Rooftop Moonraker in Washington, D.C.

Moonraker: the Washington Channel from the 14th floor

An intimate lounge atop the Pendry

On the redeveloped Southwest waterfront, The Wharf neighborhood lines up piers, marinas and restaurants. Here the Pendry Washington DC devotes its top floor to Moonraker. Inside, a circular bar takes center stage on a black-and-white striped floor, beneath a shower of golden pendant lights; a fireplace warms the lounge on cool evenings. The floor-to-ceiling windows open onto two terraces: to the south, armchairs and fire pits face the marina and the Potomac; to the north, the view stretches all the way to the illuminated Washington Monument. At sunset, the boats on the Washington Channel light up below.

Japanese cuisine and whiskies

The small-plates menu looks to Japan: edamame with truffle salt ($14), shrimp gyoza ($22), Tokyo-style fried chicken ($26), maki rolls, crispy rice with spicy tuna ($22) or wagyu tataki ($60). Signature cocktails, priced at $25 to $38, combine Japanese whisky, sake, yuzu, matcha or umeshu; highballs run around $26 to $28, and a long list of Japanese whiskies rounds out the bar. On weekdays, early in the evening, a set offer pairs fried chicken with a bottle of champagne.

Special evenings punctuate the year, for example for The Wharf's parade of lighted boats or New Year's Eve, and the rooftop spaces can be booked privately for receptions.

Practical information

The bar is open Monday through Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Friday from 4pm to 1am, Saturday from 2pm to 1am and Sunday from 2pm to midnight; the kitchen serves until 10pm (11pm on Friday and Saturday). Online reservations are recommended, especially around sunset; the bar is open to guests not staying at the hotel. Waterfront station (Green Line) is about 450 meters away, and L'Enfant Plaza station (Orange, Blue, Silver, Green and Yellow lines) is 850 meters away.