This place has a nice selection of oysters. Brine or no, there were two options each. The tuna appetizer was fantastic. Very high quality tuna there! Soft and buttery like toro. I asked the bartender to do "less sweet" on a margarita and she absolutely crushed it. Best marg in Crystal City/Arlington so far. read more

Such a cool spot but THE WORST hostess and bartender service - and the default tip to 25%... you don't deserve $.02. The hostess is never at the stand- so you walk to grab a drink and after passing by you 8-10 times are finally acknowledged.. only to be asked if you checked in with the hostess. Nope/ there isn't one and I only want a drink- I'm waiting on a friend. After an audible ughhhh and a distinct eye roll I'm reluctantly served. There's better spots around here- I wouldn't waste my time or money here again. read more

Nice restaurant with good overview and decent service, but unfortunately the food was not up to par. I tried the fried calamari and crab cake sandwich and both had issues. The calamari was very dry and rubbery. It probably was not fresh and fried correctly. The crab cake was mostly breading and little crab in it. And the menu was very limited. read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I was visiting and stayed in the area. I found this restaurant called Water Bar. It is a nice place to meet up and have a drink or a meal. I highly recommend you check it out if you are in Crystal City. read more

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Great first experience! Reservations highly recommended, especially on good-weather days. The restaurant is beautiful. Normally has has water/waterfalls going, but none of them were on, possibly because it was raining the day prior. There are options to sit at the "windows" open or closed, which give vast views along Crystal Dr. I liked that there were overhead heaters as well. Service was great! Anthony was our server and he was kind and patient. The restaurant was fairly empty (assuming because of weather?), so the service was pretty quick. Everything we ate and drank was delicious. The blackened salmon sandwich was a 10/10. And the shrimp poboy was a 9/10!! The housemade lemonade was fresh. Parking in the garage is free on weekends. Can't wait to come back on a sunnier day! Thanks again, Anthony for great service. read more

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Nice outdoor covered seating- water around- beautiful trees- tv on quiet. Ambience is really nice. Food didn't match the ambiance- it was ok but if I were to return it would be the amibiance. We ordered oysters- they have a few different and we wanted the most salty- and they were not even partial salty. I also got the apple salad and added shrimp- shrimp was fried and was very seasoned. I ate the salad- it was filling. The waitstaff were really nice and accommodating.- again the atmosphere was beautiful. read more

Great atmosphere and views, a very creative design. The food options were decent and the happy hour drinks weren't very exciting but overall a good experience. The chips and Guac are delicious. Food and drinks can be a bit pricey. read more

The host is nowhere to be found when a customer enters. The overall service is awkward and random. The whole place just doesn't work.

Good drinks, nice staff, cute area/view. Love the happy hour specials. Close to hotels. read more

Hostess was rude and had no interest in having us as customers, and there is no clear reason why. There were a large number of empty tables with reserved signs, but no one there. There is no way on the website to reserve a table, so I surmise the people working there prefer it empty. Keep looking... read more

The bartender Te' is AMAZING! We ordered several different cocktails and they were all perfectly made. We received tremendous customer service. She educated us on the menu and was extremely helpful. We were very impressed. The menu is limited and changes often. We ordered the burger which was pretty good. It's all pretty standard fare but elevated. The vibes and the views are great. We had a terrific time and will definitely return. 5 stars. Street parking is available as well as garage parking directly across the street. read more

Great atmosphere, friendly service, good food. I wanted to have something with crab, and their crab cake sandwich was *so good*! I wasn't sure about putting a crab cake on a bun, but it was along the lines of a lobster roll. Highly recommend! read more

My first experience here was a little rough at first BUT it was course corrected later. I came in on a Saturday evening to try my first raw oysters. They got busy fairly quickly which is expected. I sat looking over the fountain and the weather and views were very beautiful. Maria took great care of me and had some fire recommendations (brussels sprouts with a lil twist) Overall the food is decent. Sweet potato waffle fries and Brussels were cooked perfectly. The verdict is still out on raw oysters but I'll be back just for the service! read more

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Fun views and drinks! We checked this place out after the movies! It was fun and the staff were welcoming! Diana the bartender was great! read more

Water Bar - Bubbly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

What I'm about to say isn't very important to most of you, but it means the world to those of us trying to be COVID cautious. One side of Water Bar is a wall of completely open windows. That means you can eat inside unmasked and feel normal. And you can do it even if it rains (though I'm told in a downpour where the rain starts coming inside they may close the windows). This is a game changer since most places just have umbrellas for shade, if at all. Unfortunately the waterfall and water features of Water Bar were turned off. The server was really nice, though no one noticed us waiting at the host stand when we arrived. Now the bad news - we were all disappointed by the food, especially given the price - and considered it the worst meal of the trip. The crab cake sandwich was too gloppy with aioli (on not one but TWO sides of the bread. Along with tomatoes and lettuce I could barely taste the crab. The lobster roll was quite small and I think the worst I've ever had. It wasn't terrible - but only OK. The filling was only lobster, and I don't think the split roll was buttered. The son's lobster mac n cheese (which surprisingly came with two giant pesto baguettes) was disappointing. You could taste the lobster but unfortunately their cheese blend wasn't so good. Was it too much parm? The non-lobster mac n cheese at Maker's Social was much better. Several of the entrees included a side. The fries were the best part of the meal, and fried perfectly. The side salad was nice too. 2 stars but the food wasn't bad. I'd still go here in the rain. read more

Such a cute place! Vibe is so nice! Hostess was super friendly and the bartender makes a mean Moscow mule! read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We were a bit early for our movie and decided to stop here as it is across the street. The water fountain wasn't working, but it didn't ruin the ambiance it was a cool evening which made our time enjoyable. We were able to catch them for happy hour and got the blueberry margarita, chicken, and guac. Everything came out rather quickly and the chicken bites really were a hit. The drinks were also made well, and the blueberry margarita was made with fresh blueberries. Definitely will be back on cool summer evenings. read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Ambience was beautiful, outdoor drinks were perfect for this summer. Drinks were on point. And food really tasty. Fried shrimp are a must try! Big shout out to Nilo for making us have a great time. Deff coming back read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The Water Bar was pleasantly surprising. Such a well run operation too. We were able to get a seat at the window, right after it stormed so we had a nice breeze with the oversized windows open. Our waiter, Matt was incredible. The charcuterie board was great as were the s'mores. The only downside is that there's literally only one bathroom for the entire restaurant. There are bathrooms downstairs right outside of the restaurant that are spotless so it wasn't a huge inconvenience. Also, stay away from the espresso martinis. Nothing to write home about it, at all. read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

First time at Water Bar a nice restaurant/bar surrounded by a fountain wall of water. Beautiful location to take photos. We had the following appetizer's and dinner: -Lobster roll with crispy tater tots. I'd order this lobster roll again very close to what you get in a restaurant in Maine (4.5/5). -Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings. They were crispy with a delicious dipping sauce (4/5). -Crispy chicken wings. The wings lacked flavor on the batter (3.8/5). -Tuna Poke Bowl too small for the price and it was too citrusy for me. I'm used to traditional poke bowls (3.8/5). -Guacamole with chips (4/5). The guacamole tasted fresh with the right amount of lime and salt. The service was good but wished the restaurant had a better happy hour menu with more food and drink options. Happy Yelping :) read more

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Great happy hour deal here. We had the oysters, mac & cheese, and shrimp. The drinks were excellent, and the food was really good. You get a really good view of the area from where you're sitting. Service was excellent and it's a beautiful space to hang out for a little bit. Will definitely come back for dinner at some point. read more

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Kind of a strange vibe. I can't understand how they can serve fresh oysters with the low amount of foot traffic thru here. Food is ok. Nothing special. read more

OK you guys, the vibe is hot. Unusually hot for Arlington. Pentagon City needed this place. And, while it might only have 3.5 stars on Yelp as of this writing, it was needs-a-reservation packed when we arrived. Since we didn't have a reservation we ended up at like the last 2 bar seats at the counter facing out over the water and honestly...we were perfectly happy sitting there. It helped that there was live music in the park below, a fitting summery reggae. Honestly, it felt like we weren't in DC. It felt like we were on vacation in Miami or somewhere tropical. I had worn men's botanical print silk button-down over a bandeau midriff top - 100% the correct sartorial choice. It was also LITERALLY hot, temperature-wise, but we were seated next to a fan so, actually, perfect. Food was also good and honestly, for this area, given the price inflation lately, on par price-wise, though I may not have felt that way if it had opened with these prices a few years ago. Portions were maybe a little small, but not egregiously so, and I have no complaints about the thematically appropriate (read: seafood, but not over the top) menu selection or the actual food execution. See my pics. Cocktails were fine. Again, pricey, but pretty standard for the area. Not the quality I've come to expect for slightly higher prices at Salt or other bars that are billed as capital "c" COCKTAIL bars, where you order food to go with your drink and not the other way around, but these were fine for a place that's as much about food as it is drinks. I'd stick to what's on the cocktail menu, though, or the very basics. The cocktail menu does seem to rotate seasonally, which is nice, particularly since the menu when they first opened - which admittedly, I did not have a chance to try and should not judge - seemed to lean really heavily into the briney and savory cocktails, which isn't everyone's thing. Service was hit or miss. Or server herself was helpful and personable, but good luck getting anywhere with bussers or helpers. We ordered hummus and the hummus itself was really good, but light on the pita. So half the hummus was left with nothing to scoop it. Someone, not our server, came by and asked if we'd like more pita. Yes! And we were happy to pay for it if they charged, but it never came. Many minutes later, now realizing more pita was an option, we asked another helper person. She agreed. But several minutes later, no pita. After a third and final attempt, we asked our actual server for more pita. She said no problem, but again it never came. And when she came to check on us later and offer our bill it's like the pita request had never happened. On the other hand, she was knowledgeable about the menu, able to answer questions, able to handle substitutions (e.g., putting ceasar dressing on my non-ceasar side salad instead of the default, etc.). Anyway, is it absolute gourmet perfection? No. It's not 5 stars. But a solid 4. Mainly, you're coming for the overall experience and the vibe and to get to play pretend that you're actually cool and chill and live on the beach and don't work in a depressing city full of beat down federal office lackeys, Hill staffers, underpaid NGO wonks and overworked attorneys. And for a few hours, it will actually make you believe. read more

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Service: 10/10. The service was great. Salmon Burger: 8/10. It was missing some seasoning on the salmon itself. I also felt the salmon was a bit dry. Overall it was ok. Poke Bowl: 9/10. It had good flavor. Would definitely order again. Overall: read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great location in Crystal City. Went during happy hour, interesting note - margaritas took less time than draft beer. Service was OK but not great. The manager was working, very professional. The staff and bartender didn't seem to care about being there. The food was decent. There are a million places to have an after work drink or get together, this is not my first choice. read more

This restaurant is in a very unique location with a great view of the cityscape. It is nearby a railroad so be prepared for some noise with that, combined with any of that from the live music that usually happens there. Outside of that, it's fairly quiet. When I arrived, I was quick to be seated but it took about 30 minutes to get a waiter to take our order. That gave me plenty of time, unfortunately, to read the entire menu which centers around seafood and comfort food. I ended up ordering the pork sandwich that came with chips and was very good. I wish it didn't take so long to take my order or bring out my food. I'd also add that the water served was disgusting; tasted like melted ice water from a cooler. I'd stick to the cocktails only if I were you. If you got a lot of time and are in the area, not a terrible spot. read more

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$2 oysters and $10 happy hour weekdays are the bomb. Excellent location and presentation! Nice vibes

Me and my buddy were in Crystal City looking for a place to get some eats and drank yesterday (Tuesday noonish) and we were like "let's just hit up the Water Bar!" And I'm glad we did! We had the whole place to ourselves lol great rainy day spot. My buddy had a few Jacks and Coke, I had the crab empanadas which were amazing!!! Definitely try them if you go. Service was great, bartender was very friendly and helpful. The ambience is nice, u get a Caribbean feel up there with all the water falling down lol Def check them out next time you're at the water park! Sit at the bar, the seats are very comfortable. 5 stars fo sho! read more

Water Bar - Crab empanadas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Water bar is a great spot and has great drinks and music! They also have a good happy hour. The burger, chips and quac and brussel sprouts are really good. Highly recommend this spot read more

Those waffle fries are so white they should come with a side of mayonnaise. But the service was great.

Hey there, fellow foodies and sports fanatics! So, I know this is a bit of a late-night (or early-morning, depending on your vibe) rave, but I had to spill the beans about Water Bar! I popped in during the Final Four, and let me tell you, the service was absolutely phenomenal, the ambiance was electric (perfect for all those nail-biting moments!), and the food? Oh. My. Goodness. The food was so delicious, it deserves its own championship trophy! My server, Maria C, was an absolute superstar! She was super attentive, kept the good times rolling while I was glued to the game, and her food recommendations? Chef's kiss! I devoured a burger with sweet potato fries that was so good, it almost made me forget about the score. HIGHLY, highly recommend that combo! And the drinks - both cocktails and mocktails - were just divine. Overall, it was an absolutely AWESOME experience! I've already spread the gospel to my team and supervisor, and guess what? We're making a return on April 16th! read more

The view is nice of course especially with the water feature. You are in a bar with open doors, perfect for summer days. Quick service and good food. We enjoyed the drinks. Go downstairs and hear a live band . read more

Water Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Water Bar was a super cool restaurant with an awesome view of the Va landscape. The food was delicious and served with a smile. I love the open setting and the ambiance is so vibrant. Only issue, was my initial server who was doing an amazing job disappeared half way through my meal and never came back again ( that was extremely confusing and the delay in service was definitely felt ) read more

Come for the cocktails and stay for the food. Extensive beverage list and slot of interesting cocktails on the menu you wouldn't normally see. Burger looked unassuming but was bursting with flavor. The sauce went just right with the smashed 2 patties. Bun was soft yet crispy and perfectly held the burger. Fish and chips had the right fish to batter ratio. They also had very nice holiday lights. Service was attentive. read more

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Love this spot- been several times and it's stayed consistent for two years. Cute decor, the waterfall is a win on a pretty day. The staff is friendly and attentive. Great happy hour food + drink options. The calamari, fried shrimp, guac n chips, and truffle fries + drinks are standard go to's. read more

The music is always on point and the cocktails and appetizers are tasty. A solid neighborhood spot

This dish was very nice my only critique would be less curry in the cauliflower rice. It was good after a couple of bites it was overwhelming with the spice. read more

Water Bar - Pan Seared Salmon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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From the moment we were seated, Nilo went above and beyond. He was warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive. You can tell he takes real pride in his work -- every recommendation he gave was spot-on, from drinks to dessert. What really stood out was how Nilo anticipated our needs before we even asked. Water glasses were never empty, special requests were remembered perfectly, and he managed everything with a calm, professional charm that made us feel totally taken care of. Restaurants are only as good as the people in the restaurant . We'll absolutely be back-- and we'll definitely be asking for Nilo! read more

My friends and I were turned away at 8:30 on Friday night because the place was closing!! The bar was packed!What is happening with this beautiful restaurant?? read more

Food was mid but very pricey. Service was mid...waitress never made sure our drinks came but they did make them on the house...with that being said, no cap they were just OK It's outdoor seating so it comes with the elements which on this particular day was a nice summer night to have dinner. I heard that I came after they switched managers so the food menu posted on Yelp is not the same as what the restaurant serves unless people have posted updated pictures. Try it for yourself cuz we have different taste buds but in MY opinion, I won't be returning ‍ read more