Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa: Pampering People And Their Pups

Pampering people and their pups

Choose from 107 guest rooms including 16 luxurious suites for your perfect stay. Both guest rooms and suites feature plush robes and Frette linens. Like all Kimpton hotels, the Lorien is ultra-pet-friendly. Any pet you can bring through the door is welcome, at no extra cost. Dogs get a bag of tasty treats, a dog bed, and bowls. You get a clean and comfortable room. Guest rooms are available in king deluxe, queen deluxe, and clawfoot tub king options. Amenities include free loaner bikes, complimentary hosted wine happy hour 5-6 pm every night, a 24-hour fitness center, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the morning at the lobby.

Take time for the spa treatments

The location on the west end of King Street is quiet, especially if you get a room on the backside of the hotel. Terrace rooms like the Diplomat Suite offers 550 sq ft (51.09 sqm) of outdoor living. These terrace suites are perfect for family gatherings, business events, or just a couple that likes to lounge in the fresh air in peace and quiet. Plush patio furniture provides comfortable seating for entertaining, relaxing, or just sipping your morning coffee.

I ran a price check for a mid-week stay in January, and the rates were quite reasonable. Guest rooms start at 174 USD per night while suites cost 275 USD and up.

Two great restaurants on site

One of the best features of staying at the Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa is their two restaurants. Brabo Brasserie and Brabo Tasting Room are highly-rated restaurants in Alexandria. For breakfast, lunch, dinner or happy hour, try Brabo Tasting Room. Serving all week long, try their French-inspired menu specialties like gruyere potato cakes, morning sampler (waffle, Brabo benedict, and yogurt parfait) or brioche French toast for breakfast. Happy hour at the tasting room is from 3:30 to 6:30 pm daily.

For one of the best meals in Alexandria try Chef Sebastian Rondier’s French and European-inspired menu. Start with a bottle of Portuguese rose cashmere (Pato Frio) and pair it with the grilled octopus or cheese selection. Try the Le Grand Duck Flambé entrée to impress your spouse or date. Just be sure to order it 24 hours ahead of time. Chef Sebastien changes the menu with the seasons, but daily specials like herbed rack of lamb on Saturdays or the classic bouillabaisse on Fridays are top choices.

The wine and cheese selections are excellent. The wait staff seem to know the menu well and can guide you if you need help choosing the wine or the cheese. For dessert, try baked Alaska. This classic dessert will be torched right at your table, sliced and served to finish the night off right.

Take time out for a massage

The spa is another excellent reason to stay at the Kimpton Lorien Hotel. As Alexandria’s only hotel spa, Lorien’s services are offered in five treatment rooms designed by Vicente Wolf. Spa treatments range from massages and facials to waxing, make-up, and scrub sessions.

The men’s changing room was super clean and had sauna room I enjoyed prior to my massage. My wife and I tried the 80-minute Swedish massage with Loren and thought it was one of the best hotel-based spa massages ever. Ask for Loren if you can, as she is a true pro. The spa is located on the basement floor and provides a quiet, soothing space for spa treatments.

The Lorien Hotel also has four meeting/event spaces with 5,600 sq ft (520.25 sqm) for your needs. Capable of providing event space for up to 100 seated guests or 125 for receptions, you’ll find their modern, state-of-the-art meeting rooms perfect for your event.