Waterfront modernist showpiece
A vintage French marble mantel and plush burnt sienna seating give the waterfront lobby the calm feel of a residential parlor.
“The Potomac is right outside your window, but inside feels a bit like a Parisian apartment”
Where it shines
Notable
Cantilevered architecture by ODA frames river views, featuring parquet floors, arched entryways, and steel four-poster beds.
Notable
A complimentary Cadillac house car provides local rides, paired with seated check-in and custom bedside turndown treats.
Notable
Moonraker rooftop hosts monthly lunar telescope viewings, while Bar Pendry draws evening crowds for craft cocktails.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
The interiors are decorated in a modernist style that’s visibly Parisian-influenced, in keeping with the local custom, and the rooms and suites are both stylish and luxurious.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Set directly on The Wharf promenade, the hotel sits steps from concert hall The Anthem and the historic Municipal Fish Market.
The rooms
Unusually angled rooms shaped by the inverted-pyramid facade open through wide picture windows to river views and incoming Potomac flights.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated outdoor saltwater pool and hot tub sit on the second-floor terrace overlooking the Potomac River.
The spa
Five treatment rooms host CBD therapies and hot-stone rituals. Eucalyptus steam rooms offer post-treatment heat.
The gym
The 24/7 fitness center carries Technogym cardio machines, Peloton bikes, and a Theragun recovery station.
Dogs stay too.
Bar
Moonraker
This rooftop Japanese lounge centers on a circular bar serving sushi, yakisoba, and Japanese highballs over river views.
Overall, the hotel feels intimate and residential. To check in, you’ll sit down on burnt sienna chairs at a desk fronting a tall bookcase and fireplace.
Restaurant
Flora Flora
Beside the pool terrace, the bright dining room serves Latin American dishes inspired by Mexican and Peruvian cooking.
At the table
Bar Pendry pours craft cocktails beneath botanical wallpaper and hosts a Saturday boozy tea service by the fireplace.
How it began
The design pays homage to city planner Pierre L'Enfant, pairing Parisian apartment aesthetics with limestone accents inspired by the National Mall.
“With 93 guest rooms and 38 suites—and an outdoor (heated) pool, a rare amenity in D.C.—the Pendry feels like a refuge from the day’s sightseeing.”
Good to know
Stay here
Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf
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Washington D.C.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.