Pendry Washington DC is the best hotel at the Wharf, the city's lively waterfront district on the Washington Channel just southwest of the Mall. Opened in 2022 by the California-based Pendry brand, it is a 131-room hotel (including 38 suites) with a warm, residential look: rich woods, curated art and local craftsmanship, and rooms that feel more like a stylish apartment than a business hotel. The water is the point. The outdoor pool and terrace look over the channel and the marinas, many rooms have water views, and the rooftop and indoor bar, Moonraker, is one of the city's best spots for a sunset cocktail with the river below. Bar Pendry is known for its Boozy Tea, a cocktail-driven take on afternoon tea, and the hotel's restaurant and in-room dining cover the rest. Spa Pendry and a 24-hour fitness center complete the picture. Step outside and the Wharf does the entertaining: a promenade along the water with restaurants and bars, the historic Municipal Fish Market a short walk away (one of the oldest continuously operating fish markets in the country), the Anthem and other concert venues, seasonal festivals and fire pits, and water taxis that run to Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor. The National Mall, the Spy Museum and ARTECHOUSE are a short walk or ride north, and the Waterfront Metro station is nearby. The honest notes: the Wharf is busy and loud on weekend nights and concert evenings, and it is a little removed from the downtown business district. Fit: couples, night owls and travelers who want the city's waterfront at their door rather than another downtown tower.
The Wharf was redeveloped over the last decade into one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, with piers, a marina, music venues and dozens of restaurants on land that was once a quiet strip of seafood stalls and parking lots. Pendry arrived as its most refined address, and it acts as both a hotel and a social hub: Moonraker and the pool terrace draw locals as well as guests, especially on warm evenings. The hotel's design draws on the waterfront's maritime past and on a European sensibility, with an art collection that features local artists, and its staff are well versed in the Wharf's restaurants, which range from casual oyster bars to celebrated chef-driven dining rooms.
Room craft: ask for a room facing the water, ideally on a higher floor, for channel and sunset views. Suites are worth considering for longer stays, as they add living space. Reserve Boozy Tea and a table at Moonraker in advance on weekends, and check the Wharf's events calendar, since concerts and festivals shape the evenings. In winter, the pool closes but the rooftop and fire pits along the promenade keep the waterfront appealing.
Practicals: 655 Water Street SW, on the Wharf. The Waterfront Metro (Green Line) is about a ten-minute walk, and L'Enfant Plaza (several lines) is a little farther. Valet parking is available. Reagan National Airport is a short drive. Fit: couples, food lovers, nightlife fans and anyone who wants Washington with a waterfront view.
Why stay here
- ✓Waterfront location on the Wharf
- ✓Moonraker rooftop bar
- ✓Outdoor pool terrace
- ✓Bar Pendry and Boozy Tea
- ✓Spa Pendry
- ✓24-hour fitness center
- ✓Suites with living space
- ✓Near water taxis and concert venues
Good questions
Is Pendry close to the National Mall?+
Yes. The Smithsonian museums on the south side of the Mall are about a fifteen- to twenty-minute walk or a short ride, and the Spy Museum and ARTECHOUSE are closer still.
Is it noisy at the Wharf?+
The Wharf is lively on weekend nights and concert evenings. Rooms are well insulated, but light sleepers may want to ask for a higher floor away from the promenade.
Is the pool open year round?+
The pool terrace is outdoors and seasonal. The rooftop bar, spa and fitness center are open year round.
