Just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, this area is home to the LEED Platinum-certified, 2.3 million-square-foot Walter E. Washington Convention Center, offering 703,000 square feet of exhibition space on two levels, 198,000 square feet of meeting space in 77 meeting rooms, and a 52,000-square-foot ballroom seating 4,600 guests theater style. The center features a public art collection of more than 130 pieces by nearly 100 artists, a digital signage network with more than 200 displays and 12 LED video walls, and the new Downtown Dining District, with more than 17,000 square feet of dining options and a 400-person seating capacity. Connected to the convention center by underground concourse, Marriott Marquis Washington, DC has 1,175 guest rooms and 100,474 square feet of function space across 80 event rooms, with an event capacity of 3,500 guests. The hotel is one of the largest hotels in the country to earn Silver LEED certification. Both the convention center and hotel are members of the Destination DC Sustainability District.
Part of Penn Quarter, the 10-acre CityCenterDC (CityCenter) is a mixed-use neighborhood with condominiums and apartments, office buildings, a public park, boutique shopping, and fine dining. Several CityCenter restaurants, including Centrolina, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Fig & Olive, and Estuary, have private dining spaces for events. Grand Hyatt Washington, a Destination DC Sustainability District member, offers 902 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, lobby access to the Metro, and 12 event rooms, including a ballroom with a capacity of 2,050 guests.
These neighborhoods are home to historic and new attractions, including Ford’s Theatre, a working theater restored to reflect its appearance the night President Lincoln was assassinated, and the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena, a multipurpose sports and entertainment venue. Home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals, the arena also hosts dozens of entertainment events throughout the year and is available for private events. The arena can host 2,500 for receptions and seat 1,000 for banquets.
Other theatre spaces in Penn Quarter include the 774-seat Shakespeare Theatre Company, which can host 500 guests for receptions, and the 1,950-seat Warner Theatre, a restored 1920s-era building with space to host 800 for receptions and 500 for banquets. Both theaters offer a full schedule of music and stage productions.
The Visitor’s Center at the U.S. Navy Memorial completed renovations in spring 2024, adding new exhibits and interactive displays to tell the story of the men and women of the Sea Services. Venues at the memorial include a 230-seat theater, a commemorative plaza, the Gallery Deck, which can host 300 for receptions, and the National Chief’s Mess, which can accommodate 50 people.
Recently renovated to incorporate a historic five-story apartment building, the 445-room Arlo Hotel has a new 12-story addition with a fitness center, restaurant and bar, rooftop pool and lounge, five meeting rooms to host a 100-person reception, and additional outdoor event space.
The Westin DC Downtowna Destination DC Sustainability District member, offers 807 guest rooms, 77,872 square feet of function space, including a 19,000-square-foot ballroom and 25 breakout rooms, and the largest hotel fitness studio in D.C.
Other hotels with event space include Riggs Washington DC, with 181 guest rooms and various function areas, including rooftop event space to accommodate 200 reception guests. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC features 184 guest rooms and more than 5,500 square feet of function space, including a ballroom and an outdoor courtyard, each with a reception capacity of 300 guests.
Offsite event spaces in Penn Quarter and Chinatown include National Union Building, with 27,000 square feet of event space over seven floors and space to host 750 guests; National Law Enforcement Museum, which features a 100-seat theater, boardroom, and gallery space to host 450 guests; and Puttery DC, an indoor mini-golf venue with three themed courses, two bars, and customizable space for teambuilding or social events of up to 500 guests.
D.C.’s Chinatown is easily identified by the 60-foot-high Friendship Arch, one of the largest ceremonial arches outside of China. Installed in 1985 and restored in 2002, the arch features traditional colorful tiles and 284 painted and sculptured dragons. Once home to thousands of Chinese immigrants, Chinatown is one of the city’s most varied neighborhoods, with culturally diverse restaurants and shops.
