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The DC Warf is a newly revitalized area in SW DC and I am SO excited to share this beautiful area with you today! I remember when the area was just polluted grass/asphalt next to The Fish Market (a cool experience if you’re never done that before), but now it’s been transformed into a quaint area full of cobblestones, shops, and great restaurants. Dive down below to see more!
The Intercontinental Hotel – DC Warf
The Intercontinental Hotel – DC Warf (we’ll be referring to it as the ICH for short)
This hotel opened in October 2017 and is currently the only luxury hotel in The Warf. The other hotels are a Canopy by Hilton and a Hyatt House. The ICH has a rooftop pool and bar overlooking the Potomac River, a fine dining restaurant called Kith & Kin, and space for conferences. I choose this hotel because of the Warf’s location – it’s right next to 395 and hopping on it to head to VA where I was meeting with clients during my trip was so easy. I also have a friend who lives in SW and another who works at the Department of Agriculture, so it was in walking distance for both of them.
Overall the hotel is chic and upscale and across the board the service was great and very accommodating. Rates (at the time of this post) start at ~$240/night.
Rooms
I stayed in a King Deluxe and it did not disappoint. The room was very clean (as expected) and I loved the use of space and the natural light. I did not feel like the room was cramped or small. My favorite aspect was that it had a sitting area, work area and (of course) sleeping area. While this was plenty of space for myself, I think it might start to feel small if there were two people sharing the room.
The bathroom was ENORMOUS and it had a gorgeous eggshell bathtub (bath people like me, rejoice!). But honestly, I don’t think that was the best part – the best part was the FOOT STOOL in the standing shower for leg shaving. Can I say halle-lu-jah! It’s really a pet peeve of mine when I stay in a hotel room that only has a standing shower and no foot stool and I have to do some crazy balancing act just to mediocrely shave my legs.
Coffee/tea is stocked in the room in the form of a shiny Nespresso machine and pods along with traditional tea sachets. There is also a refillable bottle of water which I thought was pretty cool.
Overall, the room was solid. I loved the natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and the decor was airy and chic, not to mention the layout added a lot of functionality to space. I found myself using every aspect of the room from the work station to lounging on the couch watching DC.
Dining
The hotel has one restaurant: Kith & Kin. I must say first before anything else that this restaurant is beautiful. There are these huge light fixtures that look like like upside-down brioche moulds, and I love how there are sliding glass doors that provide you with that indoor/outdoor experience. When you walk by, it is definitely FOMO inducing.
My friend Trevor and I dined here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. We had the pastry basket which was warm with a delicious orange scented muffin, just-melty chocolate croissant and regular croissant ::swoon:: We then each had an omelet; his just veggies, mine with ham, cheese and spinach topped with tomato jam. They both were served french style (which means that the omelet itself is cooked just until it sets (no browning). The tomato jam was out-of-this-world. We left with a couple of coffee-to-go cups. It was really fantastic. My only regret was not coming here for happy hour/dinner because if a weekday breakfast is any indication of how good this place is, the drinks and dinner would NOT disappoint.
Kith & Kin is on the pricier side, but if you’re staying in the area, it is a great treat that won’t disappoint. Ask for a table next to the sliding glass doors so you can people watch and order the pastry basket – you won’t be disappointed.
Don’t Miss: The indoor/outdoor seating, warm pastry basket.
Amenities
The ICH has a spacious lobby fitted with USB enabled community work desks and lots of seating. I thought it was a super useful for when you’re waiting for colleagues/the car. The ICH also has a rooftop pool and bar. The pool is of small/medium size and there is seating around the pool with tables, but the best part is the view. There are panoramic views of the river and the DC Monument which are amazing. I loved watching the boats go by.
Overall
I only stayed two nights here, but I would definitely recommend this hotel if you wanted to stay in this area. The hotel is chic, clean, and the service was friendly, prompt, and professional. I also think that it a pretty good value. The Canopy by Hilton was about $100 more a night and it is not considered a luxury hotel.
The Warf
The DC Warf is a beautiful place to jog, dine, relax and have fun on the water. I loved the cobblestone streets, arched tunnels, and swings, which are super instagramable.
Here are my favorites of the area:
Dining
1. Dolcezza
I’m on OG when it comes to Dolcezza. I used to journey to their original Georgetown location in college for a special treat. Now Dolcezza has taken over the district with their unique coffee bars and take-out windows. The Dolcezza at The Warf offers a special treat: Breakfast! And is it worth it? You. Bet. I ordered the egg and cheese on a house-made english muffin and W-O-W. The eggs are buttery, but not too rich and the cheese was actual cheddar. Paired with a large coffee and you’ve got yourself the breakfast of champions and a solid 8/10 meal.
Don’t Miss: Egg and Cheese on an English Muffin, pistachio gelato
2. Lupo Marino
This Italian spot is so cute. I loved how the chef/sou chef was writing the menu in the window. Inside, it’s a cavernous spot known for wood-fired pizza. I ordered the gnocchi to go from here and it was SO good and fresh. The portion was small, but that meant that I had room for Crack Pie (more below).
Don’t Miss: Aranchini, Polpetini, San Daniel Pizza
3. Milk Bar
NYC’s famed Milk Bar has made it’s way down south! The location at DC’s
Warf is small, but functional. They have all the cookies, crack pie, and cakes. I do lean on the side that it’s a little overrated, but Crack Pie is still good and satisfying.
Don’t Miss: Crack Pie, Compost Cookie
Things To Do
1. DC Monuments
Literally a 10 minute walk from The Mall, The DC Warf provides a less expensive place to stay while being a stone’s throw away from the nation’s monuments. See them at night for a special lighted treat and visit the Sculpture Garden for some weird art. Just don’t go to the reflecting pool during the dog-days of Summer – it’s smells awful and the mosquitos will eat you alive.
2. Yoga
The Yoga Factory has a spot on The DC Warf so you can work in a sweat-sash. This was on my agenda while I was there, but unfortunately I didn’t have time. Next time – it looks like a great yoga spot!
3. Water Stuffs
Since The DC Warf is right on the water, there are a number of things to do on the water. You can take the Water Taxi to the Georgetown Waterfront for even more dining and shopping. Or, you can take a kayak, canoe, etc. on the water. You can even bring your own!
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Very interesting, Katy!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!