Fringetree

After months of renovation, FringeTree at the Westin DC City Center has finally opened today. The new space is a dramatic improvement over the old, offering food and drink in a bright setting. With bar stools, high-​top tables, and lounge seating that spills out into the Westin lobby, the bar offers a variety of spaces for all levels of privacy — something former mayor Marion Barry might have appreciated in 1990, when this was the Vista Hotel.
Expect hotel pricing to come with the territory, with cocktail prices ranging from $ 10-​$ 14 per drink, and most small plates in the same range, with main dishes as high as $ 34. A small coffee bar featuring Starbucks products will open tomorrow (2.28). As part of the opening, we were greeted with a portobello sandwich with house-​cut fries, and glasses of champagne. I tried the Esquire #3, a mix of Maker’s and Domaine de Canton with a splash of lime juice and an abundance of simple syrup, although I expect mixology will improve over time.