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    12 Stories

    3.3 (318 reviews)
    PriceyLounges
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    12 Stories Photos

    Business Info

    12 STORIES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy

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    Recommended Reviews - 12 Stories

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    Cheryl D.

    Pretty much a staple go to venue in DC. Perfect views of the wharf, landing nearby planes, and slight visions of downtown memorials and monuments. The DJ is consistently a good vibe and sometimes social clubs will host parties or gatherings here. The drinks are pricey but very good. Food options are the same. I like the fries. They always are a good quick snack option. This is one of the few clubs I know of that don't allow smoking inside which I love and prefer for crowded bar spaces.

    Outside
    Elizabeth D.

    Always a good time when I come to 12 stories in DC. The drinks, music and vibes are top tier. I ordered the espresso martini and it was very good, I also had a sip of my friend's midnight stories and enjoyed that too. There are bartenders and servers walking around to take your order or you can go directly to the bar.

    Inside- rooftop
    Mila F.

    I have been to 12 stories multiple times and my experience is always lackluster. Beautiful view. Beautiful decor. Drinks are good. But price is ridiculous. They may have events where they charge at the door and then drinks are still $30-$40 for anything at all. I used to say it's the wharf, but there are many other businesses on the wharf that are managing to make a profit with $20 drinks. There's also not many places to sit unless you come early and it's unreserved as there are only so many couches to space ratio. Cute stop in for a view and leave to eat and drink.

    Espresso Martini
    Shandy R.

    Rooftops are my favorite places to go and 12 Stories is in my top 5. I normally hate going to bars where it gets super crowded because it takes too long to get a drink. Definitely not my experience anytime I come here. The bartenders are great, especially Mike! He makes the best St Germain Spritzes and although the drinks ARE a bit more pricy than your average bar, you definitely feel like you get your monies worth. One of the best views in the city, diverse crowd, the music is always on point, you can't really go wrong coming here unless you don't feel like spending $50+ pp. I bring all my friends when they visit from out of town and I've heard nothing but great feedback. Not too sure about the food, but once I try it...I'll come back and update.

    Grilled shrimp:  22.00:  overcooked twice.  If you like tough seasoned shrimp, enjoy!
    Theartist F.

    Service great: drinks delicious: everything too damn expensive: shrimp overcooked: sent it back and it came to me over cooked again. 4 stars for the dope comedy show on a Thursday once a month. Eat before you come. I got a passionfruit margarita without ginger. Why isn't the bar stocked? Besides that it's a beautiful view and the servers and bartenders super friendly and understanding, especially G!

    Views of the city of the DC Area
    Takeya D.

    You have to check out 12 stories when you visit the DMV area it is a whole vibe and the night sky views of the city is bomb! Me and my friend went on a Thursday night for R&B night we definitely wasn't disappointed the DJ has us rocking all night the music was on point and the drinks were good but $26 for a drink is crazy work I had the casamigos Margarita

    Wings and fries
    Christine B.

    I had been to this establishment before but just to grab a drink. This visit was more extensive. I made a reservation for 2 not knowing that they didn't have a full menu, but just appetizers. We had considered going elsewhere, however I am glad we didn't. Upon entry, the staff was very hospitable and helpful with the process to get to the seating area. From the hostess to the manager and all in between were great. Our server (I believe her name was spelled 'Keilah') was fantastic. We notified her that we had time constraints and she ensured we were accommodated. The menu had many diverse food options so we ordered the grilled wings, French fries and crab dip. The fries were crispy, the wings were savory and the crab dip was delectable. We had enough food to get us to through most of the evening. The stunning views of the waterfront, the ambiance and most importantly the food,drinks and service were top tier. I'll visit again to try out Brunch.

    Bar
    Latoya E.

    Nice location, fast entry. I enjoyed my first experience here last night. I didn't think it would be as crowded as it was. I've heard good things about this place and I agree. The bar was very crowded but the bartenders work the crowd well. Friendly service, tasty drinks.... We were enjoying the patio. Although it is February and temperatures were pretty low the heaters on the patio and the view made it the perfect overflow area. It was a bit warm inside because of the crowd, so I wish we were able to stay on the patio, but they asked everyone to move inside and closed the patio at 12:30. No food, I'm not sure if they even have a food menu, we arrived around 12midnight, most kitchens are closed so we didn't bother to ask. The music they played was a mixture or old r&b, a few throw back gogo classics and new hits. We enjoyed the selections!! Bathrooms were clean and well lit! Thank you for that!! When we were ready to leave we had to stand in a pretty long line to load onto 1 elevator, they did allow us to sit while our men stood in the line for us. Overall great experience! I wish there was a coat check! Everyone seems to just have their coats on or holding them in hand.

    VA view
    Elaine F.

    We are staying overnight at The Intercontinental for my husband's birthday. So I wanted to start with drinks, with a good view of the river and the Wharf. I made an afternoon (3:00 pm, so very early) reservation at 12 Stories. They have a separate entrance and a dedicated elevator, where the attendant checks your reservation before you are allowed up. The view did not disappoint. There is a beautiful view of the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin. I had two glasses of the Conundrum wine, a California white blend. My husband had a beer. The music is very loud for so early in the day, but it was still enjoyable. We did not order food, but they have a menu of small plates. The servers were very pleasant. We are seniors, and I was glad to be able to enjoy the view before the Saturday night crazies set in. Check it out if you are down at The Wharf.

    $33 lemon drop martini
    Takoya L.

    Made a reservation for a table 2 weeks in advance, 30 mins before my scheduled time the establishment canceled it. Got there they said it was a day party going on and reservations were only for people who purchased bottle service, but to accommodate me my party of 3 could enter for free and stand up somewhere - strike 1. Went to the bar ordered a lemon drop martini it was $33 -strike 2. The first bartender at least warned us of the price and was friendly so 1 star for that. Second round my friend ordered us 2 coronas $11 each cake with no lime. I went to the bar to request 2 limes (to go with the $11 beer) and was told there is a limit on limes. I was given one lime only and told my friend would have to order another drink to get her lime. Different bartender ( tall guy with dreads and a not so friendly attitude). What a mess!! Prices are beyond ridiculous. DJ was good but overall service didn't match the excessive prices. I personally will not return.

    Water on the table

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    3 years ago

    Excellent service!! I always feel like a VIP celebrity when I pull up!!! Drinks are on point and the small bites are just right!!

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    Didn't stay because it wasn't the atmosphere I was looking for at the time but the view was nice

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    Page 3 of 8

    12 Stories Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - 12 Stories

    Is the rooftop still open / covered if it rains?

    There is a bit of a covering (awning) they may have tarp they can add

    How is the parking at 12 Stories?

    There is a parking garage but it's not just for 12 Stories' customers and it's also weird to get to. If you blink you'll miss it. LOL. Honestly, I would uber to save a headache.

    Is there house music?

    They play house, top 40, and a mix of old school music

    When is the best time to go for a grown (over 30) and sexy and diverse crowd?

    Any day of the week! I thought it was a younger crowd but it's a mix. Old school music on weekends. Awesome DJ. It will not disappoint.

    View All 7 Questions

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    The Penthouse at La Vie - My favorite igloo!

    The Penthouse at La Vie

    3.6(25 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I was visiting some friends in DC and made reservations at the Penthouse with the purpose of eating…read moreoutside in their "igloos". It ended up being too hot for us to enjoy outside but the server was nice enough to move our large party indoors without a wait. I ordered the sangria and it was so fruity and refreshing. Where this place falls flat for me is the food. We went for brunch so I'm not sure what their lunch and dinner menu looked like but I had their chicken and waffles. Typically, I'm used to having this dish with just chicken on top of a waffle with a side of syrup that you can pour over. This dish was drenched with a sauce that wasn't syrup but still sort of sweet? It wasn't necessarily *bad*, it's just that I wasn't expecting it. I didn't end up finishing it and my friends weren't impressed with some of the other dishes. I will say though...that Harissa Shrimp? Give me 14 of them.

    Another spot for pictures and aesthetics with bad service and mediocre food…read more On a busy night at the wharf, this was one of the few places I could drop in and sit at the bar. It took 10 minutes for the bartender to hand me a water and ask what I wanted (though he never gave me a menu). After ordering, no one checked on me until my plates were empty and drink was dry. I ordered the beet salad and truffle fries. The food was good but certainly not worth the price. I'm happy to pay good money but seeing the well done lamb chops beside me, I decided to go with a safe Girl Dinner. I won't be back, even if I need a cute spot for pictures with the girls. This spot isn't worth it, there are too many great places to eat in DC to settle

    Photos
    The Penthouse at La Vie - Espresso

    Espresso

    The Penthouse at La Vie - Bronzino with Greek salad

    Bronzino with Greek salad

    The Penthouse at La Vie - Shrimp Caesar souvlaki

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    Shrimp Caesar souvlaki

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Gyoza ($15) - they are smaller than you can imagine

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden

    3.7(113 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    We had such a fun night at ZOOZ for their comedy night, and it was such a great addition to The…read moreWharf! The host, Uncle Ant, did a great job keeping the energy up. There was a great lineup of comedians, Myss Brown Sugga went last and was outrageous and hysterical! I love that they are taking the comedy night to the next level. Starting with the next show (August 26) it's becoming Comedy Competition, with a different lineup for each show. Guests will vote for their favorite comedians, with cash prizes for the winners, plus half-off wine (yassssss). ZOOZ has a really sexy, cool cocktail-garden atmosphere that makes it a great place for a night out. Our server was very good, the food was good, and the cocktails were excellent. And the location at The Wharf is perfect--you can make a whole evening of it by grabbing dinner and drinks, catching the comedy show, then walking along the river, enjoying the swings on the pier, and taking in everything else the Wharf has to offer. We're definitely looking forward to coming back for the next show!!

    When I heard that this was the after party for the event ceremony I was a part of, I was pretty…read moreexcited. But upon arrival, I realized that they changed a few things. They had a late night happy hour that was really the allure for random weeknights, and I thought it it made them stand out among others in the area. Unless it's some secret menu item now (I don't think it is), the late night happy hours gone. But this was the most full I had seen ZOOZ, and I was so happy for them. But it didn't seem like they were :/. All the times I have been here, I had always said to myself that I wish they were more crowded because people are missing out. But something was up with the staff that night, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on! Between the lack of happy hour and the staff, the vibe was off, completely. Maybe I would stop in during when they're happy hour actually is now, but otherwise I wouldn't be back.

    Photos
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Poisonous Kiss

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    Poisonous Kiss

    La Vie - Rice ball appetizer...delicious!

    La Vie

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    The staff here were extremely nice, pleasant and welcoming. We were immediately seated. The…read morerestaurant is beautiful and there is a nice view of The Wharf DC. I do recommend dining here if you're in the area. La Vie came highly recommended by a long time DMV resident. This recommendation did not disappoint. The Crab cakes are a must have and that's what I ordered. The lump crab cakes were delicious. I was thoroughly impressed and satisfied with them. I wasn't a fan of the slaw, too spicy. The cocktail I ordered seemed weak and I wasn't a fan. Beware of the automatic 20% service fee here.

    *3.75 I tried this…read morespot for summer restaurant week after hearing so many good reviews about it. When I arrived for my 5pm reservation there was no one at the hostess stand. I waited for about 6 minutes before anyone showed up and then another few minutes before being seated. This was probably because of turnover service between brunch and dinner. I sat on the terrace which had a beautiful view. It can be a bit toasty if you're facing the sun. For my drink did the Lumiere Du Sud. It was refreshing but nothing to rave about. For summer restaurant week I did the mussels, kafta kebab and tiramisu. The mussels were pretty good. Packed with flavor and sauce. I was a bit disappointed with the kafta kebab. I really wanted to try one of the lamb dishes but didn't want to pay the up charge without trying anything first. The kebab was a bit too salty for me. The portion size was perfect though. The tiramisu was good. The waiter was nice. He described the menu well and checked in frequently but not too much. While I enjoyed my dinner, it didn't wow me. I'd likely come back to try happy hour and check out the penthouse.

    Photos
    La Vie - Part of restaurant

    Part of restaurant

    La Vie - Prawn ala genovesa

    Prawn ala genovesa

    La Vie - View from where we were seated

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    View from where we were seated

    Pearl Street Warehouse

    Pearl Street Warehouse

    3.5(118 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I like this place! Went to see Holy Wave on a random weekday. The food was good, the bartenders and…read morewaitstaff were cool. I'd definitely come back. Fries, 1 chicken & 1 cheeseburger slider, and the Pearl Street Lite Lager hit the spot! There's indoor/outdoor seating, standing area right in front of the stage, and blocked off restaurant style seating in the back of the venue. It's small and perfect for bands with a niche crowd. It feels a little divey without being dark, dirty, or grungy. The show started at 8pm and the band performed for about an hour and a half. Perfect plan if you want to hang out during a work night! I tried to find parking along the street, but I ended up biting the bullet and went to a garage nearby. It was worth it; ran me about $25.

    I didn't even know this place was here! I thought the waterfront only had The Anthem. Neat! My…read moregirlfriend invited me to a concert here -- they're a restaurant and bar as well, but I was only there for the show. Not sure how the shows affect regular patrons, but I showed up about a half hour before the show started. I showed my ID and ticket to the host, and went on inside. The venue is nice -- and the stage area is fairly small. There are several tables that can be reserved as well, but they're behind the standing area, so it might be tough to see the stage if there are any tall people. We enjoyed the show and I thought the sound system was good. There was no barrier between the people and the stage, so it felt intimate and I would go back. I need to try their food and drinks!

    Photos
    Pearl Street Warehouse - Interior

    Interior

    Pearl Street Warehouse - Sliders and fries

    Sliders and fries

    Pearl Street Warehouse - Stage and a beautifully made Old Fashioned

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    Stage and a beautifully made Old Fashioned

    Colada Shop - COLADA SHOP CUBAN and STEWED SWEET PLANTAINS

    Colada Shop

    4.0(398 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We stopped by Colada Shop during our trip to DC, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals…read morenear the Wharf! The restaurant is super cute, with a fun cafe vibe, and it's an easy walk from the waterfront. We ordered the Colada Trio, which came with empanadas, cauliflower sliders, and yuca fries. Everything was delicious, and it came with three different sauces that were honestly all so good. I could've eaten those sauces with everything. We also ordered the Platanachos (plantain nachos), which were flavorful and such a fun twist on traditional nachos. They accidentally forgot the cauliflower and mushroom topping, but as soon as I mentioned it, they brought it out right away along with extra sauce. Mistakes happen, but what matters is how a place handles them, and they were incredibly accommodating, which I really appreciated. It was pretty busy when we visited, and I noticed who I believe was the manager or owner helping clean tables and checking on guests. I always love seeing that kind of hands-on involvement. Great food, friendly service, and an awesome location if you're exploring the Wharf. I'd definitely recommend stopping by!

    I've lived in the area of The Wharf Colada Shop for about three years but just recently tried it…read morefor the first time. Very pleasantly surprised. I don't typically go for counter service or QR code service restaurants, but stopped in for a quick bite before a concert at the Anthem. The Cuban sandwich is legit and very tasty with tender pork, soft fresh bread with a crunchy crust, and great pickles. And the stewed plantains were perfectly tender with a caramel like sweetness. Probably the nicest surprise was their reasonably priced cocktails that have a Cuban flair. The happy hour options are very tasty.

    Photos
    Colada Shop
    Colada Shop - Churro- fried pastry dough with cinnamon sugar served with condensed milk. Beware this came out HOT

    Churro- fried pastry dough with cinnamon sugar served with condensed milk. Beware this came out HOT

    Colada Shop - Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

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    Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

    Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Boardwalk Tacos

    Boardwalk Bar & Arcade

    3.1(241 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This is our third visit and we could not be happier! We like to sit at the bar and we have always…read morebeen greeted promptly and with enthusiasm! Our primary server at the bar twice has been Leon. He is amazing! We do not recall our other primary server but everyone works together as a team! This is what makes a great restaurant and experience. The food has been presented and prepared great the three time we have visited! We have had the happy hour special of a hot dog served with chips or a small salad. The salad is very nice and the kettle chips are great! I have also had the chicken tacos that I had served with the side salad. It's literally one two many tacos for me! This is a great place for couples and family's! Lots of games and not to loud music. If you sit at the bar there is also a nice view of the water/Wharf area! Overall this has been a great experience! Don't miss this place!

    Popped in to relax for a few happy hour drinks during DC Jazz fest. Staff is friendly, drinks are…read moreok although not all frozen drinks were available on a hot day. Casual relaxed atmosphere, standard bar style food available as you watch or play a game. Lower level has indoor corn hole and a few arcade games along with the bar. Upper floor has few additional games, bar, seating area and TVs for sports games. Little slow on the upkeep for clearing tables and drink refills on an average day.

    Photos
    Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Truffled Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Truffled Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Boardwalk Tacos

    Boardwalk Tacos

    Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Hawaiian Pizza

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    Hawaiian Pizza

    12 Stories - lounges - Updated September 2026

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