Luxury Stays and Getaways: Omni Shoreham Hotel Infuses Contemporary Luxury With Historic Charm
The Omni Shoreham Hotel gardens are a favorite wedding spot.
With a lifespan dating back nearly a century, the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC has developed a distinctive personality that makes it stand out in a city that prides itself on history.
A luxury resort hotel in the northern part of the capital, it first awes visitors with its beautiful gardens and grounds, sparkling chandeliers, and Italian Renaissance architecture.
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However, it doesn’t rely on appearance alone to create a luxurious and memorable stay. For that, it pulls out the stops with a staff that is personable and friendly, food that is delectable, and rooms that combine a traditional and contemporary feel.
Omni Shoreham impresses guests with its sparkling chandeliers and Italian Renaissance architecture.
Plus, it is filled with stories that it tells in abundant manners. Some of them are found in wall displays—such as the story of how the Beatles rented out an entire floor for their first U.S. concert and left behind a set list on the Shoreham stationery written in John Lennon’s hand and covered in Paul McCartney’s pancake makeup.
Or there are the engraved boards listing all the famous entertainers who have performed at the hotel, including such luminaries as Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, Pearl Bailey, Sonny and Cher, Smothers Brothers, and The Temptations.
A display tells the story of when The Beatles stayed at the hotel and shows off the set list in John Lennon’s hand on Shoreham stationery.
Read the displays and you’ll learn that Liza Minelli launched her nightclub career here, that every president from FDR to Clinton held one of their inaugural balls in the hotel or that Rudy Valle performed at the inaugural party when the hotel opened (though he arrived late due to plane mishaps).
Others you have to search a little harder to learn about—such as how the pool was used to develop what became scuba equipment for the military in the 1940s or the fact that there is a “ghost” suite purported to be haunted.
You might even discover that the Shoreham was a favorite spot for Jackie and John Kennedy to sip cocktails while they were dating.
List of stars who have performed in the Blue Room.
Delve a little deeper and you’ll learn that the fight song for what was then known as the Washington Redskins’ “Hail to the Redskins!” was written in the hotel’s Blue Room and had its official debut there on Aug. 17, 1938.
Leaving history behind, the Omni Shoreham remains a bustling hotel, one whose spacious function rooms continue to host meetings and events, whose gardens and white gazebo are a favorite DC wedding spot, and whose suites provide a comfortable stay for leisure travelers who want to get away from it all.
The famous Blue Room hosts events, conferences, and concerts.
Why You’ll Love It
A stay at Omni Shoreham is filled with delights that reveal themselves throughout a visit. Once you check in, you almost don’t have to leave again despite the plethora of nearby attractions, including a short walk to the Smithsonian National Zoo. One of their seasonal offerings is a Zoocation package, which includes a daily food and beverage credit and a zoo-themed welcome amenity.
The lobby is filled with grandeur, designed to capture the past while providing the comforts and amenities of the present. It is spacious enough to provide both quiet corners and bustling social hubs. It is a place where you can be seen or where you can hide away in cozy privacy.
Given the long list of VIPs from celebrities and heads of state to famous athletes and business moguls, they know how to treat each guest in a way that makes them feel special and welcome. Their dedicated guest service staff uses both personal contact and technology to communicate and help fulfill any needs or desires.
The lobby of the Omni Shoreham.
What to Expect
Expect to be pampered in a historic hotel that is looking toward the future. Whether you are there for business or pleasure, the Omni Shoreham can cater to the type of stay you desire.
Explore the experiences they offer, whether it is the fine dining at Robert’s, cocktails around a firepit at night, a nap in one of the garden’s hammocks, a morning Pilates class, an in-room fitness kit or a hybrid bike rental.
It’s the sort of hotel that you can enjoy inside and out. Both hold plenty of places to explore, to discover, to play, to work, and to relax.
Robert’s is a fine dining restaurant at the Omni Shoreham.
Key Features
Located in a residential neighborhood near several embassies and high-end mansions, the hotel boasts 824 rooms and suites that are ADA accessible, equipped with modern technology and designed for comfort. The Omni Shoreham offers:
11 acres of landscaped gardens
In-room dining
Full-service restaurant
ATM in the lobby
Dry cleaning and laundry service
State-of-the-art fitness center
Twice-daily housekeeping service
Multilingual concierge
Valet parking
Wi-Fi Internet service
Smart television
Nearby golf courses and horseback riding
The FDR Manhattan at Robert’s.
Cuisine
The Omni Shoreham has three main food and beverage outlets, each offering a menu to delight your tongue.
Robert’s is the main fine dining restaurant. A beautiful outlet that bookends the south end of the lobby, it carries the grandeur into its design with large floor-to-ceiling mirrors stretching across the east and west walls. It opens onto a patio with firepits where people can enjoy cocktails.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to eat dinner, lunch, and breakfast there. Each menu featured regional food prepared with local ingredients. Even the most familiar dish was served with creative flair to elevate the taste profile.
The butternut squash velouté at Robert’s.
For example, a highlight of the dinner menu was the first item: a butternut squash velouté that was mixed with caramelized apples and topped with spiced pumpkin seeds and crumbled ameretti cookies. It was so delicious, we had to have it again the next day for lunch.
While roast salmon appears on many menus in the area, Robert’s made theirs memorable with the addition of a toasted chili butter that added just the right amount of spice without too much heat. The chickpea puree made a perfect bed for the herb-crusted lamb loin served with a cooly, refreshing lemon cucumber salad.
The herb-crusted lamb loin at Robert’s.
They have an extensive wine list, but their curated cocktails are both delicious and fun. They draw upon their unique stories with an FDR Manhattan, a Shoreham Old Fashioned, a D.C. Gin Rickey, and a Washington ’76.
A special treat for our first dinner was an example of how the Omni Shoreham is willing to go above and beyond for its guests. I had shared in advance that it was my husband’s birthday. I was asked what his favorite dessert was and they responded by delivering a homemade pie with candles and singing.
Beet salads are increasingly on-trend and if you go to Robert’s for lunch, their version is definitely worth ordering. The roasted beets are tender and juicy and served with whipped cheve, green apple, and toasted hazelnuts. Each bite was a joy.
Breakfast at Robert’s included homemade oatmeal with mix-ins.
The Marquee Lounge is found in the corner of the north end of the lobby, to the west of the grand entry doors. Its bar is named in tribute to Mark Russell, a political satirist and comedian who performed in the Lounge for 20 years.
Surrounded by dark oak paneling and filled with comfortable armchairs and low tables, the televisions are kept on silent so that the sounds of guests socializing becomes the soundtrack of the nightclub-like environment.
The Marquee Lounge at Omni Shoreham.
The bar stretches along one wall and is staffed by mixologists who can whip up just about anything, especially drinks from their signature cocktail and mocktail menu.
Nor do you need to go hungry while sipping your cocktails or downing your craft beers. The food offerings at Marquee are as creative as those at Robert’s, though the emphasis is on casual and small bites. They invite guests to tarry in the outlet, socializing and sampling dishes throughout an evening.
Cocktails at the Marquee Lounge.
The charcuterie board was top-notch with cured meats, pates, olives, and rustic bread. We paired it with chicken tikka kebobs, which were delightfully tender.
We especially enjoyed the cilantro chutney which we dipped some of the charcuterie items in. The delicious meal was topped off with the charming cupcake sampler, a dish that was attractive as it was tasty.
The charcuterie board and chicken kebobs at the Marquee Lounge.
The cupcake sampler at the Marquee Lounge.
Morsel’s is the outlet every hotel needs for people who don’t have time for a sit-down meal. A Stance coffee shop, it provides an array of pastries, juices, and other beverages, smoothies, snacks, and sandwiches. Their seasonal quiche change frequently and is a great way to start the day.
Breakfast at Morsel’s, a coffee shop near the lobby of the Omni Shoreham.
Insider’s Tips
The staff at Omni Shoreham have curated several experiences that are both ongoing and seasonal. Some are built around romance; others around kids; others around history and tourism. Check out their website or talk with their concierge.
The concierge team can put together recommendations on what to do while in DC so you can experience it like a local. While we were there, we received a tour of the hotel led by a local historian.
If you visit with young people, check out the Omni Junior Chefs program. The hotel provides children with a welcome tote that doubles as a lunch bag and promote healthy, tasty eating. Items in the tote include snacks, juice boxes, an activity book, crayons and a to-go cup.
Young guests are dubbed “Junior Chefs” and are given a “Say Goodnight to Hunger” postcard to color in. When they turn it in to the front desk, it donates a meal to Feeding America.
Refreshments served at the Omni Spa.
Spa Treatments
Descend the stairs in the West Promenade to make use of the 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor pool, and Shoreham Spa & Health Club. Sharing a reception desk and locker room, the fitness center and spa provides practical services to those looking for a massage or facial treatments. Their boutique offers Eminence Organic Skin Care.
The focus at the spa is on treatments over experience and in pursuit of that mission, they have hired therapists who excel at helping guests achieve their wellness goals.
Outside of the spa, the property offers an evolving calendar of wellness experiences from morning Pilates to boot camps on the lawn. Guests can rent bikes, go hiking or participate in seasonal outdoor events that promote fitness and well-being.
One of the rooms in the suite where The Beatles stayed during their first U.S. visit.
Accommodations
One of the things that Omni Shoreham promises is that you don’t have to be a famous VIP to be treated like one at their hotel. This philosophy is clearly seen in their guestrooms and suites. The offer a wide selection of room types among their 834 rooms and suites so that you can choose your bed type, room size, and number of bedrooms.
From their traditional rooms with clean, contemporary design and imaginative artwork to their luxury suites with multiple bedrooms, each are outfitted with plush robes, extra pillows and blankets, and all the amenities you would expect from a high-end hotel.
We stayed in a classic suite with two queen beds overlooking the pool and gardens from the eighth floor (only a few doors down from the purported haunted suite where an executive housekeeper who was in residence with a family died of natural causes).
The separate living and sleeping areas were connected in a circular fashion with a single wall dividing the two. A small balcony let us step outside and enjoy the view of Rock Creek Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
Despite the hotel being full and busy during our stay, the rooms were well sound-proofed and the suite was always quiet and peaceful.
A suite at Omni Shoreham.
Stepping up from the classic suite are:
Premier View Suites: A similar layout to the Classic Suite they boast a superior view of the garden and a sofa bed.
One-Bedroom Suites: In addition to the separate living room with its coach and overstuffed chairs, there is also a dining table that sits four.
Wedding Suite: These elegant, top-floor suites have a larger, outdoor balcony, separate living room, dining space and bedroom areas. The bedroom and bathroom are spacious and they feature a modern design with large mirrors to help brides get ready for that special day.
Presidential Suite: Spaning more than 1,700 square feet, this multi-room suite includes wet bars, a library, oversized bathrooms, a full kitchen and a dining room that can accommodate eight people. Some connect to additional deluxe rooms for multiple beds.
When it’s available, guests can rent out the Beatles Suite, the actual room where the Fab Four stayed for their first U.S. concert. It includes such touches as artistic tributes to the band—a sculpture of glass bulbs that evoke the famous snowball fight photo of the group.
The art sculpture in The Beatles Suite pays tribute to the snowball fight they had when visiting.
For more information and to book a stay, call 202-234-0700 or visit Omni Shoreham DC’s website. To book your next visit, click here. Follow them on Instagram: @omnishorehamhotel
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2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
[Photos by Bridgette Redman]
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Bridgette, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks, and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at bridgetteredman.com.