As part of a multi-million dollar renovation that included an updating of all of its guestrooms and suites, Gaylord National has opened Harbor Social. This elevated sports bar offers interactive games including duckpin bowling, bocce ball, darts, shuffleboard, and more. There is also a 30-foot video wall lounge and a 50-foot bar with multiple TVs.
“Each aspect of Harbor Social is intentional and was built with our customers and their needs in mind,” said Dan McKeon, Area General Manager at Gaylord National Resort. “We see Harbor Social as a place for our guests to convene and network after a long day of meetings, to hold a team outing after their summit concludes or for locals to just relax and have a drink. Harbor Social is meant to be approachable and enjoyable for every customer.”
Harbor Social definitely hits a home run with its food menu, which focuses on handheld sliders, curated by the hotel’s executive chef, Jakob Esko. The sliders, which are meant to be shared, arrive in orders of 2, 4, 6, or 12 and incorporate well-known local favorites. Sliders come in variations such as the Marylander – a crab cake with Louis sauce on a brioche bun; the Politician – a DC half-smoke with sweet-hot mustard and spring onions; and the Clucker – free-range fried chicken with Capital City Mambo Sauce and pickled red onion on a potato bun. French fries are another tasty option with Smoked Fries, Bay Fries or Truffle Fries to choose from. For those looking for healthier fare, Harbor Social offers a flavorful hummus or the Valley Girl – a plant-based slider with caramelized onions and mushrooms.
“The hand-crafted sliders are a key element in the overall concept of Harbor Social,” said Allen Smith, Director of Food & Beverage at Gaylord National Resort. “Our executive chef, Jakob Esko, and his team worked to come up with a delicious handheld option that could be easily enjoyed while taking part in the games and socializing with friends. Our team also selected ingredients synonymous with the capital region in support of local businesses.”
Harbor Social is open from 4 pm until midnight on most days. The space is also available for private event rentals.
