Lorien Hotel & Spa, a Kimpton Hotel

I planned a small getaway weekend for my boyfriend’s birthday. We drove about an hour and twenty minutes away to stay the Lorien Hotel and Spa. I had plans to catch a movie for Date Night at The National Harbor and go to Chima Brazilian Steakhouse for dinner.
We had a terrible stay here. I’ve never felt so disrespected and embarrassed in my life. Sure this was a special occasion, but I was treated as though the hotel staff doubted that I would pay for my stay. We pulled up the to the hotel and the valet paced uncertainly. I finally had to roll down my window and ask if they would park our car.
I entered the hotel and received rude stares from the front desk staff who spoke in a barely audible tone.
The hotel room was nothing special. We had the king room with a view (the brick walls of a nearby building and a parking lot). The bedroom was awkwardly small, while the bathroom was really large. There were flies in the bathroom. I think the air conditioning unit needed a new filter, I woke up with terrible allergies and cold-​like symptoms and I rarely get sick.
I will never stay in this hotel again. We were treated rudely from the moment we checked in until the moment that we checked out.

I had a wonderful experience here for a staycation. We stayed in the King room with rainfall shower which was entirely worth the extra $ 20 or so. The shower itself was the size of a small bathroom, AMAZING. We also mentioned that we were celebrating an anniversary and we received room service with a complimentary bottle of champagne and macaroons. That was such a nice gift on top of our already great stay. We were greeted in the lounge for complimentary wine during the hours of 5 and 6. We had such a nice conversation with Evan who also gave us a great recommendation to grab drinks at Brabo. There, Thomas, our bartender made the best Julip drinks.
The next morning we opted for deep tissue massages at the spa. Jessica was my therapist and she was so welcoming and personable. She gave a wonderful massage and even made recommendations for how to improve muscle tension at home.
Such a great place to stay for an affordable rate in Old Town!

Outstanding hotel with extremely friendly service. It was our first stay at the Lorien and it hopefully will not be our last. We had four rooms in our group that was in the area for a very sad funeral. We all enjoyed the beautiful rooms with very comfortable beds and beautiful baths. My husband and I enjoyed a very good dinner in the Tasting Room. The flat bread Margarita Tart was delicious and the French Dip Sandwich was the best. Room service was on time and our breakfasts were delicious as was the much needed coffee. Having room service for breakfast was wonderful especially on mornings I really did not want to start the day. Valet parking and front desk were so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend the Lorien Hotel excellent hotel and great location to enjoy old town Alexandria.

Very nice hotel on King Street, Alexandria. The room was spacious and clean. The king size bed was very comfortable. Room service came from the excellent restaurant in front of the hotel. Service was extremely quick, friendly and the food was great. The hotel is a quick 5 – 10 minute walk from the metro station. King Street is worth a stroll. Great restaurants and boutique stores all the way to the waterfront. I highly recommend this hotel and would definitely stay there again.

Very small rooms! …Not warm and homey. The pillows were horrible all soft and squishy. No doors on the bathrooms!!! Just a glass slider door that didn’t shut all teh way. Pooping is not a spectator sport… unless you are all The Lorien.
It was very clean and daily happy hours were fun.
Would not go back.

My mom and I stayed here this past weekend, with the intent of getting a feel for the hotel as a possible venue and guest accommodations for my up coming wedding in June.
The good stuff: The exterior of the hotel and the lobby are very nice and clean. It is located on King st at a reasonable walking distance from the metro station. The staff (we only came in contact with valet and front desk) were very polite and well spoken. The wifi was free and worked pretty well (I didn’t have a problem with it). We had a light dessert at the Brabo Tasting room which was excellent. Our bartender was attentive and funny. We asked about parking, and the lady at the front desk told us that valet parking was available to guests, though street parking was free after 9pm on Saturdays, and free all day on Sundays (good to know!) We were lucky enough to find a spot directly across from the hotel, though we had no problem paying for valet parking.
A few weeks ago, I came for a massage at the Spa, which was very clean and nice. I thought my masseuse was a little rough for my preference, but my friend loved her massage, so this is really a matter of preference.
The bad stuff: Unfortunately we will not be recommending this hotel to our out-​of-​town guests for the wedding. We will also not be using it as a wedding venue. My mom and I reserved a «King Deluxe» room. When we arrived in the room, we thought perhaps there was a mixup with the reservation, because the bed was definitely a Queen bed (I sleep on a Queen bed at home, so I’m familiar with the size). We inquired about this at the front desk and they said it WAS a King Deluxe — tho we didn’t know what made it «deluxe.» There was only one night stand, no sitting area (a sitting area was advertised on the hotel website), and no coffee maker (this bothered my mom more than me, but I was surprised that it didn’t even have hot water to make tea). The TINY closet featured a number of shelves and little hanging clothes space. It did have some snacks and a yoga mat. I saw an ironing board, but I didn’t see an iron.
The large air vent in the room was located directly next to the bed (about a foot from my face) and because of this, I am now sick with a lot of congestion. It takes a lot for me to get sick, and I’m certain the filters had not been replaced.
The bathroom appeared very nice and very spacious (which was interesting considering the bedroom was very tight and small). It seemed clean enough, and featured shampoo/​conditioner, towels, etc. The only problem I had with the bathroom was the odd sliding door. I understood that a sliding door means maximizing space, but there was about 3 – 4 inches of space between the edge of the door and the bathroom, so when it was closed, you could still see all the way into the shower if you were sitting on the bed. This meant it also got pretty noisy — which was a little awkward. My mom noticed that there was no fan in the bathroom.
We didn’t order room service, so I don’t have a review for that.
My mom and I will not be recommending this hotel to our friends and family for the wedding, which is a shame, because it really is a beautiful hotel. But for the cost of a room (which is on the pricey end, even for the area), we expected a little more to the room (like space) than we received.

I LOVE this SPA ! It is located in the lower level of the hotel, so it’s not so easy to find. But once you are there, you don’t want to leave .
I got a facial with Ludmilla, such a knowledgable, fun, and professional esthetician, one of the best I have ever had. She tells the truth and does not push any products on you. I really needed some guidance in my skin care routine — I am always interested in new anti-​aging products — and received some very valuable information. Plus, my skin looked better and better after the facial !
I did try a massage as well, just a 30 minute one, but I was pretty happy with results. I went to steam before my massage, and it made such a difference. The steam room is infused with eucalyptus, I highly recommend it .
I only wish I had more time to indulge in Lorien Spa ! Will go back any chance I get.

Scope: I stayed in a Lorien Suite (two-​room suite) for two nights in October 2015. I also visited the spa for a massage one day and a facial the next day. And I ordered room service breakfast twice.
Obviously, the location can’t be beat. It’s a quick walk from the Metro, and you’re immediately in the middle of all the King Street shops and restaurants.
Staff at the hotel front desk, in the spa, and delivering room service were universally friendly and on-​brand with Kimpton’s style. Friendly and professional-​not-​packaged.
The Lorien Suite was really great, with one big asterisk: the mattress was awful. Clearly old and creaky, and not supportive at all. (I very seriously contemplated sleeping on the couch in the living room, which was incredibly comfortable!) Not at all what I expect from a nice hotel, and especially not what I was hoping for from a relaxing getaway weekend. The bathroom and living room were wonderful. The bathroom had a huge open shower and a nice clawfoot tub, plentiful towels, and C.O. Bigelow amenities. The living room had the aforementioned really comfy couch, two other chairs, a big desk area, and lots of space. I also really appreciated that almost every lamp was on a dimmer switch, so lighting could be customized.
My massage with Curtis and my facial with Ludmila were both very good. Curtis was attentive to asking about particular focus areas and checked in to make sure that pressure was appropriate. Ludmila had specific suggestions for caring for my skin but didn’t push products at all. My skin looks much better after she tended to it! I thought the spa’s facilities were more than adequate, but I didn’t take advantage of the steam room, so I can’t comment.
Room service was quick and accurate in filling breakfast orders. For those who are staying at the hotel, it’s nice that the «all day» and dinner menus also feature mostly dishes from Brabo, the incredible restaurant on the first floor of the hotel.

I hosted a small 75 person wedding here and stayed the weekend in the Presidential Suite Labor Day weekend. It was amazing!
The Presidential Suite & Rooms
Elegant home away from home. Nicely furnished and the interior design is very modern. I enjoyed the balcony although the furniture could use some updating. The beds were super comfy and the bathroom was very sleek. Gave me some ideas for my bathroom!
The Food
Brabo catered my brunch style wedding and I wasn’t sure how they were going to pull it together without it being too «breakfasty» but they did an amazing job! We did the Meridian breakfast (I think that’s the name) complete with all of your breakfast favorites with salmon, salads, muffins and croissants. Our guests loved it! The Belini and mimosa bar was also a hit.
The hotel is centrally located by everything yet it is tucked away right off of King Street. Moderately priced, great service, and attentive staff all make this place worth checking out.

This review is for the spa, glorious spa!
As a massage therapist myself, I’m extremely picky about my spa services. I was new to the area and tried the spa one day on a whim, and I’m happy to say that 3 years later I’m still a regular client of Ludmilla, Lauren, and Ana.
I won’t go on about the wonderful facilities and free valet parking, because what makes the Lorien spa truly special is the care and concern each of the practitioners has for their clients. You can tell they truly love what they do! Most of them have been at the spa for years — which is a sign that they are happy and well-​cared for. That in turn comes back to you, the client. Give them a try, and you’ll see what I mean!
Honestly if I have to pick a «worst» thing about the spa, it would be some of the patrons themselves. There is a such thing as spa etiquette. Yes, you are paying to use the facilities, but you are not at home! Don’t use your phone is the relaxation room or locker room, throw away your trash, place your used towels and robes in the designated receptacles, and try to keep your belongings from being strewn about all over the locker room benches and countertops.
Bonus tip for any spa experience: Provide your practitioner feedback DURING your spa session. They can’t read your mind. If something doesn’t feel right, TELL THEM so they can make adjustments. You won’t hurt their feelings. Trust me, they want you to have a wonderful experience!

Such a comfortable luxury hotel places in A perfect spot within old town Alexandria. We had a amazing stay in this hotel. Asked for an ADA compliant hotel and got one with so many rooms and a walk in shower, which was perfect. Lots of restaurant options near by and the bellman was so sweet! Took the time to connect and get to know us!

I highly recommend you read the reviews dedicated to the spa before you visit! I wish I had read the detailed ²⁄₃ star reviews — their experiences were similarly abysmal.
Due to my review below I was contacted by the spa under the guise of «hoping to improve my experience during my next visit».
That was not their true intention at all. Lisa M ended up telling me legally I can not return because their products caused a negative reaction. I then received a cancellation email about my next appointment.
Oh well. Let’s put this one on the AVOID AT ALL COSTS list. I recommend Red Door Spa in Arlington as an alternative. They’re about $ 25 more expensive per service but their products are safe (and recognized world wide) and their service is impeccable.

This review is for the Lorien Spa only. As a treat to ourselves, my boyfriend and I decided to get facials and massages this weekend. Since we live in Old Town, we walked over to the spa and booked an appointment with the staff onsite. The staff are all very friendly and accommodating. We asked to see the shower rooms prior to making an appointment, which they allowed. They also took the time to explain the packages. We were hoping for a couples’ massage but ultimately decided to get separate packages since a couples’ massage for 50 minutes is $ 310. I chose the Sweet Dreams package, which includes a massage, facial, and scalp massage (115 minutes for $ 250). My boyfriend opted for the Gentlemen’s Dream package, which includes a deep therapeutic massage and a facial (100 minutes for $ 220). Even though we couldn’t be in the same room together for the massage, the staff made a note to have both our facials start at the same time and assured us that we would have time together in the relaxation room.
Come Sunday, we headed back to Lorien. One of the ladies handed us keys to our lockers and a binder with a small pamphlet to fill out. She led me to the ladies’ shower room and explained everything in there. My locker contained a robe, flip flops, and an extra large fluffy towel. The shower room has a vanity with seats where you can blow-​dry and style your hair. There are large containers on an adjacent bookshelf that have makeup remover wipes, combs, and exfoliating pads. There’s a steam room and a large sink with cleanser, body lotion, mouthwash, and facial mist.
Across from the shower room is the relaxation room. There’s a table with teas and cucumber water. Seats 8 with chairs and benches backed with huge pillows and surrounded with candles, diffuser scented sticks, and orchids. There are magazines for pleasure reading as well. We waited in the relaxation room before our facial specialists. Ludmila did my facial and she was very gentle. She cleansed, exfoliated, and steamed my face first before doing the extractions. I’ve never had a professional do extractions on my face before, so there was certainly more pressure and pain but that’s to be expected. Ludmila advised me to use certain products for my acne-​prone skin and said she will bring some recommended Kerstin Florian products to the front desk. Afterwards, she did a natural enzyme peel, a deep cleansing facial massage, hand and arm massage, and a scalp massage with lavender oils. The facial was wonderful and my skin felt so smooth and clean afterwards. Jason did my massage. He was very gentle and targeted my problem areas (neck, shoulders).
All in all, it was a very, very relaxing afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed both my facial and massage. It’s a bit on the pricey end, with both our packages and tip coming out to be over $ 600. The specialists are all fantastic and staff are wonderful. Great little pick-​me-​up!

So my wife and I stayed at this hotel and had a pretty awful experience. So you’re probably wondering why I gave it five stars. I try to stay at Kimpton hotels as much as possible, but I’m by no means a millionaire so sometimes I have to stay elsewhere. That said I felt pretty disappointing by my weekend stay with my wife a few weeks ago. However the management really came through. I voiced my displeasure at the front desk and almost immediately there was a bottle of wine for me in my room. We checked out the next morning and I thought for sure I would never return, the bottle of wine was a nice gesture but they really had not addressed the problem.
I received an email from the manager he offered me a very nice package the next time I was in town. He assured me everything I had complained about had been dealt with and taken care of. I thought he may have been just throwing it out as a goodwill gesture not expecting me to take him up on it which of course I did the following Month. He really took care of my family on our weekend stay, with upgrades and special treats in the room. I now understand why Kimpton Resorts are the best hotels to stay at, every employee, every manager and everyone associated with the hotel has only one goal, and that’s to make sure their guests have a wonderful stay. Thanks Tobias, I look forward to my next stay at your property.

I absolutely love this hotel!
They give you a free glass of wine when you check in if you check in after their nightly wine happy hour ends which is free for guests.
The best part is there is a yoga mat in the room and complementary yoga and Pilates videos through the television in your own hotel room.
A little bit pricier then other surrounding hotels but in my opinion it’s totally worth it.

Bottom Line: Lorien provides the service, luxury and charm that keeps me faithful to Kimpton hotels but the bathroom could offer a more privacy.
When traveling for fun I always look to see if there is a nearby Kimpton Hotel as I love the elegance, classiness, whimsy and pet-​friendliness of the chain. Given my love of Kimpton, I decided to make my day trip to DC an overnight trip with a stay at the Lorien in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. If you are trying to decide where to lay your head in the 22 314, here are some tidbits about the Lorien:
— Lorien is located in Old Town Alexandria. Also located in Old Town is the Kimpton’s flagship hotel, Hotel Monaco. If you are trying to decide between the two, don’t fret over it too much. Lorien is super close to the Metro so it makes getting into DC a little easier, in my opinion. Monaco is several blocks away and closer to the waterfront so that is a plus if you are wanting to stay super close to the Old Town action. I chose Lorien over Monaco because I’ve stayed in many Monaco’s in the past.
— If you have a car, you can valet it by pulling up to the curb in front of the hotel and one of the nice gentlemen in the plaid shirts will store your care for you for $ 40 a day. Another Unilocaler noted that there isn’t much Valet space on the curb and I agree with that. Lucky for me, when coming and going, there was always room for my car but I can see where curb space would be at a premium during peak times.
— Lorien is charming as you would expect from a boutique hotel. To get to the lobby you pass through a brick courtyard with a fountain. This is the same courtyard you can enjoy each night for the manager’s wine reception. I always seem to miss the wine reception, but if you are around, its a nice way to relax or kick off your evening.
— The rooms are elegant and comfortable. Being a boutique hotel, the rooms are sometimes small and odd shaped. I found my room to be plenty adequate in space. The design was nice too and the bed was ZzzZZZzzzZZZzz.
— Ok, so now its time to get to the turd of the matter. As others have noted, the sliding frosted glass door is modern but does not offer privacy. I have ran into this same issue at other Kimpton hotels too so I now know how to handle the situation. The issue isn’t that you can see through the glass door, rather that the door doesn’t form a proper seal (probably a 1″ gap) so sound travels out of the bathroom. Moreover, there isn’t much in the bathroom to absorb sound and the glass door just makes that issue worse. I have ran into this same issue at other Kimpton hotels too so I now know how to handle the situation and it goes like this: (1) If you are traveling by yourself, its probably a non-​issue, (2) If you are ok with your hotel mate hearing you do your business (whatever business that may be), this is probably a non-​issue, (3) If you don’t want to hear your hotel mate doing their business then send them down to the lobby bathroom. For one night, I am fine with this setup but for something longer, and assuming I wasn’t alone, I would look elsewhere for a hotel.

Do you want to keep the romance and element of surprise in your relationship?
Then you probably shouldn’t stay here. The sliding doors on the bathroom that don’t close all the way and the frosted glass that allows for you to see the silhouette of your loved one sitting on the toilet is not cute.
The room is mega tiny, not a lot of closet space, but they do not have any pet fees which I can truly appreciate. The other good thing about staying in old town is that there are plenty of good restaurants that are willing to deliver if you are feeling lazy.
For what you spend, I would prefer Embassy Suites across the street. They have the best breakfast, free happy hour and great rooms. Eventually I’ll write a review for that.
So as a wrap up, I would avoid the Lorien and maybe go to the Monaco instead if you really love Kimpton hotels.

I had heard a lot of great things about the Lorien Hotel & Spa, and was itching to stay here for a long time. I didn’t have the opportunity to stay here until my most recently visit to DC/​Alexandria this year in January. Located within walking steps of the King Street Metro stop, the Lorien is well connected to the rest of the general DMV area. From the outside, the hotel appears old and rustic, but inside the hotel is a blend of traditional and modern. The lobby/​check-​in area was modern and sleek, which reminded me of a check-​in desk at a modern spa or an Equinox gym. Adjacent to the lobby is the library sitting area, which was cute and cozy, almost like being in a small library or a small study. The library sitting area is where the nightly wine hour is held.
As an Inner Circle member, I was upgraded to the Lorien Spa room, which was definitely a nice upgrade since the room featured a very large bathroom, which included a clawfoot tub AND a separate shower, a living room area, a bedroom with comfortable bed, and a balcony. The room was well furnished (bathroom included typical Bigelow toiletries) and was very clean. While I appreciated the modernness of the room I stayed in, I felt that the room had a bit of a «cold» feeling to it, which was a stark contrast to the relative «warmth» outside my window (i.e. the old world, cute charm of Old Town Alexandria).
Of note, I usually don’t attend the wine hours at most of my Kimpton stays, but I did attend the wine hour at the Lorien. The wine hour, which is held in the library sitting area, wasn’t very crowded and was very intimate, as I sipped both red and wine wines with other hotel guests. The wines were served with flatbreads (meat and vegetarian), which were pretty tasty and paired well with the wines served.
My experience at the Lorien was an overall good one since the hotel grounds and facilities are well maintained and clean. However, compared to my other Kimpton stays, my stay at the Lorien wasn’t my favorite. While the hotel staff were all respectful and were prompt with addressing any requests/​concerns I had, I felt that the staff were not as warm and friendly as at other Kimpton hotels I’ve stayed at. Not sure why… maybe the hotel has become so modern that it (including the employees) lost its old world charm and «warmth»? Not really a deal breaker… but it was just something I noticed at check-​in and check-​out.

I spent the weekend at the Lorien for a quick getaway, and I am so pleased about my choice in hotel. Our room was on the 5^th floor, away from the elevator and overlooking the courtyard, which was quiet. The room was spacious and clean (which passed the bathroom inspection from my boyfriend who is the most critical person ever). We poked our head in for happy hour, which we didn’t get to stay for, as we had other plans. There was several types of wines and flatbreads.
The robes in the room were a great touch. The shower was gorgeous, the beds comfortable. Customer service was wonderful (as expected from any Kimpton hotel). The hotel gym was pretty standard with the addition of towels and headphones (which, of course I forgot) and HULA HOOPS, which we had a great time trying out.
If you stay in a Kimpton Hotel, which are my favorite, sign up for Karma rewards, you get awesome deals, free wifi, and $ 10 mini bar credit!

I am a Kimpton devotee, so when I had to return to Alexandria for work, I decided to stay here. Because it was a whirlwind stay, I didn’t get to see much of the hotel, but I do recommend the spa which I went to when I lived there. The location really can’t be beat, and I recommend many of the restaurants in the area, such as Brabo and Vermillion.
The staff was simply fantastic and couldn’t have been nicer, and I believe that I was upgraded during my stay.
My only comment is that this Kimpton, unlike others, feels more… clinical. Less homey. It’s a beautiful property, but if you’re used to the cozy warmth of other Kimptons, this may be a bit different to you. Just a thought– but it didn’t detract from my stay.
I highly recommend!