Helix Lounge

I am not a heavy drinker and told the bartender I needed something that didn’t taste too alcoholic-​y to help me undo a terrible flight so I could get straight to sleep. She suggested: The Pajama Party: Stoli raspberry vodka, Sprite, Lime, Champagne float, and marascino cherries! It was delicious and knocked me out for the night.

Terrible service. The bartender had her eyes glued to her phone the whole time and said «You can get water in the lobby» when I asked for water. You had to go up to the bar to order AND pick up your drinks & food. Won’t be coming back!

I tried their Sangria and it was delicious! I only had drinks that night but overall the atmosphere was calm and the bartender was nice. That food that was being served looked and smelled great.

An upscale place with a cool outdoor area

Note: never get their beer on the tap!!! They mix water to it. I am an avid beer drinker and can easily tell such lame tricks to fool tourists. Beer in bottles are fine, and prices are reasonable. I can’t believe a decent hotel would do such a thing!

Admittedly I did not stay long as it was dead. The place is very trendy looking albeit way too small. the food smelled divine so I kind of want to come back for that. But I guess for a boutique hotel bar this is what’s to be expected. Maybe it might be better for a happy hour, we came on a Saturday night.

If you find yourself thirsty and around here, definitely go for the happy hour ($ 4 well drinks!), and enjoy a good laugh at the ridiculousness of the curtains that swoosh aside as you enter, and trendy club-​in-​space type décor and colored lights that gradually fade in and out. Be wary of the nice liquor though — it’s an amazing $ 11 for a pour of Bulleit bourbon. I could drink half a bottle at home for that price…

Great little bar inside the hotel. We spent a lot of our downtime hanging out and getting drinks and couldn’t have been happier. The bartenders were always willing to get creative and humor us when we asked for some off-​the-​wall shots and drinks. Plus the Pajama Party martini was to die for.

I was worried about what everyone had to say about the décor. Like, if I was going to be able to deal with it coming from Miami and EVERYTHING being white in my house and on the beach.
By the time we got to the Hotel, It could have been the Munsters Home and I wouldn’t have cared.
I was too tired to be my normal self and pick apart anything.
We got up to the room and the beds were SO COMFORTABLE. The halls were quite, the bathroom was clean and the shower GOT HOT!
Which is all a woman needs anyway.
The next morning I got what all the reviews were about with the tacky décor but they off set it with a free happy hour by the front door.
Your so tired from walking all day that again, I didnt care if the wine wasnt Vintage or their champs wasnt what I normally drink, marched back up to my room and went to bed in a clean and cozy room.
Richie was amazing there, I came in counter with him a few times and the cute girl in the front Tam-​Tam was soooo kind.
EVERYONE at the Helix was really nice.
Yes, the place is all over the road with the décor but if you are looking for a clean, cheap, nice people staffed, hot shower, cozy bed, free drinks at happy hour place… this a place for you.
I will be back if we travel to DC again.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when my girlfriend and I showed up a few weeks ago to compete in the Helix Lounge 8^th annual pumpkin carving contest. The hotel/​bar looks futuristic with its bright lights, white interior, and modern trimmings.
It was still nice enough to sit outside in the patio area. Thank goodness because it was gorgeous! The hanging lights overhead as well as the multitude of seating options (hightops, couches, small tables) created the perfect ambiance. We grabbed some happy hour beers ($ 2 for a PBR can or $ 3 for Yuengling) while we carved. Not a bad price at all! They even extended the HH until 8pm — when the jack-​o-​lantern judging began.
The staff was polite and ran the happy hour/​competition very well. Contest or not, I’ll be back!

Helix doesn’t play it safe when it comes to their specialty burgs; you won’t find any run-​of-​the-​mill bacon cheeseburgers in the lineup (though you can build just about any burger combination with their sizable topping selection). The lounge’s namesake burger, the Helix, is an 8 oz. local Angus beef patty topped with the most wonderful topping ever created –bacon jam– along with melted blue cheese and a serving of horseradish aioli on the side. Up until this burg, our bacon jam has only ever tangled with cheddar before and we found the sharp, tangy blue cheese to be a different, but suitable, partner for the sweet and salty goodness. It’s a solid combo.
Helix had us reaching for the napkins with The Texan: a monster of a burger using corn-​and-​bean infused brisket chili, onion rings and white cheddar for a hat. Yeah, it’s as good as it sounds. We loved the crunchy battered rings which made for a satisfying bite when masticating the massive mound of meat and bread. We didn’t bother adding any of the accompanying mustard either– this thing does just fine all on its own.
Sadly, the Texan and Helix are the lone beef representatives on the menu, though we found The Surfer, a turkey burger with avocado, pico de gallo, swiss and garlic aioli on toast, to actually be really good. The turkey was moist, the toppings fresh and, while not listed, some sort of cranberry-​type spread on the bread hooked up a nice touch of sweetness. It worked for us.
But what should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Burger Days, we were not digging Helix’s take on a veggie burger. Dubbed the The Californian, the black-​eyed pea patty might pass for beef given a quick glance but after taking a bite, we were left scrambling for beer to gargle. Having said that, we have absolutely no authority when dealing with meatless «burgers,» so please consider the source. But if you’re the type of person who’d even consider eschewing the beef for a plant burg, then you’ll probably love this shit. So go ahead, dig in.
More, including some pretty, pretty pictures at
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This place is like one of those futuristic swanky ultra-​lounges that you’ll find in SoCal or Vegas. Inside you’ll find blue and purple mood lighting, padded leather wall panels and ultra minimalist furniture.
About five beers on tap. We did not have an opportunity to sample any of the food.
There is also an interesting character behind the bar named Walter. He’s friendly and rather flamboyant and knows how pour a Guinness. Perhaps if there had been room at the bar I could have sat down, had some entertaining discourse and perhaps even had some semblance of an enjoyable time there.
Unfortunately I just can’t get down with this place. At all. The atmosphere is just so over the top… and then there’s the music. Oh god, the music. I’d be totally fine with some trance or techno or something along those lines. Instead there’s some totally awful Top 40 garbage spewing out of the speakers where 75% of the vocals are auto-​tuned into oblivion. I’m sorry, is this a dance club?
I sat there trying to enjoy my Guinness while my ears were violated repeatedly by this noise and my eyes were assaulted by the silly overblown décor. I simply don’t understand how anyone could be comfortable in an atmosphere like this.

So, while the hotel itself may need some tweaks, the Lounge is better than ever. Commanded by the gregarious Walter slinging drinks behind the bar, the cool décor and slick musical vibe get the place jumping at night.
Yes, there is an outdoor patio for people who smoke. I think it’s a nice touch so folks don’t feel excluded standing out on the street corner. Don’t get in my face about the smell, I’ve smelled some of you in your wal-​mart colognes and throwing on drakkar like it’s lotion. Just as offensive to me as smoke.
WOW have they taken the food upscale. A cerviche with mango at first had me giving the stink eye, but won me over quickly with excellent preparation and balance of flavor. I ordered it twice in the three days I was here. A steak I ordered was perfectly cooked, served with a good portion of potatoes that were flat out delicious, and some nice light greens.
Drinks, without question, were perfectly made and nicely sized for a hotel cocktail. The staff was attentive and pleasant, and quickly gave us that ‘home bar’ feeling.
So congrats Kimpton! You have a diamond here in this aging hotel. Spruce the rest of the place up as well as you did with the lounge and you’ll again be a top contender in the DC market.

Helix Lounge is like a modern lounge that looks futuristic and reminds me of some the LA Lounges like the one at the Standard Hotel. The first thing you’ll notice is the changing neon ambient glow lighting, ambient house/​trance music and pricey cocktails.
Pros:
1) Modern décor
2) Nice outdoor patio
3) Awesome, friendly bartenders
4) Drinks are very good.
5) Good place to relax and have a drink.
Cons:
1) Cocktails are pretty pricey

Great outdoor patio area. They call it «inside out patio»
Lights change colors which being deaf is great because I’m a very visual person. Menu is limit but the crab cakes were good. They have full bar. A very relax place to enjoy the evening.

My girlfriend and I dined in for New Years Eve Dinner, we wish we would have dined somewhere else =/.
Our hopes of leaving stuffed and drunk, were shattered by a grouchy waitress, soggy wings and a wayyyyy to many waffle fries. I was extremely disappointed being it was the biggest party night of the year…
I’ll give it ONE more chance, in the summer, on the patio, drinks only.

A «Jetson’s» style ultra modern lounge, complete with neon ambient glow lighting, plastic tables and chairs, ambient house music and pricey cocktails. Felt as though it catered equally to the clientele of the attached Klimpton hotel of the same name, and DC see and be seeners. Cool neighborhood and a pleasant vibe.
I like these kind of places, but they are neither so unique nor so contrived to warrant a review rating at either end of the spectrum.
Outdoor seating seems like it could have been cool, but it was February.
I’d likely come back, but wouldnt necessarily seek it out.

Complimentary wine from 5−6pm plus half price burgers and beer? Not too shabby!
The modern and chic lounge inside the Helix Hotel is a lovely change of pace from many of the more popular and over-​crowded happy hours around The District.
I enjoyed one or their half price signature drinks, The Pajama Party (Stoli Raz, champagne, Sprite and lime juice) per the suggestion of someone in the group. Even though it was a bit too sweet for my taste, it seems like a fun drink that many would enjoy. Oh and they have $ 2 PBRs!
The vibe in the lounge was very laid back and most people were dressed in stylish, after-​work attire. Very much a young, professional crowd.
Great place to go and catch up with a few friends over drinks, without being part of the «scene and be seen.»

Not exactly a place you would think of to enjoy a relaxing time, being that it’s the lounge of the Helix Hotel, but upon arriving you can tell it has a fun atmosphere. See for yourself and try calling the number to the hotel and you are greeted by Austin Powers’…shagadelic voice… baby!
We went there for the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. With 30 pumpkins and 2 hours to carve your pumpkins, along with food and drink, it’s the perfect way to wind down the day in a competitive and festive atmosphere.
We ordered a hamburger (delicious, and just the way a burger should taste) and chicken wings. Service was friendly and timely. The fact that this place can hold events like a pumpkin carving contest definitely makes me a fan of this place. I’m definitely looking forward to coming here again.

Ingredients for perfect Wednesday night:
half-​price burger*
+
half-​price «Pajama Party» cocktail**
+
Helix Lounge
=
All the swank without breaking the bank!
I love this place! The night I went it was raining but I’m looking forward to returning when it’s not to check out the patio. I could easily become a regular here.
*It comes with fries too!
**Stoli Raz, Sprite, Lime Juice shaken and strained into a martini glass with a float of champagne