Riggs Washington DC
Riggs Washington DC offers a luxurious and stylish escape in the heart of Penn Quarter. Formerly Riggs National Bank, the property boasts an opulent Romanesque Revival exterior that’s a contrast to the sleekly contemporary interior design, which feels more distinctly European cool than many of its D.C. hotel counterparts — this comes as no surprise as its management company Lore Group is the same team behind the modern Pulitzer Amsterdam and the quirky Sea Containers London.
Dubbed the “Bank of Presidents,” Riggs has plenty of experience with D.C.’s power players, as 23 former presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, have called it their bank of choice. Today, the space has been re-imagined into 181 stylish guest rooms, each designed to mimic individual safety deposit boxes, all with specially made furnishings and custom fragranced amenities from D.S. & Durga, plus luxe touches like Carrara marble bathrooms and bespoke wallpapers.
If the rooms and history weren’t enough, the glam Café Riggs, serving elevated European fare, and the buzzy Silver Lyan, the first bar outside of Europe from drinks trailblazer Mr Lyan, also are big draws for locals and guests alike.
- The D.C. hotel's striking design seamlessly blends art deco glamour with modern luxury touches.
- Café Riggs, which boasts soaring 22-foot ceilings and art deco décor, feels as pleasant for a power breakfast as it does for a date-night dinner.
- The Silver Lyan bar, tucked away in the hotel’s former vault, is the first D.C. venture for bartending legend Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan. The talent behind bars like Lyaness in London and Super Lyan in Amsterdam is known for his inventive plays on craft cocktails.
- Signature suites are named after first ladies and decorated to match their passions, like the Louisa Adams suite, complete with baby grand piano; the Ida McKinley suite, filled with florals; or the Caroline Harrison, which offers a nod to her love of porcelain. Our favorite is the Angelica Van Buren suite, named for Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-law, who took on first lady duties when the widower was elected. The 21-year-old was the youngest woman to ever act as White House hostess, and the suite’s femme but maximalist design pays tribute to its namesake’s extravagant tendencies
- The hotel puts you in a great location. The Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art are mere steps away. Stroll a few blocks over to the White House or the historic Ford's Theatre, where President Lincoln was assassinated. Plus, much of the city’s most in-demand dining, like the acclaimed Minibar by José Andrés and Rasika, one of the country’s best Indian restaurants, are around the corner from Riggs.
- The spacious and well-appointed guest rooms were designed by Lore Group creative director Jacu Strauss, who gutted the former Courtyard by Marriott and decked out the accommodations in swirling wallpaper and fanciful almost floral headboards, and refitted the bathrooms with custom Carrara marble.
- The luxury hotel’s presidential suite, called the Riggs Suite, resides in the bank’s former boardroom. It features a spacious dining room, ornately curved ceiling and herringbone wood floors, plus cozy working spaces.
- Classic Rooms measure under 300 square feet and are modern and well-appointed with oak wood floors and blackout curtains, making it easy to get a good night’s rest. For more space, go with the Deluxe category and above.
- Continuing with the bank theme, rooms have minibars fashioned like safes with a medallion featuring Juno Moneta, the Roman goddess of money.
