Rooftop Ciel Social Club in Washington, D.C.

Ciel Social Club: cocktails and nights out above Downtown

A flower-filled penthouse near the convention center

Ciel Social Club occupies the top of the AC Hotel Washington DC Convention Center, on K Street NW, right by the convention center and Mount Vernon Square. The room, with its expanses of glass, goes all out on exuberance: a ceiling covered in red and pink flowers, wicker pendant lights, gilded chandeliers, mustard banquettes and striped beach cabanas. It opens onto wooden terraces lined with greenery, where the panorama, almost 360 degrees, sweeps over the rooftops of Downtown to the dome of the Capitol and the Washington Monument. The same owners run a second location on Capitol Hill; this one is known as Ciel Downtown.

The Riviera on your plate, a club vibe at night

The Mediterranean-inspired menu lends itself to sharing: hummus, burrata with citrus, grilled octopus, lemon butter shrimp, pasta with pesto or puttanesca, beef skewers and lamb shank, from about $12 to $35. House cocktails ($18 to $22) sit alongside a list of wines, Champagnes and beers. Tuesday through Thursday, Golden Hour, from 5pm to 7pm, offers a menu at gentle prices, and brunch is served depending on the season.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the place takes on a club feel, with bottle service reserved by phone; the venue can also be booked privately for events.

Practical information

Closed on Monday; open Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Friday from 5pm to 2am, Saturday from noon to 2am and Sunday from noon to 9pm. Online reservations for dinner; for drinks, the bar and terrace work on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. Entry is restricted to guests 21 and over (accompanied children are admitted for dinner until 8pm). Business casual attire is required and strictly enforced. A 20% service charge is added to the bill; card payment only. Mt Vernon Sq/7th St–Convention Center station (Green and Yellow lines) is about 350 meters away, and Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow) is 500 meters away.