Here's a closer look at Washington, D.C.'s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Washington, D.C., venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.
Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. is a storied hotel in the nation's capital. The 200-year-old property has long played host to U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, corporate leaders, and celebrities. In May, it unveiled renovations to its famous Peacock Alley and its Crystal Room event space (pictured). Local creative design studio SWATCHROOM, co-founded by Maggie O’Neill, led the renovation project with the guidance of developer Oliver T. Carr Jr. The Crystal Room spans 2,560 square feet and features towering Beaux Arts columns, crystal chandeliers, ornate handcarved gold leaf crown molding, and vintage drapery.
Photo: Courtesy of Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.
The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill
When it opens Sept. 1, The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill will be the second Royal Sonesta in the city. Located near Union Station, the property is part of a mixed-use complex and offers 274 guest rooms and a conference center and ballrooms all on the top floor, with a private outdoor terrace (pictured) to boot. Overall, the hotel offers 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space, with the penthouse ballroom spanning 3,100 square feet. The max seated capacity is 180 guests and 311 for a reception. A standout space that's not part of the conference center? A beautiful 10-story atrium. Other on-site amenities include a fitness and yoga studio, a vegetated green roof, and a forthcoming French bistro-inspired restaurant from local restaurant group KNEAD Hospitality + Design.
Photo: Courtesy of The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill
Capital Jewish Museum
Opened in June, the Capital Jewish Museum is the first museum in D.C. dedicated to the story of Jewish life in the nation’s capital region. Here, visitors can explore and connect with local Jewish history and the intersections between cultural identity and social activism. Features include interactive tables, film, historic photographs, and artifacts. The facility boasts both modern and historic spaces—the anchor to the museum is a synagogue that was built in 1876. In 2016, the synagogue was moved to be part of the Capitol Crossing development project, and finally to the corner of Third and F streets Northwest in 2019, where it now serves as the cornerstone of the new museum. The facility can accommodate a wide range of events. Rentable spaces include the historic synagogue, the museum lobby (pictured), Cafritz Hall, and a terrace. The museum can provide tables and chairs for 125 attendees.
Photo: Imagine Photography
Kraken Kourts & Skates
Kraken Kourts & Skates—a 70,000-square-foot complex housing 14 pickleball courts, a tavern, and the District’s only indoor roller-skating rink—opened in May in the Bryant Street NE development in Edgewood. The concept is part of Kraken, which also has axe-throwing locations in Penn Quarter and Baltimore. Whether it's for company team-building or a post-conference happy hour, at the newest Kraken, attendees can also enjoy darts and indoor lawn games like cornhole and Jenga. Private cabanas (pictured) are positioned at the perimeter of the pickleball courts and the skating rink. The new Kraken location also offers corporate group packages for skating or pickleball with food and beverage options.
Photo: Fredde Lieberman
The Cellar at Xiquet
Chef-owner Danny Lledó recently opened a sophisticated new private dining and meeting space under his AAA Five Diamond and Michelin-starred Xiquet in the Glover Park neighborhood. The Cellar at Xiquet can accommodate eight to 20 guests for a seated dinner and offers abbreviated versions of the restaurant's prix fixe menu. The space is ideal for business meetings, rehearsal and celebratory dinners, and special collaborative events. ICYMI, the main Xiquet is a Valencian-inspired fine dining restaurant that houses only six tables. It has held a Michelin Star since 2021 and earned Michelin's Sommelier of the Year Award in 2022. In the same year, AAA made it the only Five Diamond restaurant currently in the city.
Photo: Sarah Matista
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
In May, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina announced the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation to its meeting and event spaces. Through the project, the property—located about an hour from D.C. on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Cambridge—had its ballrooms and prefunction spaces transformed with brand-new carpeting, wallcoverings, lighting fixtures and sconces, artwork, and more. The space’s new color palette was changed from bright oranges and vibrant blues to more neutral gray and blue tones to reflect the resort’s waterfront location.
Photo: Michael Stavaridis
