Walk in one direction to see rows of 18th and 19th-century Victorian and Federal townhouses. Turn another way and you come upon the bustling scene of shops, restaurants and the three-story Georgetown Park mall. When it is time to leave the Four Seasons the doorman waves his arm and blows his whistle softly but with authority to summon a taxi. He has the presence of a conductor giving a special performance. Even if you are not someone recognizable, he knows that if you stayed at his hotel you are an important guest.
Food is too.
The main dining room and wood-paneled Fairfax Bar look much like a members only club. The restaurant is housed in The Luxury Collection Hotel, formerly The Fairfax, which was once owned by the Gore family and was considered highly exclusive. Executive Chef Hidemasa Yamamoto describes his menu as Continental with Pan-Asian influences. Because of the proximity to the Maryland shore, crab meat is served as an appetizer, in a cream soup and in main courses. Patrons eat 15,000 crab cakes each year.