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Head to Virginia’s scenic Goodstone Inn for poolside cocktails made with ingredients growing on-site.
Goodstone Inn

Sip and Swim at These D.C.-Area Pools With Drinks

Cool off at a pool with a bar this summer

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Head to Virginia’s scenic Goodstone Inn for poolside cocktails made with ingredients growing on-site.
| Goodstone Inn

Need an escape during these first sweltering days of summer in D.C.? Crowded public pools aren’t the only option when the heat becomes too much to bear. Several hotels across the city offer day passes to their swanky pools, complete with trendy bars for patrons to drink the day away.

Better yet, some even have menus with a variety of snacks for pool-goers to enjoy, eliminating the need to lug around self-packed lunches. Some pools are for guests only, but they can provide an excuse for a staycation on weekends that are too hot to battle traffic leaving the city.

Whatever the reason, take a dip and sip a cocktail at one these luxurious D.C. pools.

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Goodstone Inn

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This luxury Middleburg inn nestled in Virginia wine country now welcomes non-hotel guests to enjoy its revamped pool amenities, complete with new (pasta) salads, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks made with fruits, vegetables, and honey from its on-site farm (see: a Summer Glow vodka cocktail with strawberry-rhubarb syrup). Get pool passes through ResortPass ($35 on weekdays and $55 on weekends), with recently extended hours from noon to 7 p.m.

Goodstone Inn’s tree-lined pool welcomes non-overnight guests for the first time this summer.
Goodstone Inn

Omni Shoreham Hotel

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The hotel’s heated pool, hot tub, and 11-acre gardens used to be only accessible to guests and members with seasonal passes, but day passes are now available this year ($50). The renovated outdoor destination, lined with lounge chairs and literally shaped like a splash of water, is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Food and beverage are available to purchase from the Omni’s Robert’s Restaurant and Morsel’s Coffee Shop. The Pool Bar is open 11 a.m. daily. Omni also takes advantage of its sizable pool with aquatic workout classes a few days a week ($25). .

Omni’s heated pool.
Omni/official photo

Washington Hilton

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D.C.’s iconic Washington Hilton hotel opens its heated rooftop pool to the public with a seasonal swim and gym membership ($1,500) that runs through Halloween. The refreshed pool deck, with new lounge chairs and unobstructed views of the Washington Monument, invites swimmers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. All hotel guests have full access to the seasonal pool and health club with yoga classes. Summer cocktails include zero-proof mocktails and a coconut water highball.

Washington Hilton’s pool got a big revamp this summer.
Washington Hilton

Generator Washington DC

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Dupont’s hip Generator hotel unveiled its pool last summer, but only guests can swim and order poolside margs and tacos from its adjoining Mexican restaurant Hoja Taqueria. Kick off the trip with a free drink, complimentary late checkout, bike rentals, and fresh fruit cup from its Café Integral.

Generator’s pool is open to hotel guests.
Generator Washington DC

The Ven at Embassy Row 

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Boasting panoramic city views in the heart of Dupont, the Ven at Embassy Row hotel invites guests to splash around from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A fresh lineup of cocktails, spritzes, and slushy margaritas for summer join mini fish tacos, truffle fries, lobster rolls, and more. A heated pool offers food and drink service, and its Tag Rooftop Bar swings open at 4 p.m. Accessible to hotel guests or day pass holders (starting at $60) with cabanas starting at $250. The pool is also the place to be on Sundays this summer for its new “Splashy!” DJ series.

Poolside bubbles at the Embassy Row Hotel.
The Tag Rooftop Bar at The Embassy Row Hotel

Hush Rooftop Bar at Viceroy Washington, DC 

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This postage stamp-sized rooftop pool in Logan Circle debuts a “Hush After Dark” artist summer series every Thursday. Soak up the capital skyline alongside local painters, poets, interpretive dancers, vocalists, and more. Its new “3M” cocktail menu (margaritas, martinis, and mojitos) go with bites from chef James Gee like crab deviled eggs with trout roe, Chesapeake Bay razor clams casino, catfish sliders, and smoked pork shoulder nachos. The pool itself is accessible to hotel guests (and $99 day pass holders that get their own king room) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day, with service starting at noon. After 6 p.m., the rooftop opens up to the public.

Hush’s pool offers an escape from the city.
Hush Rooftop Bar at Viceroy Washington, DC 

Washington Plaza Hotel

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Only hotel guests can go to the well-manicured pool at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle (open 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily through Labor Day). Staycationers can head to the royal blue chaises lining the pool, and treat themselves to frozen cocktails, Champagne, and crab cake sandwiches at the poolside bar and terrace that lights up with candles at night.

Washington Plaza Hotel/Facebook

Hedy’s Rooftop at Hotel Zena 

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While this gorgeous view hasn’t changed, this Thomas Circle hotel is now owned by West Hollywood, California-based Viceroy Hotels & Resorts (not Kimpton). Guests of the hotel have full access to the rooftop bar and pool, and locals can get day passes for $50 (and kids are $25) or relax and unwind in one of its private cabanas that start at $500 for a party of six. Poolside fare includes jerked mahi tacos, beer braised pork carnitas tacos, fried crab poppers. A new retro-themed cocktail menu spotlights old-school classics like a Vintage Hi-Ball, tiki drinks, and more. The bar is open Wednesday through Saturday through the summer. Pool hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hotel Zena’s scenic hotel pool sits on the 15th floor.
Hotel Zena

Deck 11 - YOTEL Washington, DC

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Home to one of the largest rooftop pools in D.C., the recently renovated Yotel hotel offers day passes for non-guests ($50). Daily swimming hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with service starting at 11 a.m. (and 10 a.m. on weekends). At the bar, find canned beers, rosé, sparkling wines, and frozen and classic cocktails. Baller cabanas for four go for $150, complete with a dedicated server. A Mediterranean-themed menu this year includes falafel fritters with harissa aioli, beef skewers with chimichurri and crumbled feta, a chickpea salad, and separate kids menu.

Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf

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Staycation alert: The pool at Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf is only open to hotel guests, but non-guests score access if they book any 90-minute treatment at Spa Pendry. Its Poolside at Pendry package for guests staying two nights or more includes a full-day cabana reservation and complimentary bottle of chilled sparkling wine.

Penthouse Pool and Lounge

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Luxury gym VIDA Fitness opens its rooftop pool to members (starting at $189 per month), who can buy day passes for their friends. As it is a fitness club, this summer menu includes items like chicken curry salads, shrimp tacos, plantain chips and pineapple salsa, and jalapeno margaritas by the pitcher that guests can order on their phone. Both pools are open beginning at 10 a.m. every day, with cabana and day bed rentals available.

A poolside salad at Vida’s U Street NW location.
Travis Vaughn Photography/TravisVaughn.com
Tierney Plumb is the editor of Eater DC, covering all things food and drink around the nation's capital.

Goodstone Inn

This luxury Middleburg inn nestled in Virginia wine country now welcomes non-hotel guests to enjoy its revamped pool amenities, complete with new (pasta) salads, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks made with fruits, vegetables, and honey from its on-site farm (see: a Summer Glow vodka cocktail with strawberry-rhubarb syrup). Get pool passes through ResortPass ($35 on weekdays and $55 on weekends), with recently extended hours from noon to 7 p.m.

Goodstone Inn’s tree-lined pool welcomes non-overnight guests for the first time this summer.
Goodstone Inn

Omni Shoreham Hotel

The hotel’s heated pool, hot tub, and 11-acre gardens used to be only accessible to guests and members with seasonal passes, but day passes are now available this year ($50). The renovated outdoor destination, lined with lounge chairs and literally shaped like a splash of water, is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Food and beverage are available to purchase from the Omni’s Robert’s Restaurant and Morsel’s Coffee Shop. The Pool Bar is open 11 a.m. daily. Omni also takes advantage of its sizable pool with aquatic workout classes a few days a week ($25). .

Omni’s heated pool.
Omni/official photo

Washington Hilton

D.C.’s iconic Washington Hilton hotel opens its heated rooftop pool to the public with a seasonal swim and gym membership ($1,500) that runs through Halloween. The refreshed pool deck, with new lounge chairs and unobstructed views of the Washington Monument, invites swimmers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. All hotel guests have full access to the seasonal pool and health club with yoga classes. Summer cocktails include zero-proof mocktails and a coconut water highball.

Washington Hilton’s pool got a big revamp this summer.
Washington Hilton

Generator Washington DC

Dupont’s hip Generator hotel unveiled its pool last summer, but only guests can swim and order poolside margs and tacos from its adjoining Mexican restaurant Hoja Taqueria. Kick off the trip with a free drink, complimentary late checkout, bike rentals, and fresh fruit cup from its Café Integral.

Generator’s pool is open to hotel guests.
Generator Washington DC

The Ven at Embassy Row 

Boasting panoramic city views in the heart of Dupont, the Ven at Embassy Row hotel invites guests to splash around from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A fresh lineup of cocktails, spritzes, and slushy margaritas for summer join mini fish tacos, truffle fries, lobster rolls, and more. A heated pool offers food and drink service, and its Tag Rooftop Bar swings open at 4 p.m. Accessible to hotel guests or day pass holders (starting at $60) with cabanas starting at $250. The pool is also the place to be on Sundays this summer for its new “Splashy!” DJ series.

Poolside bubbles at the Embassy Row Hotel.
The Tag Rooftop Bar at The Embassy Row Hotel

Hush Rooftop Bar at Viceroy Washington, DC 

This postage stamp-sized rooftop pool in Logan Circle debuts a “Hush After Dark” artist summer series every Thursday. Soak up the capital skyline alongside local painters, poets, interpretive dancers, vocalists, and more. Its new “3M” cocktail menu (margaritas, martinis, and mojitos) go with bites from chef James Gee like crab deviled eggs with trout roe, Chesapeake Bay razor clams casino, catfish sliders, and smoked pork shoulder nachos. The pool itself is accessible to hotel guests (and $99 day pass holders that get their own king room) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day, with service starting at noon. After 6 p.m., the rooftop opens up to the public.

Hush’s pool offers an escape from the city.
Hush Rooftop Bar at Viceroy Washington, DC 

Washington Plaza Hotel

Only hotel guests can go to the well-manicured pool at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle (open 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily through Labor Day). Staycationers can head to the royal blue chaises lining the pool, and treat themselves to frozen cocktails, Champagne, and crab cake sandwiches at the poolside bar and terrace that lights up with candles at night.

Washington Plaza Hotel/Facebook

Hedy’s Rooftop at Hotel Zena 

While this gorgeous view hasn’t changed, this Thomas Circle hotel is now owned by West Hollywood, California-based Viceroy Hotels & Resorts (not Kimpton). Guests of the hotel have full access to the rooftop bar and pool, and locals can get day passes for $50 (and kids are $25) or relax and unwind in one of its private cabanas that start at $500 for a party of six. Poolside fare includes jerked mahi tacos, beer braised pork carnitas tacos, fried crab poppers. A new retro-themed cocktail menu spotlights old-school classics like a Vintage Hi-Ball, tiki drinks, and more. The bar is open Wednesday through Saturday through the summer. Pool hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hotel Zena’s scenic hotel pool sits on the 15th floor.
Hotel Zena

Deck 11 - YOTEL Washington, DC

Home to one of the largest rooftop pools in D.C., the recently renovated Yotel hotel offers day passes for non-guests ($50). Daily swimming hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with service starting at 11 a.m. (and 10 a.m. on weekends). At the bar, find canned beers, rosé, sparkling wines, and frozen and classic cocktails. Baller cabanas for four go for $150, complete with a dedicated server. A Mediterranean-themed menu this year includes falafel fritters with harissa aioli, beef skewers with chimichurri and crumbled feta, a chickpea salad, and separate kids menu.

Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf

Staycation alert: The pool at Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf is only open to hotel guests, but non-guests score access if they book any 90-minute treatment at Spa Pendry. Its Poolside at Pendry package for guests staying two nights or more includes a full-day cabana reservation and complimentary bottle of chilled sparkling wine.

Penthouse Pool and Lounge

Luxury gym VIDA Fitness opens its rooftop pool to members (starting at $189 per month), who can buy day passes for their friends. As it is a fitness club, this summer menu includes items like chicken curry salads, shrimp tacos, plantain chips and pineapple salsa, and jalapeno margaritas by the pitcher that guests can order on their phone. Both pools are open beginning at 10 a.m. every day, with cabana and day bed rentals available.

A poolside salad at Vida’s U Street NW location.
Travis Vaughn Photography/TravisVaughn.com

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