POV Lounge

515 15th St. NW
202/661-2400
www.whotels.com/WashingtonDC [1]

HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Fri.-Sat. 5 p.m.-3 a.m.

A great place for a celebratory drink, a special occasion, or to bring out-of-towners, POV (Point of View) at the W Hotel Washington DC [2] has a view to rival the one enjoyed by the president from the White House’s South Portico. Washington’s skyline is laid out in bas-relief—the Washington Monument [3], the Lincoln Memorial [4], and the White House [5]’s East Wing.

Lounge chairs, sofas, and cocktail tables in a black and metallic color scheme with pops of red establishes the place as a cool lounge. The cocktail menu is heavy on throwbacks, including Dark and Stormies, Pimms Cups, mint juleps, and old-fashioneds.

As with any W, the service is impeccable and painstakingly hip; sometimes the W shtick feels more like a satire of hipster chic, especially when a line forms for POV down in the lobby and the place seems nearly empty when you arrive upstairs.

Make a reservation if you plan to dine, or get there early—by 8 p.m. on Friday or Saturday for quick entry to the bar.