The Alexandria, Virginia property aims to lure guests across the Potomac
May 15, 2024
Tad Wilkes
Aparium Hotel Group’s Hotel Heron, set to launch this spring in Alexandria, Va., hopes to draw travelers from Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River. A key part of the attraction will be three foodservice concepts: Hotel Heron’s flagship, ground-floor restaurant KILN, serving wood-fired Mid-Atlantic cuisine; Francis Hall, an elevated craft cocktail bar “hidden in plain sight;” and the seasonal rooftop destination, Good Fortune, with views of the river.
The 134-room boutique property, built in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, will feature a modern event space and elevated guest rooms, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center and meeting spaces designed for socializing, co-working, creating, eating, drinking, and relaxing. Hotel Heron is one of four planned additions to Aparium’s 11-property portfolio.
Director of food and beverage Betty Woodward will oversee operations of the three outlets, as well banquets and in-room dining. Chef Matthew Maienshein, who has worked as a chef de cuisine under chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, will curate menus, with a focus on KILN.
“I’m excited to collaborate with such a creative team and introduce something fresh to the Alexandria community,” Maienshein said in a statement. “Our culinary offerings will be a product of our collective curiosity and desire to showcase the people, ingredients and flavors of the region.”
KILN—whose name is inspired by Alexandria’s first documented potter, Henry Piercy—will offer all-day dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with menus showcasing classic dishes, “skillfully reimagined with a contemporary twist,” as well as seafood offerings from nearby Chesapeake Bay.
Dinner at KILN features dishes like potato bread crafted with locally sourced seaweed, and a whole chicken roasted and smoked over KlLN’s hearth. The restaurant’s cozy vibe is drawn from earthy hues and touches such as silk-screened tiled walls, locally crafted furnishings from Austin Morris and Beachley, and regionally-sourced leather accents.
A different aesthetic will welcome guests in Francis Hall, an intimate jewel-toned, tented space with burnished brass and antique mirrored accents setting the stage for craft spirits and libations. The 30 drinks on the cocktail menu will range from approachable to experiential.
Rooftop cocktail destination Good Fortune, with views of the Potomac and Washington’s iconic monuments, will be open seasonally through October. The bar also will offer a lineup of events, from eclectic DJ sets to a summer concert series.
“With KILN, Francis Hall, and Good Fortune, our team has crafted not just a dining experience but a lifestyle,” Woodward said. “I look forward to extending our signature hospitality and creating lasting memories for our guests.”
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