Riggs Washington DC sits in the former home of Washington D.C.’s Riggs National Bank. Located in the capital’s Penn Quarter neighborhood, the 121,000 square foot property features 181 residential guest rooms and suites, an expansive restaurant and café, a subterranean cocktail bar, and rooftop event space. Riggs Washington DC is the first U.S. hotel from international hospitality company Lore Group – behind the iconic and award-winning Pulitzer Amsterdam and Sea Containers London.Built in 1891, the landmarked building holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the last few Richardsonian Romanesque Revival-styled builds still standing in the city. The property originally housed the Washington Loan & Trust Company before being acquired by Riggs National Bank in 1954. Known as the “Bank of Presidents” throughout the early 20th century, twenty-three U.S Presidents banked at Riggs, which was then advertised as the most important bank in the most important city in the world.In concepting and designing the property, Lore Group Creative Director Jacu Strauss invoked the spirit of the former bank while preserving and restoring much of the property’s original design features and highlights, including the pillars, ceilings, brass detailing, and bank vault. The building’s heritage was its design inspiration, offering a visual narrative that draws on parallels between the activities of a bank and the activities that take place in a hotel. The rooms and suites, for example, are inspired by the mysteries and delightful surprises evoked through private safety deposit boxes; Throughout the property, something personal, unexpected and serendipitous is offered around every corner. Riggs Washington DC features the bank’s historic and original barrel-vaulted lobby and ornate ceiling. The public areas of the hotel embrace the architectural grandeur of the lobby and restaurant floor, with expansive ceilings decorated with elaborate coffers and oversized chandeliers. The reception area is an homage to the building’s previous use, with a large L-shaped bespoke desk reminiscent of a teller counter that would have greeted guests in the golden age of personal banking. A massive medallion of Juno Moneta, the Goddess of Money, presides over the room – a medallion found on one of the original banking doors.CAFÉ RIGGSOn the ground floor adjacent to the lobby is Café Riggs, a modern all-occasion restaurant and café inspired by the grand brasseries of Europe. Café Riggs embraces an all-day dining sensibility with menus carefully designed to accommodate breakfast, lunch, mid-day and dinner guests. Chef Patrick Curran, previously of David Chang’s Momofuku D.C., reimagines familiar and comforting dishes through a modern lens, with a specific focus on utilizing sustainable products. By day, the bar at Café Riggs features a bright and open lounge area and counter seating, providing pastries, juices, elixirs, smoothies and chia and acai bowls, as well as coffee from D.C.’s Small Planes Roastery. By night, the space transforms into a convivial atmosphere featuring a concise, approachable wine list with both Old World and New World options, as well as a menu of classic cocktails and dedicated bar menu.Designed by Jacu Strauss, the bright and airy space features a variety of custom furniture pieces, artworks, and mirrors nestled amongst the building’s original architectural features, including historic Corinthian columns, expansive ceilings, and classically inspired stonework. Accents of ochre, soft blue, grey moire and plum red compliment the various historic green, pale peach stone, and plaster finishes. The bar at Café Riggs is the living room of the hotel and features a selection of custom-designed furniture alongside a distinctive glass display case two-stories tall with supersized, handmade sculptural flowers in a variety of bright colors. SILVER LYANRiggs’ lower level is home to Silver Lyan, a subterranean cocktail bar by internationally-acclaimed bartender and Lore Group’s Global Bar Innovator Ryan Chetiyawardana (Mr Lyan). In signature Lyan fashion, the concept reimagines the traditional hotel bar, delivering something wildly new and disruptive to the current D.C. landscape – a groundbreaking cocktail bar that blends classical and kitsch styles. The brand’s very first U.S. venture, Silver Lyan focuses on the history of cultural exchange in America, bringing an elevated irreverence to the grand space to pay tribute to the past, present and future of the storied building. The Silver Lyan menu pairs traditional techniques and flavors alongside innovative ingredients to deliver a collaborative offering of bespoke cocktails and shareable snacks. Meanwhile, the interior design of the jewel box space – a collaboration by Chetiyawardana and Strauss – brings an unexpected and graceful perspective to the grand history of the building. A mixed palette of rich oak wood flooring, striking marquetry work on the walls, an illuminated Japanese-style Nori curtain entrance and pops of color throughout work together to bring a bold and eclectic F&B experience to the property. The result is a warm and welcoming setting that brings an entirely new – yet subtle – perspective to the market. As a foreigner in a new place, the Silver Lyan concept has global aspirations – while grounding its offering in the ever-evolving zeitgeist of Washington D.C. LOCATIONRiggs is located in the heart of downtown D.C., opposite the National Portrait Gallery and within walking distance to must-see attractions, including The White House, Capitol Hill, the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Having been rejuvenated over the past two decades, the Penn Quarter neighborhood now boasts a variety of entertainment and commercial establishments including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Capital One Arena, luxury shopping at CityCenterDC, Ford’s Theatre, Chinatown, and a growing list of restaurants and bars – all immediately surrounding the hotel.RIGGS WASHINGTON DC FAST FACTS ?Website:www.riggsdc.com?Address: 900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004?Telephone: (202) 638-4600?Email:info@riggsdc.com?Social: @riggshotel