Sponsored by the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, which offered my husband and me a complimentary one-night stay, a dinner at their Entyse bistro, and a full breakfast for review purposes. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.
My husband and I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner last weekend, and it was obvious from the moment we had our minivan valet parked that we were in for a special, romantic getaway. The kids were safely tucked away: my oldest was at a junior high church retreat and my younger two kids were staying with our best friends (with the promise that one day we’d babysit their three kids while they enjoy an overnight trip). After the anxiety and unexpected day-to-day togetherness during the government shutdown, it was lovely to have a night just to ourselves.
The Ritz-Carlton hotels pride themselves on unparalleled service, and we were lucky to witness that firsthand. There was a mix-up with our reservations, but it was immediately taken care of, and we were upgraded to the club level, allowing us access to a dedicated lounge with food, drinks and our own club level concierge. For a one-night stay, the club level (which is $120 extra a night) seemed extravagant, but we can see why anyone who can afford it would want the convenience of the club lounge and experience.
The Room: We stayed in a standard club-level room. This being Tysons Corner and more of a business clientele, this Ritz has a traditional style with a plush bed, oversized desk area and a beautiful marble appointed bathroom with a deep tub and luxurious Asprey London toiletries (I love trying the high-quality toiletries at hotels, and the Asprey line was gorgeous and fragrant). Because we only have a shower in our master bath, I had to indulge in a bath and then stepped into the signature plush Ritz robe. This isn’t a modern or eclectic hotel, so don’t expect any lucite tables and animal-print robes here. As my good friend from Texas says, “This is the Ritz, y’all!”
The Food: We had a three-course dinner at Entyse Wine, Bar and Louge, and we were thrilled to see that there was live music. The lighting and the jazz swathed the restaurant and bar in a romantic glow, and we even got to see a beautiful older couple get up and dance for a while. We would’ve danced, but we were too busy eating! The other restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton is The Palm, but if you want an indulgent but less spendy meal, Entyse is a fabulous option. I had my first Martini in years accompanied by a platter of spiced nuts and wasabi peas (make sure to tell them if you’re allergic!). We were fairly starving, so we ordered a charcuterie board of local artisanal cheeses and meats. Our favorites were the prosciutto and the Appalachian cheese. For our main courses, my husband tried the filet mignon (which was good but that he kept unfairly comparing to the steaks he’s had at The Palm, Del Frisco’s and Peter Luger), and I had a simple but wonderful grilled salmon in lemon butter sauce. For dessert, he had an espresso with warm chocolate cake topped with passion fruit sorbet, and I once again went with something I knew I’d love: vanilla creme brulee with berries and some illy coffee.
At breakfast the next day, my husband waxed poetic about the Chesapeake Eggs Benedict (he loves crab meat!), while I enjoyed the various options at the full buffet, including yogurt and fruit, muffin tops and other pastries, and a custom veggie omelet. We were properly stuffed, but it was a good thing because we didn’t eat lunch out and about for another six hours.
The Amenities: There are too many to name, and we didn’t get to enjoy them all. For our short visit, we skipped the gym and the pool, but we did enjoy the snacks and water bottles at the Club Lounge, and we asked the concierge to print out the showtimes at the Angelika Mosaic in Merrifield, where we planned to hang out after doing some early holiday shopping at Tysons. Within minutes of our request, an envelope appeared under our door. Magic! There is also a full calendar if you want to take advantage of the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner’s seasonal teas, workshops and other special events.
Bottom Line: If you want a luxurious night or weekend away from home, we think the Ritz-Carlton Tysons is the perfect place to indulge. We think every couple should enjoy some time away together, and if you can afford the splurge (it’s $239 and up a night), go for it! Also, if you have picky relatives (in-laws, cough, cough) coming in town to visit, send them to the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner! They’ll love it, and you won’t have to worry (as much) about turning your house inside out for them.
