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The Watergate Hotel
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Luigi Moretti's curved Watergate complex rose beside the Potomac between 1963 and 1971 as Washington's first mixed-use "city within a city," backed by Rome's Società Generale Immobiliare with Vatican-linked capital. The hotel is the hospitality wing of that Foggy Bottom landmark; the 1972 break-in at the complex's office building coined every political "-gate" that followed. Guest dining now runs through Kingbird, The Next Whisky Bar, and the rooftop gate views.
- 336 rooms
- Opened 1967
- Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
About The Watergate Hotel
- Chief architect Luigi Moretti of the University of Rome designed the curved complex with associate Milton Fischer; computers aided the unusual geometry.
- Developed by Watergate Improvements, a division of Rome-based SGI whose investors included the Vatican, on former Washington Gas Light and C&O Canal land.
- Intended as a city within a city with hotel room service for apartments, a shopping mall, health club, and 24-hour receptionist across six buildings.
- The 1972 burglary that toppled Richard Nixon targeted the Democratic National Committee offices in the complex's office building.
- Named for the old canal watergate locks visible from the site; the "-gate" suffix entered global political slang from this address.
Restaurants and bars
- Kingbird — Café · Modern American with globally-inspired, local ingredients
- The Next Whisky Bar — Bar
- Top of the Gate Rooftop — Bar · Light bites and cocktails
- The Terrace — Restaurant · Drinks and tapas
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Rooftop bar
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
Open The Watergate Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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