InterContinental Washington, D.C – The Wharf

Arriving around 10 p.m. on a rainy Friday evening after work, we were eager to valet the car and check in. Situated in Washington, D.C.’s newest district, The Wharf, opened October 2017, InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf offers a prime position in one of the buzziest spots in the city. While not as crowded that Friday evening, likely given the rain, we’d see just how popular the area was over the next two days of our stay, which, thankfully, also brought sunnier weather.

It was a bit confusing driving through The Wharf and finding the hotel valet — we sort of happily happened upon it. Thankful to stretch out our legs after a three-hour trip, there was some slight confusion as we handed over the keys, but once inside, check-in was a breeze. Within 10 minutes of our arrival, we were headed to our 10^th-floor guestroom.

The hotel opened a few months prior to my visit, and we could feel the newness of the property throughout, including in a few thoughtful décor details. I especially like the design element when the elevator doors open to your floor — rather than coming face to face with a guestroom door or a blank wall with signs pointing in either direction, the elevators open on a wood-paneled divider, creating a distinct space for the elevators and the hallway.

The guestroom was large, opening into a hallway with a long closet immediately to the right. Located on a corner, there were two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows boasting different views of The Wharf.

Entering the bedroom area, a king-sized bed was flanked on either side by nightstands with easy-to-access plugs. Along one set of windows sat the desk and a chair, facing to the view, and another separate armchair. Along the other windows and across from the bed was a dresser, with the TV on top, housing a minibar, a Nespresso machine and storage.

A large bathroom offered both a rainfall shower and large soaking tub. As a frequent traveler, you notice small inconveniences in hotel guestrooms. The InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf must have noticed, too, and rectified a few in the design of the room. A few standouts were in the shower: The turn-on knobs are located on the opposite wall from the showerhead to prevent cold blasts of water from hitting you when you turn on the shower; a small bar in one corner of the shower is the perfect spot for propping up your leg for shaving; and the metal rack to hold toiletries is larger and deeper than normal to prevent the small bottles from falling all over the place.

Not only are the hotel and its district buzzy, but so is the on-site restaurant, Kith/Kin, serving Afro-Caribbean cuisine from Executive Chef Kwame Onwuachi. Kith/Kin serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features a lounge and bar bites menu.

While not open during my stay, future plans (coming this year) for the waterfront hotel include a 12^th-floor lounge with views, contemporary fare and cocktails, and a full-service spa and seasonal rooftop pool. A state-of-the-art fitness center is already open.

You cannot beat the location of this hotel. Not only is The Wharf jam-packed with amenities and options, but we were able to walk from the hotel to the many different areas of the city we visited — to museums, to restaurants and to the baseball stadium. We felt perfectly positioned for exploring the city.

InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf

801 Wharf St. SW

Washington, D.C. 20024

tel 202 800 0844

wharfintercontinentaldc.com