(WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 18, 2024) – The revitalized Salamander Washington DC hotel has opened its new and stunning Salamander Spa.   

Salamander Collection, already celebrated for its Forbes Five-Star spa rating in Middleburg, VA, brings the beautiful new dual-level wellness sanctuary to the District. Offering 14 treatment rooms, advanced skincare and beauty therapies, and exclusive, first-in-DC treatments, this spectacular spa sets a new standard for relaxation and rejuvenation. Reservations are now open to the public via www.salamanderdc.com.

The Salamander Spa launch concludes a spectacular enhancement program throughout the 373-room southwest waterfront property. Since bringing its style of welcoming and inclusive hospitality to the D.C., Salamander has been redefining its experience through thoughtful updates that blend modern sophistication with residential warmth. Guests can now enjoy a stunning new Living Room upon arrival, a redesigned Lobby Lounge with a secluded and landscaped courtyard, reimagined suites designed by the renowned Thomas Pheasant, and Dōgon – an innovative dining destination led by renowned Chef Kwame Onwuachi, and already recognized as one of the hottest restaurants in the country.

“The Salamander Spa’s opening highlights the hotel’s transformation into a refined urban setting for our guests,” said Sheila Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Collection. “We are not only delivering the warmth and signature hospitality that define our brand, but we are also introducing exciting new wellness and beauty treatments to our nation’s capital.”

Introducing Salamander Spa: A New Standard of Wellness in Washington, DC

Designed by Arch Amenities and MONOGRAM at BBGM, the Salamander Spa features a beautiful new entry located off the hotel’s newly designed Living Room. Guests are greeted by a tranquil reception area adorned with soothing textures, natural accents, and calming water features. After check-in, they are guided to a unique Relaxation Tea Lounge with Potomac River views, offering a curated selection of functional mushroom teas, juices and complementary healthy snacks.

The upper level of the spa, which is completely new, is dedicated to beauty with four esthetic rooms for advanced, non-invasive cosmeceutical facials, including the Geneo Glo Facial and the DMV’s first MediSpa by Medcreation. Exclusive treatments also include the Gharieni Wave treatment, a pioneering sound therapy designed to promote mindfulness, meditation, and deep relaxation through precise acoustic waves and binaural sounds.

The spa also features a nail studio with two manicure stations for natural nail services, and a multi-use treatment room featuring the ultra-luxury Amalfi table from LEMI offers facials, pedicures, and foot treatments in a holistic, seamless experience. And, opening in December, the spa will open a Men’s Grooming Lounge in partnership with Groom Guy, which has crafted an elevated experience that honors the legacy of Alonzo Herndon, a pioneering Black barber.

Descending to the lower level via a sweeping Grand Staircase, guests enter a holistic sanctuary featuring Salamander’s signature rituals. Six private spa rooms provide massages, body treatments, and holistic facials, along with two couples’ suites for a shared experience. The men’s and women’s locker rooms feature heat and water experiences, including steam and sauna facilities, and tranquil lounges. The spa also features a state-of-the-art fitness center, a private Movement Studio offering specialized and self-guided classes, and an indoor pool with sweeping river views.

Salamander Spa features premium skincare lines exclusive to the DMV area, including CODAGE, Ignae, Omorovicza, LINNÉ, and ENHANSE Men Skincare, as well as high-quality, clean products from Zents, BABOR, Knesko, and Dazzle Dry.

Some of the new Salamander Spa Signature treatments include:

• Cherry Blossom Body Ritual – drawing from the beautiful Cherry Blossom trees in the hotel’s courtyard, this treatment features a delicate exfoliation, a gentle massage with aromatic shea butter and reflexology-inspired foot massage.
• Ultimate Zen – this 120-minute treatment features a sugar and salt scrub that gently polishes the skin, followed by a body massage designed to alleviate muscle stress to refresh skin with the botanical power of paracress and passionflower.
• Age Defying TCM Facial – this advanced facial treatment is crafted to enhance skin tone and firmness while promoting cellular regeneration. Utilizing high-performance ingredients and special lifting massage techniques, complemented with TCM tools like Gua Sha and Ridoki Roller, this treatment effectively combats signs of aging and stimulates collagen production.

Living Room, Art, Lounge and Terrace

The hotel’s transformed arrival experience reimagines a grand Living Room, replete with comfortable furniture, brightened with warm hues and enhanced seating that invites relaxation and meaningful conversation. Thoughtfully curated to create a welcoming ambiance, every detail ensures guests feel embraced from the moment they arrive. Created by Champalimaud Design, the reimagined spaces combine the graceful charm of Middleburg’s countryside with sophisticated urban refinement. The refreshed rotunda feature warm whites, soft blue accents, and custom lighting inspired by the movement of horses—a nod to Salamander’s Virginia roots.

Behind the front desk guests are greeted with a special bas relief or “low relief” art that reflects the marble majesty of D.C.’s iconic monuments. ART SPACE NYC chose to use classical Greek art as inspiration, which mirrors much of the area’s architecture. Framed by cherry blossoms and dogwood (Virginia’s state flower), the work includes the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the national monument to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The inclusion of horses reflects Sheila Johnson’s love for equine sport and reference the Salamander’s roots in Middleburg, Virginia, which is revered horse country. Using her fine arts photography and design background, Johnson has also cultivated a new art collection throughout the living room and lounge areas, featuring works by Black American artists who have made indelible impacts on the cultural fabric of D.C. and beyond.

Flooded with natural light, and just a few steps removed from the Living Room, the newly enhanced Lounge overlooks the serene Grand Lawn and Lounge Terrace, offering a stylish and inviting space. A feature glass lighting fixture creates a dynamic lightness and liveliness in the lounge while leather-wrapped posts and a series of bronze rods envelop the lounge space without interrupting the visual link to the adjacent spaces, all composed with poetic references to the country lifestyle. Expanded seating and cozy dining areas blend elegance with comfort, anchored by a sophisticated stone-top bar as a striking centerpiece. This airy yet intimate setting encourages guests to unwind and indulge in an exceptional all-day dining menu overseen by Chef Walter Alvarado, including a seasonal Afternoon Tea experience. The Lounge Terrace, overlooking the scenic Washington Marina, has also been expanded to offer more al fresco dining options and seasonal programming, while guests can take advantage of the hotel’s private walking path to The Wharf – a vibrant mile-long stretch of restaurants and retailers along the Potomac River.

Guest Suites and The Monument Club

Inspired by the architectural elegance of the Tidal Basin and Washington, D.C.’s Monumental Core, each of the hotel’s 51 suites have been completely refreshed to offer a harmonious blend of history and modernity. Designed by the renowned Thomas Pheasant, each suite combines historic and contemporary elements to create a versatile, inviting and residential sanctuary.

Each suite features custom-designed Pheasant furniture, with crisp lines and refined silhouettes, rendered in wood, metal, and stone. Styled in several cohesive palettes, the suites incorporate brushed wood finishes, satin or dark bronze accents, neutral stone surfaces, and complementary fabrics interwoven with accent colors. Sitting rooms offer flexible spaces for lounging, dining, or working, all while maintaining privacy for adjoining areas. The renovations include each of the hotel’s sweeping six Signature Suites, which are grander in scale and feature stellar views, including the Presidential Suite which overlooks the Potomac River, the Jefferson Memorial and beyond.

Additionally, on the eighth floor, the hotel has created The Monument Club, which provides an exclusive retreat for Salamander’s most discerning guests. The freshly remodeled two-story lounge, also designed by Pheasant, frames breathtaking monument and city views, delivering personalized service from a dedicated concierge and a curated culinary and beverage program, while the Club’s Library offers a refined space for social gatherings and important meetings. *The Monument Club is set to open to leisure guests on April 1, 2025, but is available to book now.

Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

Dōgon, the hotel’s signature restaurant, marks the celebrated return of Chef Kwame Onwuachi to Washington, D.C., with a concept inspired by West African heritage and the legacy of D.C. Surveyor Benjamin Banneker. Pronounced “Doh-gon” and already highly acclaimed in just a few short months, the restaurant presents Afro-Caribbean cuisine drawn from Onwuachi’s Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole roots. In a setting enhanced by soulful ambiance and a curated playlist, Dōgon offers a vibrant dining experience that celebrates cultural richness and culinary artistry.

The restaurant was designed by the architectural firm Modellus Novus and is Onwuachi’s second recent opening, following the highly acclaimed Tatiana in New York City. Dogon’s interior transforms the night sky into architectural language and guests are immediately transported into a distinctively dramatic atmosphere where Kriskadecor metal chain curtains welcome guests at the entrance, referencing Banneker’s Gunter’s Chains – a device he used to measure and survey.

Onwuachi partnered with nationally acclaimed mixologist Derek Brown to create Dōgon’s craft cocktail program. Inspired by a shared love of Washington D.C., Brown's cocktail program seamlessly blends Dōgon's culinary style and offers a range of spirited and spirit-free cocktails. The menu features Black-owned brands and creative takes on classic cocktails that pair perfectly with the food and ambiance.

A New Era of Luxury Awaits

Located steps away from Washington’s iconic landmarks and the bustling District Wharf, Salamander Washington DC now offers a series of packages to experience the property, including:

For those seeking relaxation, the Suite Serenity package provides luxury suite accommodations, personalized wellness treatments, serene spa experiences, and a dining credit, which may be applied to Dōgon. Both packages offer an unparalleled escape in the heart of the nation’s capital. Rates start at $575 per person, per night.

The Experience Dōgon package offers an overnight stay paired with a guaranteed reservation at the acclaimed Dōgon restaurant, where Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Afro-Caribbean flavors redefine culinary excellence. Rates start at $440 per person, per night. Dining charges are separate.

For reservations and more information about Salamander Washington DC, visit www.SalamanderDC.com.

About Salamander Collection

Salamander Collection is privately owned and operated, and based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson, it has a luxury portfolio featuring the Forbes Five-Star Salamander Middleburg, an equestrian-inspired property in the Virginia countryside; Salamander Washington DC, an elegant hotel located along the capital’s vibrant Southwest waterfront; Half Moon, the storied resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, featuring three distinct experiences including the acclaimed Eclipse; Aspen Meadows Resort, which features sweeping views on 40 beautiful acres in Aspen, CO’s west end and newly renovated Herbert Bayer-inspired accommodations and arrival experience; Hotel Bennett, a spectacular grand hotel in Charleston, SC, overlooking the city’s historic Marion Square; and Innisbrook Resort in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, which hosts the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship each year on its famed Copperhead Course. www.SalamanderHotels.com.