The $50 (£35) million Lorien Hotel & Spa opened its doors in the heart of Old Town Alexandria this month.

The 107 spacious guestrooms and suites, designed by Vincente Wolfe, have a warm and residential atmosphere. Custom-made furnishings, such as wingchairs and trellis-style headboards, are reinterpreted with a contemporary flair. Numerous suites and specialty Spa Rooms also include spacious bathrooms with claw foot tubs and rainfall showers.All rooms offer a wide range of amenities including 42” flat panel televisions, a spacious work area, wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, an iHome clock radio, laptop safe, plush robes, and a gourmet honour bar featuring organic and healthy options. Guests can also enjoy signature Kimpton services including in-room yoga, Pilates and meditation TV programming, 24-hour room service, Forgot It? The Lorien has got it! Travel items, and overnight shoe shine and valet/laundry service.

The hotel’s Terrace Suites offer expansive terraces, some as large as 700 square feet, complete with cosy couches and seating ideal for hosting intimate gatherings for up to 30 people, or for night-time stargazing. To enhance the experience, the hotel offers a “Terrace Menu” with choices that range from private wine tasting and alfresco dining to dance lessons, as well as more playful amenities such as sleeping bags, luxurious blankets, telescopes, and more.

The Lorien Hotel & Spa will be the first hotel in Old Town Alexandria with a full-service spa. The 4,000 square foot spa and fitness centre includes five treatment rooms, private locker rooms, two steam rooms and an indulgent dream-inspired treatment menu utilising organic and paraben-free products from Kerstin Florian that are restorative to the body and in harmony with the environment. The spa’s 24-hour fitness centre offers a full range of exercise equipment, free weights, and personal training and private yoga classes are available by appointment.

Lorien Hotel & Spa is also a gourmand’s dream with not one, but three dining venues overseen by celebrated chef Robert Wiedmaier. The foodie trifecta includes a 105-seat restaurant, a 43-seat tasting room, and a wine and cheese retail shop. At the restaurant, Chef Wiedmaier will serve Belgian cuisine with American inspiration and offer a collection of unusual wines and an extensive list of Belgian beers to pair with any meal. The tasting room will provide a more casual, European-style dining experience, where guests can enjoy light fare from the chef’s wood-fired oven and sample wine and other spirits. At Chef Wiedmaier’s retail shop, which will be Old Town’s first gourmet food shop, guests and locals alike can shop for wine, gourmet beer, and various treats ranging from cheese to olives and charcuterie.

“We are in the unique position to offer the comfort and intimacy of a boutique hotel, with the amenities of a resort, to deliver a four and a half star-calibre hotel experience. This is a highly anticipated opening for Kimpton and Old Town alike.” Commented the hotel’s General Manager, Don Anderson.

At Kimpton hotels, every hotel tells a story, and the Lorien Hotel & Spa will celebrate the story of dreams with personalised amenities such as a 24-hour “dream” button on all guestroom phones, with a direct line to a concierge. An extensive “Dream Service Menu” will make available amenities including comfort foods, soothing bath, aromatherapy and pillow options, that can be delivered to the room to help set the stage for a good night’s sleep and sweet dreams.

The Lorien Hotel & Spa will also feature more than 3500 square feet of meeting and event space, including three meeting rooms, a hospitality suite, and functional outdoor venues. Customised meeting breaks, including private wine tasting and chef dinners, can be arranged through the hotel’s team of highly trained professional meeting planners.

Lorien Hotel & Spa is ideally located within steps of the metro, located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria and offers easy access to the surrounding Washington, D.C. area. The hotel is just four miles from Ronald Reagan international Airport, and four blocks from the Amtrak station. For guests who prefer a different mode of transportation, complimentary bicycles are available. Chef Wiedmaier picnic baskets, filled with all the makings for a gourmet lunch, can be prepared upon request.
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