatergatehotel.com. We hope to welcome you back soon for a chance to provide a more improved stay. Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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The staff is really who makes the stay so special. They make you feel like you’re the only one staying in the hotel! Bernel checked us in and was kind enough to upgrade our room to a higher floor. The sunrises and sunsets over Georgetown and Rosslyn were breathtaking. Yab helped us to our room and saw to it I was able to tour the Scandal Room which was the highlight for me who has studied the events of Watergate. Though he was busy, he allowed me time to reflect and ask questions and was gracious to let me geek out. Thanks Yab! Aziz was another staff member who was so kind and helpful. Shout outs to Josh and Mesfin too! The hotel is stunning and every detail of decor is enhanced by the keen sense of history interwoven with pop culture. The restaurant was also accommodating and cooked off the menu for my picky daughter. The location is ideal for walking along the river and the nearest metro station was just a few blocks away. The bathrooms are like private spas and I made sure to “soak it in.” We came for the holiday week to visit family, but this hotel begs for a romantic getaway and I will certainly be back to indulge with my husband sans children.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Call ahead and let the staff know your plans. They can help facilitate everything.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 18 Dec 2023
Dear mkm9992019, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We will relay your positive feedback to our team, especially Josh, Mesfin, Yab, Bernel and Aziz. We are truly thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience at the hotel. We can't wait to welcome you back in the future! Regards, The Watergate Hotel
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We travel a lot and I am normally the person who books and pays for the trips. It was refreshing to have the front desk agent deal with me directly after finding that the booking was in my name, rather than my husband as that has been my experience at many upscale hotels and resorts.
We booked a "Premier River View King with Balcony". We stayed in room 907. Our room was well appointed and much larger than what we were expecting for a major city. Certainly one of the largest rooms we've stayed in for capitals (New York, London, Paris, etc.) This was a really nice surprise because it's always hard to tell what you will get from photos online.
The money spent to for the balcony and river view was well worth it. I specifically requested a room with a soaker tub as I was looking forward to soaking after a lot of walking around. The views of the Potomac were phenomenal. Some critical feedback would be that I think that some maintenance might be required. The room had a leak on the same wall as the shower and as a result it often had a foul/musty smell. There was also some mildew/mould in the bathroom and the drain for the tub was not in great repair. This turned me off of the tub. The irony was that I didn't want to raise the tub issue with management/maintenance as I loved the view from our room and didn't want to be switched. (LOL)
Notwithstanding the tub issue our concerns were allayed by the excellent housekeeping services. Whoever cleaned our room was expertly trained and did not miss anything. It made us feel very comfortable in the room.
The pillows were fantastic. The bed was too soft for my liking but my husband loved it.
The staff met the mark in terms of luxury accommodations-- everyone was friendly, inviting and very helpful.
We ordered room service after arriving and after a long flight. I don't recommend the mushroom risotto however my husband ordered the turkey club which hit the spot.
We tried to visit the Top of the Gate however it was closed the first night due to rain, and then closed a second night due to a private event, and so at that point we just moved on. The view from our room was a happy compensation for this.
The hotel is very close to Foggy Bottom metro station. We don't normally take public transit but after seeing how close and efficient the metro system is it was we regretted not taking the metro to the hotel.
One of the highlights of the stay was the pool/spa. In other hotels, the hydrotherapy that was offered for free, would have been a paid service. There was also a sauna which I enjoyed and a steam room. The steam room was not working unfortunately. We booked a late check out on our last day as we had a few other items of business that pushed us past regular check out and so I took the time to relax and reset before our flight home. I regret not using the spa (proper) services.
We plan on coming back to D.C. in the next few months and I would not hesitate to re-book at the Watergate.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
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Location
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cristiano Buono, General Manager at The Watergate Hotel
Responded 10 Sept 2024
Dear indygerry , We hope this finds you well and thank you for choosing to stay at The Watergate Hotel during your recent visit to DC! It was an absolute pleasure to have you as a guest. We were thrilled to receive your detailed feedback from our online survey! It means very much to us, and your comments have been shared with our Managing Director, Director of Engineering and the entire team so we can continue to deliver exceptional service to guests like you. Wishing you all the best! We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the Nation’s Capital very soon. Kind Regards, The Watergate Hotel HOTEL ADDRESS 2650 Virginia Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20037 202-827-1600
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Yes you are close to both Georgetown and the George Washington University, so there are multiple food options in walking distance.
I have no idea about the sauna etc.
Washington DC, District of Columbia4 contributions
Dear Kinsleys unicor... W,
Thank you for your inquiry. Early check-in is possible and we have valet parking available. It is subject to additional fees. To finalize the details of your arrival you can e-mail our reservations directly.
We look forward to welcoming you to The Watergate Hotel.
Regards,
The Watergate Hotel
Washington DC, District of Columbia4 contributions
The room and suite minibars are a paid service. They offer a variety of water, soft drinks, small wine bottles, whiskies and other spirits. Items are charged to guest rooms at check-out.
There are more places to choose from in the Washington DC area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$504 - AU$759 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesDistrict of ColumbiaWashington DCFoggy Bottom - GWU - West End / Cleveland Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
336
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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