Food

5 DC Hotel Pools Open to the Public Over Labor Day Weekend

Sunbathe, sip cocktails, and hit up a pool party.

The pool at the Liaison Capitol Hill offers day passes and cabanas. Photograph via Facebook.

The Embassy Row Hotel Rooftop

2015 Massachusetts Ave., NW; 202-265-1600

Public passes to this swanky Dupont pool—outfitted with a full bar and grill—are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, so stop by the front desk early in the day. On Saturday the hotel hosts a rooftop pool party with HOT 99.5 starting at 2, where you’ll find a range of cocktails, eats, and tunes from a DJ.

Fee: Regular day passes are $25; the Saturday party is $45 (tickets available online).

Washington Plaza Hotel Pool

10 Thomas Cir., NW; 202-842-1300

Complimentary towel service and a poolside bar make this a pleasant place to lay out for an afternoon. Passes are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, so best to call in the morning if you want to guarantee a lounger.

Fee: $50 per person for a day pass.

Capitol Skyline Hotel Pool

10 Eye St., SW; 202-488-7500

Labor Day weekend is your last chance to take advantage of Skyline’s popular pool. The public can enter anytime for a $20 fee, or for a livelier scene, drop by for Splash Sunday’s. The day party is fueled by three outdoor bars, a grill serving burgers and dogs, and tunes from resident DJ Antonio Ernesto. Don’t expect to nap in the sun, but do plan to have high-energy fun (and a hangover).

Fee: Register online for free admission to the party before 2 PM on Sunday, September 6; the public has access to the pool on other days for $20.

DNV Rooftop Pool Party

1155 14th St., NW; 202-379-4366

The Donovan Hotel’s pool is typically reserved for guests, but they’re opening it up to the public on Sunday from 6 to close during their pool party. Tickets include complimentary snacks from Zentan, a welcome cocktail, access to a cash bar, live music, and watery fun. If swimming isn’t your thing, the rooftop pool bar is regularly open to the public in the evening.

Fee: Pool party is $45 per person (tickets available online); regular admission to the bar is free.

Liaison Capitol Hill Pool & Lounge

415 New Jersey Ave., NW; 202-638-1616

The Liaison’s rooftop pool is one of the best bets for a relaxing afternoon by the water in a chaise lounge or daybed, but the secret is out—passes are sold out for most of the weekend. There’re still ones available for Friday lounging, and you could always call the hotel to see if there’s last-minute availability.

Fee: The public can purchase day passes online for $35, or cabana rentals for $150.

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.