Salamander Washington DC

Location was great, rooms were nice, place was run by morons and the valets messed up my car.

I chose the Salamander DC specifically for its proximity to the Tidal Basin and its status as an Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) property to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary. I was seeking a true 5-star experience, but my stay was far below those standards and deeply unprofessional. At check-in, I was told my room had been upgraded as an FHR benefit, but I was given a room on the 3rd floor directly facing a noisy construction site. Despite the staff mentioning the hotel wasn’t busy for a Monday, I was assigned one of the least desirable rooms, making the "upgrade" feel like a gesture in name only. The lack of hospitality continued at the lounge—the only dining option open—where the service was unacceptable. The servers were cold, silent, and provided sloppy service. Most shocking was seeing guests being seated at neighboring tables that were visibly dirty and un-wiped; such a lack of basic hygiene is inexcusable for a luxury property. I was also looking forward to a high-quality breakfast, but was surprised by an unannounced buffet that was mentioned nowhere on the website or at check-in. The food quality was comparable to a budget hotel, yet I was still charged a service fee despite there being virtually no actual service provided. The final disappointment came at check-out. The receptionists were too occupied chatting with each other to even acknowledge me properly. They processed my key with only a robotic "you are all set, have a nice day"—without a "thank you," any eye contact, or even a simple inquiry about how my stay was. Salamander DC failed to meet even the most basic requirements of a 5-star hotel. It was a thoroughly unpleasant way to spend a special milestone, and I strongly suggest looking elsewhere if you are seeking genuine luxury and care.

The doorman and bellmen were great.

The restaurant service was not good at all, the wait time was so long. The waitress would avoid looking our way. The hostess and waiter got into a fight in front of us because he didn’t want her to sit us at that particular table. The service was slow in both restaurants. Upon arrival the first guy checked us in and we waited almost an hour because he said they would call us when the room was ready. No one called because he never checked us in. The second guy finally checked us in only for my room to be dirty crumbs all over the rug. We went back downstairs and they moved us to another room on the 9th floor but we lost the view we had on the 6th floor. Service was not good, food was ok.

Overall the building itself is nice but I feel the hotel is poorly coordinated, and you can notice the inconveniences build up. For example we left for many hours for them to clean our room and we specifically left the label for a cleaning, however for the entire duration of our trip not once did we receive clean dry towels, water, etc. Also if you plan on getting valet parking I would advise against it for they charged us 90 dollars a night, which I find to be an outrageously high price. When you leave the hotel there is construction in every direction with a constant sound of metal hitting metal. Overall I would come to the Salamander for a quick brief stay.

The room was clean, though it faced a grey wall of a building so not the most uplifting. The lobby smelled either of fragrance or the really musty smell they were trying to cover it up with. The pool was small but nice but full of kids. The vibe of the restaurant wasn't my thing. Parking was hard for my friend visiting. The location was pretty nice but I did need to drive to most things.

While the rooms were reasonably clean, the overall experience did not align with 5-star expectations. The check-in process was excessively slow. There were lack of communications between management and front-line staff. Furthermore, the property is showing its age and would benefit from a renovation to meet modern luxury standards. Given the caliber of this hotel, I expected a much higher level of service.

Our stay at the Salamander Washington DC was truly exceptional. We were visiting Washington, DC during cherry blossom season and chose this property specifically for its proximity to the Tidal Basin—a decision that made all the difference. The location allowed us to visit the blossoms multiple times throughout the day, capturing them in different lighting conditions, which was a highlight of our trip. The views from the room complemented the experience beautifully. The staff were consistently warm, attentive, and knowledgeable. Their recommendations for nearby attractions and dining options were thoughtful and genuinely enhanced our stay. A special mention to the spa experience—I opted for a grooming session, and the beard shaping was done with great precision and care. Definitely worth trying. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and offered excellent views, contributing to a quiet, restful atmosphere throughout our stay. Overall, it was a relaxing and memorable getaway, and I would highly recommend this hotel—especially during cherry blossom season.

My wife and I had a terrible experience here. Our noon check-in was not available. I waited in long lines at the front desk twice to be told our room was not available. We went to the lounge and waited over 20 minutes to even get a glass of water. The online breakfast menu was not available, only a very mediocre breakfast buffet. The breakfast buffet cost $35 (plus 20% service charge - even though we served ourselves). The overnight parking charge was a ridiculous $86.50... and the valet gave us the wrong car when we checked out. To top it off, when we checked out we were overcharged by over $325 for a one night stay. We stayed at this property previously when it was managed by Mandarin Oriental. The service and quality have markedly declined with the new Salamander management. I definitely will not stay here on my next visit to DC.

This was my first time at The Salamander and I was thrilled how warmly I was greeted and treated by the entire team. I want to recognize Gonzalo Cabrera Patino as going above and beyond making my stay extra special. I'm excited to come back ASAP! Thank you. Warmest regards, Joe Rizzo

The staff are kind but the hotel seems short staffed. Very long wait times at the front desk and for breakfast. The phones aren’t answered at times for request and for the price point, the expirence is very underwhelming. I would love for the hotel to hire a customer experience expert to help them improve in this area. The D.C property cannot operate the exact same as the Virginia property due to the obstructive views from construction and the city location of the property. The guest and customer service experience is seriously lacking. Hand-written Welcome notes for celebratory or retuning guest, guest greetings, improved wait times, ect. The lobby doors don’t automatically open and often times, the bellmen aren’t there to open them when exiting. The hotel is clean and the rooms are nice but the guest experience doesn’t feel “luxury”. Very Subpar for a frequent hotelier of luxury and premium brands. My spa appointment felt rushed due to me being one of the last appointments and when I was finished, I asked for water and they had already put away all of the spa refreshments. The massage therapist asked if I wanted champagne instead and I accepted, just for the champagne to be given to me in a paper coffee cup. Totally unacceptable for a massage over $300. The property is also located next to freight train tracks and I heard the rumblings of three trains during my massage which made it uncomfortable. I really wanted to love this place but I am disappointed in the service quality.