The hotel itself is absolutely stunning, with spacious rooms, a glorious entrance, an art collection that is awe-inspiring, a huge casino, and restaurants from world-famous chefs. I went and stayed at the facility and am here to give you all the juicy details.

The Rooms

Even the regular rooms are lovely, with plenty of space and pristine amenities, but if you are looking for something really special, consider a corner suite at the MGM National Harbor. It has a huge bathroom with double sinks, a seating area, and floor to ceiling windows. Plus, by booking a suite, you get access to the VIP lounge which includes VIP check-in and complimentary snacks, beverages, and wine.

The Entertainment

The Casino: If you are staying at the MGM National Harbor for some rest and relaxation, I would start off with a drink in the VIP lounge or the lobby bar and then head to dinner. After dinner, check out the casino and try your hand at blackjack, poker, or Russian roulette!

The Theater: You may want to plan your trip around a show. Cher has some upcoming dates, as does Ricky Martin and The Temptations. See the website for info on booking a VIP box if you want the royal treatment.
The Spa: The morning after wining and dining you are going to want to hit the hotel’s premier spa. Aside from relaxing spa treatments there are also saunas, whirlpools, and a relaxation room. You can also use the gym.
The Pool: Nothing says relaxation like pool-side lounging!

The Art

At some point during your stay at MGM National Harbor, you should walk around the hotel and appreciate the art collection. The works of art are scattered throughout the resort’s public spaces, featuring commissioned and procured artwork by renowned local and international sculptors, photographers and mixed-media artists including Bob Dylan, Margaret Boozer, Alice Aycock, Ron Beverly, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Sam Gilliam, John Dreyfuss, John Safer, Liao Yibai and Chul Hyun Ahn.

Shopping and Drinking at MGM National Harbor

Shopping: try on Sarah Jessica Parker-designed shoes or purchase sunglasses from Specs. The hotel has a number of clothing and lifestyle stores.
The Drinks: MGM has a number of watering holes, each one with its own theme. Both the Blossom Bar and The Felt Bar are located in the casino so you can take breaks in between gambling to have a drink. Or, if you aren’t into gambling, you can just hang out, people watching, and sample some craft cocktails!
The Lobby Bar: This charming spot is a great place to kick off the night, or indulge in a nightcap.

The Blossom Bar: The themed décor of this bar ranges from cherry blossom like lighting fixtures to cherry blossom floor to ceiling photographs, paying homage to DC’s historic cherry blossom trees. The drinks are also cherry blossom-themed, which the Nelly Blossom being the most popular. Made with vodka, cherry blossom tea, pomegranate, lemon rose syrup and Champagne it is as tasty as it is lovely to look at.

Felt Bar & Lounge: This lounge offers the region’s first tableside mixology program, which, having experienced in Las Vegas, is fun and interactive.

The Restaurants

When staying at the MGM, you will surely be indulging in some fine dining. The choices are plentiful!

FISH by Jose Andres: Although it’s a seafood restaurant, there are choices for everyone. My friend and I indulged in a fresh, vibrant kale salad, Romanesco, hush puppies, and mushrooms served with a sweet potato puree.

MARCUS by Marcus Samuelsson: Sample classic American fare like pasta, salads, sandwiches, fries, and more. This is a great spot for brunch, where you can indulge in omelets, pastries, and bottomless mimosas.

GINGER: An upscale Asian restaurant is another fine dining option.
Bellagio Pâtisserie: This is where you have to go for dessert. Truffles, macaroons, and other pastries are available, some of which are so beautiful you won’t want to eat them!

The Verdict

MGM National Harbor is the ultimate staycation. Food, drinks, entertainment and a luxurious spa all in one location, just steps from your hotel room. Book that corner suite today!

MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, Website 

The post Weekend Guide: MGM National Harbor appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

Getting There:

Whether you’re spending a day or a weekend at National Harbor, it’s pretty easy to get there. It’s a 10 minute drive from Alexandria, VA, 25 minutes from Downtown DC, and an hour from Baltimore. It is also pretty accessible by Metro/Bus from Washington, DC, taking around 50 minutes to get there. A car is not necessary at National Harbor as there is a circulator that takes you to the Tanger Outlets, the Gaylord Convention Center, and the MGM hotel.  More details on how to get around here.

What to Do:

There’s plenty to do during a weekend at National Harbor. From gambling at the new MGM Casino to the Capital Wheel, there’s enough to keep the family busy. Here are some highlights of what we did during our getaway:

Capital Wheel: I don’t even remember the last time I was on a ferris wheel! This was a great experience to do with the family or as a romantic moment. Given that our trip was in the heart of winter, the lines were short and we had a carriage all to ourselves. I enjoyed taking in the views of National Harbor from the Capital Wheel.

Shopping: Make sure to make room in your luggage for shopping! Let’s start with the Tanger Outlets. No need to travel far from the city to get your outlet fix! So excited to see that some of my favorites: DVF, Tahari, and Nike have stores at the Tanger Outlets.  The Waterfront area is also home to great shopping as well with a good mix of national brands and local shops. Stay warm with sweaters and beanies from Carhartt and contemporary fashion from one of my local favorites, South Moon Under. Side note: I didn’t know Carhartt had such cute baby stuff, a must shop if you’re looking for cute and functional cold weather gear for tots.

Potomac Riverboat: We were bummed when we found out that Potomac Riverboat was closed for the season. If you read this blog frequently, you know I LOVE a boat ride. I can’t wait to return to go on the Mount Vernon boat tour.

Where to Eat:

When spending a weekend at National Harbor, bring your appetite! There’s so many places to eat and for every taste. Some culinary highlights:

Granite City Brewery: For a casual meal, head to Granite City Brewery. They have an onsite brewery and a wide selection of beers to choose from. The beer selection ranges from a light pilsner to a chocolatey stout. If you can’t make up your mind, they have beer flights with a sampler of their offerings. The highlight of our meal were the pulled pork nachos. Sooo decadent but sooo good! What makes Granite City a great stop, especially for families is the service. Everybody was super friendly and accommodating as we were dining with an infant. Local Tip: My friend who works at National Harbor recommends their margaritas for happy hour!

Portum at Harborside Hotel: This restaurant is a hidden gem. Located at the newly renovated Harborside Hotel, Portum offers a unique and refined menu. I indulged in a succulent lamb shank as the meat just fell off the bone. Away from the crowds of the Waterfront, this space makes for quiet yet delicious culinary experience.

Old Hickory Steakhouse: What makes Old Hickory interesting is the contrast of navigating through the maze that is Gaylord Hotel to this cozy dining space. This is perfect for a romantic dinner or a business meeting.

MGM National Harbor:

The culinary offerings at the MGM National Harbor are worth the trip! Bonus: the parking at MGM is still free! Make sure to head to Jose Andres’ newest restaurant, Fish. The restaurant features local seafood items from the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay. Dining Traveler Tip: book a table at their kitchen bar to witness the culinary magic!  The Voltaggio Brother’s Steakhouse is also a culinary experience to be had. The highlight of dining at Voltaggio Brothers was the service. I’ve never encountered a staff who knew their menu as well as at this location. Must add the brunch buffet at Marcus by Marcus Samuelsson to your weekend at National Harbor itinerary. The quality and selection of the food, especially for a buffet is exceptional.  More about the MGM culinary experience coming up soon!

Where to Stay:

For this getaway, we stayed at Harborside Hotel, a newly renovated boutique hotel in Oxon Hill, MD. Although the hotel is not located directly in the waterfront, they do offer a free shuttle from the hotel to MGM, Tanger Outlets, and National Harbor Waterfront. The staff is super friendly, rooms are large and comfy, their restaurant Portum is excellent, and there’s free parking. Aside from experiencing National Harbor, this hotel is a great choice for families who want to visit the DC area who can use a larger room and free parking without the hassle of the city. My only point for improvement was the breakfast. The selection was quite limited as we waited 30 minutes for sausage and bacon to be refilled at the buffet. To be objective, that weekend there was a cheerleading competition at National Harbor and the hotel was filled with hungry teenagers!

Weekend at National Harbor: The Verdict

Whether you live in DC or you’re visiting the area from abroad, make National Harbor part of your itinerary.  Whether it’s been a short visit or a weekend stay, one thing is consistent: the staff at National Harbor is superb. From the friendly note from our housekeeper at the Harborside hotel to the staff at Granite City going out of their way to make sure our baby was comfortable, we encountered lovely people every step of our staycation! At every stop, we’ve encountered exceptional service from a vibrant and diverse staff. It truly reflects the richness of metro Washington, DC area.

Disclaimer: This experience was partially sponsored by National Harbor CVB. However opinions are my own and I have been to National Harbor several times on my own before this weekend staycation experience. 

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