Romance is cultivated through daily experiences. A soft touch, a shared smile and the special moments that inspire the inside jokes that make you blush with that fuzzy feeling of connectedness. If you’ve been with your special person for a month, a year or a decade, every now and then you need to switch things up and surprise them with a new experience that reminds you both why you’re all about each other. Sharing experiences is the best way to form long-lasting bonds, keep that new love interest intrigued and re-ignite passion by breaking the routine of a lifelong love.
As DC begins to warm after a long and extended winter and brisk spring season, you can experience the summer sweetness of flowers, vibrant colors and many many opportunities to dine outdoors and flaunt your blooming love. With almost unlimited choices, this list of rooftop locales is a perfect chance for a romantic date either during the day or in the warm summer air. Each of these eight romantic options offers a unique ambiance that can be the backdrop to an unforgettable moment with your sweetheart.
1. Dip and swoon at the Embassy Row Hotel
The rooftop of the Embassy Row Hotel is a top choice for daytime, sunset and night-time dining. The casually chic venue located in the infamous Dupont Circle boasts some amazing bites and cocktails such as the refreshingly sweet watermelon margarita, accented by a swimming pool available to the public by pass or by choosing to dine. One of the highlights of this central hotspot is the view at sunset. Many visitors use the natural canvas to snap breathtaking photos or just enjoy the spectacular scenery as it unfolds.
Embassy Row Hotel rooftop
Address: 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW, 20036 Washington, DC
Website: Embassy Row Hotel
2. A beacon for love
Take the elevator to the top floor of the Beacon Hotel to find a whimsical scene, with a water fountain in the middle of the well-designed rooftop, known for its decadent brunch with bottomless mimosas. The beautifully decorated Sky Bar is perfect for a first date, the first stop on a romantic getaway or a surprise night out with your love. With several intimate spaces for close conversation, a delicious selection of southern inspired dishes and cocktails, and an unbeatable view dotted with vibrant flowers that lead your eye across a landscape of the city’s modern highrises, this rooftop is perfect for nighttime dining as it is lit by modern yet gentle lights placed like jewels around the entire space.
Beacon Hotel rooftop
Address: 1615 Rhode Island Ave NW, 20036 Washington, DC
Website: Beacon Hotel
3. An Adams Morgan romance
The entrance to Roofers may look modest with the casual first-floor bar for waiting to meet your sweetie. The second floor may give you the feel of a rooftop with sophisticated glass walls and elegant chandelier lighting, yet when you finally reach the third-floor rooftop, all of the splendor of DC’s beloved Adams Morgan neighborhood opens up to you. The nostalgia of Adams Morgan’s 19th-century architecture can ignite your own shared memories as you take in the open air, enjoying some of the best culinary experience found in the northwest region of DC.
Roofers Union
Address: 2446 18th St NW, 20009 Washington, DC
Website: Roofers Union
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4. Make memories at Perry's
Another Adams Morgan favorite is the perfect choice if you know your love has a craving for sushi. Perry’s Restaurant has some of the most romantic nighttime lighting found in DC’s rooftop scene. However, come during the day for a clean and polished dining experience and some notable happy hour specials. You will be sure to impress, as the sun sets and the streams of lights hanging from the rooftop frames accent the sparkle of the eyes focused on you. This is certainly a venue where unforgettable moments can begin.
Perry's Restaurant
Address: 1811 Columbia Rd NW, 20009 Washington, DC
Website: Perry’s Restaurant
5. Reignite shared passion at The Observatory
Excellent choice for anniversaries, The Observatory located in Georgetown’s The Graham Hotel is an upscale destination where you may spot a senator or two while enjoying the amazing mixture of starlight, superb mixologist creations and refined ambiance. The dress code is classy and reservations are recommended to secure seating, and as the summer heat rolls in, you want to be sure to call in advance. Your reward will be an evening that is sure to impress your longtime love.
The Observatory at The Graham Hotel
Address: 1075 Thomas Jefferson St NW, 20007 Washington, DC
Website: The Observatory at The Graham Hotel
6. A trendy treasure
This summer, Kimpton Mason & Rook’s celebrated rooftop bar has a special addition. An innovative pop-up bar collaboration with Radiator is a special treat that is sure to impress this summer by mixing the season’s best flavors with the mastery of some of DC’s best mixologists. The venue opens to the public at 5 p.m. and is sure to be your newest favorite for sunset swooning with your new crush.
Kimpton Mason & Rook
Address: 1430 Rhode Island Ave NW, 20005 Washington, DC
Website: Kimpton Mason & Rook
7. A new point of view at POV Rooftop Lounge
On the corner of Washington and Alexander sits one of DC’s most renowned rooftop spots, POV Rooftop Lounge. POV boasts some of the best views of the monuments, incredible bites and crafted cocktails. This stately destination is perfect for new couples and longtime partners looking to get all dressed up and snap photos for the Instagram feed.
POV Rooftop Lounge
Address: 515 15th St NW, 20004 Washington, DC
Website: POV Rooftop Lounge
8. Victorian elegance at its finest
If you’re looking for an equally elegant yet more underground and fresh experience, Lost Society is a local favorite. Catering to a younger crowd with decadent Victorian style decor and romantic wood finishings, this space is ideal for a weeknight surprise date, offering delicious food and an intimate rooftop setting with a wall of crawling green vines and open-air luxury. To score a table in this outdoor setting, be sure to make a reservation or you can venture inside and still experience the amazing view through the open layout of glass walls in the main dining area.
Lost Society
Address: 2001 14th St NW, 20009 Washington, DC
Website: Lost Society
Romance is all around us
No matter where you decide to stop in, knowing that you made the effort to impress your special someone is all they need to feel valued. Food is so central to our experiences of romance, a full sensory experience that can enhance emotion and entice them to lean into your affection. Create an atmosphere for tenderness with your choice to start off the night. Keeping your connection strong takes much more than a great night out, yet it never hurts to treat your lover to a new experience they will treasure.