The birthplace of Starbucks, Boeing, and Microsoft – Washington DC is one of the most acclaimed cities in the USA. But the event spaces in Washington DC hold their own allure – from unique venues along the Capitol riverfront to amazing restaurants in downtown Washington.
Here are the top five event spaces in Washington DC – exquisitely designed spaces with virtually endless layout options. These can range from hosting seated dinners to intimate parties. Some have excellent catering services, and just make it easy to plan a memorable and successful event.
Top 5 Event Spaces in the Washington DC
Washington DC is a city rich with culture, entertainment, history, trendy spaces that the public can visit, and more. This adds a wonderful extra element to an event that you may be planning, giving guests the opportunity to explore more of the city before or after an event.
Aside from the fascinating surroundings, it’s important to look for certain elements in a venue that you are considering for your event.
Location
Your venue should be easily accessible for the guests who will be joining, be that in close proximity to where they will be driving from or to public transport. If the guests will be traveling from out of town, consider the location of your venue in relation to main roads coming in, airports, or bus stops. And remember to have a location pin ready to be shared with guests so they can find the venue easily.
Parking
While many guests may elect to use public transport or ride-sharing, some may choose to drive to the event. So adequate and secure parking is essential. Make sure that you chat to the venue owners or managers to arrange for use of the parking area, especially if there are regular patrons who will be there.
Services and Amenities
Does the venue have all the necessary elements that you will need for your event? These include tables, chairs, and linen; a kitchen for preparation or storage of food and beverages; sound system if the visiting party will be making speeches; and a setup and clean-up crew.
Venue Capacity and Minimums
This seems pretty obvious, but some event planners don’t consider the capacity of the venue and how many, or how few, guests it can accommodate. Also think about the minimums when it comes to food and beverages. Some venues have a minimum spend on F&B which will need to be communicated to the client to ensure everything fits into budget.
1. Millie’s
If you’re looking to visit one of the best restaurants and event spaces in Washington DC, Millie’s is your spot!
In addition to a great California-meets-Baja-style menu that includes flavor-filled quesadillas and tacos. You will also find delicious seafood options and the signature Frosé. Plus, Millie’s is also dog-friendly. So if the event is being hosted after a dog-training or walking session, Millies is a great place for guests to relax afterwards.
Millie’s is open for brunch, lunch, dinner, or all-day drinks – with a fun happy hour from Monday to Friday, 4 pm to 6 pm. This makes it a great event venue for intimate gatherings or holiday parties.
Or bring Millie’s to your location with the Millie’s Food Truck. Coastal food and beachy vibes could be on the doorstep of your next corporate event.
2. The Sovereign
Located in DC’s Georgetown neighborhood, The Sovereign brings the best of Belgian cuisine to any event, whether they’re social events, cocktail receptions, or business meetings.
The menu infuses French, Dutch, and German cooking techniques and ingredients, complemented by a wide selection of craft brews. 50 Drafts and over 350 bottles of Belgian-style ales make for a unique event experience in the nation’s capital.
Across its two levels, The Sovereign can host private parties such as a sweet 16, or help a corporate team celebrate a big sale or award. Each has its own bar for reception-style events, with a large main dining area for a seated dinner.
Or take advantage of one of The Sovereign’s upcoming in-house events to host cocktail parties, bachelorettes, or even intimate graduation parties.
3. The Bullpen
Events hosted around sports games and matches are always winners! Live music, good food, and a great vibe, in a spot that is conveniently located – what more can you ask for?!
The Bullpen is situated on the doorstep of Nats Park in Navy Yard. It offers a weekly schedule of baseball games for pre-game warm-up, spirited game-watching on site, and post-game celebrations.
One of the most iconic event venue spaces in DC, The Bullpen has been a sought-after location for hosting multiple concerts and events annually. This is great to tag your next event onto. It could be treating your team to a corporate event with all the sporting excitement of the next ballgame; or hosting a smaller memorable event with a more intimate crowd.
4. Zeppelin DC
For a unique event with Japanese flair, try Zeppelin DC!
Shaw’s first Omakase Bar, Zeppelin creates and serves traditional Edomae-style nigiri sushi, Japanese charcoal grilled yakitori, and a range of options from the Omakase Bar.
The venue has three areas where you can host your next special event. The upstairs dining room has a capacity for 90 guests standing, while the patio is great for outdoor events, holding up to 70 guests. The bar area has a capacity of 20 guests, so if you’re hosting quiz night or a darts game, this is the place to be.
But wait, there’s more! This stunning event holds an experience secret: karaoke parties! What makes a more successful event than a group of colleagues after a hard day of conferencing coming together in song? Up to 40 guests will get you the room at no charge, but a larger number will require a full room buyout.
5. Hill Prince
One of the historic places to host an event in Washington DC is Hill Prince.
Located on the iconic H street corridor, this row street renovation has a restored living room, a cocktail bar, an outdoor courtyard, and a spacious carriage house. There are also rooms where private parties can be hosted. Room 112 is your go-to for a cocktail party of 10 to 15 guests, while Room 113 can be your annual company brainstorm, hosting 12 to 25 guests. For larger corporate meetings, The Barn can host 100 to 125 guests – so when the team flies in from across the globe, you know where to go.
Or take it all the way down for those extra special events for two, like a marriage proposal, in Room 114.
All private rooms also have a special punch menu that can be shared and enjoyed with your group of colleagues or friends.
This multi-flex event space has a great drinks menu, serving everything from eclectic cocktails to wines, beer, and drafts, in a spot that has true historic charm. For event planners, it’s important to look out for good management systems in multi-functional event venues such as these. Hill Prince has each of its event management steps “on tap”, using Perfect Venue’s event management software.
The Bottom Line
Any and every kind of event can come to life in one of the Washington DC event venues. From corporate events to memorable events at wedding venues – any event planner is spoilt for choice for a location at which to create an event.
When you’ve chosen your venue, what it comes down to is having an intuitive event management system to ensure that everything runs smoothly. This makes for a successful event – and return clients at the end of the day.
Perfect Venue makes managing events a breeze, being easy to use, and up or downloadable depending on the size of the venue. Watch this quick demo for more info, or launch your event planning straight to the next level with a 14-day free trial!
