Argentta Spa

Let me preface by saying that given the reviews in here and other socials, I came here somewhat reluctantly (it was a Mother’s Day gift from my out of town daughter). However, my daughter is very picky (as am I) and I must say I have been very pleasantly surprised. Sit back/relax and enjoy the book I’m about to write. After spending 4 hrs at this place I do not understand the bad reviews. Like everything, there is some room for improvement, but honestly, at this point I’m just being extra picky so they could be truly flawless. Let’s start with the drive/parking- in the DMV area this is the first question. I used my GPS and entered “the watergate hotel- had zero issues. They have valet service and the guys are super polite. Everyone keeps reminding you to get that validation for the discounted rate. $12 🅿️ . Worth it. Old school doorman that actually opened doors and did the thing ✔️ Sleek/modern interior design at hotel lobby- ✔️ Concierge that gave clear directions and didn’t seem like I was bothering him ✔️ (you need to go to elevators and press B3 on the keypad BEFORE you get in the elevator). Polite/attentive/prompt receptionists at the Spa✔️ Minimalist but immaculate reception area ✔️ The relaxing room chairs are so comfy I fell sleep! If they had issued me a blanket I would’ve been knocked out for the count! There is a cart w different types of tea/ infused water and snacks (they are nut based so if you have an allergy bring your own or ask) My services both included a glass of champagne at the end. I saw others with cold water bottles given to them. Either way, ✔️ The entire area was immaculate clean. I was one of the first clients of the day but by the time my second service was coming it was almost standing room (that lasted a couple of mins only hence no stars were deducted). The relaxation room is unisex so keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to that. I am not. I had two services with time to relax in between/before/after. My first was a facial with Anna. She came in on time- and explained ahead of time what was included and my options for additional services “if she thought I needed based on her evaluation” wow… I’ve had facials in many places/countries. She is THE BEST. I will be coming back and sending my husband. She is merciless tho. If you have never had a deep extraction, take an ibuprofen 20mins before and BREATHE… the pain is worth it. It’s a mechanical extraction not manual. I may or may not have teared up. But my skin. 💯 Glass. FYI- I will be 50 in a couple of months and have never had procedures or Botox or any kind of fillers. Not against it. Just not my journey right now. After relaxing while sipping champagne I walked around and grabbed an apple at the gym. Went to the sauna/jacuzzi and pool. Then it was time for my massage. I had a signature massage and Yemi took great care of me. She explained what my service included (low to medium pressure) and what other services I could upgrade to (deep tissue/scalp treatment/foot scrub/hot stone/cbd oil) yup, I got them all. Things to note: she used the stones all over my body and not just my back. The scalp treatment she recommends leaving it on for 24hrs before washing out so keep that in mind. Overall is a 10/10. Idk what experiences others had, but it certainly was not mine. Specially as I sit here sipping on champagne while writing this review because I couldn’t wait for you guys to know! Insider tip: bring a bathing suit and your workout gear. Schedule your services in between using all the other amenities. Make a day of it. You won’t regret it. What could make it even better? Trashcans in the girls toilets. No one wants to walk out worth their personal hygiene items in hand. Also bigger trashcans in the locker room area. For my curly haired girls. Bring your diffuser as I didn’t see one and there is only one hairdryer so if it’s busy that might be an issue. I would’ve loved a shelf in my locker or more hangers/way to hang my clothes. Thank you for a great start to my Mother’s Day weekend!

Firstly, my massage therapist (Sherry) did an incredible job! She was very professional, attended to any areas that I requested, and you can tell she loves her profession. Absolutely no complaints about the massage itself. Now as for the amenities, let's just say the 5-star Watergate Hotel doesn't translate to a 5-star spa. You share all the amenities with hotel guests, so depending on how busy it is, you may or may not get the relaxing and quiet experience you'd expect from a high-end spa. The locker area in the locker room (at least the men's one) is a VERY tight space. Thankfully, I was the only one there at that time, but I couldn't imagine being in that space when it is busy if I was already cramped when it was just me. In theory, the "relaxation" room is a nice calming waiting area where you can sit with lemon water, tea, or a glass of prosecco. But unfortunately, you can hear noises from the shared locker room next door, so it wasn't a relaxing experience at all if I'm being honest. Sound proofing the two rooms would improve the experience IMMENSELY. 3/5 stars is fair for the spa in general, and it could go up or down a star depending on how busy the locker room and amenities are when you go. Sherry's incredible massage is my experience's true redeeming quality.

After doing some research, I found that this was the best massage in DC that came with access to amenities. I still agree with this. We booked a couples massage and were able to use the hot tub, pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation room both before and after our service. The steam rooms are the only things that are in separate locker rooms. The men’s steam room was broken and the women’s steam room smelled a little like mildew. The hot tub and pool were our favorite part. The relaxation room was comfortable with a few snacks, tea, water and a glass of champagne after the service. The pool is open to the hotel guests which was a little unfortunate because kids are allowed to be in there. Overall, we enjoyed our experience but it was definitely an expensive treat.

Lobby nice. Gym fine. Pool area was a bit of a mess with discarded towels and robes everywhere and discarded washcloths in the sauna. Hot tub wasn’t hot enough and was always crowded. Sauna was a little too hot. Pool was fine. Only one chaise longue if you want to rest between roasting yourself, and it was taken. Locker rooms were small and also a mess with towels robes and slippers all over the floor. I like that a lot of the amenities were open to all genders, so you can hang with your friends, but the spa vibe was lacking and I paid $85 just to come in and have a nice relaxing hot soak on a cold winter day. Front desk staff was great though. Really helpful and welcoming.

My experience is consistent with the other 4-5* reviews. The hydrotherapy circuit is lovely and rivals other lux resorts. The relaxation room is comfortable but not quiet. A lot of noise filters in from the surrounding locker rooms. Overall it lacks the decadence and attentiveness I’ve experienced but with that comes the absence of pretense and that can be comforting and relaxing for itself. There are no grooming amenities aside from the blow dryer so if you’re planning anything after, byo. It’s a reasonable value and great experience overall.