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    Ellipse Rooftop Bar

    3.8 (48 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Services - Ellipse Rooftop Bar

    Venue rental

    Ellipse Rooftop Bar Photos

    ELLIPSE ROOFTOP BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Ellipse Rooftop Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Gin (happy hour)
    Tonia K.

    Variety of happy hour drinks? Check. Good bar food? Check. Views? Check. I visited the Ellipse on an extremely hot day in August for a happy hour get together with coworkers. When I say hot, I am talking about 97 degrees not factoring heat index. Let me tell you... So to the experience! This rooftop bar offers views of downtown DC (buildings, etc.) but it is still nice nonetheless. The music selection could be improved but honestly that is subjective and it is so loud with fellow patrons that you won't fully be able to hear it. The bar was busy but accommodating and the fries and wings were on point per my group. I always judge by the quality of fries...don't judge me though! Some drinks are a bit pricey even for happy hour but still decent. You can access ice cold water quite easily, which is as HUGE plus! So why not five stars? Appetizers came out on the slower side and while I was on a rooftop in August, a fan or so would be helpful for air circulation. As other reviewers have noted, the entire space is on the smaller side but still a good option if you're in the area!

    The non happy hour cheese board ($15) with what we believe is actually Concord grape jelly
    Courtney W.

    With rooftop happy hour, it's always all about the view. This view is fairly decent in DC, and if you get there on the earlier side of happy hour time you can definitely snag some of the coveted seating. They have several high top table options along the far side of the rooftop, some large couch seating options covering the opposite side of the rooftop, and a mismatch of high top tables under the covered space. The happy hour does last a significant chunk of time, by any standards (4-8). The happy hour prices are OK- the drinks being a better option than the food, and the bartenders were definitely giving us our money worth with the pours (shutout to the bartenders, you the real MVP). Our 'bees knees' style cocktail (bourbon, honey, lemon juice) was $9/drink. The food options and pricing left much to be desired. Think TGI Friday's on a good day. We wanted nachos, included on the happy hour menu, but they informed us that the nachos wouldn't come with chicken because they had run out - ok - I cheekily asked then what the comped price of the nachos would be since they were omitting a key ingredient. Hah... well this is DC after all so no, same price as listed with half the topping. Anyway, we opted for a cheese plate (not happy hour price, $15) and fries topped with Parmesan ($5 fries, extra $2 for Parmesan). I will say that while we did eat everything, the cheese plate included a bowl of I kid you not, what HAD to have been Concord Grape Jelly. We also had to circle back a few times for utensils, napkins, and snack plates. BUT THE VIEW AND THE DRINKS. I joke... honestly, unless I was otherwise in the area and dying to find a happy hour spot... I probably wouldn't come back.

    Happy hour
    Brooke T.

    First things first: the view is beautiful. Now ceases the positivity unfortunately. Came here with some coworkers for happy hour, everything is expensive, but's that's downtown for you. What I was disappointed in was the drink selection and the food. Got the hummus, it's was $9 happy hour special and it was okay. Tried my friends jalapeño mule... made with tequila and OMG so strong. All I tasted was alcohol. I got the moscato and it was cheap wine that they charged $6 dollars a glass for. TL;DR: Basically an overpriced hotel bar with a great view of DC

    Nadjma R.

    Where do i start? It's on the rooftop of Hyatt hotel. Its located in the middle of the city. Lets start with the view, you get a nice view of the city, enough chairs and it wasnt too crowded. To my understanding u can also reserve a section and have a private event. There was a birthday happening. The prices of drinks and small bites are affordable . The music was blah, i felt they were catering more to caucasians with pop from the 90s.. I ordered a spicy drink(cant recall the name, made with jalapenos, refreshing but not too strong). They do not have waitresses so u need to order at the bar. The bartender was friendly.. i was able to get a free appetizer since when i check in (yelp) that was the offer. He said they stop doing the free appetizer but will overlook it this time. So i was thankful for that. I ordered the steak Tacos and they were tasty and delicious. I would definitely would come, i just whish the music was catering to everyone!

    Kassie E.

    So Disappointed. Lets get this out the way. The view is GORGEOUS. But thats like a "duh" thats easy kinda thing. Anybody can create a great view on a roof of a building thats already there. Awesome! The Service, Food and Execution are a different story. It was very bad. Im not sure if its because I came 1 hr before they closed or if its because they had one birthday party going on in VIP but when I came yesterday it was a completely awful waste of my time. Lets get down to cleanliness. It was a ClusterF*(&! dirty dishes, cups and serving trays all over. Who was the busboy for 6/7? Cause he completely dropped the ball. Piles of dirty dishes were everywhere because there was no one to come collect them for washing. Guests had to come up to the bar and put their used dishes down. Which left it cluttered and yucky. The Food was awful. It looked like it should have been good. But I ordered the loaded tots and my tots were cold yet the cheese was warm??? When the server brought it out he forgot the bacon...Hello!? I took several bites and it tasted like burned, rubbery tires. My drink was a watermelon cocktail they ran out of watermelon puree and so I subbed with blueberry...Nope not a good idea. The service? Non existant. You wait in line at the bar to order and then take a number and a runner brings out your food. I had to have them take back the tots cause it was terrible. Maybe it was a fluke. But...yea no. Never coming back

    Kay P.

    Pros: Simple but sleek! Good view. Lots of seating for a small venue. Definitely will be able to find a place to sit if you come before 7pm. Friendly bartenders - was nice enough to concoct a non-menu drink for me for HH price. Cons: Terribly HOT/no fans. Only 2 beers on tap, low quality wines. OK food (wings we better than nachos and sliders).

    Justin M.

    If you are looking for a rooftop bar in DC once the weather stays nice, check out Ellipse Rooftop Bar. It is a little tricky to find, because it is inside of a hotel, but if you go into the hotel and straight back to the elevator, you will see a selection for the rooftop bar. The ambiance is nice, but it is a little hard to find seating when it gets crowded so you may end up standing for a while. I would recommend going during their happy hour (Monday to Friday 4pm - 8pm) because the food and drinks are pricey. All of their specialty cocktails and bar bites are $12 and over when it is not happy hour. Overall, i think it is a decent place to relax and chill for a while.

    Rooftop
    Oleksandra P.

    Great place overall. Food, drinks and rooftop view are top notch! Nice ambiance. Fair prices

    Rooftop bar view
    Hannah K.

    Small rooftop area but a good view facing northern DC. Got a free appetizer through a Yelp coupon. They said I could choose anything but the crab cakes so got the most expensive appetizer - a charcuterie board!

    Happy hour on the rooftop!

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    4 years ago

    Fun relaxing atmosphere. Not too stuffy and a great place to spend happy hour. Happy hour is from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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    7 years ago

    Cute intimate spot close with a nice rooftop view and tasty sangrias. I work nearby so I will be back for drinks with friends.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ellipse Rooftop Bar

    Review Highlights - Ellipse Rooftop Bar

    Cute intimate spot close with a nice rooftop view and tasty sangrias.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Omg!! The food was delicious. This was my first time patronizing this restaurant and I was blown…read moreaway. Interestingly enough they have two locations which I did not know. The food at this location was great. The red snapper with the rice and tomatoes was very flavorful. The red snapper could have been cooked a little harder. However, other than that it was great. My friend order the same dish except with salmon. She enjoyed the dish as well but also mentioned that the fish could be cooked harder. We sat at the bar so we didn't get service from the waiter. However, the service from the bartender as great. He was very knowledgeable on the drinks and the food. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the drinks. But I ordered a smoked margarita which had a great taste. The ambiance was wonderful. It was very aesthetically please. From the flowers on the ceiling to the rooftop overlooking the Capitol it was great. The roof top provided a chill vibe with low music. It could be a great place for a date night or just a place to go to meet up with friends. I 100% recommend.

    My first visit to Ciel Social Club was such a good experience! I went during happy hour with…read morefriends and the entire vibe of the rooftop was amazing from start to finish. The views alone make you want to stay all night, especially as the sun starts to set over the city. We also got to enjoy live music from the band, which made the atmosphere feel even more fun and elevated. It was the perfect mix of great energy, good music, and a beautiful rooftop setting. For drinks, we tried the Blushing Orchard Martini, Capitol Blossom Fizz, and the Lavender Ginger Bloom -- all refreshing and well-crafted. For food, we ordered the East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, Beef Sliders, and Mediterranean Tacos. Everything came out fresh and flavorful.

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    Bar Betsie - Back area

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    4.3(66 reviews)
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    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

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    Bar Betsie - Quick view of options

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    4.2(112 reviews)
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    I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

    Bar scene so sexy, you decided to add it permanently on your date night list! Come along as I…read morereview Death & Co DC!!!! Ambiance: from the outside you'd have no idea that a hidden treasure awaits you up a flight of stairs. The decor was very mysterious, perfectly dimmed, and sexy. They added greenery near the hostess station to create what I would describe as an exotic/jungle vibe. This area also contained a beautiful small bar and a few cozy seatings. Next, the hostess led us to a table inside where the magic of candles, cozy tables, and intimate booths immediately meets your eyes. Did I mention that we sat in most comfy green velvet chairs in our cozy booth? How sexy! Service: our waiter, Jordan, was the best! He provided great service and recommendations. However, shoutout to the rest of the staff because it was truly all hands on deck. Drinks: the bartender is indeed a mixologist! There is no question of the magic he created in a glass. Her drink- I ordered the Attractive Nuisance, an elevated spritz. The drink was perfectly balanced with flavors to include G.H. Mumm Champagne, Avua Prata Cachaca, Cocchi Americano, Saffron, Vanilla. I literally tasted all the flavors in the drink and the liquor ratio was just right. Of course I went with another round, you simply have to try it understand why I did. His drink: El Tiburón-Let's just say that he said that this is now one of his favorite cocktails because it was smooth! Small bites: the kitchen was out of mussels and their famous donuts so we decided to try the Franks en Crute, the sexy adult version of pigs in a blanket lol. Such a delicious treat, well balanced flavors giving both sweet (flaky puff pastry) and savory (well grilled wagyu beef). Definitely recommend. The music was perfect for the evening! The bar was filled with all matured folks enjoying their group meets or dates, the atmosphere welcomed all. As I stated earlier, this has now become a regular on the list and I'm excited to visit again.

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    Ellipse Rooftop Bar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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