If you’ve ever considered a date night reservation at Fiola Mare, and then thought “Eh, too boring,” there’s a place for you. And that place is inside a tricked-out luxury igloo at the Watergate.
The landmark DC hotel has ramped up their programming of late, offering everything from afternoon high tea—which can clock in at a whopping $400—to a new skating rink and winter lounge on the roof. Those looking for something a little more Artic-chic can reserve one of four “luxurious igloo experiences” on the outdoor terrace of the Watergate’s whiskey bar. The private heated domes, which seat two to eight, start at $200 before food and beverages.
The igloos aren’t actually igloos by Inuit standards—the only ice involved in the translucent huts is used to chill down bottles of bubbly, and there’s nary a seal hide or whale skin in sight. But if you’re looking for Eskimo kisses, the hotel offers a “romantic night out” package priced at $375 per couple that includes two dozen red roses, edible gold truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a choice of Champagne (true love: $1,000 rosé Dom Pérignon). It’s pretty cheesy, but also kind of awesome and totally Bachelor-esque. Hey, it beats a zombie paintball any day of the week.
You can reserve less-amorous igloos for afternoon tea ($55 per person) or a $75 per person pairing of whiskies, burgers, and cigars. Because who hasn’t wanted to hotbox an igloo?
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
