washingtonpost.com: Entertainment Guide
Outdoor Bars: Adams Morgan  By Fritz Hahn washingtonpost.com Staff Writer Updated April 16, 2004 |
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When the weather turns hot and humid, the last thing most people want to do is hang out in a hot, crowded club that lacks circulating air. Adams Morgan is one of the area's best-known nightlife neighborhoods, and it also has a heavy concentration of open-air bars, including numerous rooftop hangouts.
Rooftops
The Reef
has Adams Morgan's largest rooftop bar, and it's also the most popular. About half the space has tables for dining or just drinks, and a U-shaped bar takes up the rest. Barstools and plants line the wooden railing that overlooks 18th Street, and park benches sit against the faux-adobe walls. Sixteen draft beers (no bottles) are available at the rooftop bar, and the Capitol dome and the Washington monument are just visable from the right seats. The downside, of course, is that everyone wants to spend the evening up there. When the roof hits capacity, staff members ask patrons to wait in one of the downstairs bars until there's room. However, this diligence means the place is never overcrowded.
The "Starlit Deck" at Madam's Organ might lack a great view of anything but the night sky, but the outdoor tiki-style bar and pool tables more than make up for it. What's surprising is that this rooftop spot is often less crowded than the first floor, even on weekends. Make a beeline for the deck and order beers and cocktails there.
On the Rox, the rooftop bar at Roxanne, is nothing more than a rowhouse bar with four stone walls and no roof. Small and frequently crowded -- it fills especially quickly on weekends -- On the Rox isn't the most attractive rooftop bar in the neighborhood, but it's a decent place to have a few drinks when you want the stars over your head. There aren't that many tables, and only three have a view through the iron "windows" onto 18th Street. Still, On the Rox usually a fun, just-out-of-college crowd who are willing to come over and talk to the ladies. (If the weather turns foul, head next door to the covered, attic-level Brass Monkey; a small doorway connects the two bars.
Trying to enjoy the rooftop at Perry's can be a bit of a hassle, which is probably the appeal for some people. In order to sit near the edge of the roof (and actually see over the railings), you need a table. Getting a table means a $15 food minimum per person. If you just want drinks, you can stand at the tiny covered bar, sir, even if you see some friends sitting at a table -- you have to pay the minimum to join them. And if your group is a little larger than your table, beware -- the servers aren't exactly happy with people moving their chairs around, and will tell you so. Once you've earned your table, you get a lovely view of either the roofs and chimneypots of Adams Morgan (not bad) or the sweeping vista that is intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Still, the burbling fountain, plants and twinkling lights are nice, and a new chef has livened up the kitchen.
Off-Street Patios and Decks
Make your way to the back of the The Blue Room's lower level and you'll find a small patio with tables and chairs. It's not as fancy as the rest of the swank lounge, but it's usually not as crowded or noisy. The music from upstairs is piped in, so you won't miss a beat.
You won't go to Tom Tom for the fresh air, but you can take a break from the bar and dance floor upstairs. Grab one of the shabby-chic couches or loveseats and enjoy a nice breeze, courtesy of the retractable roof.
General Patio Seating
With the largest street-level patio of any Adams Morgan bar, Adams Mill Bar and Grill is a great place to spend an evening. Seating is at picnic tables, which are large enough for four to six people. (If you only have two or three in your party, strangers might ask you if they can share.) An added bonus: there are waiters dedicated to the patio, so you don't have to get up when your pitcher runs out.
Most of the fenced-in patio at Mantis doesn't abut Columbia Road, so it's a nice, almost sedate place to chill. There's nothing fancy about the surroundings, but the pan-Asian tapas are tasty and cocktails are reliably bracing.
European-style sidewalk dining is what L'Enfant aims for, with huge umbrellas, small round tables and a menu that focuses on Belgian beers, French wines and a small selection of crepes and sandwiches. The food is what more distinguished critics would call "okay," so make this a place to go when you'd like to spend the afternoon enjoying a decent bottle of wine.
Meze, Toledo Lounge and Rumba Cafe also offer sidewalk tables.
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