Lyle Washington DC, a new independent hotel from Lore Group, opened in the capital’s vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood on 15th April 2021.
Lyle, the second U.S. property from the international hospitality company behind renowned hotels Sea Containers London, Pulitzer Amsterdam and Riggs Washington, D.C, is located on New Hampshire Avenue in an early 1940s Art Deco building constructed originally to house apartments.
In redesigning the interiors of property, Lore Group Creative Director Jacu Strauss wished to create a world of calm, a place where you can feel in complete comfort in understated style. The luxury is in the details, the soft Art Deco references in celebration of the building’s original features, a dedication to craftsmanship and natural materials. He created a place where you can say goodbye to the noise of the outside world, a completely relaxed hotel to call your own.
“With Lyle we wanted to take the best of “home” and make it even better,” said Abe Liao, Lore Group’s Regional General Manager for the D.C area and a native Washingtonian. “It’s our priority for our guests to feel as content and comfortable during their time at Lyle, as they might when staying in a friend’s beautiful apartment. Whether staying in one of our guest rooms, hosting a meeting, dining in Lyle’s or catching up with friends for coffee – if we’re doing our job right, Lyle should feel like it was designed just for you.”
In the rooms and penthouse suite, Strauss created spaces that are comfortable and calming in neutral tones featuring natural materials including Burl wood art deco headboards, rattan seating and berber carpets. The mattresses and linens were chosen for ultimate comfort while artworks and the majority of furnishings are bespoke and designed by Strauss and his team. The rooms feel inviting and residential, as do the bright bathrooms with their handmade tiles and D.S Durga amenities. Additionally, 56 of the 196 bedrooms feature kitchenettes which are convenient for long stay visitors to the Capital.
The restaurant and bar, Lyle’s is an intimate, inviting and welcoming space featuring bespoke furniture, a custom Herman Miller pendant cluster and an open kitchen. Nestled into the corner of the building, it is the perfect neighborhood restaurant and bar serving breakfast, brunch and dinner as well as familiar cocktails prepared with a gentle twist. It offers seasonal, contemporary American fare paired with easy-going, unobtrusive service. At the helm is Nicholas Sharpe, a seasoned chef who previously worked with Chef Fabio Trabocchi at the Michelin-starred Fiamma in New York City. Chef’s Sharpe’s approach to the menus is wildly unique and centered around technique. For example, his Chicken “Noodle” Soup turns your mother’s homemade soup on its head – Sharpe simmers the noodles, mirepoix and bits of chicken with seasonings before blending and straining the solution through a chinois. The result, a smooth and velvety texture that’s then topped with a green garlic top espuma, crème fraiche and plenty of black pepper. Other highlights from his dinner menu include a delectable Twice-Fried Chicken served with hot honey, sunchoke and pickled vegetables; a vibrant Spring Pea Fritter with pepper relish; the Lamb Loin with fava bean, ricotta gnudi and Swiss chard; and to finish, a Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with caramelized marshmallow fluff.
Brunch at Lyle’s is also a standout and features a selection of prepared juices, smoothies, and elevated spins on traditional brunch items, such as Scrambled Tofu Toast with avocado and peppers on sesame bread; Doughnuts with lavender sugar and rhubarb jam; a Kale and Butter Danish served with a farm egg; and Baked Eggs with eggplant, spinach and feta. Bright brunch cocktails are also available, like the Lyle Smash with tequila, mint and agave and the Grapefruit-Elderflower Spritzwith vodka, Sauvignon Blanc, elderflower and grapefruit soda. Brunch service will start on Saturday, May 8, offering up a new option in DC for Mother’s Day brunch.
Lyle offers a multitude of meetings and event spaces suitable for everything from private dining to intimate weddings. The Private dining room is a playful surprise, with rich tones of red on the walls, ceiling and floor. It’s an ideal space to celebrate a special occasion. The Parlor, on the first floor, is filled with an eclectic mix of furniture and art to create a less formal space that can be transformed for many uses ranging from meetings to private dining for larger parties. The lower ground area is home to several meeting, event and break out spaces. The palette applied creates rooms that feel much more residential than traditional meeting and event offerings resulting in a combination of spaces that feel more like a beautiful apartment. The lower ground area also houses Lyle’s gym.
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