There’s no getting around it: Summer in DC typically means sweltering temperatures amplified by an infamous swamp-like humidity. The good news?

The city has long been prepared for such a reality, offering a refreshing lineup of activities year-after-year so residents can beat the heat — but enjoy the season. From rooftops to pop-ups and more, keep reading for the best ways to stay cool in DC all summer long.

Have real estate on your mind as temperatures heat up? Click here to read our blog about selling your DC home during the summer. 

Hit A Rooftop

Try these new spots for drinks with a view.

Moonraker: The luxe new Pendry hotel opened at the Wharf in October last year, but this is the first warm weather season when diners and guests can take full advantage of al fresco amenities, like a pool terrace and rooftop cocktail lounge with panoramic water views. The latter offers some of the best and highest views at the Wharf along with a Japanese-inspired menu of sushi rolls, small plates, and cocktails made with Asian spirits.

Baby Shank: Longtime U Street rooftop hangout Local 16 gets a new life as Baby Shank, a French bistro with lush garden decor indoors and out. Former Sei chef Noriaki Yasutake also brings creative sushi rolls to the menu, so you can nibble a French-style hamachi roll with truffle oil alongside steak frites. Happy hour, offered only at the bar and on the rooftop, brings specials like $9 cocktails and $8 maki.

Ambar Shaw: This two-story restaurant and bar is similar to its siblings in Capitol Hill and Clarendon, but here, revelers will find a big bar on the top floor with a DJ booth for weekend entertainment. Bottomless food and drink menus, brunch through dinner, are what make Ambar stand out — though this new spot also serves a la carte drinks such as margaritas and espresso martinis, and late night Belgrade-style street fare like kebabs and cheese-stuffed burgers.

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Searching for fun ways to spend the summer in DC? We’ve got tips for you! Check out these blog posts.

• Coolest Beaches in the DMV Area
• Best Tiki Cocktail Spots in DC
• Summer Day Trips a Short Drive From DC

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Check Out A Pop-Up

Restaurants and bars all over town are transforming their decor and cuisine to keep things interesting. Visit them all before time runs out!

Under the Barrel: Capitol Hill bourbon bar Barrel transforms its basement bar into an ode to The Little Mermaid this summer, complete with ocean-themed cocktails and fish dishes. A pink-tentacled mural welcomes patrons to a bar bathed in blue light that’s filled with floating jelly fish, a giant inflated clamshell, coral, and fishnets.

Capri-scape at Ciel Social Club: The AC hotel’s luxe rooftop lounge and restaurant has turned into a chic Italian paradise in partnership with Pernod Ricard. An Amalfi coastline menu includes arancini balls, shrimp risotto, cocktails, and sparkling wine by the glass or in large-format bottles. A savory salumeria martini is built with bruschetta-infused Absolut and a house dirty mix blending pepperoncini, banana pepper, and olive brine.

Get Out On The Water

Because some days, there’s only one place you can go to stay cool.

Monumental Boat Tours: Zip along the Potomac in a two-person catamaran — at speeds up to 25 miles an hour — on a guided tour with Monumental Boat Tours. Excursions leave from National Harbor and go either to Mount Vernon ($120 a person) or around DC’s landmarks ($150).

Float DC: Pack a meal and head to the Wharf, where Float DC rents 18-foot electric picnic boats with table seating for up to eight. Rentals start at $150 an hour for up to three hours, and the vessels — with a top speed of five miles an hour— come with a cooler, a Bluetooth audio system, and safety equipment.

Paddle Boat Cruises: These social, active adventures are the perfect way for friends, families, and colleagues to sip, cycle, and celebrate out on the water! Explore some of DC’s most popular waterfront locations, take in the sights of some of Washington DC’s most monumental attractions, and let the river’s breeze put you at ease.

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