Washington, D.C., is well-versed in hosting meetings and events. Because of this and the importance of the area, ConventionSouth has added Washington to its list of Event Planners’ Guide destinations. This inaugural D.C. guide features a vibrant area that welcomes dignitaries and visitors from around the world on a daily basis. Home to the headquarters of major associations, organizations, and nonprofit groups, the area offers stellar attractions, including free museums and monuments, along with unparalleled venues and experts, from policymakers to renowned leaders in diverse fields, such as medicine, technology, education, and sustainability.
Though today Washington is known as the capital of the United States, it did not become the seat of the federal government until 1790. A fascinating mix of cultures and filled with history and an eclectic mix of neighborhoods, the District of Columbia has a population of more than 700,000. Encompassing four geographical quadrants, the nation’s capital is a 68-square-mile federal district that borders the Potomac River. Its street names follow numerical and alphabetical order, with avenues named for states. In addition, the city has a convenient and efficient Metro transit system.
“From local innovation to global leadership, Washington, D.C., offers exclusive knowledge and access to hundreds of international organizations and associations, combined with more than 170 embassies (many that will do special events), think tanks, and financial institutions,” says Melissa A. Riley, senior vice president of convention sales and services for Destination DC. “D.C. is a city of great history and innovation, and we are home to the greatest monuments and museums in the world. With an event here, attendees can experience dozens of iconic landmarks and free museums, inviting parks and open spaces, Michelin-starred restaurants, and a thriving performing arts scene, with distinctive neighborhoods that reflect the vibrancy and diversity of our residents.”
Riley adds that no comparable city provides as many world-class activities for free as D.C. “With unmatched access to the Smithsonian’s incredible free museums and zoo, the National Gallery of Art, monuments and memorials, free theater, and one-of-a-kind events and festivals, meeting attendees can explore the city at their leisure. This makes the city very affordable, and beginning in July 2023, D.C.’s Metro buses will all be free to anyone using them within the city.”
Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by how walkable and accessible the city is, Riley says. “The city is easy to navigate, from arriving at a nearby airport or accessing the National Mall and its major free attractions to the convention center and dozens of hotels downtown,” she notes. “Many people also are surprised how green and inviting D.C. is. With no building taller than the Washington Monument, visitors are struck by wide-open skies. A trend in rooftop bars and outdoor terraces allows for views of iconic landmarks while enjoying yourself at dozens of cool new venues.”
Nearly one-fourth of the city is reserved for green spaces, and the Trust for Public Land has named D.C. “the best city park system in the U.S.,” according to Destination DC.
“The region’s nature is as diverse as the city’s culture, with dozens of national parks and public gardens,” Riley notes. “For teambuilding, this means planners could do an outdoor scavenger hunt on the National Mall, a sunrise photography walk to the Lincoln Memorial, or venture into Rock Creek Park, where there are historic creek crossings, groomed hiking trails, golf, and tennis. Groups can take to the waters with more than a dozen waterfront activities, paddling, and boat cruises on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.”
D.C. is easily accessed by Amtrak train and three airports, Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The newly opened 11.4-mile Silver Line Extension Metrorail connects Dulles to downtown, giving riders access to six new stations. In addition, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority recently approved a plan for a $675 million concourse at Dulles. Construction begins this year with anticipated completion by 2026. The 400,000-square-foot, 14-gate concourse will include new retail and dining options, more seating, airline lounges, and other amenities. It also will improve the backend operations for servicing planes and moving baggage. Officials hope to build it to the eco-friendly LEED Silver standard.
Additionally, Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Union Station Redevelopment Corp. have joined efforts to expand Union Station, the historic transit hub that is Amtrak’s second-busiest location and only steps from the U.S. Capitol. The $10 billion project as currently envisioned includes a new east-west train hall and a new passenger concourse. The project area is spread across 53 acres and includes the station building, as well as a parking garage, rail terminal, bus facility, railroad infrastructure, and the H Street Bridge. Construction is expected to take 11 to 14 years.
The city’s main convention facility, the 2.3-million-square-foot Walter E. Washington Convention Center is centrally located in Mt. Vernon Square, just a few blocks north of the National Mall. Owned and operated by the city’s convention arm, Events DC, the center offers 703,000 square feet of exhibit space in five exhibit halls, 77 meeting rooms in 198,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 52,000-square-foot ballroom. Metrorail’s Green and Yellow lines stop at the Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center station, with entrances leading directly into the convention center. Hotels within a couple of blocks include Hampton Inn DC Convention Center, Holiday Inn Express Downtown, and Homewood Suites Convention Center, all with small meeting rooms.
The neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.
Adams Morgan
A little more than a mile from The White House in D.C.’s northwest corner, culturally diverse Adams Morgan offers excellent nightlife and eclectic dining, particularly along its vibrant 18th Street corridor. The area features historic row houses, tree-lined streets, quirky boutiques, and global cuisine, and is home to several embassies.
DC Arts Center, a gallery/performance space for new and emerging artists, features two gallery venues with audiovisual features and can accommodate up to 100 people. The venue’s intimate 42-seat black box theater—also available for private events—has showcased a variety of events, from full-length plays and improv to poetry readings and independent film screenings.
Tucked inside a 110-year-old former church, the eclectic, award-winning LINE DC hotel features 220 guest rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor meeting space. The venue includes six meeting rooms ranging from 275 square feet for intimate gatherings of up to 12 people to a 5,000-square-foot space that accommodates up to 450 guests.
Aside from claiming to have some of the area’s best brats and burgers, Adams Morgan’s Roofers Union offers three event spaces for private functions, including a rooftop bar. The venue accommodates up to 105 people for seated events and 150 for receptions. Another local hot spot, the cleverly named Madam’s Organ Blues Bar, offers nightly live music, along with appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and soul food. The five-level venue boasts five bars and rooftop event space, and it can accommodate private gatherings of up to 400 people.
Michelin star recipient Tail Up Goat, lauded by The Washington Post as “the neighborhood restaurant more neighborhoods wish they had,” is Adams Morgan’s hip bistro serving creative Mediterranean fare and Caribbean-inspired drinks. The restaurant’s acclaimed four-course dinner menu includes delights like Osetra caviar, rockfish crudo, and Carolina gold rice pudding. For other top dining options in the area, dive into rice bowls and other Japanese fare at Donburi or Mama Ayesha’s for Middle Eastern delicacies.
Capitol Hill
The epicenter of the U.S. government and about five miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Capitol Hill offers meeting planners an array of options for event venues and guest accommodations.The DC Armory, built in 1941 and a popular setting for conventions, circuses, and inaugural balls, has nearly 70,000 square feet of exhibition space and is adaptable for groups of 10 to 10,000 people. Capitol View at 400, D.C.’s new rooftop venue, boasts 300-degree views from Union Station to the Washington Monument. The enclosed space accommodates 200 guests for a seated dinner or up to 300 for a cocktail reception. Combined, the enclosed and outdoor rooftop space can accommodate up to 470 guests for receptions. Capitol View also features a lower terrace ideal for receptions or dinners of up to 300 guests.
The elegant grounds and venue at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital make an excellent setting for all types of events, including small board meetings for 10 people and grand galas and conferences of up to 600 guests. The venue is focused on sustainability and is ADA-compliant, with Wi-Fi and hi-tech audiovisual capabilities.
Just steps from bustling Union Station, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum showcases the world’s most extensive collection of stamps and philatelic material. The museum is perfect for a wide range of events and accommodates banquets for up to 450 guests and receptions for up to 1,100. The venue’s spectacular 90-foot-high atrium showcases three vintage airmail planes suspended above guests. Another stunner is the museum’s Beaux-Arts-style lobby, adorned with a magnificent rosette ceiling and elegant marble floors and columns.
For additional event space and guest accommodations, the 838-room Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill offers 38,067 square feet of meeting space and 32 meeting and event rooms. The hotel boasts Capitol Hill’s largest ballroom at 11,388 square feet, accommodating 1,700 people for receptions and up to 1,200 with theater seating.
Promoted as the area’s only hotel with expansive views of the Capitol, the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill has 267 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of renovated meeting and event space, including two pillarless ballrooms and 15 meeting rooms for gatherings of 10 to 500 people. The hotel’s 3,850-square-foot ballroom fits up to 700 guests for receptions. Renovated in 2020, the 377-room YOTEL Washington DC boasts more than 18,000 square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting and event space, as well as six meeting rooms suited for events ranging from 16 seated guests to 150 people for receptions. YOTEL also has one of D.C.’s most extensive rooftop lounges and offers in-house catering through its award-winning Art and Soul restaurant.
With many nationally famous restaurants calling the area home, Capitol Hill has made a name for itself as a focal point for culinary genius. One of D.C.’s most celebrated chefs, Aaron Silverman, has made his Rose’s Luxury restaurant a hot ticket on The Hill. In 2022, another gastro superstar, Johnny Spero, opened his eponymous restaurant Bar Spero at Capitol Crossing near Penn Quarter. The establishment features Basque-style open hearth cooking and seafood, such as whole Spanish turbot for diners to share.
Capitol Riverfront
Just south of the U.S. Capitol and nestled along two miles of the Anacostia River, the Capitol Riverfront is a hot spot for fun and group activities: Home to Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, it is also brimming with natural beauty, nature, boating options, and an assortment of dining and entertainment options.
If you want to give your event a championship backdrop, consider the state-of-the-art Nationals Park baseball stadium, which offers more than 55,000 square feet in 14 indoor spaces and 250,000-plus square feet in eight outdoor areas. Components include four large club spaces, 70 luxurious suites, a conference center, and catering services. Adjacent to Nationals Park, the open-air Bullpen hosts bands, food trucks, and beer sellers, both before and after the game. Audi Field, home to Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, offers more than 25,000 square feet of event space. The 10,000-square-foot Eagle Bank Club boasts an open layout and provides a patio with views of the D.C. skyline and a full-service bar. The venue can accommodate a capacity of 680 people for receptions.
Across from Nationals Park is DC Water’s stunning new headquarters, HQO, a LEED Platinum certified building with floor-to-ceiling windows, waterfront views, and 360-degree rooftop vistas. The venue offers space for receptions and seated dinners of up to 300 and conference and meeting space for gatherings of up to 160. Event spaces include a 7,900-square-foot rooftop, a patio, lobby, atrium, and boardroom equipped with state-of-the-art audio capabilities.
Another excellent riverfront option to consider is Capital Turnaround in the Navy Yard. Once a car barn in the 19th century, the location offers an open floor plan and a concert hall equipped with impressive LED screens. It seats just under 1,000 people.
For planners who want to incorporate a bit of flavor and history for events of up to 800 people, try District Winery, D.C.’s first commercial winery. The venue features an expansive outdoor riverfront terrace with a retractable canopy and clear sidewalls for multi-season use. District Winery offers excellent teambuilding activities, such as “wine games” and an interactive “wine and cheese walkabout,” where guests move about the space, learning about the subtleties of wine and cheese pairing.
With its lush green spaces and parks, the Capitol Riverfront is the perfect place to enjoy D.C.’s great outdoors. A favorite destination for recreation and outdoor festivals—including a popular free Friday night summer concert series—the award-winning Yards Park is a premier waterfront destination that dazzles with dancing fountains, outdoor rooms, and a dramatic bridge.
Explore more water features, a restaurant, and a seasonal ice rink nearby at Canal Park, which also hosts a farmers market and free outdoor summer movie series. Other attractions along the riverfront include the high-flying Trapeze School NY/Washington, DC, where visitors can learn circus tricks. Waterfront outfitter Ballpark Boathouse offers kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals complemented by views of the river’s wildlife. Take your groups and colleagues on a Twilight Tour; at under two hours, the excursions are led by experienced guides and offer unique views of the Capitol, Washington Navy Yard, and Fort McNair.
In recent years, the Capitol Riverfront’s dining scene has blossomed along with the rest of the area. Hot spots range from Bluejacket for house-made beer to upmarket Osteria Morini, serving northern Italian specialties in rustic-modern surroundings.
Silver Diner Navy Yard is a unique
two-story destination featuring Silver Diner downstairs and Silver Social terrace lounge upstairs, located next to Nationals Park. The menu is sourced from local farms and purveyors to serve the freshest seasonal ingredients.
For guest accommodations and more meeting space options, the 152-room Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Capital Riverfront features three meeting and event spaces, including the 3,600-square-foot rooftop terrace that holds 300 guests, a 1,135-square-foot area for up to 80, and a boardroom that accommodates up to 50 guests.
Downtown
Close to everything, D.C.’s downtown is home to the city’s most famous address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The walkable neighborhood is a center for business, dining, shopping, and nightlife.
Planners looking for something different in a hotel and one that is unique to D.C. might want to check out Eaton DC, with 209 hotel rooms; a radio station; a 50-person cinema; a wellness center with yoga, meditation, and alternative treatments; a coffee shop and juice bar; a restaurant and bar; rooftop bar; a speakeasy; and 10,000 square feet of event space. The hotel can accommodate up to 300 people for a theater-style presentation and up to 400 for a reception.
The Conrad Washington DC has 32,000 square feet of function space with space to seat up to 840 people for theater-style events plus a rooftop outdoor event space that can accommodate up to 200 guests. The Madison, a Hilton Hotel, has 356 guest rooms and 15,317 square feet of event space. The 100-year-old Hamilton Hotel combines iconic history with relaxed grandeur and provides planners with 326 guest rooms and more than 18,000 square feet of event space, with multiple spaces for up to 700 guests. Located one block from The White House, the Willard InterContinental Washington has been hosting dignitaries and celebrities since 1818, offering views of Pennsylvania Avenue and a banquet capacity of up to 450 guests.
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is a multipurpose event facility with a 595-seat amphitheater and 65,000 square feet of meeting space with 15 breakout rooms. The center can host up to 820 for banquets or up to 792 for classes.
Foggy Bottom & Dupont Circle
Named for the fog that naturally lingers here, Foggy Bottom sits on the banks of the Potomac River and is best known as the home of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The adjacent neighborhood of Dupont Circle is known for bistros, bars, boutiques, and museums.
In addition to its multiple theaters that seat between 320 and 2,465 people, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces with a banquet capacity of up to 1,500 and a reception capacity of up to 2,518 people. The Terrace Restaurant at the center features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Lincoln Memorial.
The famed Watergate Hotel has 336 guest rooms and 27,000 square feet of indoor event space plus 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, as well as the rooftop Top of the Gate overlooking the Kennedy Center and Georgetown. The hotel can accommodate up to 560 people for theater-style events. DuPont Circle Hotel has
327 guest rooms and six dedicated event spaces in 10,000 total square feet of function space.
Recently renovated, the Friends Meeting of Washington Quaker Meeting House in Dupont Circle offers a retreat-like atmosphere with gardens and outdoor venues. With indoor reception or theater capacity of up to 300 guests, the facility is accessible and environmentally friendly.
Local golf club Swingers has nine bookable areas that feature two nine-hole golf courses for groups ranging up to 450 people, with an array of full bars and street food restaurants, all under one roof.
Several restaurants have opened recently in Dupont Circle. Vagabond is a coastal-themed bar and restaurant with a global menu, featuring a rooftop deck and speakeasy-style basement. Famed Chinese chef Peter Chang opened a two-in-one concept split between Szechuan takeout (Chang-out) and an upscale dining room (Chang-In). At DC Vegan, plant-based cuisine reigns with a botanical bar, fine-casual sandwiches, and a commitment to cruelty-free and sustainable practices.
Georgetown
Founded in 1751 as a port town, Georgetown is D.C.’s original neighborhood. Contrary to what many believe, it was not named for George Washington (who was just a teenager when the town was founded) but was more likely named for the two men who originally owned the land, George Bell and George Gordon. Today the neighborhood is known for shopping and dining, its cobblestone streets and busy waterfront, and the prestigious Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States.
Situated in a stunning Scandinavian-style building near Washington Harbor, House of Sweden houses both the Swedish and Icelandic embassies and includes an event center for private events. The minimalist Scandinavian environment boasts more than 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space for groups of two to 500 guests.
Nearby Tudor Place, the only property in D.C. with a connection to George and Martha Washington, offers unique and intimate settings for special occasions, including social events of up to 70 people. Guided tours of the 1816 house are available. The grounds and the 1867 Victorian-style Dower House, located on the property, also are available for events.
The 1799 Dumbarton House contains more than 1,000 historical artifacts, including Federal period furniture, paintings, textiles, silver, and ceramics, as well as priceless documents belonging to the original property owners. The house, which is undergoing renovations expected to be complete this spring, serves as the headquarters of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. The property has indoor and outdoor space for up to 200 guests.
For a more contemporary vibe, Georgetown’s Clubhouse: Coffee & Cocktails features three bars and a mezzanine that holds a capacity of 75 guests. Other features include a first floor that accommodates more than 200 people, as well as 17 wall-mounted TV monitors and tailored catering menus and bar packages.
Renovated in 2021, the 413-room Fairmont Washington, DC, Georgetown features 29,000 square feet of meeting space and 18 meeting rooms. The largest room, at 5,460 square feet, holds a maximum capacity of 700 people. Georgetown also boasts the AAA Five Diamond, 222-room Four Seasons Hotel, Washington DC. The hotel features 22,925 square feet of meeting and event space and fits up to 500 guests in its largest area, a 4,602-square-foot ballroom. Another top choice among event planners, the Washington Marriott Georgetown, features 15,078 square feet of meeting and event space, nine event rooms, and 15 breakout rooms. The hotel can hold 450 guests in its largest room, a 4,840-square-foot ballroom.
Destination DC notes that many of the best things to do in Georgetown are free: Consider a stroll past some of the neighborhood’s stunning historic 18th– and 19th-century mansions or see where J.F.K. or Julia Child used to live. For a walk on the spookier side of history, the Ghosts of Georgetown tours shed light on the ghosts and spirits that have called the area home for hundreds of years. Tour topics include local curses, startling paranormal incidents, and a visit to the infamous steps featured in The Exorcist.
Georgetown’s river waterfront offers plenty of outdoor activities and is home to many great restaurants, including Sequoia, Guapo’s, Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place, and Farmers Fishers Bakers, which offer patio seating in warm weather.
Georgetown’s Waterfront Park offers excellent kayaking, jogging, and cycling backdrops for planners who want to incorporate some outdoor exercise into an event. Take in a game of bocce or bowling at the sprawling Pinstripes, a combination Italian restaurant and bowling alley. The venue features 14 bowling lanes and six bocce courts in a roomy 32,000-square-foot space bordering the C&O Canal. Pinstripes also has a bistro, curated wine cellar, outdoor patio and fireplace, event rooms, and customizable banquet space that can accommodate groups of 20 to 600 people.
For entertainment, take in a live jazz show at Blues Alley. Tucked away in an alley carriage house, this supper-club-style music venue hosts live jazz musicians almost nightly. Some of the historic greats to have graced Blues Alley’s stage include Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett.
Once shuttered, the Georgetown Market will get a new life with restaurateur Stephen Starr’s new 312-seat eatery slated to open later this year. The market will have various dining options, including a pizza grill, granita and juice bar, mozzarella bar, salumi bar, and cocktail bar, as well as a produce and grocery area. Seating will be available throughout the space at tables, bars, and solarium lounges.
The National Mall
From the U.S. Capitol, past the Washington Monument, to the Lincoln Memorial, the Tidal Basin, and more, the National Mall has been called “America’s Front Yard.” This most visited national park is also the country’s national stage: a place where movements and celebrations take place and America’s history is played out on a daily basis.
The mall is also home to one of D.C.’s most recognized events: the National Cherry Blossom Festival. While the trees burst into bloom around the Tidal Basin every spring, the festival is more than just a celebration of the blossoms; it’s a four-week-long cultural festival with special events held citywide.
Discover American culture, art, and artifacts with an event at one of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. The National Archives Museum, home to the Declaration of Independence, has a reception capacity of up to 300 guests. The National Museum of Natural History has large and small venues to host a dinner for 20 up to a reception for 3,000. At the newly renovated Museum of American History, home to diverse exhibits including the original Star-Spangled Banner and Chef Julia Child’s kitchen, there is space to seat up to 350 for banquets and host a reception for up to 2,200 people. The National Air and Space Museum offers event space, including in the Space Race gallery, as does the National Museum of the American Indian, which can host events ranging from a private dinner for 10 to a full-building reception rental for 3,000 guests. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has main-level space to accommodate up to 2,500 reception guests or seat up to 400 for dinners, and a variety of other venues, including a 350-seat theater and atriums.
For a moving and poignant outing, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Group reservations can be made on the museum’s website.
The American Pharmacists Association, one of the only private venues on the National Mall, has a rooftop event space called Potomac View Terrace that provides views of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.
Larger hotels at the National Mall include Hilton DC, with 23,000 square feet of function space with two ballrooms, a 2,109-square-foot solarium, and a resort-style pool deck reception space. Hyatt Place DC is a new
hotel with 214 guest rooms and meeting space to host up to 100 event attendees in theater-style seating.
NoMa
Minutes from Capitol Hill, NoMa—named for its location north of Massachusetts Avenue—is an emerging neighborhood and one of the District’s fastest-growing areas.
Historic Gallaudet University, chartered in 1864 as a private university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, is located here and features the IACC-approved Kellogg Conference Center Hotel, with 122 guest rooms and 17,000 square feet of conference space. The center can accommodate up to 300 for dinners and offers complimentary shuttle service to the nearest Metro station.
NoMa has several fun, unique offsite venues. Union Market is an artisanal marketplace with more than 30 food producers. Dock 5 at Union Market offers more than 12,000 square feet of warehouse space that can seat 400 or fit 700 standing. Hi-Lawn, Union Market’s urban green-turf rooftop space, can be arranged with picnic tables, colorful umbrellas, and a shipping container bar to accommodate up to 1,000 standing guests. James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Keith McNally and Stephen Starr plan to bring the French bistro Pastis to the
area soon.
Lost Generation Brewing Company has 2,500 square feet of event space in a historic brick factory site, and Wunder Garten offers casual indoor and outdoor spaces with tented pavilions and cabanas to accommodate up to 900 guests indoors.
James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Keith McNally and Stephen Starr plan to bring the French bistro Pastis to the area soon.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown
A short distance from the convention center, the Penn Quarter and Chinatown area offers a diverse array of things to do and see. The vibrant, diverse neighborhood is a mecca for D.C. sports, entertainment, dining, nightlife, shopping, and world-renowned museums. Don’t be surprised when encountering a 60-foot-high Chinese archway and bright neon lights after stepping off the Metro here. Any time of day or night, visitors to Penn Quarter and Chinatown should expect plenty of foot traffic, elaborately dressed storefronts, and energy-filled restaurants.
Attractions and venues nearby include the majestic Smithsonian American Art Museum, which boasts one of the world’s largest and most inclusive collections of American art. The renovated National Historic Landmark building also contains the National Portrait Gallery and the enclosed Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. Numerous one-of-a-kind spaces are available for private events.
Having undergone a $10 million restoration, the elegant 1924 Warner Theatre hosts numerous Broadway productions, comedy, dance, film, and music concerts. For special events, the landmark accommodates events from 20 to 2,000 guests. The newly renovated industrial-style Woolly Mammoth Theatre, renowned as an innovator and birthplace of cutting-edge plays, is also available for events of up to 450 people with classroom or theater-style seating arranged for meetings for up to 265. Meanwhile, Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre Company features conference rooms, elegant lobbies, and patron lounges suited for business meetings and celebrations for between 18
and 774 people.
Nearby, the United States Navy Memorial pays homage to veterans with a commemorative public plaza, the Lone Sailor statue, and the Naval Heritage Center. Components include a 240-person state-of-the-art theater often booked for Hollywood movie screenings and a 3,500-square-foot interactive exhibit space.
At one of D.C’s newest museums, the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, visitors can peruse the artifacts of some of America’s Most Wanted, as well as the law enforcers who captured them.See Al Capone’s actual bulletproof vest and the credentials that belonged to Elliott Ness, the FBI agent who brought him down. All underground, the 52,000-square-foot museum has a sleek open floor plan and contains more than 100 primarily interactive touch screens. The museum can accommodate banquets, business meetings, and receptions for up to 500 people.
Other unique options for meetings in Penn Quarter and Chinatown include the Puttery, an indoor putt-putt golf venue. The location offers three unique settings, with special culinary and craft cocktail offerings, for groups between 10 and 500. Penn Social has a stage with audiovisual components and 13,000 square feet of adaptable event space for 500. For more perks, the venue offers a curated craft beer menu. For those who want to make their own music, do it at Chinatown’s Wok and Roll Karaoke; the restaurant has private event space for up to 40 guests.
Guest accommodations and event space are also plentiful in this part of D.C. Accessible to the convention center via an underground concourse, the 1,175-room Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, features more than 105,000 square feet of meeting space, including 54 breakout rooms and a grand lobby with an atrium skylight. Other assets include five retail and onsite dining options. The hotel is one of the largest in the nation to earn LEED Silver certification.
A short walk away, the 897-room Grand Hyatt Washington boasts 43,884 square feet of meeting space, 39 meeting rooms, and a 17,172-square-foot area that accommodates up to 2,050 for receptions. For smaller gatherings, Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC has 5,500-plus square feet of event space and offers farm-to-table catering from the hotel’s onsite restaurant.
The Hotel Washington features more than 11,600 square feet of event space in five meeting rooms, integrated audiovisual systems, and professional catering. The hotel’s 6,205-square-foot ballroom can accommodate up to 600 guests for receptions. The hotel’s new 2,907-square-foot Vue Rooftop bar offers outstanding views for up to 200 reception guests.
Southwest & The Wharf
A short distance from the International Spy Museum, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and other attractions, Southwest and the newly developed mixed-use waterfront destination, The Wharf, offer a variety of exciting venues.
The 15,000-square-foot ARTECHOUSE is a one-of-a-kind creative digital art space where cutting-edge artistic innovators showcase experiential and immersive large-scale installations. Participants of all ages use the latest technology to immerse themselves in digital art by exploring multisensory installations and unique creative experiences. The venue can fit 400 for receptions, 230 for banquets, and 175 for banquet seating.
Another of Washington’s new museums, the 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible, lets visitors explore the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible. Whether hosting an event for four or 400, the museum offers a unique setting with a fantastic view, hi-tech audiovisual capabilities, and gourmet dining.
The Dockmaster Building, located at the end of the 450-foot District Pier, consists of a stunning two-story glass building that boasts 2,000 square feet of event space for up to 140 standing guests and 100 seated. A first-floor conference room offers direct access to a waterfront overlook, while a second-floor event area features a wrap-around balcony, canopy overhang, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Live music venue, diner, and bar, Pearl Street Warehouse, offers various outstanding food, drinks, and entertainment packages for groups of up to 250 people for receptions and 150 for seated events. The venue features two large bars and a music hall where the mezzanine level is only 25 feet from the stage, offering a real front-row experience for partygoers.
Concert venue Anthem holds up to 6,000 people and features everything from mega shows to intimate performances. A new music venue, Union Stage, is the latest place to go to see emerging musical artists as well as old favorites. With good eats and a superior sound system, it has everything groups need. Officina serves up delicious Italian meals and live music. The eatery’s board room seats up to 14 and has space for banquets and receptions of up to 75 guests. The venue also offers a total buyout suitable for up to 500 guests. Another event option here, Transit Pier, offers 7,000 square feet of outdoor space for receptions of up to 700 guests.
City Cruises lets planners take their meetings to the Potomac River. Group packages are available on four river yachts with various levels of food and entertainment. Perks include three-course meals, buffets, live music, DJs, and outstanding views of the city. The experience is perfect for groups of between 80 and 145 guests. For even more unique group experiences, The Wharf Ice Rink, D.C.’s only over-water ice skating rink, is located on the Transit Pier and is open from November through February. The rink is available for rent for corporate events, parties, or social events for up to 120 people.
InterContinental Washington DC–The Wharf features more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, including 11 natural light-filled meeting rooms and stunning waterfront views. The area offers the new Pendry Washington DC–The Wharf, which opened in 2022, as well as additional guest accommodations and meeting spaces, including the 237-room Hyatt House Washington DC/The Wharf and the 175-room Canopy by Hilton where guests get free access to bikes to tour the waterfront.
Another new addition to guest accommodationsand meeting space in D.C.’s Southwest and The Wharf neighborhood is the 373-room Salamander Washington DC. With commanding waterfront views of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument, the hotel can accommodate up to 625 for receptions and up to 400 for a banquet in its ballroom.
Southwest and The Wharf offers a variety of fine dining, casual cafés, and gourmet on-the-go options. At the Municipal Fish Market, said to be America’s oldest continually operating fish market, visit the barges that carry pre-steamed and shucked edibles. For more ready-to-eat items, enjoy blue crabs at Jessie Taylor Seafood.
For more upscale dining, check out La Vie restaurant, lounge, and event space. Featuring a Mediterranean-influenced menu, La Vie boasts 10,000 square feet of event space, including a Conservatory Room that accommodates up to 150 standing. The open-air riverside Terrace Bar, meanwhile, holds up to 100 people. A full restaurant buyout gives you space for seated events of up to 300 guests and receptions for a capacity of 720.
Van Ness
The vibrant Van Ness neighborhood is home to numerous educational institutions, including Howard University School of Law and the University of the District of Columbia, as well as almost two dozen foreign embassies. The corridor also includes two neighborhood retail centers and a regional institutional cluster.
Nearby at former General Foods Corporation owner Marjorie Merriweather Post’s lavish Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, visitors get an up-close look at an exquisite collection of Russian Imperial treasures, including a gold chalice commissioned in 1791 by Catherine the Great, and 18th-century French decorations. Nestled on 25 acres overlooking Rock Creek Park, the estate and garden can host indoor meetings of up to 100 people seated theater-style.
Rock Creek Park in Van Ness is a rustic expanse of 1,754 acres that includes the Art Barn gallery, nature center, planetarium, riding stables, a golf course, and a network of trails. The historic circa 1829 Peirce Mill is a great place to learn about early industrial D.C. One of the first federally managed parks, Rock Creek Park was established in 1890.
