Rakel and Jacques Cohen.

Last month, the Watergate Hotel—yes, the Watergate Hotel that served as the backdrop for one of the country’s most notorious political scandals—reopened following an extensive $200-million renovation. Designed in 1961 by the Italian architect Luigi Moretti, the hotel had fallen into disrepair before New York real estate developers Rakel and Jacques Cohen of Euro Capital Properties swooped in to save the Modernist icon in 2010.

The Watergate Hotel's front desk.
The Next Whisky Bar.

Located along the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., Moretti designed the structure to resemble a sail on the water—all undulating forms and graceful curves. To return the Watergate Hotel to its glamorous, glitz-filled heyday, the Cohens called on the London-based architect, Ron Arad, whose designs often feature an abundance of rounded, looping lines, to helm the overhaul.

Arad was tasked with re-designing the Watergate’s lobby, The Next Whisky Bar, and the Kingbird restaurant, in a manner that highlighted the hotel’s timeless elegance and bold mid-century modern design. Arad wrapped the lobby’s walls, reception desk, and columns in bands of stainless steel and brass, while dazzling chandeliers and bright, custom-designed furnishing—many of which have been produced by the Italian furniture company Moroso—adorn the public spaces. One of the area’s defining features is a glittering copper wall that leads guests from the lobby into The Next Whisky Bar, where 2,500 custom whisky bottles line the glowing walls.

The Watergate Hotel hallway.
The living room in the Watergate Hotel's Presidential Suite.

For the Watergate Hotel’s 336 guest rooms, Euro Capital Partners teamed up with the acclaimed architectural and interior design firm BBGM. Each light-filled room features a serene palette, floor-to-ceiling Zebrano marble bathrooms with solid granite vanities, plush bedding, and cutting-edge technology. The hotel’s six Diplomat Suites and two Presidential Suites, inspired by iconic French and Italian design, boast dark wood floors and sumptuous custom furniture upholstered in leather and velvet. The Presidential Suites also feature balconies that offer stunning, panoramic views of the river.

A guest room in the Watergate Hotel.
The Watergate Hotel lobby.

To top it off, Janie Bryant—the celebrated costume designer behind Mad Men’s exquisite mid-century looks—designed the staff’s uniforms. Rakel Cohen said in a statement, “The Watergate is undoubtedly one of the most glamorous and illustrious hotels in the world. We paid meticulous attention to every detail in its renovation and we’re excited to bring our vision to life. Its intrigue is driven by evocative design, from the deep-rooted retro feel to the mystique that lies behind every curve of the hotel’s architecture.”

For more information about the Watergate Hotel, click here.