Ate breakfast and did happy hour while staying at the Motto hotel. Breakfast did a croissant and a coffee. Coffee was fine. Menu indicated croissant was chocolate--it was not. Also was not fully cooked as the center pulled out in one continuous tube. Happy hour I had fried calamari, which was pretty good. Served with tartar sauce, which is not my preference. Really would have rathered cocktail sauce, but I went with it. The vibe was cool and urban. Service was fine--fast enough, but not too friendly. For a hotel space, it's great. read more

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It's DC prices. Two bagels and coffees is almost fifty dollars. You order at the bar and pick a spot to sit. To pay it's back to the bar. I'm not really sure what the tip is for given the overall service is under ten seconds - when the food is dropped off. That said, the meal was fresh and the selection of pastries is good. When I visited, their coffee machine was broken so it was only brewed coffee; again they don't give you a setup at the table. Want cream in your coffee? Back to the bar. Music was 90s hip hop. Seating is comfortable and tables were clean. Very convenient for people in the hotel. I'd try the Capital One cafe right next door. Cheaper and their coffee machine is functional. read more

Went to Crimson DC around 9 PM on a Friday while staying at the Hilton Motto in the same building. The setup is incredibly confusing. I walked into what appeared to be an empty restaurant past someone I assumed was another patron, only to get hit with a curt "Can I help you?" Apparently there's a downstairs bar, a main level bar, and a rooftop bar, and multiple people seemed confused about where they were supposed to go. We ended up at the rooftop. I ordered the first cocktail on the menu, a cherry drink for $17. It took about a minute to make and somehow tasted both overly sweet and vaguely like a damp basement. Then the bill came and a non-optional gratuity had already been added, bringing a single cocktail to $22. Maybe it was disclosed somewhere, but if I saw it, I missed it. On the way out I realized there had been a DJ in the corner the entire time. Honestly, the place doesn't need a DJ. It needs attentive staff, clearer organization, and cocktails that justify the price. Only real positive: the rooftop views were nice. read more

Crimson DC - Cherry cocktail (regrettable) - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very pleased with the variety of pastry choices. Too, the prices weren't bad. Continuing the drum beat of healthy eating, the spinach quiche was an easy choice. There were croissants, muffins, and a variety of sweet treats on display. All looked really good. It was a good balance of spinach, cheese, and egg. The crust was flakey and not heavy. Good taste and just enough for breakfast. read more

Crimson DC - spinach quiche - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by Crimson DC Rooftop for a couple drinks while killing time and checking out the view. And to be fair, the view is fantastic. DC looks pretty great from up there and the rooftop vibe is exactly what you want on a nice evening. Now... getting a drink is a bit of an Olympic sport. The place gets busy, and it felt like there were about 100+ people and two bartenders bravely holding the line. Getting their attention required patience, strategy, and possibly some light eye contact telepathy. Once I finally placed an order, the drinks were good, so no complaints there. I was hoping to check out the whiskey bar, but it was closed since the rooftop was open, which felt a little like being told there's a secret level in a video game that you're not allowed to unlock tonight. Also worth noting: there's a mandatory 20% gratuity, which is fine, but it does add a little extra motivation to become very efficient at catching a bartender's attention. Overall: great views, good drinks, fun rooftop energy -- just bring a little patience when it comes time to order. It's worth it once you've secured a cocktail. read more

Crimson DC - Devils Breth Margarita - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As a restaurant located inside the Motto Hotel in Chinatown, it offers good enough food for people who want to sustenance themselves with a quick bite. I also enjoyed how quiet it was because it allowed my friend and I to chat for quite a while undisturbed. Since the hotel gave me some food credits to use here, I was able to make the most use of it. Pretty much everything tasted like what one would imagine when ordering these items: conventionally good. The mimosa tasted just like champagne and orange juice combined. The croissant had a very flaky exterior and tasted good enough. The matcha tea latte was within my expectations, made from powder and tasting like the other mixes I have had before. The fried chicken sandwich had a good lime chili sauce which elevated the flavor of the fried chicken. The chicken was well made because it was tasty and crunchy. But the cheese that was placed on top of the chicken wasn't completely melted, which impacted the tasting experience. In terms of flavor, it was good. Overall I would recommend this place for those staying in the hotel because one can make good use of the credits they get (if applicable), and can enjoy some good quiet time with friends during daytime. I believe it gets noisier in the evening and many people would go downstairs for drinks, as I had heard loud music from the basement while staying in the hotel. read more

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Crimson at the Motto DC has a great whiskey bar vibe, even if you're just there for the food. The space is cozy and moody, and the bartenders are very friendly and welcoming, which sets the tone right away. My biggest letdown was the pork belly. I love pork belly, but this version missed the mark. Crispy pork belly usually lets the fat render down, not get trapped in a deep fried batter. A few bites ended up being mostly battered, unrendered fat, and that texture just does not work for me. I'd still come back for the atmosphere and to try other dishes, but I'd skip the pork belly next time. It's sad too because the flavor of the accompaniments with the pork belly is delicious! read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a lovely time! I'm staying at Motto and the very cold weather was reason enough to not want to leave the hotel! The rooftop bar portion was closed but the whiskey bar downstairs was open and has the same menu. Plenty of seating in on a cold Monday night, and ordered some nibbles and drinks to share. We got the charcuterie board, brussels, and olives - all were delicious. Also happy hour was running and so we enjoyed some $10 cocktails - really great old fashioned! Atmosphere was cozy and perfect for catching up with friends. I think parking might be difficult if you're driving in - but if you're staying at the hotel, it's a great option. Recommend checking this out! read more

Crimson DC - Cozy atmosphere - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Crimson DC has hands down one of the best burgers in the city. And I say that as a serious burger fan. Juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked -- this is the kind of burger that makes you stop mid-conversation and appreciate what you're eating. I usually start here for happy hour, and somehow the night always turns into a full experience. One minute it's drinks and bites, the next thing you know you're heading up to the rooftop for Tuesday bingo -- which is such a fun, unexpected twist and part of what makes Crimson feel like more than just a restaurant. The vibe is energetic without being overwhelming, the food is consistently on point, and it's the kind of place that works whether you're popping in casually or staying for the night. Great burger, good drinks, and a rooftop that keeps things interesting. If you love a solid burger and a place that knows how to keep the energy going, Crimson DC is absolutely worth a visit. read more

I feel like everytime I've come here it's just been worse. This deserved a 1 when one of the managers got mad at me because I told him there was a hair in my food... it had fallen off in the time I had gotten to the bar (and I legit only asked for them to remake it). Came back here to try trivia and their menu has gotten significantly worse. They used to have really good staples like a pimento cheese burger, goat cheese dip, turkey club, more entree variety, but now the menu itself has barely any diversity and options to it to eat. Like who's eating a whole branzino at a downstairs whisky bar? A friend and I got the smash burger.... It was whatever but my friend left trivia early because it upset his stomach that much. I asked if I could get the side garden salad ($8) with Cesar dressing and they told me no. What's crazy if I asked what dressings it comes with and they told me it was just vegetables with nothing else (literally a rabbit diet). I thought this was a mistake but then found it was not and they in fact could not add dressing or anything else to it. Their fries were good I'll give them that. They had caps games specials listed out but I still got charged the full amount????? read more

Crimson DC - catfish sandwich - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great selection of whiskeys and bourbons, good food, and great scene. The downstairs is more of a lounge with dimly lit booths and high tops and a large offering of bourbons and whiskeys. The upstairs (pictured) has a beautiful view of the city, a good amount of seating, and servers who are fast and friendly. We'll be back for another visit. read more

Crimson DC - View from rooftop - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Jameson and tonic, skewered chicken, cobb salad, friendly service. Rooftop bar , great view of DC at night in a light rain. Needs more jazz music. read more

Sweeping rooftop views at Crimson on a cool crisp summer night with a double Macallan neat in hand here is my kind of hour after a long day. Bar service during my visit was exceptional. I heard they had good whiskey, so now that I know I'll have to come back and see what their entrées are about. Parking in this part of town is tricky. But if you don't want to risk it, Gallery Place Metro (RED) will drop right at H St. or the underground parking across the street (H & 7th). read more

My review is exclusively related to the rooftop experience in summer (so open and breezy). The location/environmemt/ambiance are absolutely a factor in why I am giving this a positive review. Drinks and bar food were elevated and reasonably priced for the area (ie, not cheap but no more expensive than any other comparable place in central DC). We sat at the bar and the bartenders were lovely. My espresso martini was fine - these are really common everywhere these days and while this was nice I have had others that blow me away more (Maison Cheryl in Clarendon has my favorite). My second drink though, the Desperado, was a winner (if you like Mezcal). Large, complex, a fruity spicy undertone I wasn't expecting. Small detail but water here is self serve out of what looked like the largest Berkey purifier I have ever seen in my life. I have mixed feelings because it isn't elegant but at the same time if the bar is open to the outdoors in DC summer it may not be a bad thing for patrons to be able to refill water at will. Also for self serve water, and because it was in a giant metal purifier, it was really cold and good tasting. We ordered mac and cheese, the charcuterie board, the marinated olives, and the foccacia. I was less impressed by the food than the drinks or ambiance. The foccacia was not reallt what I think of as foccacia (more like slices of crusty buttery bread) and the portion was small for like...table bread. The charcuterie was also small without the ample and diverse selection I have experienced at other places (again, skimping on the bread but there weren't any other carbs on the plate, no fruits or jams or fun garnishes, pretty blah). Marinated olives were a surprisingly ample portion but not especially flavorful and generally unforgettable. The mac and cheese was the best of the food items we ordered. Really nice flavor, acceptable if not ample portion for the price. Pro tip: We went on a Tuesday after work and it was busy without being overly crowded during the typical after work happy hour period, and then starting at 8 it just completely emptied out, so if you are interested in having a nice place to yourself on a tuesday... Overall, would recommend for the specific experience of being in a really lovely indoor-outdoor space in warm weather with nice drinks and decent service. Food is good enough if you need something to eat with your drinks but that's all it is. Cannot speak to the other parts of the restaurant or to what it is like in cold weather and I suspect my review would probably be more like 3 stars because it would be much more about the food at that point. read more

Someone wanted to meet up and had requested a rooftop... I knew just where I wanted to go. Crimson is a place that my best friend and I met up at years ago before the pandemic, hanging out in the basement. And I knew they had a rooftop and I took a peek once on another occasion. I knew I had to come back! Fast forward to now, years later, I finally revisited haha. I was shocked by how busy it was on a Monday right around 5! The weather was nice, but geez haha. There's plenty of seating all around to give views of the city, and plenty more right near the bar. I arrived before my friend, so I was just holding it down and taking in the views. It's definitely on the more affordable side compared to other rooftops in the city. When she finally arrived, we decided to grab a tabletop on the side, and we were having a good time -- until they started blasting the music. We were outside, and it's a Monday late afternoon, and we could barely hear each other talk. Both of us are more soft spoken (and I hadn't long recovered from back from back-to-back karaoke nights LOL)... so I went inside to ask them to turn it down. They didn't haha. So moving on, my friend wasn't hungry, but I needed a bite, so I ordered some wings. They were absolutely delicious, and I got way more than I expected for the price. I was expecting 5 and got 8 -- rooftop bites are usually pricey and on the smaller side. That was a pleasant surprise! But it would've been nice for them to give napkins when they brought it out. I saw other people with the bigger napkins, and I went in and didn't see any, and there was no one to ask -- and the bartenders had their hands full. So I just grabbed some of the bar drink napkins, which were really small. Some minor hiccups aside, we enjoyed our experience. I'd definitely come back, given the convenience and the affordability. But if Mondays are like this... I don't want to come on weekends haha. read more

Came to meet friends on a Thursday evening. Sat on the rooftop. Beautiful views on a sunny day! Bartender lines were a little long, so be patient on the wait read more

This place was amazing!! Group of 6 went after a Wizards game in DC. The bottom floor had all the vibes needed for a Saturday night! Great music (throwbacks), the espresso martinis are a MUST likely one of the best I have had, their service was quick with food! read more

During my stay at Motto by Hilton in Washington, D.C., I had breakfast at Crimson Cafe, and the experience was delightful. The cafe's atmosphere was warm and inviting, blending a modern aesthetic with a touch of Southern charm. The staff greeted me with friendly smiles and provided attentive service throughout my meal, ensuring a pleasant start to my day. The menu offered a variety of options, catering to diverse tastes, and I was impressed by the fresh ingredients and thoughtful presentation of the dishes. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes complemented by blueberries. The ginger beer was flavorful. The balance of quality and portion size was excellent, and the overall experience reflected Crimson Cafe's commitment to great hospitality. Whether you're a guest at the hotel or a local stopping by for a meal, Crimson Cafe is a fantastic choice for breakfast in the heart of the city. read more

Crimson DC - Pancakes with blueberries - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome staff!! Shoutout to Christine on bartending and Kenny who welcomed us in and had great hospitality. The drinks are strong and the food was tasty. We had wings and fries. They really showed my friend and I a good time and I would highly recommend and return!! read more

Crimson DC - Outside view - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Friendly service. Wanted to make sure I started with that. Located in the lobby of the Motto by Hilton hotel, probably the worst hotel I've ever stayed at outside of one of those econolodging places where you expect everything to be subpar, but something with Hilton in the name??? (More on that in their own review). Ordered a sausage egg and cheese croissant sandwich with a side of bacon, coffee and OJ. The coffee is bland at best, and just warm. Meh. They use sausage LINKS in their SEC sandwich instead of a patty, big no-no in my book. The bacon was chewy and tasteless. I mean, how is bacon tasteless?? The eggs and croissant were fine, but the overall experience is garbage. Even the tables are too close, people at neighboring tables almost shoulder to shoulder with me. Wouldn't recommend read more

Crimson DC - Sausage, Egg & Cheese Bacon - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for the first time for a group event, which was hosted downstairs at their bar area. We were served a variety of dishes- vegetable crudite, 3 types of cheeses, shrimp cocktail, fried chicken sliders, beef sliders, veggie sliders, deviled eggs, and grilled vegetable kabobs. What's hot - Quality. Based on what I tried, their food is pretty good. Their deviled eggs come with some radish and crumbled bacon. Added bacon is yummy, but the relish is not a good addition. Their sliders are pretty good, especially the texture of the veggie patties and the buns. To be fair, nothing really stood out that makes me want to come back. - Service. Reliable and decent. - Location. It's in downtown DC, so you can get there via metro and/or walking. - Price. Based on what I saw from their menu, their prices appear to be reasonable, especially given the quality. What's not - Acoustics. Inside acoustics is terrible. Sound, including music, echoes easily, which makes it difficult to hear others and have a conversation. When I was there, there was music playing, which didn't help. - Location. Because it's in downtown DC, it's not the most easiest location to get to driving. Additionally, parking on the area is difficult to find and can be expensive. Final Answer Not bad and would be willing to return, but not a top choice on my list of places to return to. read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Was there for a work event that was catered. The deviled eggs were delicious and the fried chicken sliders. Barbara was a delightful bartender and made one of the best Bees Knees cocktail! Rooftop had great views of the city and sunset and the downstairs had a cool speakeasy/library vibe to it. read more

Went to Crimson DC for a quick bite before an event at Capital One Arena. The bar area was nice and the staff were very helpful. Food was good, drinks were great. Would comeback to check out the whiskey bar downstairs. Thanks! read more

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Great location inside the Hilton Motton hotel in Chinatown. The atmosphere is upscale yet relaxed in the various areas available for dining (bar, restaurant and rooftop). My only concern is that both times that I visited the hours and availability of service within each location was not clear. Also, be aware that the rooftop location is only open to 21+ though I was informed that minors are allowed up during brunch hours; when those actually happen. Lastly, the restaurant is under separate management/ operations therefore make sure to contact the restaurant directly to make sure you're receieving the correct information. The food I purchased was brunch avocado toast which was pretty good, however for the price point and ingredients would have expected it to be phenomenal. My eggs were not hot when I receieved my meal and the cooking area was less than a minute from where I was seated; perhaps it was sitting before it was served. read more

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We decided to stop in Crimson on a Saturday night because a lot of friends were in town for a wedding. We needed a spot that was accessible, had food and would accommodate a potentially large group. The basement (or rooftop) of Crimson would be perfect for the occasion. I hadn't been here is quite awhile but recall the artsy vibe in the hotel lobby where you enter and the intimate ambiance in the whiskey bar in the basement. To our surprise there was a live cover band in the basement. I was excited and starving at 10:00pm so I was very pleased that I was able to order from the full menu. My friend and I decided to share the smash burger and a side salad. The smash burger came out quickly, with fries and the salad even though I only wanted the salad. I asked for balsamic vinaigrette but they gave me plain vinegar (yuck). The burger was missing some of the toppings ... it only had cheese on it. But I was starving so I just ate as is. The band was great they performed a variety of songs from different genres so the vibe was right. Crimson is good choice for any outing and perfect for a group, read more

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Who knew this fun bar was nestled within Chinatown - will definitely be returning! I stumbled into Crimson Whiskey on a Saturday evening while looking for a place to avoid the cold temps outside. We were greeted immediately by the hostess and directed downstairs to the primary whiskey bar. The downstairs area is surprisingly big - we were drawn down there by the awesome sound of a brass band and vocalist. The vibe and energy was fantastic; the band was playing all sorts of RnB and pop hits on a small raised stage. About 30-40 patrons total were scattered throughout the 2 large bars and multiple cocktail tables and booths. The space is warm and inviting, with lots of wooden and leather (maybe feaux leather) seating. Shoutout to the band for playing some great hits - we were singing and dancing along all night (until midnight when the band stopped). The drinks were really delicious - most cocktails range from $13-16 and are made with care. We had the house old fashioned and cafe espresso cocktail; I was really pleased with the quality of both drinks and you can tell they are made with quality ingredients. Shoutout to the bartenders! They also have a food menu with some elevated American fare options - we didn't order any food but what came out of the kitchen to other tables looked solid. Will definitely be returning for another old fashioned. Pro tip - avoid nights where there's a game or large event happening at the capital one arena. The caps game ended around 10:30 after which time, the bar became PACKED wall to wall. read more

Pros: great location. AWESOME view. Easy seating. Full bar. Decent menu. Cons: the price is a draft beer is $10. Plus an automatic 20% gratuity. It's $12 for a regular draft. That's a real turn off. They have no happy hour specials. Order at bar only. Only my reason to go is for the rooftop. read more

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Really great views and cocktail options. Service was really quick on a Thursday after 5pm. Perfect for a casual drink. read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Crimson is just okay. My coworkers tend to frequent this bar and I finally decided to give it a shot too since I heard their rooftop was pretty nice. My plan was to come for happy hour on the rooftop....until I learned the rooftop does not have happy hour (it's only at the bar area on the main floor), Overall, their happy hour menu had pretty good deals with everything pretty much hovering between $6 - $10 dollars. One thing to note, a 20% gratuity was automatically added to my bill (I was at the bar + only had myself on the tab) -- that surprised me because I only normally see automatic gratuities added for large parties, not parties of 1. I had the dry rub grilled wings - and they were bland. It tastes like they were NOT seasoned at all and then just thrown on the grill. I would not order them again as they left MUCH to be desired. I also had the calamari and it was fine, nothing special. The French fries here are really good though! read more

*Updated Review* I'm happy to see that Crimson is still around! I loved coming here pre-pandemic. Still a solid choice for a late night cocktail. The guy upstairs is not friendly and clearly hates his job! Other than that, we had a great time. Our bartender, Shawn was amazing. He was friendly and engaging and made a great old fashioned. Thank you! read more

Review is for rooftop bar only (Not hotel restaurant): In town for Snalleygaster and stayed at the Motto. Crimson is their view bar on the roof, opening at 5pm. $10 Aslin Power Moves IPA and a glass of Zolo Sauvignon Blanc for $11 plus the mandatory 18% gratuity with tax = $27.26 for two standard drinks in (I believe) plastic cups is a bit off putting. Don't get me wrong, great view, if you're in the hotel and need a quick night cap with a view, this will scratch the itch - but I will not be back, once was sufficient. read more

Crimson DC - View is wonderful, plastic cups and overpriced beverages plus mandatory 18% & tax for 2 drinks. That is where my value analysis falls short - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went back again, service was a bit better but the cocktails were just not good. The first one I ordered off the menu was ok but the flavors were a bit washed out/watered down, for my next drink I just asked for a mezcal margarita. It was better, but way too short on lime, tasted more like a flat mezcal soda... I also tried the food there for the first time and found it similarly underwhelming. For such a nice location, and for the prices they are charging, they could do a much better job. All of that said, the service this time was so much better than last time. Only thing keeping me from giving it 1 star. Oh, I also got a beer that I have had before and enjoyed elsewhere, that was not nice. Not sure if it was an old keg, dirty lines, or maybe my taste was just off that night :/ read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and his wife were visiting DC and I met them here with my partner for late evening drinks. We started out on the rooftop bar, which had a gorgeous view especially with the ominous ambiance of the approaching storm clouds and the fading twilight. Ordering is via QR code, and pretty much as soon as our drinks were brought out those clouds delivered and we had to rush inside, fortunately there's a roomy indoor section too. The music was a bit loud, but we still enjoyed catching up with our friends and when we were shooed downstairs at the 9:45 closing time, we were able to hang out on the lobby couches for as long as we wished. The drink selection is pretty good (I appreciated the NA options), and prices are what you'd expect for DC. Really, the major strength here is location, so easy to get to in the heart of downtown. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

The breakfast was ridiculously overpriced and they include an automatic 20% gratuity for all orders. A happy hour cocktail was like $15!

They are horribly rude. Slow service and average food and drinks. Easily stood outside and told people not to come in here and they knew exactly why. Go to ciel instead and have much better people and food. read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went to Crimson's rooftop for a friend's birthday party. And while I can't comment on the food, the drinks were good, and the views were outstanding. On a nice night in early summer, it truly was the perfect place to be! The service at the bar was also extremely friendly and quick, despite it being very busy. Highly recommend for drinks! read more

Crimson DC - Diners Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Please bring back the crimson burger! The smash burger is not good and just not the same. Great ambiance though and I love it when Deadeye Stare performs. read more

I'm currently on a 3-day antibiotic after eating there. I'd eaten there before and had no issue. However by Sunday after eating there Saturday (which was virtually the only thing I ate all day) I became ill for days. I would never return. read more

This review is for the rooftop bar. The drinks were decent, but nothing was special enough to go back. I doubt we would try the main bar and ding area. read more

Beautiful sunset views with tasty cocktails. Comfortable seats and nice beer selection.