Last weekend I threw my husband a surprise party and came to 12 Stories to wait for everyone to arrive at the karaoke bar. I told the hostess Jessica and the bartenders about it secretly because my nerves were a wreck. They were so nice!! So accommodating and comforting. We can back after the party with about 14 people and had such a great time! We were even gifted birthday shots. Whoever represents HR at 12 Stories you are doing a marvelous job. The customer experience was top notch. Special shout out to Jessica!! She is just awesome. Oh and the security. They were also the best! We will definitely be back :-) read more

12 Stories - Cocktails! - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'd been meaning to come to 12 stories for some time now with my wife and We had finally had the opportunity to visit this past week. We came to for a quick bite and a drink. We got to 12 stories about 3:45 pm, so had to wait to order food since the kitchen didn't open up until 4 pm, which was no problem. However, our waitress said she could put our order in in the meantime. For whatever reason the kitchen was very slow to open. We were wondering why it was taking so long for a dozen oysters and zucchini tempura. Our waitress was extremely apologetic and allowed my wife and I a drink on the house. Extremely classy!! The restaurant itself is well maintained and taken care of. With the cold weather coming in for winter I probably won't be back until early spring or summer, but my wife and I couldn't be more impressed with this place. read more

See all

Decided to see what the hype was about. Overall, I had a good experience. When you first arrive, you will be prompted to show ID and then directed to go inside and take the elevator up to the 12th floor (no other floors are listed). I loved the decor and esthetic of the bar. As for the view, it was amaze. I have a slight obsession with airplanes and loved how I could watch them take off and land from the Reagan Airport. The seating was a bit different as there were more lounge seating and limited space at the bar. We were seated in an area that was between the bar and lounge area. It kinda felt like we were out in the open. This could just be me being weird. The drinks: They weren't that great. I felt for the price, the drinks would be of better quality. I tried two different drinks (Ube-b and Watermelon Spritz) and didn't like them. Didn't taste any alcohol. They could make their drinks a little stronger while still making sure they're tasty. The food: The menu options are limited but I did enjoy the pretzel bites and chicken skewers. They were both delicious! The service: Service was pretty great. I don't have any complaints. Everyone was friendly and helpful. read more

BLUF: Take your selfie, have a sip and then dip. Covered rooftop views (beautiful), average drink menu errs on the side of the pretension-over-everything (even flavor) experience all so common in DC these days. There is nothing special about 12 stories, the experience is interchangeable with so many other trendy settings for beautiful people with the focus of carefully cultivating and culling their social media footprint with enviable photos and "experiences". I remember the wharf when it was the destination for fish, crabs and urban clubs. DAS IT. And then NEW DC arrived and spread and crept until the wharf became THE WHARF! the premier destination for many of DC's never ending list of new, up and coming, trendy, thoughtful* eateries. Some more innovative than others, ranging from food truck favorites gone store front, to up scale and trendy all centered around a not too well planned traffic trap (just Uber/Lyft or snatch one of those nuisance drive and ditch scooters guys. Thank me later). 12 stories is a new coctail bar nestled in the midst of the central portion of the waterfront property at the top of the Intercontinental Hotel. The menu lists all its sister establishments across the country-- essentially this is a chain and likely why I found my experience only moderately enjoyable. Situated directly across from La Vie-- it's the battle of the Instagrammable roof top bars. Up you go 12 stories (but the elevator lists only the lobby and the twelfth floor as options) to enjoy drinks that were more innovative five years ago when craft was cool and innovative and not just 'what we do' in these District of Columbia streets. However, cute glasses, a bar full of the hottest names in spirits muddled with cornucopia of buzzworthy ingredients (turmeric y'all) is not craft. I visited for a set with a particular DJ on MDW. Bar seating only and an overwhelmed bar staff (two to three bartenders and an at capacity bar on a holiday weekend--yikes) made this a bit of a pain to enjoy. I partook in one of the most average old fashioneds I've had in a middle aged eon, which is crazy to me because this city LIVES for a fresh take on an old ideas (but a chain restaurant wouldn't know that). I also had a drink with tumeric which would have benefited from a spicy liquor to go with all the savory. Otherwise, beyond the crushed ice and umbrella presentation was a pretty lack luster way to enjoy $15. To close, I got a pretty cute picture with East Potomac Park, Hains Point, the Pentagon, and National in the background. I could return if invited or in the area wanting a quick cocktail but an average experience in an area with SO much competition doesn't create a sense of urgency in me to return. read more

12 Stories - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

12 Stories is bringing back the lounge scene in the DMV that somehow disappeared when gentrification took over years ago. They have stepped it up a notch by adding a sexy, elegant vibe. The opening of the patio area into the lounge section is what set it off. Not to mention it's filled with a room of beautiful people. The drink menu is to die for and the food entrees with the chicken/hamburgers is genius! There's a DJ that starts at 9pm and plays music from Marvin Gaye, Usher and 90's to early 2000 R&B. Just for this they receive 5 stars alone. I hope they keep this up and never play trap-music and techno please. This will definitely be my Happy Hour spot, date night spot and hanging with girlfriends location. Pros - Open everyday from 4pm-2am - Great Customer Service - Delicious Food on the menu - Organize - Spirit Forward Drinks - Ambiance - Free to get in - Delicious drinks - Beautiful scenery and design - DJ starts at 9pm and he plays music from Marvin Gaye to Usher old tunes - Now offering Brunch **Tip** Always make a reservation read more

Love the atmosphere of this place. Great aesthetic and views of the water. Food was good and service was prompt. Definitely recommend this place read more

In absolutely no world should this place be rated in the 3's - get ahold of yourself DC! We should be thankful this even exists and yet people are judging it for the smallest of infractions. First of all, the view and atmosphere are 2nd to none in the city. This is a cocktail bar with really good food, and you can definitely get a full meal, but it's more meant for light fare and drinks. And. The. View. Damn! While I'm on the subject of drinks, they're fantastic here! Had the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned, both were fantastic. My wife had the Raspberry Rickie (pregnant, non-alcoholic) and loved it. Olives are gross and that's a proven fact, but she had them here and loved em. The deviled eggs were also darn good (whipped!). Seriously DC, learn to love what you have and stop being such whiny little millennial turds - 12 Stories delivers and the fact that so many pretentious, wanna-be influencers nitpick shouldn't deter you from paying them a visit. Highly recommend for drinks and light food before a show or a full, sit down meal somewhere else at The Wharf, or just piece together a great meal here. Come at sunset. You won't be disappointed. (Final sentence said whiny little entitled millennial types) read more

See all

My friends and I heard about this new bar and decided to try it out this weekend. We got there around 8:30/9pm and we had a reservation. As soon as I walked in; the guy that checked my ID at the door used my name when he welcomed me in- he even pronounced it right; MAJOR PLUS!! Super cool elevator to get to the bar (take a boomerang when you're in there :) The bar is SEXY AS HELL. The views are to die for (Think POV, but better) Definitely a great date spot or a "first stop" to get a drink or a quick bite before heading to a show or something at the wharf. Speaking of "sexy as hell"- everyone that works there is. I'm not kidding; I asked another friend who went there today and she agreed. Whoever did the hiring (thumbs up)... because OMG lol. The bartender also referred to me by my name which I know isn't this crazy concept but it's a busy Saturday night and the fact that the staff took the time to make my experience personal was really nice. The music is great. Trendy pop-ish. I was Shazam'ing all night! The food menu- though limited; has some absolutely DELICIOUS options. The only thing I will say is that the wait was a bit long- but with a new bar; that's to be expected. Still giving it 5 stars. I WILL BE BACK!! read more

This place is definitely a vibe. Music and ambiance are lit but the food was just okay. I honestly think they are social media hype because the presentation looks amazing but the food lacks flavor and spice plus it's priced on the higher end. read more

See all

I like this place a lot - it's one of my favorite bars in the city. The views are breathtaking, the music and drinks are on point, but the time limit is frustrating. I would give it 5 stars if there wasn't a 90 minute time limit for tables. read more

See all

OMG this lounge was lit . I was only there for short time but I had a blast. The drinks was on poInt. I liKe the rooftop outdoor looking over the waft. So beautiful at night with the lights. Happy time there with my girlfriend. The men were a little stuck up, not that I was looking. But I did notice the other women in lounge trying to converse or interact with a few of men there. Overall great spot. read more

12 Stories - Having fun early birthday celebrating - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Visited last weekend for a jalapeño margarita and some awesome music. The dj was amazing and played the best r&b music. They enforce all Covid policies. It was such a nice evening. Even the doorman was nice and welcoming. read more

Been here a few times and love the vibe. Came here for a friend's 40th birthday happy hour celebration. Atmosphere is dark, sexy and chill. They have an extensive bar menu and their cocktails are delicious. The food menu is truly a bar menu "Bites" but when I tell you we were FULL! My favorite is the Margherita flatbread...delicious!! They also have other appetizer foods and sandwiches...all of which are good. On the weekends there is a live DJ and the panoramic view of the city is beautiful. read more

12 Stories - Friend's birthday celebration at 12 stories - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Let me start by saying that I came during a special event, so it may have been more crowded than usual... even so, the treatment I received was BEYOND unacceptable. I have a lot to say but here at the lowlights of my experience this past weekend: 1) Paid $250 to reserve a table only to get there and wait outside for 40 minutes being told that I wouldn't be allowed inside. 2) Luckily one of my guests knew someone working there who was able to confirm that I did reserve a table and should be let inside. But when we get up there we're told that the table I reserved was given away. 3) We were shuffled around like cattle twice before they finally settled on which table they would give us. At this point there was only an hour and a half left before it closed, and we had none of the drinks we had ordered. 4) After another half hour we finally got the bottles ordered. But when the waitress brought the check, it was DOUBLE the agreed upon price. 5) THE WORST PART, I specifically told the waitress not to charge the card on file because It was not meant to carry a heavy balance and we wanted to use another card. While we're trying to figure out why the check was so high, they come back and tell us they already charged the card on file and it's too late for us to do anything. 6) insult to injury, that's the point when they turn the lights and tell everybody it's time to go. Please don't go here. It definitely has a nice view but the service ruins every single aspect. read more

The food and view was AMAZING!!!! It was a rainy day, but it was still a great view of the water. We started with the crab dip and pita bread as an appetizer, and it was so cheesy with huge lumps of crab meat! I had the seafood po boy for my entree, and it was huge! Our server (which was great also) warned me that I wouldn't be able to eat it all in one sitting, and he was correct! My husband had the grilled wings and fries, and they were so flavorful and juicy as well! We also had the 'Aren't You a Fineapple' drink, which was good as well. We will for sure be back again, hopefully when the weather is better! read more

12 Stories - Seafood Po Boy and fries - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This is probably the new trendy cocktail spot to be at the wharf! It's located at the top of the intercontinental Where do i start? The design is really chic, modern and the view is the best. This is not the spot to come dress causally, i seen people dress nicely and i must say there are a few eyes candy and the men were dress nicely. The drinks are bit pricey but what do you expect? Everything at the wharf is, lol!! I was there with my girlfriend, i only had the ginger snap (non alcoholic drink) and it was delicious, i could taste the fresh ginger..my girlfriend ordered the cherry blossom and a burger with fries. I was able to taste her drink and it was delicious and strong! I would strongly suggesting making reservations if you trying to sit down and eat! We were lucky enough to find seatings at the bar. I would definitely come back.. read more

See all

Loved the vibe and the bartenders. Great view not that big of a outdoor patio to sit but still a great place to enjoy some cocktails and mingle with friends. read more

I didn't know what was a fair rating considering we didn't even get to eat here. I booked a 6PM reservation for Fathers Day. We were expecting to be about 10 minutes late so I gave them a call to let them know and be sure we fell within the grace period, no answer. I tried several times with no luck so when we got to the restaurant my dad decided to go check in while hubby and I found park. My dad calls and says the reservation has been canceled for unexplained reasoning. In fact, all reservations were canceled for the night. NO WARNING? Text? Call? Heads up?? Apparently whatever caused them to shutdown for the remainder of the day happened about 20 minutes before our arrival. So we were stuck with no reservations walking around the wharf trying to find a place to dine read more

Great experience! The hostess was extremely nice and accommodating as was the bartender who served us (I don't recall her name). I can't wait to visit again. It was the best bar/lounge experience that I have had in Washington D.C. in a long time. read more

Great drinks. Amazing service. All the staff were friendly especially Jordan. He was so kind and helpful. I will definitely come again. Thanks Jordan! -the California Natives read more

Celebrated my 46th here and from making the arrangements to the execution of my wishes, 12 Stories exceeded my expectations. Tara Marshall, VIP/EVENTS Mgr, walked me thru all details of my special night to ensure that all I had to do was show up and entertain my guests. Our Bartender cared for my guests without a hitch and kept everyone with smiles and libations! My guests enjoyed themselves so much, they are ready for me to plan something else. Thank you again, Tara for making my special evening soooo memorable! read more

See all

Pretty spot, nice servers, bomb DJ, great crowd- however I paid $42 for ONE drink. I feel like I got robbed, that was abysmal. With the expensive parking and sucky economy I cannot justify coming to the spot. Sneak a flask in if you care to go, they really did highway robbery smh. read more

12 Stories - Tab for 1 drink!!!! - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A very nice lounge with a great view. It has a great atmosphere and the staff were super attentive. If you love a great crab dip, look no further. The crab dip was so good we ordered a second round. They can make you any drink that you want so don't worry about that. It is kind of pricey so beware of that before you enter. My friends and I went for a pre-birthday dinner and had a great time just socializing. We did make reservations and I would recommend that for anyone looking to go. read more

12 Stories - Crab Dip - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for a work event and had a fantastic time. The views are impeccable--watching the sunset on the balcony was such a great way to end the evening. The drinks are pretty good too, and they definitely don't hold back on the alcohol in a cocktail. This area is full of fun areas to hang out, but you'd be hard-pressed to beat the view from 12 Stories. The inside is cute, too--lots of windows to get a full view and signs/decor everywhere that seem designed for Instagramming. I would definitely come back with some friends for a chill evening--especially if I got to sit on their balcony/patio again! Worth a visit if you're looking for a beautiful bar as opposed to a crowded or crazy one. read more

12 Stories - Watermelon spritzer - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I think this place was great. Everybody we spoke to was super friendly and hospitable and it really was a great time. The views are beautiful; you can't beat that. It is a little on the expensive side but for the atmosphere I think it was worth it. read more

12 Stories - Superchilled vesper & superchilled vieux carre - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Upscale venue with nice views. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Cocktails and house wines average $10-15. Recommend for date night or drinks prior to dinner. Check the dress code prior to showing up. read more

12 Stories - Views from inside - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Friends were visiting and we decided to drop in and so glad we did. What a perfect place to have a few drinks, soak in an AMAZING view, listen to the best music and enjoy friends. All employees were professional, friendly and accommodating. Loved the drink selection and while the food choices are limited, they are tasty. read more

12 Stories - Killroy Gimlet and Blue Velvet - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Truly the worst customer service experience at a bar in DC. I early on a Saturday evening...ordered the first round, and asked for the drink of what they were sampling that night. The bartender tells me I can only get the drink from the people handing out the samples. After a confusing back and forth the bartender says i can get the drink from her but then proceeds to give me gin neat rather than the Tom Collins drink they were sampling. and the other drink we ordered, tequila sour, filled half the glass. Ordered a second round of drinks and a different bartender gave us a tequila neat rather than a tequila sour. It is extremely loud in there so perhaps that explains the mistake but it's ridiculous considering each drink costs $26 (tip included). I expect higher quality service and consistent cocktails. And nicer staff. Miscommunications happens, there's no need to act pissed off. Maybe management should hire more staff or lower the music. Two stars for the vibes views patio and music. Come early if you don't have a reservation. There is limited seating by the bar that does not require a reservation. read more

This was my first visit I had reservations we had a great tune view was nice vibe was nice had a few drinks to cap of the night. read more

12 Stories - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

The lounge is absolutely beautiful and overlooking the water. I didn't like that there wasn't really a bar that everyone can sit at...the place was mostly reserved for birthday parties. The drinks were ok but very pricey (almost $40 for two drinks....) the bartenders were nice and attentive, one of the first drinks had a hair in it so they remade it for us. Pro-tip if you ask they'll give complimentary pretzel goldfish. read more

12 Stories - Very nice view. - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

We did not even make it inside. The security at the door said the doors "are closed right now" keep in mind this is 45 minutes after they opened. Also, keep in mind the people just ahead of us we're let in and a lady that went in after us was let in. He gave no explanation, just that the doors were closed right now even with having a reservation. This security never looked up to our faces either which was extremely disrespectful. I was with a group of 5 with a reservation. The energy threw us all off and we ended up going to another restaurant. Customer service at the door was unacceptable. A Yelp review is one thing but they truly don't know who they could be turning away with such poor customer service before we even get in. read more

We arrived too late for food but the drinks were on point. They weren't watered down. The DJ was amazing. He knew the crowd he was entertaining. The view is beautiful, and I loved the décor. read more

Staff is dismissive and don't value customer service. Venue is beautiful but a wasted time when you experience how poor staff treats you. Was excited and loved the views but customer service was the worst. read more

Sooo I hate when I have to make reviews like this but I must warn my fellow readers. For anyone planning a birthday gathering or celebration of a large group, I would not recommend 12 Stories. There are plenty of other beautiful venues in D.C. with better accommodations for those types of occasions who dot their i's and cross their t's. Please note, that we are not new when it comes to reserving table service in D.C. and organizing our b-day celebrations. We reserved their front section for my brother's 40th birthday party for a group of about 50ppl choosing a package that was a bit over $5k (the money wasn't the issue). Here was the NO's (they should be called NO 12 Stories, ha) no balloons, no cake candles, no professional photography, and no one cared. The kicker, none of this was disclosed before we came. We had family come in from out of town that are older and professional pictures would have been nice. We had to send the photographer home and keep our balloons downstairs. We tried talking to the manager, but his response was, WE should have told THEM that we planned to bring a photographer, balloons, candles, etc... Any other establishment we have reserved has always told us upfront if there were rules like that before reserving. The booking lady was delayed in responding to questions while booking (probably a sign) and told the staff our reservations were at 8:30pm but they were really at 9:30pm (we have the emails). So glad we came early because the staff thought we were going to be no-shows, um what? Overall, we couldn't leave by the time we found all of this out due to the number of people we invited, and of course, WE made the best of the situation and had a great time regardless (me as the photographer). The only reason I'm giving a 2 star is due to the staff who had no control over the situation were all so helpful and apologetic. Do better, these are normal accommodations your booking person should be prepared to communicate when booking a large group. I always get a bad taste in my mouth when establishments are happy to take your money but not give you your money's worth. Good day. read more

I was excited to try this place due to the reviews however was disappointed after my visit. The service was good, I felt they were attentive. The bartender was good also; our drinks were delicious. Yet the menu options on Mother's Day weekend was piss poor. Many of the staple items such as the shrimp appetizer and chicken wings were unavailable. We were told it was due to the earlier weekend crowd and thus there essentially was no more. For the place to be as beautiful as it is, I would expect for there to be a better plan in place to accommodate the entire weekend. We decided to stay as we did not have reservations elsewhere but truly wanted to leave. A few other people left once they felt much of the menu couldn't be ordered. All in all I'll give this place a 3 stars. read more

This place is beyond cute. Very classy ambiance, amazing scenic views & great customer service. It's a cute lounge with good music, no food (literally everything was sold out) and mediocre drinks. For the location to be on the wharf the fact that they were sold out of ALL seafood was disappointing. I'm a pescatarian so my options for food that night were fries or pizza. Who wants to come to all the way there for fries and a pizza? The drinks were good but I expected the specialty cocktails to be better considering the price point. If I come back It would literally only be for the ambiance/decor that's It. read more

We came on Saturday night around 10pm. The views were amazing. The bartender was not friendly, we approached the bar and we weren't even greeted. She was busy talking about who was sleeping with who at the lounge. We ordered 3 shots and our total came up to $70, which included gratuity! I was shocked, I mean this can't be legal lol. The place gave me college party vibes, people making out on the couches, at the bar, and there was serious straddling going on one sofa. My friends and I thought we stumbled upon a swingers night or something. We definitely won't be back! read more

I decided to try this place out for my birthday. It definitely is a very neat and luxurious place to have drinks at, but they are extremely short staffed. We waited almost 30 minutes for a waiter, but he did apologize and gave us free complimentary shots. Overall the service was not as quick, but definitely loved the atmosphere. read more

12 Stories - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

12 Stories is really cute spot. I suggest going their for cocktails because the food isn't all that great! For the price you're paying you would expect better quality food but the view and vibes make up for it I guess. read more

I attended 12 Stories on Friday November 19th. The experience was cool, but Monday morning I got an update from my bank alerts stating that there was an additional tip added to my bill that I did not include. My party paid almost $200 that night and the gratuity was included in the bill, so the nerve of this waiter or whomever to literally hold my receipt and add a tip for themselves later on is a slap in the face. I will not be attending 12 stories again. I don't care how nice the place is THEFT is THEFT! I have been here twice before with no issues, but this is insulting. read more