Sly Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in Washington

I dined with my friend at Sly Rooftop on a friday evening, expecting a nice happy hour on a beautiful day, but when it rains it pours. We read the reviews and had low expectations, naturally, yet, we came in with open minds hoping for the best. My hopes were in vein because Sly is one of the most memorable dining experiences I have ever had, but not for good reasons. To begin, it violently stormed outside, which is not their fault, however they were woefully unprepared to deal with the onslaught of people that rushed inside when the rain started coming down. Not to mention, my friend and I ordered Oysters and a burger. Tell me why the burger came out first within two minutes of us putting in the order and we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for our appetizers, the Oysters. Once we found a seat inside at the bar due to the rain, we were ignored by the bartenders for our remaining 45 minutes in the establishment. The food was underwhelming, the drinks were unbalanced, and the vibes were off. Once a bartender deigned to pay us any mind, we were able to ask for our check. Once the check arrived, we were stunned to see that the total was 166 dollars as everything we ordered was on Happy Hour. We confronted the bartender with our concerns, his response was “I didn’t ring you up.” Naturally, my friend and I had “dont mess with me” looks on our faces, so he jumped to action and attempted to fix the check. But to no ones surprise, the check was wrong and we were overcharged, YET AGAIN. At this point, it became comical. After three tries, we finally got the correct check in the amount of 80 dollars and paid it and went on our way. Our recommendation would be to only come here if you’re looking to make your bad mood worse. Otherwise, seek elsewhere.

Listen to the reviews, friends.

PS. There was much more to it than this. I’m still waiting for my cocktail sauce (which they...

We drove in from Virginia, and every mile was worth it. Sly Rooftop and Bar gave us one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. Valet parking made it hassle-free, and though our group of six wasn’t celebrating anything in particular, the atmosphere, service, and incredible food made it feel like a special occasion.

From the warm welcome at the door to our amazing server, Cesar, everything felt intentional and heartfelt. Cesar greeted us with enthusiasm, took time to explain the story behind the restaurant, and shared how each dish is crafted with a fusion of African, European and Asian flavors. He answered every question and made thoughtful recommendations without rushing us.

We started with soft, flavorful cornbread and shared a few appetizers, including a standout tartare. I ordered the rockfish, and as someone who loves and often cooks fish, I can honestly say this was next-level rich, layered, and deeply satisfying. I tasted a few other dishes at the table, and each one was just as impressive.

The dessert, made with Ethiopian teff, was a surprise favorite. I usually skip dessert, but this one wasn’t overly sweet, just full of rich, lingering flavor.

Whether you’re celebrating something or not, we highly recommend Sly. The food, the service, the atmosphere, everything was exceptional. Your taste buds...

I had high hopes but am disappointed. We have been patrons since the hotel opened, frequenting either the rooftop or lobby bar multiple times per month as our office is nearby.

Displeased that cocktails were removed from the HH menu (despite being listed on the website). One can only get beer, wine, or prosecco and Brut. Furthermore, it was a slow night and I was served room temp sparkling wine. When I mentioned it to the bartender, he immediately went and retrieved a chilled bottle to replace it. Why not do that in the first place?

We love the truffle fries and were disappointed to have two orders of soggy fries brought to us. Again, it was a slow night.

We used to enjoy HH outside on the rooftop with views of the city, and now it is only offered at the bar. One can’t even have HH at the tables next to the bar. The bar area has limited seating and narrow standing room.

On a crowded night service is slow, but we also noticed the slower pace even on less busy evenings. The staff appears to change frequently and numerous servers and bartenders seem to be novices.

I really want to love this place and keep going back because it is one of few nice bars in proximity to work. I really hope this establishment will make improvements as time passes. It is not only the hotel patrons that keep it going, but the “year...