The "W" stands for Wait!!!

Arriving around 7pm, the lobby was a flock of post-work professionals, cocktail connoisseurs, and 92% of NW DC. The crowd was so intense I couldn't appreciate the renovations as I couldn't see much past the people. A staff person had to direct me to the lobby bar since I couldn't see it past the human barricade. Maneuvering through the crowd, I found a small amount of real estate at the bar where I stood patiently for ONE HOUR before getting a chance to order my first ($14) glass of champagne… ultimately comped because of my wait. The bar/lounge staff couldn’t be asked to smile. I didn’t even get a glimpse of the rooftop. First impression not amazing, but I’ll go back in a month or five when the novelty has worn off.

a half-hearted attempt

After seeing the long lines, I expected there to be a crazy crowd of people once I got in. Thankfully, this wasn't the case. The living room (lobby bar) was huge and seemed practically empty. There was plenty of seating and the staff was extremely friendly. They all adopted the "whatever whenever" attitude I have come to expect from a W. The decor was updated well on the roof and in the lobby, giving the hotel a modern feel without letting you forget the historic nature of the building and they city it was in. Many parts of the hotel seemed unchanged and somewhat dirty (the winding staircase still has old green shag carpet). The roof entrance seemed to have simply been painted with no other adjustments. They also ran out of food by 10pm!