The Lounge at Salamander DC

“During our three-day stay at the Salamander, a visit to the Lounge was a natural—and worthwhile—choice. As it was January, we didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy the Lounge’s beautiful outdoor terrace, which opens directly onto the property’s manicured gardens. In warmer months, however, it’s absolutely worth a visit, with its inviting garden setting and festive fire tables perfect for s’mores and evening gatherings. The Lounge itself leans more toward an upscale bar atmosphere than a traditional tearoom. This is worth noting for guests booking high tea, as it’s hosted in this space. While the service and offerings are solid, those seeking a more intimate or charming tea setting may prefer a quieter environment. Many of the critical reviews stem from this mismatch in expectation rather than the quality itself. We first stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The space was moderately busy, and from the moment we arrived, the hospitality stood out—every staff member we encountered was genuinely warm and attentive. The ambiance was polished yet relaxed, and the menu offered enough variety to make narrowing down selections a pleasant challenge. We sampled several starters, including the crab cakes, lamb tacos, and the highly recommended Brussels sprouts. To accompany the meal, my mother enjoyed a glass of Champagne, while I opted for a Malbec. When the dishes arrived, they were beautifully presented and delivered on flavor. The crab cakes were warm, rich, and generously meaty. The lamb tacos struck an excellent balance of tender, savory meat with thoughtfully layered toppings—the yogurt provided a subtly sweet, creamy contrast, while the onions added welcome texture. Wanting a bit more heat, I spoke with the chef, who graciously prepared both a house-made chili hot sauce and a fermented habanero sauce. Combined, they added a complex, well-balanced spice that elevated the dish. The Brussels sprouts were equally impressive, finished with a luscious creamy base and crisp toppings that made each bite memorable. One small note: service can occasionally feel stretched, particularly during high tea hours, as tea guests tend to require more frequent attention. While it sometimes took a bit of effort to track down our server, she was knowledgeable, gracious, and patient throughout our visit. Overall, I highly recommend the Salamander Lounge for its atmosphere, hospitality, and thoughtfully executed menu. In fact, we’re returning today for breakfast, and I’ll be sharing photos and highlights from their breakfast offerings soon.”

“Traditional Afternoon Tea at the Lounge at the Salamander, DC is $95/person only on Saturday and Sunday. You can get seating reservations for 1pm or 3:30pm. I went here to celebrate a birthday and it was my first time at an afternoon tea. The Lounge had a nice assortment of loose-leaf teas, champagne/bubbly, homemade scones, tea sandwiches, and small pastries served on a cute three-tier stand with Lavender-Blueberry Jam, Key Lime Curd, & Devonshire Cream! Everything served was delicious, that I can’t even pick out a favorite! You can tell this place has an amazing expert culinary team in the kitchen. Here are some of the delicious snacks we ate… New England Lobster Roll, Herb Egg Salad on brioche, Burrata Truffle Emulsion with Heirloom Tomato on a butter Biscuit, Smoked Salmon/Caviar, Chocolate Madeleines, Apricot Vanilla bean Butter Cookie, Strawberry Mousse Cheesecake, Green Forest Cherry Trifle, Carrot Pecan Cake, and Peaches & Cream Scone. Highly recommend if you want to try something relaxing and different.”

“Given the prices, I was expecting an exceptional, memorable dining experience, something creative and beautifully executed. Unfortunately, the food felt surprisingly basic. It wasn’t bad, but it was the kind of meal you could find at many other places for half the price. For a restaurant at this price point, I expected much more in terms of flavor, presentation, and overall wow factor. On top of that, the service was very, very slow. If you don’t have plenty of time to spare, this probably isn’t the right spot. The pace of the evening made the experience feel even less worth the cost. I’m glad I had a gift card to try it, but paying full price would have been disappointing. For me, it simply wasn’t worth it.”

“The food was quite good. Nice ambiance in a lovely hotel. As other reviews have suggested, service is incredibly poor. 15 minutes to see a server, 30 minutes (!!) to get water, and had to physically run down a server to close my check to leave. Sadly seems to be a staffing or management issue.”

“I visited the Salamander on October 25th for afternoon tea with a friend who traveled to DC from Delaware to join me. We’ve enjoyed tea service at many hotels, so our expectations were shaped by those experiences. Unfortunately, this visit fell short. Service started off slow for our 2 pm reservation, and once our tea tower arrived, our server didn’t walk us through the selections, something we’ve always found to be a thoughtful part of afternoon tea. We also had to ask twice for the check, and while it took some time to arrive, payment was processed very quickly. Even a simple request for a bag for our to-go box required an extra prompt. The setting is lovely, but the attention to detail and warmth we’ve come to expect from a Salamander property were missing. My friend has stayed at other Salamander locations and noted this experience didn’t reflect the brand’s usual standard of hospitality. My friend said she will not be coming back.”