Summit the Rooftop at Conrad

Kieran Mickeny

9 / 10

Summit is where i tell people to go when they want a proper rooftop experience without mortgaging their weekend. $220 a ticket, yes, but that's for a full reception at the Conrad with Capitol views and the National Mall fireworks bursting right over the dome — it's one of those angles that makes you remember you actually live in a genuinely incredible city. i went for the first time last year with my girlfriend who had just moved from Dublin and watching her reaction to the fireworks from up there was honestly the highlight of my summer. the food setup is reception-style but Conrad does it well — the chefs here actually cook. compare that to La Vie's carving station situation down at the Wharf and they're different experiences: Summit is cleaner, more of a skyline-and-city vibe. both worth it depending on whether you're a river person or a Capitol person.