Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 1st Quarter 2017 | Page 61

Blossom Cocktail Lounge
Felt , where mixologist bartenders delight
MGM National Harbor ’ s opening early December created quite a stir with the hotel reaching full capacity within the first hour of opening . The 1.4 billion dollar casino is expected to drive tourism to the capital and the state of Maryland and includes 15 stores , several restaurants with well-known chefs , a full service hotel and 3,000-seat theater .
KNA design , in collaboration with Clique Hospitality , has created an unparalleled experience set to redefine sophisticated nightlife with Felt Bar & Lounge and Blossom Cocktail Lounge .
Felt Bar & Lounge has a more cosmopolitan feel , blending classical architecture with a more modern archival library . On the perimeter ebony bookshelves with gold leaf accents open out to the casino space and the experiences beyond .
Blossom Cocktail Lounge is inspired by D . C .’ s Cherry Blossom season and displays a captivating print of the Cherry Blossom Bloom of 2015 by Prince George ’ s County photographer Ron Beverly .
James Reyes , managing partner of the venues told us that the opening has been amazing . They have been blessed with the support of the District , Maryland and Northern Virginia , with the community welcoming them with open arms .
He gave us a glimpse into their offering , saying that they will continue to focus on service and their world class Mixology program , as they let their new Mixologist from the area feature unique regional recipes featuring local distilleries like Joseph Magnus Bourbon and Green Hat Gin – two local D . C . favorites for crafting cocktails .
James gave us a snapshot of the latest bar trends for 2017 . “ I feel the migration away from big , loud spaces will continue to more sleek , intimate ones . Comfortable lighting and sound levels and communal seating areas will dominate the next few years as customers long for personal service , like our lounges , Felt Bar and Lounge here in MGM national harbor and our sister property Clique Bar and Lounge in the Cosmopolitan Casino in Las Vegas NV .”
“ 2016 was the year of the creative cocktail ,” added James , “ and I think cocktails will stay the rage in 2017 with emphasis on intimate spaces that are service-centric . We have a few tricks up our sleeves but you will have to come see and experience our table-side mixology first hand .”
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