What's New At the Willard

This four-diamond D.C. hotel keeps raising the bar.

It's been more than 20 years since the elegantly restored Willard Intercontinental reopened, and the fabulous Pennsylvania Avenue hotel just keeps getting better.

The Lap of Luxury

To truly feel the splendor of the Willard, check in. That's what heads of state do. Rates start at the princely sum of $229, but the hotel's luxury and location make it worth the splurge. Well-appointed rooms feature rich fabrics, plush beds, and a multitude of modern conveniences. Some lucky guests even get a view of the nearby Washington Monument.

You don't even have to stay at the Willard to enjoy its opulence. Many D.C. visitors detour through the hotel's magnificent lobby for afternoon tea in Peacock Alley or a cocktail at the Round Robin Bar.

Then there's the hotel's newest restaurant. While the Willard Room has long been a dining destination for the well-heeled, Café du Parc is a welcome addition to the district's food scene.

Parkside Dining

The hotel recruited France's own Antoine Westermann to create the Café du Parc menu and lend his vision to the restaurant. Outfitted in bright white and royal blue, the space is sleek and sophisticated.

The breakfast menu features classics such as eggs Benedict and spectacular French crepes. Lunch is a scaled-down version of the evening menu.

No dinner guest should miss the pate en croute, the chef's creation of veal, port, and duck foie gras pate wrapped in homemade pastry. Entrees feature seasonal ingredients whenever possible, with choices such as local monkfish or free-range chicken.

Side dishes come separately and include pomme frites, hand-cut noodles tossed in butter, and whipped potatoes so light and creamy you'll beg for seconds. Dessert is a must, with delights such as chocolate mousse and dreamy apricot panna cotta crowding the menu.

-CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSER

Willard Intercontinental: 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004; www.washington. interconti.com, 1-800-827-1747, or (202) 628-9100.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2007
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