Clarendon Ballroom Events

This review is for the Rooftop Event Space, and not whatever evening debaucheries occur here.
We recently hosted a corporate event on the rooftop, and I have to admit the rooftop can really «clean up!» The location and setting was great and the service was amazing — the plated dishes of cheese, vegetables, and hummus were beautifully arranged; the servers were attentive and always within an arms reach when you were ready to discard something so that you didn’t have to awkwardly hold onto a drink in one hand and an empty kabob stick in the other. Even the bartenders were personable and greeted people by the name on their name tags.

Consider this place for your private event! I am not kidding. Until recently, my only experience with Clarendon Ballroom has been as a single gal, cavorting on the rooftop patio and trying to score. It’s been quite a few years since then, so when my company announced their annual party at the CB, I was like, really? Wings and Coronas, anybody? Was I ever wrong… The event planners at CB put out a spread that has totally changed my notion of the place. No wings or cheese sticks. I’m talking seared tuna, satay, amazing mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, and gorgeous desserts. Their servers were moving the treats around on carts, so it wasn’t like some tacky buffet style. Prior to this, I never would have considered this place to be somewhere to hold an event, but I stand corrected.

OH GOD. Writing a review of this joint is proof I’ve been here. No bueno. Sigh… oh well, here we go.
As a venue used for private events it’s a solid 4 stars. Great wait staff, friendly bartenders and the food es muy bueno. Oh wait, I mean, the food is very good. Sorry, living in Columbia Pike as brought out the Spanish. Anyway, private venues — YES. Great place to book! I’d only suggest they do a better job of keeping the riff raff non private event goers out. Also, offer more seating.
As for a regular Friday or Saturday night… errr, em, uh… it’s okay. If you’re looking for a popp’d collar yuppie than this is the place to go. And unlike the creepy old mans that hang out at places like K street or Park, the token old mans here are BEYOND creepy. They’ll walk up to you and touch your face or proposition you like a hooker. Aside from creepy old dude, the average age for patrons here would be 23 and most of the hail from the suburbs because they’re too broke to drive into DC. This, however, is just an observation. But CB gets an extra star for providing great entertainment. Watching said popp’d collar jagoffs get kicked out is pure comedy!
The last time I went (which was this past Friday) they had a rock cover band which sucked. Cover was $ 10 which wasn’t worth it, and the line for my bottle water took 10 minutes. They also have a room downstairs that had hip hop/​mashups, etc but the room was so dark I was running into people. Again, no bueno.
I guess it’s a hit or miss experience. I’ll most likely go again but only if sister wife drags me.