3/5
Realm Rooftop…read moreLounge is one of those places where the ambiance is doing some very heavy lifting. The views are stunning, the music is on point, and the vibe has all the ingredients for a great night out. Unfortunately, the service and operations left a lot to be desired.
We stopped by after dinner for a nightcap, and honestly, the experience got off to a rocky start before we even made it upstairs. One member of our group was denied entry because his denim shorts were cut off, which is fair enough if that's the dress code. He went home, changed, and returned, so crisis averted.
Once we got upstairs, however, the confusion continued. We asked both the bar back and a server whether we could seat ourselves in the bar area, and neither person seemed to know the answer. After a brief game of "Who's on First?" , we tracked down the hostess, who informed us that yes, we could sit wherever we wanted.
Great! Or so we thought.
After taking a seat, we spent several minutes watching our server walk past us repeatedly without acknowledging our existence. At some point, the men in our group decided to do what apparently needed to be done and headed to the bar to order drinks themselves.
Now, here's where I have to give credit where it's due: the drinks were excellent. We ordered the Purple Rain, Island Spritz, Casa del Fuego, and a tequila soda water, and every single one delivered. The bartender clearly knows how to make a cocktail. Unfortunately, she also seemed like she'd rather have been literally anywhere else. The drinks were enthusiastically slammed onto the bar with an energy that suggested we'd personally inconvenienced her by ordering them.
Despite all of that, the ambiance truly is fantastic. The DJ was spinning an excellent set and created the perfect soundtrack for a summer night in DC. The rooftop views are gorgeous and absolutely worth experiencing at least once. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was operating on "surface of the sun" settings that evening, so spending too much time outside wasn't an option.
At the end of the day, Realm has all the makings of a great rooftop destination: beautiful views, strong cocktails, and good music. What it's missing is a smooth operational flow and staff who seem interested in providing hospitality.
Would I return? Yes--but I'd give them some time to work out the kinks. The potential is absolutely there.
As I always say: I'm not difficult to please. I just have standards.
