The Lorien would be the last of my eleven Kimpton Hotel stays that date back to December of 2011 when I began traveling into DC for work. One of the newest properties Kimpton has in the area, the Lorien was a new-build in the last half decade that brought its total collection in Old Town Alexandria to three. Each has its own very distinct personality. The Hotel Monaco has the most coveted location, in the heart of King Street’s shopping and dining corridor and the largest. It exudes the area’s history. The Morrison House is unquestionably the most quaint, built more like an inn than a hotel and right in the center of King Street. Lorien is almost the best of both worlds – an historic feel but truly a modern creation, an oasis of relaxation.
Lorien is also the nearest to the metro, just a three block walk to the King Street station which has quick service to the airport and reliable service into the city. One would think that would make the Lorien full of hustle and bustle and Alexandria traffic. Alas not the case at all. The moment one steps inside the Lorien, the hotel exudes relaxation. The pervasive smell is calming. The staff is approachable. The lobby is intimate and homey.
Guest rooms are decorated coolly, with robin’s egg blue walls and white fixture. The bathrooms are spacious and well appointed and the products are top of the line spa quality. The hotel indeed has a spa on site, on the lower level adjacent to the fitness suite. Rounding out this full service boutique hotel, the hotel has not one but two dining choices. One is an upscale chef driven restaurant called Brabo, and the second is the Tasting Room where folks can dine on new and experimental items, and smaller plates, in a more casual setting.
Lorien is a very well kept secret – until now? It functions like an independent hotel but is operated by one of the nation’s leading boutique hotel operators, Kimpton. Service and product are top notch and the hotel should be a top consideration if Old Town is on the horizon.
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WEB: http://www.lorienhotelandspa.com/