This bar is tiiinnyyyyyyy. Me and my homegirl were looking for a view and a drink. We hadn't realized that we had crashed a language exchange event and "new to town" mixer. Definitely a quiet spot despite the location and people present. We had a lotta guys coming up to us trying to get to know us or promoting other clubs in the area. We just wanted to see the fireworks for the cherry blossom festival. Unfortunately the surrounding buildings were a bit too tall, and we could only see a few fireworks. Out of everyone we chatted with, the bartenders were the most charming people there. Me and my homegirl were grateful for their heavy pour. The drinks themselves were priced fairly relative to the area. read more

I was looking something different for my coworkers last day celebration. And we wanted rooftop. And this was giving everything. The ambiance. The scene. The food. The service. I just picked this place and decided we would come here. The view is amazing. The bartender is awesome. We had a great time. I am so upset I didn't take any pics of the view so now I have to go back. They have heaters for when it gets cold. If you staying downtown or at the Hyatt place make sure you stop in. They do HH Monday to Saturday from 3-6!!! read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yeah they have sign in the sidewalk, but act like you're a homeless person trying to use the br wen you walk in. Then you get up to the roof and unless you're a 'guest' they don't serve you. Plenty of other places to eat, punks. read more

Located on the top of the Hyatt Place Hotel, this bar is overlooked I guess it's because it's off the beaten path. I was happy we decided to visit on our last night at the hotel. The people taking care of bar service were very nice. I had the burger which came with fries. The burger was a double patty of quality beef served on a brioche bun. The veggies that came on it were fresh. Everything was well seasoned. I wish the fries came out hotter but they were still good. The hubs had the beef chili nachos. The portion was generous for the price. They were ok as far as flavor. The drinks were very reasonably priced especially for that area of the city. Don't sleep on this little gem. It's worth the elevator ride to the top of the hotel. You get a nice view along with decent food and reasonably priced drinks. read more

The website says it's open Sundays but it isn't .... Super frustrating when you come back to the hotel specifically to go there and then it's closed ... Yesterday the happy hour prices were good , but grumpy bartenders ... have to get your own drinks read more

Variety of happy hour drinks? Check. Good bar food? Check. Views? Check. I visited the Ellipse on an extremely hot day in August for a happy hour get together with coworkers. When I say hot, I am talking about 97 degrees not factoring heat index. Let me tell you... So to the experience! This rooftop bar offers views of downtown DC (buildings, etc.) but it is still nice nonetheless. The music selection could be improved but honestly that is subjective and it is so loud with fellow patrons that you won't fully be able to hear it. The bar was busy but accommodating and the fries and wings were on point per my group. I always judge by the quality of fries...don't judge me though! Some drinks are a bit pricey even for happy hour but still decent. You can access ice cold water quite easily, which is as HUGE plus! So why not five stars? Appetizers came out on the slower side and while I was on a rooftop in August, a fan or so would be helpful for air circulation. As other reviewers have noted, the entire space is on the smaller side but still a good option if you're in the area! read more

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Good spot for a work happy hour! Drinks were a little too sugary for my taste but they had plenty of beer and wine as well. There was a good amount of shade and a nice breeze for a summer evening with some decent views! It did start to get rather crowded and the bar line took quite a while to cycle through. Good shareable appetizers as well! read more

It was a great view on the roof. The drinks were reasonably priced, the bartender was polite and helpful, even held the last pour of a wine for me. The space was open ms inviting. The couches were super soft, but a bit low to the ground hard to hang unless sitting next to each other but still cozy on a date. We didn't eat food so I cannot comment. I would come back in a Geary beat for a casual drink. read more

This rooftop bar is on top of a hotel so you must walk through the lobby to get to the elevators to get up there. The roof itself is small and if you have a bigger party it might be hard to find seating. They did not have any drafts for happy hour but not a bad selection for drinks. The view on the roof is ok. It is an ok bar for happy hour but I do not know if I would go back. read more

This review is not regarding what I can only assume is a beautiful rooftop bar, the services, or the food. I am reviewing because I just want to implore others to triple check before going to the rooftop as the bar's internal coordination, organization, and communication are not as great as it could be. Yesterday, the Ellipse page had no link or inclination that a private event would be held. A colleague and I checked it around 2:00 PM. We went to the rooftop fully intending on having many coworkers join, but we were turned away. Upon our arrival, there were no signs in the lobby that indicated a last-minute event reserved the rooftop. We were informed that if we were not a part of the company that reserved the rooftop, we had to vacate. It was confusing since there were no signs or indication that the rooftop was, in fact, reserved. The reason why I highlight this instance is because this is not the first time this happened to us. We learned our lesson after the first time of there being no signs in the Hyatt's lobby alluding to the rooftop being reserved; the second time was on us as we should have checked the website again; this last time was on Ellipse as the website should have been updated in a timely manner, there should have been signs or the unavailability of the rooftop should have been communicated to front desk staff. I am sure it is a lovely place but a person who is coordinating a group of people to meet here can only be turned away so many times due to a lack of communication & otherwise. read more

It's been incredibly hot lately. So unsurprisingly, when I got to this place around 4:30 (just 30 minutes after their happy hour officially starts), all of the tables / seats in the shade were taken. Thankfully, there was plenty of standing room. I was there with dozens of other people from my office, and we were definitely the majority! I hopped in line to grab a drink... and yeah, a line definitely forms quickly. My advice to you would be to always go in a group and have a friend already in line place orders for you so you don't have to always go to the very back of the line. I wonder if there's a better system they could work out here? The happy hour specials are $6 wines, and $8-$9 cocktails. I loved the wine choices, but I have to say I wasn't impressed by the cocktails I sipped on from my friends. I cannot speak for the food, which was also $9. Otherwise, the views are as great as I imagined they'd be. And this place is conveniently located near McPherson Square metro, so it's great if you want to be outdoors on a roof! And compared to many other hotel rooftop locations, this one is actually quite affordable. I would definitely stick to wine, though, and avoid the cocktails. Just don't think they're worth their prices. read more

With rooftop happy hour, it's always all about the view. This view is fairly decent in DC, and if you get there on the earlier side of happy hour time you can definitely snag some of the coveted seating. They have several high top table options along the far side of the rooftop, some large couch seating options covering the opposite side of the rooftop, and a mismatch of high top tables under the covered space. The happy hour does last a significant chunk of time, by any standards (4-8). The happy hour prices are OK- the drinks being a better option than the food, and the bartenders were definitely giving us our money worth with the pours (shutout to the bartenders, you the real MVP). Our 'bees knees' style cocktail (bourbon, honey, lemon juice) was $9/drink. The food options and pricing left much to be desired. Think TGI Friday's on a good day. We wanted nachos, included on the happy hour menu, but they informed us that the nachos wouldn't come with chicken because they had run out - ok - I cheekily asked then what the comped price of the nachos would be since they were omitting a key ingredient. Hah... well this is DC after all so no, same price as listed with half the topping. Anyway, we opted for a cheese plate (not happy hour price, $15) and fries topped with Parmesan ($5 fries, extra $2 for Parmesan). I will say that while we did eat everything, the cheese plate included a bowl of I kid you not, what HAD to have been Concord Grape Jelly. We also had to circle back a few times for utensils, napkins, and snack plates. BUT THE VIEW AND THE DRINKS. I joke... honestly, unless I was otherwise in the area and dying to find a happy hour spot... I probably wouldn't come back. read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - The non happy hour cheese board ($15) with what we believe is actually Concord grape jelly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fun relaxing atmosphere. Not too stuffy and a great place to spend happy hour. Happy hour is from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Excellent happy hour and really nice views. Sometimes they are booked for private events so make sure to check their website if you plan on heading over. read more

First things first: the view is beautiful. Now ceases the positivity unfortunately. Came here with some coworkers for happy hour, everything is expensive, but's that's downtown for you. What I was disappointed in was the drink selection and the food. Got the hummus, it's was $9 happy hour special and it was okay. Tried my friends jalapeño mule... made with tequila and OMG so strong. All I tasted was alcohol. I got the moscato and it was cheap wine that they charged $6 dollars a glass for. TL;DR: Basically an overpriced hotel bar with a great view of DC read more

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Where do i start? It's on the rooftop of Hyatt hotel. Its located in the middle of the city. Lets start with the view, you get a nice view of the city, enough chairs and it wasnt too crowded. To my understanding u can also reserve a section and have a private event. There was a birthday happening. The prices of drinks and small bites are affordable . The music was blah, i felt they were catering more to caucasians with pop from the 90s.. I ordered a spicy drink(cant recall the name, made with jalapenos, refreshing but not too strong). They do not have waitresses so u need to order at the bar. The bartender was friendly.. i was able to get a free appetizer since when i check in (yelp) that was the offer. He said they stop doing the free appetizer but will overlook it this time. So i was thankful for that. I ordered the steak Tacos and they were tasty and delicious. I would definitely would come, i just whish the music was catering to everyone! read more

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So Disappointed. Lets get this out the way. The view is GORGEOUS. But thats like a "duh" thats easy kinda thing. Anybody can create a great view on a roof of a building thats already there. Awesome! The Service, Food and Execution are a different story. It was very bad. Im not sure if its because I came 1 hr before they closed or if its because they had one birthday party going on in VIP but when I came yesterday it was a completely awful waste of my time. Lets get down to cleanliness. It was a ClusterF*(&! dirty dishes, cups and serving trays all over. Who was the busboy for 6/7? Cause he completely dropped the ball. Piles of dirty dishes were everywhere because there was no one to come collect them for washing. Guests had to come up to the bar and put their used dishes down. Which left it cluttered and yucky. The Food was awful. It looked like it should have been good. But I ordered the loaded tots and my tots were cold yet the cheese was warm??? When the server brought it out he forgot the bacon...Hello!? I took several bites and it tasted like burned, rubbery tires. My drink was a watermelon cocktail they ran out of watermelon puree and so I subbed with blueberry...Nope not a good idea. The service? Non existant. You wait in line at the bar to order and then take a number and a runner brings out your food. I had to have them take back the tots cause it was terrible. Maybe it was a fluke. But...yea no. Never coming back read more

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Pros: Simple but sleek! Good view. Lots of seating for a small venue. Definitely will be able to find a place to sit if you come before 7pm. Friendly bartenders - was nice enough to concoct a non-menu drink for me for HH price. Cons: Terribly HOT/no fans. Only 2 beers on tap, low quality wines. OK food (wings we better than nachos and sliders). read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Really enjoyed our time here. Greta views, great drinks and great service. If you're in the area looking for a good spot to grab a drink, I'd suggest stopping in. read more

If you are looking for a rooftop bar in DC once the weather stays nice, check out Ellipse Rooftop Bar. It is a little tricky to find, because it is inside of a hotel, but if you go into the hotel and straight back to the elevator, you will see a selection for the rooftop bar. The ambiance is nice, but it is a little hard to find seating when it gets crowded so you may end up standing for a while. I would recommend going during their happy hour (Monday to Friday 4pm - 8pm) because the food and drinks are pricey. All of their specialty cocktails and bar bites are $12 and over when it is not happy hour. Overall, i think it is a decent place to relax and chill for a while. read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great place overall. Food, drinks and rooftop view are top notch! Nice ambiance. Fair prices read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Rooftop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Small rooftop area but a good view facing northern DC. Got a free appetizer through a Yelp coupon. They said I could choose anything but the crab cakes so got the most expensive appetizer - a charcuterie board! read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Rooftop bar view - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We gathered here for happy hour and the views didn't disappoint. It was a fun environment with a hip vibe. They had a large portion of the patio blocked off for a private party. This forced a lot of people to sit in the direct sun, but we didn't mind. Would definitely go back again. read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Happy hour on the rooftop! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great happy hour! Atmosphere is relaxed, rooftop view is amazing. Prices are great! read more

Affordable and Friendly! Get out of the 95 degree heat and come here and meet Dre. Very friendly and offered great selections to his $8 drink specialty. He put together a nice Margarita drink for me and he will do better for you just ask him for the Jurrassic park ladys drink. Not dirty at all clean tabletops and pillows are put together nicely. Didnt have the food, but he said the West Wings are great with sweet chili, mild, bbq or hot sauce read more

We looked this place up as a potential Valentine's Day pre dinner drink spot and it said on the website that they were closed (it's open air roof top). But, we just happened to walk past it on the way to another bar and saw that they were open for Valentine's Day! What a nice surprise! They could really do a lot more with this space - it has a great view and nice seating. There's a small bar and a large TV, about 5 high tip tables, and 4 large u shape couch areas. We had two drinks each during happy hour and it was such a bargain! Especially for the area - I had to give it 4 stars. Highly recommend this laid back bar on a nice day! read more

Eh - it was ok. Don't eat because the food is equal quality to fast food. The only thing going for this place is the views. Amazing rooftop views in prime location. The service was SOOO slow. They had 2 bartenders and no servers working. Everyone had to go to the bar and wait in line to get a drink. I did however love the live music they had -- nice touch. Hire more staff and definitely change your food and this place will be better. read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

HOTEL BAR! That's it! A rooftop that is on top of the Hyatt. Which is cool but I would of like to know that. It's kinda serve yourself. Walk up to the bar and order. Beautiful view. Music not too loud. Nice! read more

Girl, let me tell you... Like Drake says, "VIEWS"! If you and your friends are trying to have some drinks with a GORGEOUS view of the city, this is it. Their drinks were great. I had a blue lemonade drink and it was very refreshing. I would add more cocktails to the Happy Hour Menu though. At the moment, there are only two Happy Hour cocktail options. I ordered the loaded tater tots and WOW. These were AMAZING!! They are a must try. The wings could be crispier and more seasoned. Keep in mind that the space is on the smaller side so it's not the best for large groups. I saw a lot of couples though so if you're looking for an impressive date spot, you should check this out. They also had live music and it really set a great tone. The view definitely makes this bar a must-see! read more

Nice place for a drink before dinner. Love that it is rooftop and nice weather. Perfect place for a Birthday beverage! read more

Ellipse Rooftop Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We stopped to enjoy the city skyline view and sunset, and enjoyed drinks on the deck. Perfect backdrop to end a beautiful evening! read more

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We went here for happy hour, so this review is about the happy hour menu and service. The atmosphere: Some couches and tables and some open spaces where there should have been more. Not much shade. The drinks: If you're going to serve an ordinary house wine for six bucks, you could fill up the glass to a reasonable amount. But the ginger ale: we got the whole bottle! The food: The Southwest eggrolls were pretty good but seemed like something I could've bought at Costco. The nachos were not up to the level that I would expect from a bar on the roof of the Hyatt though. Cheese from a can? Really? (Ok--there was some cheddar on them.) The chicken didn't taste very good either. If I can shop at Safeway and make better nachos, why am I paying nine bucks here. The service: You order and pay at the bar, they give you a number and drinks, and they bring you the food. That's about it . read more

Beautiful place, great atmosphere . Staff is very helpful. Nice scenery. Great for Happy Hour! With friends! Very chill place to grab a drink and appetizers before an event. read more

Modern and open rooftop bar with plenty of covered/uncovered seating. Views include a dramatic landscape of DC's office space and businesses lining east to west along K Street. A different perspective on rooftop views that actually seems natural for a place like D.C. There is a full bar and several misting fans. Definitely worth checking out for something different. read more

Food is decent at best (Applebee's quality or lower but higher priced) but service is even worse! The bartender commented on my group getting multiple rounds of food and motioned to his belly as if he was in disbelief that my group got "too much food" in addition while one of the workers was trying to bring down the awnings he was violating my friend's personal space by standing behind her and trying to pull the table away from the balcony - he should have been more careful or at least allowed her to move. read more

Great view, great atmosphere, though not enough seats and the lines are pretty long. We hung out for happy hour and I previously signed up with my email to get a free appetizer since it was a deal. However when I got there they said I had to write a review on Yelp so here I am. Over all it was a chill spot and we enjoyed our experience. read more

We went in D.C. in July on a Friday (about 7:45) and had no problem getting a seat. Beautiful views! Had a rum rickey at $9 and had to pay cash. I think their credit card machine wasn't working, but I'm not sure. Anyway, very relaxing, not crowded, and the views were great. Would definitely go again if we are in D.C.! read more

Cute intimate spot close with a nice rooftop view and tasty sangrias. I work nearby so I will be back for drinks with friends.

Smaller than I thought in size but staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Didn't care for the nachos as they were extremely salty. Drinks were decent. Prices were reasonable. read more

Attention to detail is crucial. I have lived in DC for ~ 6 years now and this bar just recently opened. It is located on busy K street, a few blocks from the monument and in the Hyatt Place. Brand new, semi-expansive, but lacking views of any major landmarks. It still is a great place to spend an evening surrounded by government employees. Their happy hour is decent in that it extends until 8pm, an hour past most places in the city. It includes small bites for $8, cocktails for $8 and I believe $5 beer and wine. Unforunately there were only 2 bartenders and perhaps 1 server (and the manager had to pitch in as well) whom served the 20 or so people waiting in 2 separate, disorganized lines. Interestingly the capacity stated 49, but there must have been at least 60-80 people on the rooftop. There are 3-4 sets of couches that are set up in a way that are meant for large groups only. My tip is to break it up and have smaller tables/lounge chairs for those whom are traveling solo or are in smaller groups. Finally the food was decent (crab dip with bread slices). Sadly it was a 3 out of 5. Definitely NOT the best dip I have had; there were no chunks of crab, it wasn't warm and creamy enough and sad to say that it fit the hotel stereotype of being "hotel food." I wanted to try the "loaded" nachos but next time! As for the drinks I really enjoyed their take on a spicy moscow mule (jalapeno Stoli with ginger beer), it was $8 and not too bad. Finally my 3 star rating is justified by the fact that when I had asked one of the servers (albeit she was SO busy) for more napkins/bread she was nowhere to be found; I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and a solid 40 minutes but no luck so I finally asked the supervisor. At a hotel bar, you would expect a little more game in terms of service, but I don't blame her I think the solution is to hire more people and not be stingy! read more