I love finding a hotel that’s unique enough to be a destination on its own. Throughout my life, I’ve stayed at plenty of hotels that were just a place you came back to at the end of the day. But I’ve only been to a few that made me say, “Wow. I want to spend more time here.” The Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa
I stumbled upon this gem while searching for a home base for a recent girls’ weekend in Alexandria. We wanted something a little upscale with easy access to the best of Old Town, and the Kimpton Lorien ticked all the boxes.
But the longer we were there, the more I was impressed by the hotel and its amazing service! I have never been to a hotel with such incredible staff and great amenities, and quite frankly, that’s the reason I think this hotel is worthy of a glowing blog review! (*This is not sponsored, by the way. I genuinely was blown away by this hotel’s quality and service and couldn’t help sharing!)
Here are my top 5 reasons you need to check out this hotel that truly goes above and beyond for its guests.
As I mentioned in my introduction, the Kimpton Lorien is perfectly situated for exploring Old Town. We considered the Alexandrian, which was further toward the waterfront, but I’m so glad we picked the Kimpton instead.
The hotel sits right on King Street, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and beautiful row houses. It’s within walking distance of both the George Washington Masonic Memorial and the waterfront and makes a great halfway stopping point between the two. Staying in this area allowed us to see most of the Old Town area as we walked to the more popular sites and led us to take some memorable side adventures that we might have missed otherwise!
One of my favorite parts was the ability to enjoy the King Street lights. At night, the path back to our hotel was lit by the warm lights lining King Street, and the hotel’s courtyard matched with string lights ascending from the old-fashioned clock. It created a very magical atmosphere to wrap up the day’s excursions each night.
Enjoying the warm lights at night Unique Boutique Atmosphere
I love hotels with distinct, non-generic atmospheres, and the Kimpton Lorien, Alexandria, has that feel from the exterior architecture to the cool blue murals over the beds.
I loved the lights and this classy clock in the courtyard The recently-renovated hotel is located inside a stately red-brick building, complete with a courtyard and outside seating areas. That red brick continues into the lobby, where sleek receptionist desks line the back wall, and a round, gold-covered bench allows guests to wait in comfort. Off to the right, a cozy sitting room with a long, low couch and gathered armchairs offers quieter areas for guests to bide their time. This room also offers access to more outdoor seating and a raised fire pit.
The sitting room is cozy and chic The hallways are decorated with artwork and mural-like patterns that add color and dimension to the bright-white walls. We particularly enjoyed this splatter-like pattern right outside our room, which made a great backdrop for some pre-birthday celebration photos.
Inside the rooms, the vibes are bright and cheerful, with crisp white sheets, low-profile lamps, and ink-blot-inspired artwork over the headboards in blues and greens. It’s very modern and spa-like, and walking into the room was always refreshing–even after we’d lived in it for a couple of days.
The rooms are refreshing with crisp white and cool blue tones Exemplary Service
Friendly Staff
From the moment I walked in, the staff at the Kimpton Lorien was amazing. Check-in was easy, and they had directions printed out to direct me to the parking garage at the back of the building. When I told them we were celebrating my friends’ birthday the next day, the receptionist immediately handed me a gift to help make her day special!
On my friend’s birthday, the staff sent another gift up to our room and made a point to check in with us each time we entered the lobby to make sure her day was perfect. When we went to purchase some bottled water at the end of the day, the receptionist gave them to us for free because we had mentioned that we were dehydrated from celebrating. I was genuinely touched that they remembered us and went above and beyond to help us enjoy my friend’s special day.
Text Message Check-Ups
Another gesture that impressed me was the daily texts. Each morning (and a few hours after checking in), one of the staff members texted me to make sure that we had everything we needed and enjoyed our stay. When we had questions, all I had to do was send a text, and the rep got back to me immediately. I loved the proactive service and continued commitment to checking in with each guest.
Awesome Amenities
With so many hotels reducing amenities due to COVID-19, the extensive list of amenities at the Kimpton Lorien was incredibly impressive. Even with some cutbacks of their own, they offered more than any hotel I’ve ever been to.
So Many Fitness Options
Each room comes with a yoga mat For starters, each room is equipped with a yoga mat for guests who want to work out in the privacy of their rooms. We wanted an additional mat so that both of us could do yoga, and all it took was a text to have it delivered right to the room.
However, if you prefer to sweat it out in the 24-hour fitness center, the lower floor is fully equipped with an extensive weight and cardio room next to the spa. It even has an upscale locker room across the hall with steam rooms and showers if you want to freshen up there instead of in your room.
And for those who don’t love walking, the hotel also offers custom PUBLIC bikes to help guests to explore town!
The Bare Necessities
The provided shower care items smelled amazing! Additionally, the Kimpton Lorien Alexandria removes the frustration of forgetting any of your necessities. The showers come stocked with large bottles of Atelier Bloem’s spa-like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in refreshing scents. And if you need any other toiletries, the front desk probably has them on hand, whether it’s a razor and shaving cream or body lotion and makeup remover (we ended up making several calls, and they had everything!).
An Incredible Spa
My absolute favorite amenity on site was the luxurious Kimpton Lorien Spa! If you stay at this location, do not miss the opportunity to spend an hour relaxing while the spa attendants work your cares away.
The spa is on the bottom floor, right across from the fitness center. But as soon as you enter, it feels like you’ve ducked into a relaxing little oasis.
The entrance to the Kimpton Lorien Spa The spa has a large menu of services available, from facials to foot scrubs to massages. You can choose from quick 25-minute sessions to full-day packages based on your time and budget constraints.
I can highly recommend the 50-minute massage, which was the perfect way to wrap up our weekend. The staff and service were excellent, which allowed us to enjoy every second of our relaxation.
Cozy waiting room Ready for my massage
It’s Pet Friendly
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Oh. Pet-friendly. It can’t be that nice.” Believe me; I was shocked when I found out! I had no idea that the hotel welcomed pets until we rode down the elevator with an adorable pup the next morning! I was pleasantly surprised that I had not heard (nor smelt) anybody’s pet up until that point.
The hotel makes sure that you and your pet are treated like royalty with special pet pillows, food and water bowls, and even bags for your doggie’s business. Pets do not cost any extra, and there is no limit on size, breed, or what branch of the animal kingdom they come from.
And if you’re going to bring your pet on vacation, Alexandria is certainly the place to do so! We saw dozens of people walking around with their furry friends in Old Town. Many of the local parks welcome off-leash dogs, several restaurants nearby encourage you to enjoy their outdoor patios with your pup, and the Potomac Riverboat Company even offers canine cruises!
Closing Thoughts on the Kimpton Lorien
If I get back to Alexandria, I will be staying here again! And if you’re headed to that area, you should seriously consider booking a room yourself. I had 0 complaints about the hotel or the staff, and the worst thing I experienced was a neighbor with their TV turned on too high. It really was the perfect home base for all our adventures.
If you’re planning a trip to Alexandria, Virginia, be sure to check out the rest of the posts in my Alexandria mini-series. I was shocked at how many things there were to do and how much we packed into 3 days. Hopefully, my guides can help you plan an incredible trip, too.
More Alexandria Posts:
8 Fantastic Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria, VA
The Most Instagrammable Spots in Old Town Alexandria, VA
Thanks for stopping by to read my review of the Kimpton Lorien. I hope you’ll take my recommendation to heart and book a stay there soon!
If you have questions or comments, I’d love for you to share them in the comments below–don’t be shy! And while you’re here, please take a second to save this blog to your Pinterest travel board for later and share it with your friends via social media or email.
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