Arrival: The minute you arrive at D.C.’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, you’ll feel zen vibes from head to toe. They literally greet you with a small cup of tea! The front desk staff is so attentive and articulate when giving you the low down of what you should expect during your stay. Without exaggerating, this was prob the best customer experience I’ve had at a hotel. And while I have yet to deal with mediocre customer service at a hotel, I can truly say this staycation knocked my socks off.
The Room: We checked into our hotel on the first real snow day of this winter in D.C.! The view from our room was pretty incredible. Sprinkle in those pretty snowflakes, and it felt like we were living inside a snow globe. Our king bed was very spacious and the decor of the room screamed elegance! Now let’s talk about the spacious bathroom, my fave part. Not only did we have a beautiful tub, but we also had access to a stand-up shower. There was also a huge mirrored vanity space and two super soft robes with slippers.
Muze: Our dining experience at Muze was amusing! The restaurant is sort of hidden behind the bar area at the Empress Lounge. The scenic views from the restaurant are pretty epic, too. We started our night with some bubbly, because with views like the ones we had, the night deserved an early cheers! To start I ordered their crab and corn coconut soup, and LORD was I thankful I did! If it was PC to lick a plate, I would have done so, but we are the classy Mandarin Oriental so your girl had to take it easy! Lol. As my main course I got their grilled Verlasso salmon, and let’s just say I was left pretty speechless about how delicious it was! I truly did not have room for dessert, but how can I skip it if everything else I had was so amazing? I went ahead and got the rich Chocolate Delight, which was a great choice! It was the perfect way to end our epic dinner. The service at the restaurant also stood out. There was not a moment when our water glasses weren’t filled, and the wine kept on flowing. Ladies, if you are looking to have a memorable Valentine’s dinner experience, bring your boo here! Or if you are a single lady like myself, treat yo self! 🙂
Empress Lounge: I’ve been dying to try the whole “high tea” experience, and what better place than to do so than at this five-star hotel? The price isn’t too steep ($38 per person), and the tab includes an extensive list of tea selections, their signature pastries and sandwiches, and a glass of bubbly. I’m still thinking of their dainty rosebud tea and cranberry-orange scones! So delicious. Pro tip: The Empress Lounge has amazing natural light, so it’s the perfect spot to shoot some epic IG shots.
The MO Spa Experience: I have to be honest! I’ve never been a big fan of getting massages. I’m sure most of you are like, “GURL! WHY?!!” There’s something about feeling touched all over by a complete stranger, and even though it’s by a professional, the whole process freaks me out a little lol. But since I was visiting a spa oasis, I decided to give it shot. The minute you walk into this zen zone, you feel like a queen! They greet you with a hot cup of tea and slippers to change into as you fill in some paperwork for your therapist. You get to choose the level of intensity you want your massage to be, as well as give your therapist other important info. to make sure your experience is unforgettable and unique to your needs. Once you are in the changing area, you get to slip into a super soft black robe. I picked their signature oriental essence massage, which is designed for the tired traveler — or someone who just wishes to relieve neck and shoulder tension (aka ME)! My therapist was eager to make sure I felt comfortable. You get to decide which oil scent you want them to use during your massage experience, as well as the color of light you want in the room while you experience all the zen vibes. I was feeling pretty tense when I walked in, but once the massage was over, I for sure knew I’d be a future client! It was an amazing experience and I’m so glad I kept an open mind about it. This is def a great gift to give yourself if you ever want to decompress and need a little R&R to feel in tune with your inner goddess — or if you are a guy, with your inner king! DO YOU BOO! DO YOU! 🙂
SCDC Tip: The Mandarin Oriental hotel has an epic indoor pool, so remember to pack a bathing suit. And if you are staying at the hotel you can also enjoy their sauna and vitality pools for an extra $20. The Wharf is also very close to the hotel, and if you plan accordingly, they offer a car service that can give you a quick ride to access its many dining options.
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