City Cast DC logo

Adams Morgan’s Best Rooftop Bars

Posted on May 2, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)

It’s our first 80 degree week here in D.C., and you know what that means! Drinkies on a rooftop. We aren’t liable for any stair-related injuries on the way down.

Wasting away an afternoon on Perry’s rooftop is an essential experience for all Washingtonians. They have a great happy hour everyday from 4 - 7 p.m. with $5 Kirin and cheap sushi. Or get one of the home-style Japanese specials whipped up by Chef Masako Morishita.

After a surprise comeback last December, Roofers Union remains THE place to perch when the weather is warm. Climb the stairs all the way to the top and grab one of their fruity spritzes, then pad your stomach with the fries trio with regular, truffle, and sweet potato fries (need I say more?).

Snacks on Perry’s rooftop.

Snacks on Perry’s rooftop. (Priyanka Tilve/City Cast DC)

This stalwart whiskey bar has a small rooftop terrace and hundreds of different whiskeys on the menu. If you’re like me and don’t know anything about whiskey, try one of their flights. Just maybe don’t do it on a weekday unless you’re under 30.

Madam’s Organ gets poppin’ on weekends, so if you want to enjoy the rickety wooden roof deck’s views in peace, go on a weekday. They have half-price beer and rail drinks during their daily happy hour from 6 - 8 p.m. Everything is served in plastic cups but that's just part of its divey charm.

This peaceful rooftop is totally removed from the Adams Morgan chaos. Grab a $12 happy hour negroni and seafood tower at this mid atlantic-meets-french restaurant. They also have a tent and fans in the summer months.

Share article

Hey DC

Get smart about D.C. with our news roundup and analysis.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Neighborhood Guides

See All
Neighborhood GuidesApril 8

Get to Know 11th Street NW in Columbia Heights

11th Street in Columbia Heights is one of my favorite hangout spot in the District. You can garden, snack on crispy pig ears, and grab fr...

11th Street NW, Columbia Heights. (Google Maps)
Neighborhood GuidesMarch 11

How To Spend a Day In Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is everything a day trip should be: cute, accessible, packed with activities, and most importantly, has lots of great food....

Harpers Ferry view from The Point hike. (Westend61/Getty Images)
Neighborhood GuidesFebruary 18

How To Spend a Day In Frederick

Less than an hour drive away from D.C., Frederick is full of historic charm, bookshop nooks, antique emporiums, and quiet hikes.

A look toward the church steeples in Baker Park in Frederick. (WilliamSherman/Getty Images)
Neighborhood GuidesJanuary 15

Finding the Best Block In DC: Takoma

Start at Lost Sock Coffee Roasters, a small-batch specialty coffee roaster located in the old Takoma Theatre.

Statue of Roscoe. (BeyondDC/Flickr)
Neighborhood GuidesDecember 10, 2025

Walk A Mile On Pennsylvania Ave SE

Welcome to the another installment of our walking series, where we pick a D.C. street to walk a mile on and see what cool stuff we can fi...

Starting off at the Congressional Cemetery. (Annie Rees/City Cast DC)
Neighborhood GuidesNovember 20, 2025

Where To Eat At Eden Center

Eden Center is the most exciting strip mall you’ll ever go to. It's back halls are packed with dozens of Vietnamese bakeries, delis, bill...

Mall at Eden Center. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Neighborhood GuidesNovember 10, 2025

Your Guide to DMV Airports

Yes, take the Blue or Yellow line to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stop.

American Airlines plane on runway at Reagan National Airport. (The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Neighborhood GuidesNovember 6, 2025

Walk a Mile On Florida Avenue

Welcome to another of our walking series, where we pick a D.C. street to walk a mile on and see what cool stuff we can find along the way!

Walking Florida Avenue in my Maison Bar a Vin hat thinking about coffee from the Royal. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)

The latest in DC

The DC DispatchMay 15

Pirro Says She Will Prosecute Parents of Kids Participating in "Teen Takeovers"

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said parents could face fines or up to six months of jail time.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. (Annabelle Gordon/AFP via Getty Images)
ObsessedMay 14

Eating Facebook Marketplace Food for An Entire Weekend in DC

From tamales to seafood boils, the viral Facebook Marketplace food trend is hitting the DMV.

Nothing to see here, just some Facebook food delusions. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
AnnouncementsMay 12

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann Is City Cast DC’s New Food and Culture Reporter

City Cast DC is undergoing an unprecedented expansion of its local newsroom, hiring a team of journalists to create original reporting ab...

The DC DispatchMay 12

"Downright scandalous:" Inside the NSFW text messages that got a top D.C. police official put on leave

An internal report shows ex-executive assistant chief Andre Wright repeatedly sent crude texts and mocked colleagues.

An internal report shows ex-executive assistant chief Andre Wright repeatedly sent crude texts and mocked colleagues. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
The DC DispatchMay 5

Police Chief: 13 Top Officials Face Termination Amid Crime Stats Scandal

Jeffery Carroll also confirmed the restructuring of the department.

Interim MPD Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll.
The DC DispatchMay 4

Multiple D.C. Police Leaders Face Termination Over Crime Data Manipulation

The changes could constitute a sweeping restructuring of department leadership.

Metropolitan Police Department outside of Nationals Park on August 15, 2025. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
AnnouncementsMay 4

We're launching two new newsletters

Sign up now to get the big stories Washington is talking about and our can't-miss guide to food and culture.

DC, ExplainedMay 4

The Obama musical returns Washingtonians to an old, hopeful DC

This raunchy love letter to 2008 D.C. by a former Obama campaign staffer left us weeping with laughter and nostalgia.

TJ Wilkins starring as Barack Obama sings “How Black Is Too Black?” (Courtesy of “44”)