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    12 Stories

    3.3 (315 reviews)
    PriceyLounges
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    12 Stories Photos

    Business Info

    12 STORIES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Trendy
    DJ
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - 12 Stories

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    Outside
    Elizabeth D.

    Always a good time when I come to 12 stories in DC. The drinks, music and vibes are top tier. I ordered the espresso martini and it was very good, I also had a sip of my friend's midnight stories and enjoyed that too. There are bartenders and servers walking around to take your order or you can go directly to the bar.

    Inside- rooftop
    Mila F.

    I have been to 12 stories multiple times and my experience is always lackluster. Beautiful view. Beautiful decor. Drinks are good. But price is ridiculous. They may have events where they charge at the door and then drinks are still $30-$40 for anything at all. I used to say it's the wharf, but there are many other businesses on the wharf that are managing to make a profit with $20 drinks. There's also not many places to sit unless you come early and it's unreserved as there are only so many couches to space ratio. Cute stop in for a view and leave to eat and drink.

    Grilled shrimp:  22.00:  overcooked twice.  If you like tough seasoned shrimp, enjoy!
    Theartist F.

    Service great: drinks delicious: everything too damn expensive: shrimp overcooked: sent it back and it came to me over cooked again. 4 stars for the dope comedy show on a Thursday once a month. Eat before you come. I got a passionfruit margarita without ginger. Why isn't the bar stocked? Besides that it's a beautiful view and the servers and bartenders super friendly and understanding, especially G!

    Views of the city of the DC Area
    Takeya D.

    You have to check out 12 stories when you visit the DMV area it is a whole vibe and the night sky views of the city is bomb! Me and my friend went on a Thursday night for R&B night we definitely wasn't disappointed the DJ has us rocking all night the music was on point and the drinks were good but $26 for a drink is crazy work I had the casamigos Margarita

    Espresso Martini
    Shandy R.

    Rooftops are my favorite places to go and 12 Stories is in my top 5. I normally hate going to bars where it gets super crowded because it takes too long to get a drink. Definitely not my experience anytime I come here. The bartenders are great, especially Mike! He makes the best St Germain Spritzes and although the drinks ARE a bit more pricy than your average bar, you definitely feel like you get your monies worth. One of the best views in the city, diverse crowd, the music is always on point, you can't really go wrong coming here unless you don't feel like spending $50+ pp. I bring all my friends when they visit from out of town and I've heard nothing but great feedback. Not too sure about the food, but once I try it...I'll come back and update.

    Wings and fries
    Christine B.

    I had been to this establishment before but just to grab a drink. This visit was more extensive. I made a reservation for 2 not knowing that they didn't have a full menu, but just appetizers. We had considered going elsewhere, however I am glad we didn't. Upon entry, the staff was very hospitable and helpful with the process to get to the seating area. From the hostess to the manager and all in between were great. Our server (I believe her name was spelled 'Keilah') was fantastic. We notified her that we had time constraints and she ensured we were accommodated. The menu had many diverse food options so we ordered the grilled wings, French fries and crab dip. The fries were crispy, the wings were savory and the crab dip was delectable. We had enough food to get us to through most of the evening. The stunning views of the waterfront, the ambiance and most importantly the food,drinks and service were top tier. I'll visit again to try out Brunch.

    Bar
    Latoya E.

    Nice location, fast entry. I enjoyed my first experience here last night. I didn't think it would be as crowded as it was. I've heard good things about this place and I agree. The bar was very crowded but the bartenders work the crowd well. Friendly service, tasty drinks.... We were enjoying the patio. Although it is February and temperatures were pretty low the heaters on the patio and the view made it the perfect overflow area. It was a bit warm inside because of the crowd, so I wish we were able to stay on the patio, but they asked everyone to move inside and closed the patio at 12:30. No food, I'm not sure if they even have a food menu, we arrived around 12midnight, most kitchens are closed so we didn't bother to ask. The music they played was a mixture or old r&b, a few throw back gogo classics and new hits. We enjoyed the selections!! Bathrooms were clean and well lit! Thank you for that!! When we were ready to leave we had to stand in a pretty long line to load onto 1 elevator, they did allow us to sit while our men stood in the line for us. Overall great experience! I wish there was a coat check! Everyone seems to just have their coats on or holding them in hand.

    $33 lemon drop martini
    Takoya L.

    Made a reservation for a table 2 weeks in advance, 30 mins before my scheduled time the establishment canceled it. Got there they said it was a day party going on and reservations were only for people who purchased bottle service, but to accommodate me my party of 3 could enter for free and stand up somewhere - strike 1. Went to the bar ordered a lemon drop martini it was $33 -strike 2. The first bartender at least warned us of the price and was friendly so 1 star for that. Second round my friend ordered us 2 coronas $11 each cake with no lime. I went to the bar to request 2 limes (to go with the $11 beer) and was told there is a limit on limes. I was given one lime only and told my friend would have to order another drink to get her lime. Different bartender ( tall guy with dreads and a not so friendly attitude). What a mess!! Prices are beyond ridiculous. DJ was good but overall service didn't match the excessive prices. I personally will not return.

    VA view
    Elaine F.

    We are staying overnight at The Intercontinental for my husband's birthday. So I wanted to start with drinks, with a good view of the river and the Wharf. I made an afternoon (3:00 pm, so very early) reservation at 12 Stories. They have a separate entrance and a dedicated elevator, where the attendant checks your reservation before you are allowed up. The view did not disappoint. There is a beautiful view of the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin. I had two glasses of the Conundrum wine, a California white blend. My husband had a beer. The music is very loud for so early in the day, but it was still enjoyable. We did not order food, but they have a menu of small plates. The servers were very pleasant. We are seniors, and I was glad to be able to enjoy the view before the Saturday night crazies set in. Check it out if you are down at The Wharf.

    Water on the table
    Ree T.

    I had a wonderful experience at 12 stories. First and foremost the staff are wonderful. From the security person, to the greeter and the server, they are all top 10 in my book. I was the first to arrive in my party. The seated me where the view was gorgeous. The checked on me, had conversations with me and of course brought my drink as I waited. They had impossible sliders and they were impressive. Great vibe all the way around.

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    Jessica D.

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    Page 1 of 8

    12 Stories Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - 12 Stories

    Is the rooftop still open / covered if it rains?

    There is a bit of a covering (awning) they may have tarp they can add

    How is the parking at 12 Stories?

    There is a parking garage but it's not just for 12 Stories' customers and it's also weird to get to. If you blink you'll miss it. LOL. Honestly, I would uber to save a headache.

    Is there house music?

    They play house, top 40, and a mix of old school music

    When is the best time to go for a grown (over 30) and sexy and diverse crowd?

    Any day of the week! I thought it was a younger crowd but it's a mix. Old school music on weekends. Awesome DJ. It will not disappoint.

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    Live K Karaoke - Karaoke available without reservation in the lobby

    Live K Karaoke

    3.8(155 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Okay so hear me out... I enjoyed Live K for what it was. A karaoke lounge. So for that alone, Live…read moreK can get 4 stars. And parking in the surrounding area wasn't bad - about $24 for 3 hours on a Friday night in The Wharf garage. If I caught the parking price list accurately, 0-1 hours was $6, and 1-2 hours was $11. There is also valet options available too. Outside of that, let's step into the inside.... I attended Live K on a Friday night for a friends birthday. She did not book an isolated room but the opened floor was just that - an opened floor, people walking past, mics being passed around the floor, the bar steps away, all of the things. It's fun. BUT, I'm not going to lie - I will NOT order food or drinks from this place. I was told from the birthday girl that there is a happy hour with food and drinks from I think 4-7p but I arrived later than that, and paid MORE than full price for drinks in my opinion...... .....4 shots.... & 1 Red Bull, $124....... So do with that information what you will. I could NOT give this place 5-stars if I'm including REASONABLE prices.

    My review is more for my personal experience than the customer service…read more I attended a birthday party here and I had an amazing time with my friends so I can give them credit for not ruining that haha. The location itself is awful but that's the wharf for you. Parking is horrible and the garage is super expensive so the new location at the harbor may be better. We had a separate room and it came with two mics which was fun for us to duet or just share a song with a friend. The database is hard to navigate and a great deal of the songs don't come with lyrics so that was a bummer. Also they don't display the song when you're singing, sometimes it would be random figures on the screen so that was different. My friend ordered skewers, wings and fries and that was fairly solid so I don't have much input there. The bathroom was disgusting. Water leaking all over the floor and trash cans overflowing. I'd come back to the location if I could carpool but with the new location at the harbor that would be easier to navigate for sure.

    Photos
    Live K Karaoke
    Live K Karaoke - Shot glasses

    Shot glasses

    Live K Karaoke

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    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Gyoza ($15) - they are smaller than you can imagine

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden

    3.7(106 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I attended a holiday party at Zooz and had a great time! The venue was decorated beautifully for…read morethe holidays, and there was plenty of dining room and bar seating options. The happy hours deals were excellent ($4 beers, $10 cocktails), especially for the Wharf! There was a dj playing music, but it never felt like a "club" - there was plenty of space to move around, the music was at a good volume so you could still talk, and there was space for people to dance without bothering anyone that was sitting down. The bartenders were attentive, but we're definitely understaff considering the event and that most of drinks on their menu are craft cocktails.

    I had been here before for a date night but was invited back for a brunch and day party with a…read morefriend. We had reservations for 2pm and it was already packed with the dj spinning. Definitely a grown and sexy vibe. Our server was Yonas. I'm not sure if they were short staffed or if he was overwhelmed but after his original check in, it took him 15 minutes to come back and take our order. We actually had to find someone to find him (security) and have him circle back. I ordered bottomless mimosas and the steak and egg sandwich. My friend ordered quiche. Their brunch service needs a lot of work. Her quiche came out hard from being overcooked and my sandwich wasn't hot. 2pm reservation 210 First waiter (woman) took water order 230 Actual waiter returns for food and mimosa order order (Yonas) 245 Mimosas finally arrive 305 food arrives Don't see waiter again until around 4 and he returns to tell us that our 2 hour time limit was up. No checking in, no additional juice provided for mimosas. We were not happy and expressed our disappointment with service. He left and returned again around 430 saying the manager said we have exceeded our table time. No manager check in. I don't have an issue with the 2 hour limit, IF and only IF I am receiving 2 hours of consistent service. Especially if I am paying for bottomless drinks. Bathrooms were filthy and not kept up. Zooz do better and step up your brunch game if you want to compete with the competition.

    Photos
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Poisonous Kiss

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    Poisonous Kiss

    La Vie - Rice ball appetizer...delicious!

    La Vie

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    La Vie is literally "The Life" of the party in the restaurant world !! The atmosphere is extremely…read morevibrant and the staff is on point in a very energetic way. I was totally impressed with the entire experience at La Vie. I kicked things off with a dozen of oysters ( smallish for the price ) and a Ferrari cocktail that was definitely one of the best drinks I ever had in a restaurant setting. After that I dived into a super tasty Branzino complemented by a side of whipped potatoes... the branzino was flaky, with a sauce that gave it a nice boost !!! ( scrumptious ) With that said, the highlight of the night came at the very end.... The cotton candy ice cream on top of a fudge style chocolate cake was the perfect curtain call !!! And the fire display gave it a broadway show entrance.... I would literally go back just for absolutely out of this world dessert !!! ** Still trying to figure out exactly how a service charge differs from a tip ? Yes I understand what is being relayed... but it definitely felt like I was double tipping in real time !!!**

    We had a very disappointing experience with our reservation at La Vie through OpenTable for the…read moreValentine's Day prix fixe menu. At the time of booking, we were charged a prepaid amount of over $190. However, when we dined at the restaurant, the final bill did not deduct this prepaid amount, and we were charged the full price again. After realizing this, we contacted the restaurant. We were told to send an email explaining the situation, which we did two weeks ago, followed by another email one week ago. To date, we have received no response at all. This is extremely frustrating. Not only were we effectively double charged, but the complete lack of follow-up or customer service is unacceptable. We expected much better from a restaurant of this caliber. At the very least, communication and basic billing accuracy should be handled properly.

    Photos
    La Vie - Part of restaurant

    Part of restaurant

    La Vie - Prawn ala genovesa

    Prawn ala genovesa

    La Vie - View from where we were seated

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    View from where we were seated

    Whiskey Charlie - Bao sandwich

    Whiskey Charlie

    3.5(283 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    If you go up to the rooftop floor of the Canopy at Hilton in the Wharf area, you will discover the…read moregenius and spiritual alchemy of Whiskey Charlie. A bar with glorious rooftop views of the wharf and south of the Nation's Capital. Their drinks like their Old Scalawag are delicious made with Smooth ambler whiskey, grand marnier, and bitters. Their original Negroni is also on point and made think of a better life that lies in front of me for the sake of human purity and steadfast strength. It's very class and stylish the interior with modern artsy designs, sleek booth and chair seating. The bar area has a lovely whiskey selection to do neat pours or have in a cocktail depending on your persuasion. Very classy at night with splendid views. It's a good spot to bring a date and make out on the balcony overlooking the River. Just know that people will be judging you if it's a busy night.

    They have a happy hour and it's a really good deal! They even have HH on the weekends…read more $10 hand crafted cocktails! Limited food menu. Service is good. They appear to be light on staff, but that does not take away from the care and attention they provide. It just takes a bit longer to get a drink. My wife and I got engaged here AND had our 1st date here. I am very biased. . But come check this place out yourself. Their old fashioned are high quality and we appreciate the cocktails are hand made, not batched or draught. They recently redid the seating space to make it more appropriate for all seasons. It's very nice, but seat height puts the railing right where it cuts off the view of you aren't tall. Still, the view is one of the best in DC! Their out door seating is very nice. The roll back outdoor section was not working today. So the true outdoor areas were very sought after.

    Photos
    Whiskey Charlie
    Whiskey Charlie - Flatbread with no meat

    Flatbread with no meat

    Whiskey Charlie - Old Fashioned & the Bandit

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    Old Fashioned & the Bandit

    Colada Shop - Churro- fried pastry dough with cinnamon sugar served with condensed milk. Beware this came out HOT

    Colada Shop

    4.0(386 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I always hit this spot when I'm seeing a show at the Anthem!…read more Delicious (but a bit pricy) Cuban food, cocktails, and coffee. What keeps me coming back time and time again are their double-fried tostones. The texture and flavor is absolutely insane, and the sauce it comes with is to die for. I've also tried their Cuban sandwich, which is hot, melty, and scrumptious. The shop itself is bright and modern, and even has a small outdoor patio section. I will definitely be back when I have more shows at The Wharf in DC!

    Due to the Cherry Blossom Festival, the shop was extremely crowded, and I wasn't able to fully…read moreenjoy my experience. The staff seemed a bit overburdened trying to keep up with orders and get everything out in time. That said, the young man and woman who prepared my order were kind and very focused on doing their best. I definitely plan to return and give them another try under less hectic conditions. This location is an entire vibe. It's tucked down a painted alley that leads you to a side entrance, which I actually preferred over the front. Parking is what it is at the Wharf, but I recommend parking near the museum and walking over. Once inside, you're met with gorgeous decor and a thoughtfully designed space that feels like a Spanish-style bar set in nature. The tile, the color palette, and the food and drink options all come together beautifully. I ordered the Carrot Cake Con Leche, which came out to about $8 after tax. It was tasty and a great treat after my morning run. It did take about 15 to 20 minutes to receive my order, but given how busy it was, that felt understandable. I'm looking forward to returning and experiencing it at a calmer time.

    Photos
    Colada Shop
    Colada Shop - Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

    Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

    Colada Shop

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    12 Stories - lounges - Updated May 2026

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