Food

The Summer Drinking Showdown: Jack Rose vs. Whitlow’s on Wilson

Two summer tiki spots, only one winner.

Jack Rose's pop-up summer tiki bar (pictured) goes up against the island-style rooftop at Whitlow's on Wilson. Photograph courtesy of Jack Rose.

Welcome back to the Summer Drinking Showdown! Yesterday was a close match between two great neighborhood spots, DC Reynolds and Republic, but ultimately the people spoke and chose the latter. We’ll see the Takoma Park bar in the next round.

Today’s lineup aims high: Jack Rose Dining Saloon‘s open-air terrace and summer tiki bar goes up against the island-inspired roof deck at Whitlow’s on Wilson. Jack caters to serious brown liquor enthusiasts—their whiskey collection is the largest in the Western Hemisphere—but keeps it casual for summertime with sangria on the open-air terrace. Their pop-up tiki bar launches this week, where barkeeps pour rum punches on weekend nights, and during Thursday tiki happy hour from 5 to 7:30. Whitlow’s also offers a touch of tiki on their tropically-themed rooftop, which hosts a generous happy hour from 4 to 9 on Wednesdays and Fridays, and attracts a crowd of Arlington’s young professionals looking to unwind.

Whitlow’s draws a crown of young professionals to their rooftop tiki bar. Photograph by Erik Uecke.

So where would you rather sip a cold cocktail and dream of paradise? Let us know in the polls, which close at 5.


Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.