The ballpark district in the Navy Yard boasts so many fine bars, restaurants, and hotels that we have talked about, but if you consider the experience — you have to check out the newly opened Walter’s Sports Bar and the once-in-a-lifetime Nats packages and experiences from the Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol – Navy Yard. Maybe you do both in one trip.
It took a Nats fan like Jeremy Gifford to conceptualize and open Walter’s Sports Bar in the shadows of Nats Park literally steps from the centerfield gates directly across from the Geico Garage “B”. The interior is a sports fans dream as if you are in your own “man/woman cave” with too many TVs to count and a selection of beers that will satisfy any “brew” connoisseur and cicerone.
Walter’s, named for Washington Senators Hall-of-Famer Walter Johnson, is artistically front and center in imagery throughout the bar. There are other baseball images including custom wallpaper in the bathroom.
But the most unique offering in Walters is the prepaid cards to pour your own beers and avoid the lines at the bar!
The beer/cider wall will rotate 24 different offerings daily. The machine charges you by the ounce that you pour and their is a fail-safe to prevent patrons from going overboard as the machine requires you check in with a staffer after 32 ounces which is the equivalent to about 3 standard brewskis. On this night, it was $5 for a glass of Budweiser and $10 to $12 for a specialty beer that Walters and the Atlas Brewery created.
“We have the only 220 inch 4K TV in town and dozens of other TV’s to watch,” Gifford said. “Sports fans will love it here.”
Imagine the wall space you would need for a 20 foot TV that is larger than some scoreboards! Walters is a work-in-progress as the kitchen is not open yet, and they will serve a unique menu of food which will be perfect for families who want a gourmet burger before or after a game. Visitors have a choice of being seated at traditional tables, the 100-seat bar area, stand on the patio which will eventually be outfitted with tables for around 80 guests, or the 20-seat sidewalk patio will also open soon.
Besides the beer is a fully stocked bar of other libations including the “Bye Bryce Rye”, the “Hazel Lee” and the “8th inning Pain Killer” which hopefully will be renamed to the “Killa Bullpen” when they earn that title. Gifford knows baseball and has created a baseball fan’s paradise!
A Homewood Suites guest throws out the ceremonial first pitch (Photo by Paul Kim)
One block from Nationals Park is the Homewood Suites by Hilton which is the place to stay for any Nats fan looking for an experience package. Whether you live close-by or are visiting from afar, the hotel is offering a number of different packages for die-hard baseball fans including a First Pitch experience. Right now they have a First Pitch experience available at a home game against the New York Mets on September 2nd the opportunity for 4 people to watch the pregame press conference, four tickets to the September 2, 2019 game in the Delta Sky360 Club, which includes complimentary food and beverage, and a night’s stay in a corner suite with views of Nats Park.
“With our rooftop views of Homeplate and location just steps away from the ballpark, it’s easy for us to be huge supporters of the Nationals. We are excited for a great season ahead and the opportunity to provide our guests with exclusive access to all things Nationals,” said Anat Levinson, general manager of Homewood Suites.
As an official hotel of the Washington Nationals, Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol-Navy Yard is pleased to offer guests a variety of overnight packages and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to satisfy the needs of every Washington Nationals fan. View all package details and book online on the hotel website which includes the “They Take Me Out to the Ballgame Package” and the “Play Ball Package” and others.
Many other amazing experiences are available to guests of Homewood Suites Washington D.C Capitol-Navy Yard, including the opportunity to attend batting practice before the game or assist with the Racing Presidents. The hotel also boasts amazing views of Nationals Park from their rooftop deck which is available to book for private events all season long. For more information on these experiences or to book the rooftop, interested parties can call Mark Ryan, director of sales and marketing, at 202-899-2803.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol-Navy Yard, which opened in November 2016 has the iconic rooftop, available to all guests and bookable for special events, offers gas grills and panoramic views of the Washington, D.C. skyline and the U.S. Capitol and of course the ballpark.
