I’ve never been a fan of the bar at the Beacon: bad service, boring happy hour, forgettable Appletini-and-Cosmo cocktail menu. But taking the party outside makes it something else entirely. The top floor, formerly the hotel’s luxe penthouse, has a wide promenade that wraps around the building, offering bistro-style tables and a nest of cozy couches and armchairs. There’s even a fountain where folks can soak their feet.

The open-bar deals feature an hour or two of free mojitos or other cocktails. (Once the gratis drinks end, prices shoot to $6 for a bottle of Stella Artois and $10 for a plastic cup of anything made with a name-brand spirit.)

Then again, it’s hard to complain. There’s no cover charge or dress code, and the number of Prada and Gucci sunglasses on display rivals any upscale nightclub, though they’re paired instead with designer T-shirts and flip-flops. Although this is one of the least-interesting views from a rooftop bar I’ve visited, when the sun is beating down, the music and laid-back vibe make it easy to imagine yourself at some hot new South Beach destination. Let’s hope for a few more weeks of nice weather to keep this party going.

I stayed for about two hours and in the end, even though there is no pool, Coolout is HOT! A must do this summer for all Hip and Trendy Washingtonians!

Love you all! Happy Monday!

Paul Wharton xx