12 New Venues in Washington, D.C. for Spring 2022 Meetings and Events

A sleek take on a Japanese izakaya from a globally renowned restaurateur opened in downtown D.C.'s Midtown Center development in February. SHŌTŌ is a joint venture from Arjun Waney (known for the Zuma chain) and partner Tunu Puri along with protégé and managing partner Arman Naqi. Shōtō's menu ranges from sushi, to skewers off the Japanese robata grill, and sake from a cellar that can hold up to 1,500 bottles. The dramatic design includes a chandelier-like Japanese volcanic rock installation anchoring the room, plus a traditional Japanese basket-weave ceiling, and a wall of ceramic green tile made in Bali from casts of live bamboo. The restaurant has 155 seats, including the main dining room, bar, as well as the Kiku and Hasu private dining rooms located behind the cellar, robata, and sushi counters. For an intimate gathering, the Kiku and Hasu rooms can each accommodate parties of up to 18 guests or up to 40 when combined.

Ilili DC, a sister restaurant to a classic Lebanese restaurant in NYC from chef Philippe Massoud, opened in The Wharf in October. Inspired by the garden courtyards of Beirut homes, Ilili D.C. features a water fountain in the middle of its dining room alongside citrus trees, hanging plants, and an eclectic mix of materials, including hand-painted wallpaper, custom tile floors, and reclaimed barn wood. A full restaurant buyout can accommodate up to 190 guests for a seated dinner and 270 standing guests for a reception in the 4,500-square-foot space. Plus, an outdoor veranda with retractable windows and sweeping views of the Potomac River can accommodate up to 90 seated or 120 standing guests.

Downtown D.C. steakhouse, BLT Steak unveiled a new look in March from locally based design firm Studio Saint. Highlights include custom millwork at the bar and wall paneling combined with midcentury modern-inspired furniture and curved, leather booths—all in warm, neutral tones. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant has 30 lounge seats, 16 bar seats, and 90 dining room seats, plus a private dining room that can accommodate up to 30 and an outdoor patio that can seat up to 40. BLT Steak also renovated its 13,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, which can host gatherings for 250 overlooking the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial.

In March, the 245-room Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ opened adjacent to Marriott International's new global headquarters in Bethesda, about 7 miles from the heart of D.C. The 12-story hotel boasts the town's first high-rise rooftop bar, dubbed Hip Flask, plus it's the first venue to debut rooftop green spaces with its own gardens. Here, find nearly 8,000 square feet of designated event space, including the 2,808-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate 160 for banquet-style events.

Acclaimed D.C. chef Nicholas Stefanelli of Masseria and Officina just added a Greek restaurant to his roster. Inspired by his heritage, the 12,000-square-foot Philotimo opened at Midtown Center in January with decor that channels the Greek isles. The chef designed the Delos Room—a private dining space with seating for 12—himself, and it even has its own private elevator, bar, and restroom. An imported granite table is the room's focal point, surrounded by upholstered chairs and marble motifs on the walls. Another private dining space? Host up to 50 in the Olympus room, which is noteworthy for its windows that look out onto 15th Street. The Kaimaki room is a fully separate coffee, wine, cocktail, and mezze bar directly adjacent, yet still affiliated with, Philotimo, and can be booked for full buyouts for up to 100 guests.

The 11-story AC Hotel Washington DC Capitol Hill Navy Yard opened in February, located just four blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Designated event space includes the 1,080-square-foot Capitol Room, which can accommodate 80 for banquets and 100 for receptions; the 878-square-foot Granite Room for up to 50 for banquets and 85 for receptions; and the 754-square-foot Bluestone Room, which can host 60 for banquets and 75 for receptions. The Granite and Bluestone Rooms can be combined for larger receptions of up to 180 or 120 for banquets. Events can also be held in the hotel's on-site dining options: the AC Lounge and the AC Kitchen, or the Smoke & Mirrors Rooftop Bar, which is located on the 11th floor and serves up curated cocktails and small plates.

Solace Brewing Company out of Northern Virginia ventured into the District with a new location at the Navy Yard that opened in January. Solace Outpost is located near the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, which patrons can admire through floor-to-ceiling windows. Decor features an industrial flair, with roll-up garage doors, TVs for watching sports, and outdoor seating options on a wraparound patio. The space, which can accommodate up to 550 in total, is available for full buyouts during scheduled hours or private events outside of scheduled business hours.

The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel debuted a redesign of its 70,000 square feet of event space in March—part of the hotel's phased $70 million dollar renovation. In addition to upgraded bandwidth, lighting, and AV capabilities, the renovation includes ceiling lighting designed to emulate sunlight and design elements that channel natural elements, including the Potomac River. The hotel's largest designated event space is a 19,000-square-foot grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,200 for banquets or 2,500 for receptions. Need more intimate meeting space? There are 24 breakout rooms on the property.

Milan-born Puro Gusto all-day cafe opened in downtown D.C. in December, serving espresso and Italian breakfast croissants in the morning and "PanGusto" (pizza-meets-bruschetta) with Campari spritzes in the evening. The 3,400-square-foot cafe can host up to 60 guests for a seated dinner (36 indoors and 24 on the outdoor patio) or 98 standing for a cocktail-style gathering among colorful wall murals and tabletops made out of recycled plastic.

Belgian chef Frederik De Pue opened his new restaurant The Henri in February in downtown D.C., featuring an open kitchen with a rotisserie for rotating specials, including Amish chicken and pork shoulder. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant can accommodate up to 80 seated or 160 standing guests in the main dining room, which also has a bar that can seat 70 or host 140 standing for a cocktail-style gathering. The Henri also has a rooftop that can be reserved for events and puts a strong focus on private dining, with six flexible private dining rooms that can convert into eight separate spaces at a planner's request. The Autumn and Winter spaces can each accommodate up to 22 seated or 35 standing guests while the Spring and Summer rooms can host up to 16 seated or 24 standing attendees. When several private dining rooms are combined, they are referred to as the All Seasons room, which has space for up to 100 seated or 200 standing guests. Additionally, the Dusk and Dawn private dining rooms can each seat 10. Every space comes equipped with insulated acoustics, AV capabilities, and access to a bar.

Urbanspace Tysons, a food hall on the third level of Northern Virginia's Tysons Galleria shopping center, reopened with a slew of new vendors in March. New tastes include West African-inspired cuisine at Hedzole, a pour-over coffee shop called "Twelve Twenty Coffee," and a fish and chips outpost dubbed "London Chippy." Urbanspace Tysons is available for private events for groups of 10-250, and the Emerald Lounge private dining space can accommodate seated groups of up to 50. The bar and Emerald Lounge can be reserved for groups of up to 100, while an additional private space, the Rotunda (pictured) can accommodate up to 100 and the main dining area can host up to 250 in various configurations.

Georgetown's Fountain Inn was established in 1783 and has been reborn as a tavern focusing on rare whiskeys and the revival of forgotten cocktails from the late 18th century. D.C. bar expert Morgan Kirchner runs The Fountain Inn, which reopened in March, stocking the bar with hard-to-find pours, including Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year. Local boutique architecture and design firm 3877 created a cozy drinking lair with dark brown leather and gold accents. The entire venue can accommodate up to 35 people across two levels. The upstairs space has room for up to 20 and is used for private events and tastings.