The Hotel Palomar Arlington at Waterview—one of the new boutique spots from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners—opened in November but celebrated its official launch on Thursday. “We wanted to make sure to have the party when our guests were back from the holidays,” said Sholeh Katherina Kia, the hotel's general manager.
Promoted as the first luxury hotel in Arlington, the 154-room property in Rosslyn has dramatic views of the Potomac River and an earthy yet modern interior design by Beverly Hills-based Cheryl Rowley. As V.I.P.s piled into the Palomar for the evening, they were met with mock Playbills entitled “Art in Motion”—the hotel’s philosophy—and listing sites to see on the fourth and 12th floors. This included dessert and a Virginia wine tasting in one of the reception rooms, which has several adjoining spaces that total 3,200 square feet and can hold some 400 for receptions. The nearby boardroom, with multimedia capabilities, holds 16 people.To emphasize the hotel’s focus on the arts, the evening included jazz from the Signature Theatre Orchestra, "action painting" by artist Dan Dunn, and living statue performances from Synetic in the long lounge area, which is complete with modern fireplaces surrounded by stone and glass. The hotel’s 145-seat restaurant and wine bar Domaso, headed by chef Massimo Fedozzi, showed off its Northern Italian menu, 14-foot vaulted ceilings, and large circular chandeliers, reminiscent of a medieval castle. (A glass-enclosed private dining room has room for 10, while the adjoining terrace, with a view of Georgetown, seats 66.) Meanwhile, in the lobby, the Domasoteca wine and cheese shop offered additional tastings for guests.
The hotel also decked out several rooms, each dedicated to a different characteristic of the Palomar. The relaxation suite showed off the L’Occitane bath products, spa services (in the form of free hand massages), and yoga instruction (demonstrated by the in-house teacher). The pet-pampering room focused on the hotel’s pet-friendly policy (with turn-down services for a visiting pooch), and the “Art of Being Green” space included information on the Palomar’s eco-friendly efforts.
The cream of the crop was the 1,100-square-foot presidential suite, with views of the Washington Monument and the Kennedy Center, and a telescope—offered in every room—for guests to take in the expansive scenery.
Promoted as the first luxury hotel in Arlington, the 154-room property in Rosslyn has dramatic views of the Potomac River and an earthy yet modern interior design by Beverly Hills-based Cheryl Rowley. As V.I.P.s piled into the Palomar for the evening, they were met with mock Playbills entitled “Art in Motion”—the hotel’s philosophy—and listing sites to see on the fourth and 12th floors. This included dessert and a Virginia wine tasting in one of the reception rooms, which has several adjoining spaces that total 3,200 square feet and can hold some 400 for receptions. The nearby boardroom, with multimedia capabilities, holds 16 people.To emphasize the hotel’s focus on the arts, the evening included jazz from the Signature Theatre Orchestra, "action painting" by artist Dan Dunn, and living statue performances from Synetic in the long lounge area, which is complete with modern fireplaces surrounded by stone and glass. The hotel’s 145-seat restaurant and wine bar Domaso, headed by chef Massimo Fedozzi, showed off its Northern Italian menu, 14-foot vaulted ceilings, and large circular chandeliers, reminiscent of a medieval castle. (A glass-enclosed private dining room has room for 10, while the adjoining terrace, with a view of Georgetown, seats 66.) Meanwhile, in the lobby, the Domasoteca wine and cheese shop offered additional tastings for guests.
The hotel also decked out several rooms, each dedicated to a different characteristic of the Palomar. The relaxation suite showed off the L’Occitane bath products, spa services (in the form of free hand massages), and yoga instruction (demonstrated by the in-house teacher). The pet-pampering room focused on the hotel’s pet-friendly policy (with turn-down services for a visiting pooch), and the “Art of Being Green” space included information on the Palomar’s eco-friendly efforts.
The cream of the crop was the 1,100-square-foot presidential suite, with views of the Washington Monument and the Kennedy Center, and a telescope—offered in every room—for guests to take in the expansive scenery.
The V.I.P. reception
Photo: Chris Spielmann
One reception space featured a performance by "action painter" Dan Dunn.
Photo: Chris Spielmann
Guests lounged in the hotel's long living room area at the V.I.P. reception.
Photo: Chris Spielmann
