15 New Venues in Washington, D.C. for Fall 2021 Meetings and Events

Archer Hotel Tysons brand added a new property this September with the opening of the 178-room Archer Hotel Tysons, located right near the McLean Silver Line Metro Station and minutes away from Tysons Corner Center. Designed by LK Architecture Inc., the seven-story building offers over 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Host an event at The Penthouse, decorated with crystal chandeliers and plank ceilings with wood beams and riveted steel trusses. The 3,024-square-foot room can accommodate 180 for theater-style events or 175 for receptions. The adjoining 2,110-square-foot Penthouse Terrace can accommodate 100 for receptions or 128 for banquets.

The divisible 2,430-square-foot Great Room is decked out with Carrera marble entry walls, modern light fixtures and corrugated metal panels on the ceiling. The Great Room can accommodate 120 for theater-style events or 125 for receptions. Other event spaces include a 14-seat boardroom; a private dining room with seating for 10 in the Archer’s hotel bar; the Oasis Salon, which accommodates 50 for receptions or 56 for banquets; and the Moonlight Salon, which accommodates 20 for receptions or 40 for banquets.

Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj unveiled La Bise in June, located downtown in the former home of his long-running power dining spot Oval Room. Modern interpretations of French classics appear on the menu, while Martin Vahtra of Project Design Associates of New York's design emphasizes custom murals of Paris and bright color palettes.

La Bise's three private dining rooms can be combined to host 150 for celebrations or 98 for seated dinners. The main dining room seats 48 or accommodates 80 for receptions. The totally private Blue Room can accommodate 38 seated or 50 for receptions, while the semiprivate Curtain Room can accommodate up to 15. A 12-seat bar overlooks the kitchen, while the outdoor patio seats 40.

Douglas Development launched flex office space The Mark in July in Shaw's historic Wonder Bread Factory, which was previously home to a WeWork location. In addition to private office spaces and drop-in workspaces, The Mark is available for small gatherings and events. There's a high-tech event space with a dedicated sound system, communal bars and lounge areas, and conference spaces that can accommodate five to 10 people. The Mark also includes outdoor spaces like a landscaped patio with dining tables and two furnished rooftop decks. The rooftop on the third floor can accommodate up to 150 people, and when combined with the kitchen/lounge area, it can accommodate up to 200 people. The rooftop on the fourth floor can accommodate up to 50 people.

London mini-golf import Swingers opened in June in Dupont Circle in the former Buffalo Billiards and the Front Page spaces. This is the first U.S. location for the over-the-top entertainment concept featuring a food hall, four bars, DJ performances and two nine-hole golf courses. The look here is inspired by a 1920s-era English golf clubhouse, and the Swingers Dupont Circle location is partnered with KNEAD Hospitality + Design to serve dessert from Mah-Ze-Dahr, Mexican food from Mi Vida and more. The maximum capacity is 450 and Swingers offers eight private spaces.

Developing new waterfront neighborhood Buzzard Point saw the opening of a seafood restaurant in April called The Point. From the restaurant group Fish & Fire Food Group, the expansive restaurant with a wood-burning grill and oven offers multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for group dining, with audiovisual capabilities available. The Private Dining Room is set off by a living green wall and large windows looking over the water. The Private Dining Room seats 60 guests for dinner and can accommodate 50 guests for receptions, and it can be divided into the North Side (with room for up to 20 seated guests) and the South Side (with room for up to 30 seated guests). The Green House seats 34 diners or accommodates 40 for receptions, with atrium windows that open and close to the outside like a garage door and an option to connect to the patio bar. Within the main dining room, there's a section enclosed with booth seating called The River Room, which seats 54 guests and can accommodate 60 for receptions. The Indoor Bar, with coppered mercury glass mirrors, seats 57 guests and can accommodate 60 for receptions with the option to be combined with the River Room or Private Dining Room. The main dining room seats 100 or can accommodate 125 for receptions. Outside, there's the divisible Patio Bar, which can accommodate 75 guests for receptions and offers views of the water, four fire pits, four televisions and amenities like fans, heating and a retractable sunshade. The semiprivate outdoor East Garden Patio can seat 65 guests or accommodate receptions for 70, while the West Garden Patio can seat 60 guests and accommodate receptions for 75. The Bonfire is highlighted by a giant waterfront fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs, with seating for eight and room for 15 for receptions.

A trio of D.C. hospitality veterans opened D.C. cocktail bar Jane Jane off 14th Street in August. Jane Jane's menu includes classics from the martini to the Boulevardier, with snacks like pimento cheese and Onion Dip. Designed by Edit Lab at Streetsense, the 850-square-foot space channels a cozy yet stylish “rec room” with a plaid mosaic tile pattern on the bar and a wallpaper based on a 1950s Fornasetti illustration. For full buyouts, the space accommodates 32 seated or 42 for receptions. A bay window buyout accommodates 15 seated and standing, while a private banquette buyout accommodates 10 seated guests. There are 10 seats outside on the patio.

City-State Brewing Co. opened a 13,000-square-foot brewery on the border of D.C.'s Edgewood and Brookland neighborhoods in June. In addition to a taproom serving beers like 8 Wards Independent Pale Ale, the venue has space for live music, arcade games and a summer garden patio. The industrial space is decorated with 45 posters depicting Washington neighborhoods by local artist Anthony Dihle. City-State is available for private events for up to 80 people on Wednesdays and Sundays, and on Mondays and Tuesdays for an additional fee.

Old Town Alexandria's newest waterfront destination is Barca Pier & Wine Bar from Alexandria Restaurant Partners. The two-part venue includes Barca Wine Bar, located on the shore by Robinson Landing residences. Cheese and charcuterie are on the menu, along with pours of wines from the Mediterranean. The space is best suited for a cocktail reception for 50 standing guests in both the indoor and outdoor spaces. The seated capacity inside is 31, including 15 bar seats, and the patio can accommodate a seated dinner for 25.

Out on the Potomac, The Pier is a gussied-up industrial freight container where diners can order tapas and cocktails. A full buyout can accommodate 150 to 200 standing guests. The Pier offers table seating for 100, bar seating for 34 and lounge seating for 10. The East Dining Room can accommodate a seated meal for 24 guests, while the North Pier can host 50 seated guests or 60 standing guests. Two fire pit tables can accommodate 10 for a seated meal, while a fire pit table combined with a sofa lounge can accommodate 16.

Logan Circle hotel The Darcy expanded its event space, debuting a $2.4 million courtyard pavilion addition in September. The Bader Ginsburg room (pictured)—named after the Supreme Court justice—spans 1,724 square feet, with a skylight, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that open to a landscaped courtyard terrace. The skylight dome is adjustable with uplighting and shading features, while the space designed by Baskervill includes an 11-foot built-in buffet. The Bader Ginsburg room can accommodate 135 for classroom-style events, 200 for standing receptions, 143 for seated dinners and 176 for theater-style events.

Crazy Aunt Helen's, a vibrant new restaurant serving comfort food on Barracks Row, opened in July with eclectic decor from the owner of beloved D.C. furniture shop Miss Pixies. The second floor is available for private events and includes a stage with piano and audio equipment. The upstairs dining room seats 32 and the bar area seats 28. There is room for 35 to stand at the bar.

Celebrity chef Edward Lee and Knead Hospitality + Design reopened downtown restaurant Succotash Prime in August with a new menu and a refresh to the decor in the historic bank building. Previously named Succotash, the newly named Succotash Prime serves smoked steaks in addition to Southern favorites like fried chicken. The interior boasts new murals in its dining room, which is a popular spot for events. The restaurant can accommodate up to 450 standing guests or up to 350 seated guests.

Gallery owner Shane Pomajambo tapped chef Eleftherios Natas for his new project, Whino, a 6,200-square-foot restaurant-meets-art gallery in Ballston that opened in June. The huge, loft-like space is designed by Pomajambo’s firm, Moderne Design Inc., featuring large-scale murals and art that will rotate to showcase new artists. Whino can accommodate 400 guests for a standing reception or 143 guests for seated dinners. There is an 84-seat main dining room, 20-seat chef’s kitchen, 11-seat tasting bar and a 51-foot craft cocktail bar, which can accommodate 28 guests.

A new venue called Assembly opened above the Rosslyn metro in Virginia, bringing together a co-working lounge; food hall options from tacos to diner dishes; a full-service restaurant called Fog Point Oyster Bar; and an event space and a market under one roof. The space from DMK and American Real Estate Partners spans 29,000 square feet, including a first and second floor and a terrace. Assembly's maximum capacity is 500 indoors and 125 outdoors.

Levantine restaurant Ala in Dupont Circle debuted in March as a rebrand of Ankara. The revamped space includes a private room for 200, as well as a patio which can be heated during the colder months.

Five Iron Golf opened a 12,000-square-foot outpost in Penn Quarter in July, boasting 10 full swing simulators for high-tech golf. Lessons are available, as well as food and alcoholic drinks. The buyout capacity is 200 standing guests.