A very good experience at Top of the Gate. For rooftop lovers, this one is a good option overlooking the Potomac River and Georgetown, DC. The lighting, seating, and direction of the rooftop facing the Rosslyn, VA skyline is well thought out. The bartenders are very courteous, quick, and prepare delicious cocktails. They host good conversation. They were also very attentive. The bar closes relatively early, however keep in mind this rooftop bar is not your typical divey bar. The bar is more on the upscale side and considering the clientele of The Watergate Hotel, it is fair to assume its guests, customers, and clients are not the type to spend hours into the morning at a bar. So for planning purposes, place this rooftop bar on your first stop if doing a bar tour in the city. Overall a very good experience. I will continue to visit this bar when staying as a guest at this hotel and on random nights on weekends in the city. read more

See all

Great view so you are charged appropriately for that! Acceptable drinks. Quiet crowd even in a Saturday but could be good for some. Service is average. If you never been, ok for visit. Agean Heat - basically a decent Magarita. read more

Top of the Gate - Aegean Heat - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Top of the Gate is in the iconic Watergate Hotel. The views are amazing of the river and Georgetown. A lovely place to watch the sunset. I did not try any food. The drinks a bit pricey but you are paying for the location. They do have reservations for certain tables. Plus they have bottle service. I would love to be there when someone orders the $60,000 bottle of scotch. read more

Top of the Gate - The view - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went yesterday evening for an evening out, host was friendly enough, we had a reserved table for two but was not asked if we were having food. I say that because we had a tiny, low table suitable only for drinks, which created a balancing act between the food and drinks on the tiny table. We were also asked to give the server a credit card since we were not guests of the hotel. Do you have guests who skip out without paying their bill, that was a bit odd. We had a pizza which as so-so, the drinks were small (8oz. glass) but okay as well. To whomever is the owner you may want to lose the old opaque glass panels from the sixties and invest in an updated clear glass for a full experience of the view ( while seated) which is the best part of the experience. There were a few umbrellas but had it not been a cool evening it would have been a much different experience. read more

Skip it. The view is nice but that's about it. It is pricey. The staff seemed overwhelmed even though it was relatively empty. The staff was nice. Overall meh read more

Pricey, pricey...but, really cool vista and the drinks were delish. We decided staying for more than 1 each $25 drink wasn't worth it, but we had a great convo in a cool atmosphere. Worth it for the experience, but prob won't return now that we've checked it off the list. read more

Top of the Gate is the most beautiful view of the city! It's located on the top of the watergate hotel. The hotel has many great places for pictures including the lobby and the bars. My boyfriend planned our date night there tonight. My boyfriend made reservations on opentable. The hostess who greeted us was nice . We were seated at a high top table closer to the outer aeaa of the rooftop. Our server was Jessie. He was down to earth and very attentive. For drinks, I ordered a Rock Creek. It was very delicious. The presentation was also very nice. We ordered the shrimp and chicken wings. took off a star because the food was not impressive . The wings were rubbery and not the taste of upscale food. My boyfriend had a taste for lambchops but they were out. Between 3 drinks, and 4 appetizers, our bill was approximately $225. So overpriced. I still left hungry!!! For me, It's the type of spot you go to for drinks and views; Not to Enjoy a fulfilling and tasty dinner. Valet parking is $20. I would come back in the spring or summer for drinks and convos. read more

See all

Meh. I came here knowing that I would overpay and that there were not many options for dining, but wanted to show an out-of-town guest a good time. The views are amazing, of course. But this was a 90+degree early evening and none of their umbrellas were set up to protect diners from the scorching sun. I also wish they would do something to modify their false stucco/concrete walls as they aren't welcoming. We did the $35 specialty drinks and while they were amazing, they also were not $35 worth of alcohol. The burrata salad was AMAZING but not $38 amazing. Same with the cheese and meat platter. Service was fine but not anything special. I'm glad I can say I had the experience but don't think I will be back unless it's just for a drink. read more

See all

Definitely has some of the best views of the potomac and georgetown! Came here twice in the fall and loved seeing the beautiful colors of the trees while enjoying a drink or two. If you love watching sunsets like I do, definitely make your way up here and enjoy the stunning sunset views. We saw lots of birds flying over the river and it felt like an end credit scene of an emotional coming-of-age movie (idk if that makes sense but yea immaculate vibes.) Their drinks definitely are pricey though... $22 for a cocktail is a lot but I guess you're paying for the atmosphere as well. read more

See all

Last year, pre-COVID, we asked our very own trend expert and DC local, where's the best spot in the city for drinks and a view? She recommended Top of the Gate and made plans to get together with a group of coworkers. This rooftop bar sits at the top of the infamous Watergate Hotel -- yes, THAT hotel that found itself at the center of one of America's biggest political scandals. It boasts amazing, almost 360 degree views of the DC Skyline, the Potomac River, and the surrounding areas. The panoramic views are incredible and not to be missed and best enjoyed with a strong cocktail in hand, always. That's what we were there for after all ;) Their cocktails will set you back a pretty penny. So take a breath -- you're paying for the location and the view here, folks! One drink was enough for me. I went with a Cosmopolitan and it was really strong, in a good way. Vodka, cranberry juice, lime, & triple sec, just my kind of jam. Overall, Top of the Gate is the perfect place to grab a cocktail and enjoy the sunset. We watched as the sky turned from orange to beautiful shades of purple and pink. It made for a perfect photo backdrop. My only wish was that more seating was available. We spent the whole time standing and no table was available despite being there quite early. If ever I'm back in the city, I wouldn't hesitate to stop by and catch a glimpse of the sunset again. read more

See all

Top of the Gate is the quintessential D.C. experience. On the rooftop of the Watergate Hotel, there's history (Watergate Scandal) and rooftop views. After going for drinks on a Thursday evening, here's my experience: 1) Space: Walk through the Watergate Hotel lobby and take the elevator to the top floor. The rooftop is spacious with tables, couches, etc. It's a great place for drinks or a date night. 2) Views: 360 views of the area, you can see Georgetown, the Washington Monument, Rosslyn, etc. Go when the sun is setting after a good rain. The sky s stunning! 3) Drinks/Food: They aren't bad. It won't win awards, but it's decent enough, making it a fun spot for a happy hour or dinner. read more

No star The wait staff friendly The location is historic and quite the view BUT aside from "all the presidents men " Prices over double most 5 star hotels and restaurants in the area It smelled like a sewer and clouds of circling gnats hover over the tables Truly it's misrepresented on website as a high end space w over priced drinks and food served in plastic and cardboard containers read more

I've struggled with this review. On the one hand, it's the legendary (some might say notorious) Watergate Hotel. It's practically a must-stop in DC for anyone over the age of 40. On the other hand, whoa Bessie, I've never paid $23 for a cocktail in my LIFE! But I digress. It was a sunny Friday afternoon in DC and I was celebrating a promotion at work. The mood was festive as my co-workers and I gathered at the Top of the Gate, which promised good cocktails and a spectacular sunset view. And it delivered on both. I suppose the up-priced cocktail is merely the cost of admission, but instead of charging $10 for the elevator ride they tack it on to your drink? Oh well, you only live once! read more

See all

The view was stunning @ 8:30pm. That's was the only bright spot. $60 for 2 drinks that taste like soda. No water given and waiter came when he was ready. Terrible- and they hold your credit card like you're gonna run. Tackle read more

Located on the rooftop of the Watergate Hotel, is the Top of the Gate, voted best rooftop bar in the District by some publications. I always wanted to come to the Watergate complex since learning of the 1972 break in of the Democratic Party's office at the Watergate by President Nixon's minions. (One star for history, and the views which are spectacular) We tried making reservations for 930 but were told that last call is 1000, so we made it for a geriatric 900. I guess they want everyone out by 1200 in case someone is planning another break in at the original time. Arrival at the hotel is awkward as the driveway must have been designed using pre-vehicle measurements. So my Uber left me on the main street. My phone rang at 901-not making this up--to see if I was on my way, so I expected the place to be slammed. Imagine if the spotter in 1972 had been so diligent and called the burglars to alert them the cops were downstairs. We took the elevator up and were offered a regular table, which we declined and asked for a high top with a view along the railing. It was mostly empty. We waited for an eternity and finally ordered two drinks, hummus and meatballs around 915. Our drinks came but no food. At 945 our waiter says last call so we ordered another round, still no food. I told him my 95 year old grandmother goes to sleep at 930. Finally around 950 our food comes directly from the kitchen by a kitchen worker who says "look your waiter has forgotten the food and I brought it out." Our waiter then apologizes and says "look you can ask for another drink it's on us" (hence one star for contrition). The drinks were good and so was the food (one star). But even with the comped drink our bill was over 200 for 4 drinks, hummus and meatballs. I felt like they broke into my wallet. Being next to the Saudi embassy I guess they think everyone has petro dollars. Overall impression: if you want to say you've been to the Watergate, do it and the views will reward you for it. However, rooftop bars at: the Hay Adams Hotel has a better view, and the Graham Hotel has a better cocktail scene and is livelier, IMHO. read more

See all

Really beautiful place to get a drink and to enjoy a great view. Just go up the elevator and grab a drink at the bar. If you're lucky then there will be an open table facing the view. Half of the top deck is special reserved seating. We weren't lucky enough to find an open table, but we just took a couple of chairs and placed them facing the view and it was still very lovely. I ordered their non alcoholic drink called Passion at the Gate and I thought it was really good! Some passion fruit syrup mixed with ginger ale and limeade. Good combo ^_^ If you have some free time and you're nearby, check this rooftop bar out! read more

Top of the Gate - Cheers! Passion at the Gate - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Nick and Derek amazing bartenders and extraordinary customer service the other bar staff and servers don't have a clue don't appear to have a clue what they're there for 0 personality and very little customer service very disappointed other than the two bartenders spotlighting Derek and Nick who go above and beyond as previously mentioned, which is the only reason I will return Overall the management walking around in suits stick out like a sore thumb they're glaring and unfriendly unwelcoming some management suits must be sleeping half the time so unaware of what's going on around them in the back office not doing their duties during training or whatever from a corporate perspective they get a big D minus borderline pass fail read more

OUTRAGEOUS prices, even for DC. Obviously, you go to this place because of its history. It also has a pretty good view of DC and the river. Make reservations if you're going to go because it was packed. We went there at sunset. Beautiful views. The drinks. Everyone I was with got a cocktail which were between $20-30 each. I got a beer (they only had one beer on the menu, and it was bottled). It was $22 - but it was strong. Kind of tasted like motor oil. I'm not totally knocking the beer. I'm glad it had a high ABV - but I was shocked by the price. A nice touch is they do bring bottled water over to the table for each person for no extra charge. Overall, glad we went. However - I couldn't imagine going back with those prices and with the drinks just being okay. There are other places in DC with way better drinks and still others with views just as good. Something else to note is after the sun goes completely down, this place gets very dark. As in so dark, you can't even see the menu without using your phone as a flashlight. I can imagine they keep it dark so that you can see the lights of the city, but I think it's a little overboard. They could at least put little lights at each table or something. read more

Top of the Gate - Rooftop - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

tourist trap! Yes, This place has an amazing view of DC and the Potomac River. No more plus. Staff act not professional, we had felt like we came to their home and ask them to do something for us. service was horrible. prices too high. to you understand, they charge for the glass of their cheapest Prosecco 25$. The bottle of this prosecco in the store cost 12$. as well they ask your credit card before you start to order, usually very cheap places act like that to make sure customers will pay. And add 18% gratuity automatically in a bill. read more

Top of the Gate - View from the rooftop of the restaurant - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited this place on a Saturday afternoon. My first thoughts? This place needs to be revamped! The furniture looks like it's from the 80's, and the structure of the rooftop is really ugly. The drinks and food are COMPLETELY overpriced! Service was decent.. The view is beautiful. If you decided to visit, eat beforehand and Just take in the experience! read more

See all

$60 for a glass of wine and aperol spritz in plastic. No service - you have to order at the bar and find a table. Then a waiter told us we had to leave our table for someone else, though there was no "reserved" sign like we saw in many other tables. Gratuity was mandatory. I would give this place 0 stars if I could. read more

Fire everybody, start over. Great venue, great views at sunset. Service was beyond terrible. Lost waitstaff, walking around aimlessly. Delivering food to wrong tables. Incomplete plates, no notice that they are out of certain things. No cutlery, no napkins. Terrible drinks. I had an Old Fashioned that was all bitters and no whiskey. Waitress had an attitude. Service charges. read more

We celebrated our anniversary and clearly mentioned that in our opentable request. No one did anything special for us and didn't even wish us. Service and price points can definitely be improved. Good views of the potomac was the only plus point but we didn't get the seat we wanted even after reservation and going there when it wasn't that busy read more

I love the views here. It's gorgeous and the rooftop itself is nice. You can either do table seating (with a minimum spend) or bar. We opted for the bar because it was livelier and had better views. There's very limited seating and while we eventually got seating, it was so uncomfortable that I opted to stand. The hostess and bartenders were friendly. We opted for the Watergate Cooler, which was a tasty, punch-like mixed drink. It's pre-made in a cooler, which is fine. It is still delicious. But when the bartender was topping off my drink with seltzer and rosemary, the head bartender told him to put even more ice in it next time. Our cups were already practically overflowing because of all the ice, and you want to add more? Issa nope. Plus, I saw someone order the $25 pizza and I almost died when I saw the size. Chile, bye. You don't need this type of negativity in your life. So between the awful seating and watered down drinks, Top of the Gate isn't worth it. Too bad because it's so close to The Kennedy Center. read more

See all

Maybe coming from L.A. my expectations were too high, but for a rooftop bar experience, this ranks at the bottom of my list. Do you get a good view of the city? Yes-- especially at sunset (golden hour!). However, the high price of the drinks/food, poor customer service, and mediocrity of the drinks/food contribute to this 3-star review. I'm not a native of this area, so I'm not sure if there are better views of the city elsewhere, but yes, I certainly understand coming here to see the city. But that is the ONLY reason to be here. The drinks are watered down or just don't contain the right ingredients. The food tastes like bad theme park food. The staff are doing way too many things and so don't on your table as much as they should throughout the night. Overall, unless you are desperate to see the view of the city from way up high, this is a definite skip. read more

Not impressive at all. Views are nice and that is it. Service is AWFUL. Waited over 20 minutes for 2 drinks. We were never asked if we wanted another one, we were never asked if we wanted to order food. The bar was crowded and there were only 2 bartenders who clearly could not keep up. The dirty martini was NOT good. They do not use real olive juice so it had a weird taste. For $25 a drink I want a real glass not plastic. Skip this...I'm sure there are other rooftop bars in DC! read more

Where in the world do I start?! At the end...WOW! Now back to the beginning...being a native DC Girl, I have seen the Watergate hotel during its livelier times - well for me back in the late 80's lol - as being a luxurious place to visit and shop (loved the MCM shop way back when...). Then there came a time where no one mentioned the Watergate hotel to shop or visit as we once used to....well, this has obvious changed drastically as of a few years ago?! Where have I been?! How did I miss the multi-million dollar upgrade? Well, I'm glad I have re-introduced myself to this beautiful and still very luxurious Washington, DC landmark. On to Top of the Gate...I have visited this amazing venue twice now and all I can say is WOWZERS! The first time was on a tour (it was closed) and this last time was on a date. A spectacular date, I might add. This gorgeous rooftop bar boasts BY FAR, THEEEEEE MOST spectacular view of DC, Georgetown, and Arlington I've seen. The rooftop bar is open even during the winter months and accommodates even the most cold weather avoiding people (ahem, Me) with heat lamps, individual table fire pits, blankets, and warm libations (OMG THE SPIKED HOT CHOCOLATE IS DELISH!!) that makes this breathtaking view all the better on a cold night. The service was also impeccable! Our server, was quick with getting us those amazing Spiked Hot Chocolates with marshmallows for days, to endure that we stayed all warm and fuzzy inside. This gorgeous establishment also boasts a small but entertaining ice skating rink! I absolutely love this spot and will definitely keep it on my list of regulars! read more

Top of the Gate - Rooftop is amazing - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This is the roof top bar at the Watergate Hotel. Yes, The famous Watergate. I was practically giddy and excited from the second we stepped foot on the property. The photo op down at the entrance, of the Watergate sign, was just the beginning. The view from the rooftop, of the sunset, was literally the best photo ops that I've ever experienced. Even the most trendy locals will tell you, this is the best place in DC to get a glimpse of the sunset. All of my friends gave it four stars, mainly siting the expensive drink prices. I have to admit, I just enjoyed the infused water available at the bar in the self serving dispenser and shared a hummus appetizer. It took quite awhile to get the hummus, but everyone has a slow day every now and then. I didn't seem to notice, as I was taking in the breathtaking views of Potomac River and the Arlington bridges. This is definitely the spot to get a glimpse of the DC skyline. They do have a few scarce seating areas, so plan and reserve that ahead of time. But if you're stopping in on the fly, it's basically standing room only, so it's probably not a good option if you're looking for a place to kick back and relax. For me, it was perfect and one of my favorite memories of DC. read more

You pay for the view and that is all. We did not have reservations despite the completely empty reserved areas. And the staff could not have been less accommodating. Sending me to the bar "over there" with a head tilt while continuing her conversation with her colleague. The drinks are overpriced. Do better read more

Booked a table for 3 a few months in advance to make sure we get a good view as we expected experience. The issues are simple but shocking. Started a boys weekend off by visiting this embarrassing place. 1) We were seated somewhere around the side towards the back on old wicker seating with no cushions. Be warned not all seating is good. The chairs are low and you have to stand to get a view. Some towards the front bar area seem nicer. 2) We waited 50 minutes for one round of simple drinks. @$20-$25 each for vodka and ginger beer or rum and coke. Our reservation was at 5PM hardly a crowd. 3) Waited another 40 minutes for food. Basic pizza and fries another $1xx. Total was over $200 and auto gratuity lol what a joke. We will NEVER ever come back. Terrible service, grossly understaffed and over priced. We will personally go out of my way to make sure everyone knows NOT to waste a second in this place. read more

This place deserves a five star just for the view and ambience. Nowhere better in DC do you have a pure rooftop bar open to incredible views of the Potomac and flights coming into the airport. The drinks are pricey but you pay for the location. It was very interesting walking through the Watergate Hotel and talking to the staff about the Watergate scandal. One of the bellhops even took me up to the scandal hotel room to show us the history. This little piece made the trip well worth it. read more

Have you ever made dinner reservations days in advance for a special occasion just to arrive and be told they will not be serving food? No? Well, come here if you feel like you're missing out. ZERO STARS!! Booked a whole day at the watergate to enjoy the spa and dinner on the rooftop for my daughter's birthday. Think goodness the spa staff was amazingly kind and professional, because that's the ONLY highlight. I made dinner reservations at top of the gate and when I arrived, I was informed by the sweet and embarrassed hostess. She apologized but we found ourselves hungry and not finding anywhere to eat. They stated they sent out emails letting everyone know? Absolutely not! I had the emails confirming my reservation and that's it. I even sent notes to ask about certain seating and if I could bring a cake or order a dessert to celebrate. No responses on either. I called every single day trying to get ahold of a concierge because I was hoping to make the day special. Horrible service on behalf of Watergate hotel. Thanks for ruining what was supposed to be a memorable birthday dinner... it'll be memorable alright, we'll remember to never return here again or recommend it. Sorry to the sweet staff. I'll leave a separate review for the spa, because this is not their fault. read more

If you're heading here for a cocktail and a view, you're coming to the right place. I was in DC with a group and a few people had suggested heading to the Top of the Gate for a drink and to watch the sunset. A friend and I took a Lyft over, which dropped us right out front. The lobby is very pretty with some cool installations. You take the main elevator up to the top. The bar area was already busy when we arrived. One side was reserved, I'm assuming for guests with bookings, so there wasn't really any seating. On the plus side, the terrace is zig-zagged to maximize standing room and groups can congregate without getting in each other's way. Drinks are fairly pricey, but very strong. I had a red sangria which was $14 plus tax and tip. Most cocktails are around the $18 mark. The bartenders were professional and quick and there's a water tankard for self service. I didn't try any food. The views are definitely the draw here and it was worthwhile. We watched the sunset, hung out, took some group photos, had a chat. Standing on concrete is hard on the feet and back, though, and some of the other guests got pretty drunk (those strong drinks I guess) so I was ready to get out of there by like 10pm. Not necessarily an experience I'd hurry to repeat but it was very pleasant and we had great weather for it. read more

See all

Over priced drinks but great views. 20% service charge automatically added to bill but in tiny font and no mention from bartender so put your glasses on before settling up. read more

Yeah, definitely a fan of this place. The view is amazing, the drinks are good. They have a bunch of fire pits to keep it warm. If you're going for the ice rink, however, that was a big meh. It wasn't even ice, it's much smaller than it looks online. We didn't even bother. We did stay for drinks and s'mores however. The s'mores could use a better chocolate, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Service was excellent as well, the bartenders were attentive and friendly. If in the area again, I would go back here. Tips: reserve a spot near the fire pits if it's chilly Food/Drink tips: on a chilly day go for the hot cider and s'mores read more

See all

Rooftop smells awful. Very bad. Incredibly rancid. Essentially sewage. Would not recommend to an enemy. Also expensive.

I would come here to take pictures from the rooftop and then go somewhere else for your food and drink. Way way overpriced and they serve wine in plastic cups. The service is slow. I will not return read more

Come for the views! Be prepared to pay for them. TotG is a great spot to catch the sunset over the Potomac and enjoy a nice evening in DC, but beware the prices. $25 cocktails, anyone? This place is trying to be too hip for its own good -- a funky Euro-beat soundtrack plays in the background -- Slightly pretentious staff prance around -- "Bottle service" is offered. I think this business would do well to change its business model. Lose the attitude, bring down the prices, attract more people. That said, it was a fun night and the views were spectacular. read more

Top of the Gate - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

The view is beautiful! Very disappointed with the food and drinks. Your drinks get served in plastic cups and your food comes in cardboard boxes. If you are looking to watch the sunset this would be the perfect place. read more

See all

Absolutely incredible view of D.C./Georgetown from the Top of the Gate. It's impossible not to enjoy yourself here, especially if you get there in time to enjoy the sunset! They have a basic beer and wine menu and some pizzas available to order. The drinks are pricey, but appropriate for the Watergate and the view, and there's no happy hour menu. I was a little disappointed that the cocktails weren't more attractive, and that there was only pizza available to munch on. I hope they will either rotate or expand the menu. Sofa reservations are available for $50/person, so that's an option if you want to have a nice party or get together. If you're worried about having enough space, I would call ahead of time to make sure it's not all reserved for a private event. As for service, the bartenders were friendly and offered fairly quick service even while it was busy. If you sit at the bar you'll be given some nuts to snack on. For an added bonus, you can complement your visit with a trip downstairs to the Next Whisky Bar, or to the Kingbird restaurant if you're feeling fancy! read more

Top of the Gate - The top of the gate before a storm - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia