Arrive at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. near the newly established Southwest Waterfront and you know you have arrived at someplace special. The Grand facade and unique porte-cochere beckon. Walk through its doors and be swept away by a sea of marble, limestone and glass. The lobby was inspired by the work of John Russell Pope, designer of the Jefferson Memorial, and boasts the familiar domed ceiling and column placement of the neighboring Memorial. The columns are American walnut capped by American white oak; and the patterned Emperador and Amarillo yellow marble floor beneath a rotunda of gold and silver leaf is as striking as it is serene.

Just beyond the circular lobby is the Empress Lounge, a sunken enclave with inviting overstuffed lounge chairs resplendent with rich, warm tones. A wall of glass looks over the tranquil Zen garden. All is under the watchful eye of the Empress Dowager who is depicted in a gigantic oil painting which looms over the lounge. Dressed in traditional Chinese kimono and swinging playfully over the District of Columbia, the work was commissioned by the hotel and is a reproduction of an original work depicting the Empress swinging above the forbidden city of Shanghai. The lounge also features an expansive flagstone patio for el fresco seating.

Guestrooms and suites delight visitors with décor that fuses Asian simplicity with traditional touches, all set against the hotel’s signature water and city views. The golden palate and sumptuous fabrics seem to embrace you, while the drop dead views are lightly diffused through crepe silk window dressings fashioned into Roman Shades. Several layouts are made possible by the unique shape of the hotel, with deluxe guestrooms measuring between 400 to 700 square feet.

The three-bedroom Presidential Suite comes in at 3,500 square feet, and was named one of ‘World’s Greatest Suites,’ by Elite Traveler. Panoramic views from oversized windows stretch from Georgetown to Old Town offering vistas of The National Cathedral, Lincoln Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, Washington Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial with its tranquil Tidal Basin and famed cherry trees. Step onto one of two Juliet balconies and feel as if you can hold the storied monuments in the palm of your hand.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. is a destination unto itself; a true urban oasis perched on the edge of the most powerful city in the world.