First impressions are everything and upon pulling the A5 through the porte cochère to the awaiting valet attendants, The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, did not disappoint in any aspect—whatsoever.
Impressionable situations didn't stop there. We were greeted by both the concierge and front desks as we made our way through the sparkling, freshly renovated lobby—adorned with crystal chandeliers and stunning modern artwork.
Briefly waiting for the elevator, it was hard not to gaze up at the seemingly endless crystal pendants above. After all, my love for chandeliers is bordering obsession.
As a Ritz-Carlton Rewards Platinum Elite member, benefits include access to the privileged club floor and without hesitation, we headed to the 18th floor—The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City's Club Level and location of our premium king guest room.
We had made it to the exclusive Club Lounge just in time for some delectable munchies and were eager to top them off with a refreshing glass of Sauvignon Blanc (or two). Ok, three... but I made sure they were small pours! After all, being indulgent and well taken care of is the epitome of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group's history of hospitality. You'd just hate to be offensive, right?
The absolutely delicious hors d'oeuvres, consisting of an ahi tuna slider, watermelon and feta salad, plus a golden beet salad, did not disappoint and helped us overcome the 95° heat that day. Thank you.
You can enjoy the wall-to-wall windowed Club Lounge in one of many oversized armchairs or loveseats whether morning, noon or night—complete with monumental views of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and beyond. Needing to simply unwind and refresh, we headed down the hall to our room for some rest and relaxation.
Low and behold, surprises were awaiting in the room! Homemade peanut brittle and a delectable cheesy biscuit enforced that afternoon's much needed pick me up. And with the expected astounding attention to detail, a dog toy was included for Porter! Unfortunately, our 4-month old goldendoodle wasn't able to make this trip, but he sure is in love with it now. Woof.
The bright and airy 400-square foot premium king guest room offered sweeping views of Washington, D.C., most notably the United States Air Force Memorial, with its soaring stainless steel spires.
The luxurious Italian marble bathroom off the foyer, outfitted with Asprey skin care products and plush linens.
The gratuitous gestures continued. Shortly after settling in, a knock on the door greeted us with an absolutely beautiful arrangement of flowers. Don't you love these colors?
Before no time, dinner had caught up with us and we headed down to fyve, The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City's signature dining experience.
Greeted by the affable Maître D', we chose to dine in the main dining room, a short stroll past the lounge—which was quite lively with an acoustic singer as the entertainment that evening.
Thoroughly enjoying the dimly lit, cosmopolitan ambiance, we naturally began the evening with two tall breaths of fresh air aka Veuve Clicquot.
Starting off with the Sweet Pea Ravioli, it was a divine dish which featured seared sea scallops, double smoked bacon, glazed peas and crispy shallots in a brown butter cream sauce.
Absolutely delicious—you'll want to make sure you order the larger portion as it's just that good. I'm still fantasizing about the sweet pea filled ravioli resting atop the succulent brown butter cream sauce.
Next, the Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon, was an easy choice. The salmon, atop a delicious pea purée, complete with marbled potatoes, and more glazed peas, was topped with pea shoots and drizzled with turmeric oil. Simply a great choice this was, I might add.
For dessert, we without hesitation chose Panna Cotta. But, this wasn't your ordinary everyday dish, as it was chamomile, unforgettably blended with honey lemon gel, honey brick tuile and topped with a handmade pistachio streusel.
Dinner was delightful and with both a new head chef and pastry chef at the helm, we were lucky to experience the globally inspired cuisine and their commitment to purveying seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers.
**For fyve restaurant guests that are not staying overnight, valet parking is offered at a discounted rate of $8USD.
It was great having access to all the goodies and endless flowing wine in the Club Lounge; complete with the comforts of home and with easy access to shopping at The Fashion Centre and Pentagon Row.
Waking up well-rested the following morning, we grabbed a couple of essentials next door in the Club Lounge before ultimately deciding what to order for breakfast room service. Being the coffee drinker and a huge fan of Nespresso, I was quite pleased knowing I could indulge as soon as I woke up—with my very own Nespresso machine.
After a quick peruse, we knew exactly what we wanted for room service and without hesitation ordered The Virginian—a local twist on Eggs Benedict, in addition to the Farmers Market Breakfast.
Everything was scrumptious, as we knew it would be. Creamy hollandaise, thick cut pork belly, fresh asparagus and my new all-time Ritz-Carlton favorite: these amazing hash browns!
If this isn't enough to lure you away for a wee staycation, keep in mind you have a state-of-the art fitness center, indoor pool, world class shopping at your doorstep and incredibly convenient access to all those famous Washington, D.C. attractions—all a mere 10-15 minute Uber ride from The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
We'll be back and next time I know exactly what I'm getting for room service; my favorite breakfast dish when I lived in Beverly Hills—Huevos Rancheros! Now I'm kicking myself for not getting this then.