Skydome Lounge: Panoramic Views of the DC Monuments
Where do you take someone who hasn’t been to Washington, DC in 20 years, would like to see some of the sights, but arrives at evening rush hour and is departing at 4AM the next morning?
We both vetoed going into the city since we’d be turning in early, so I racked my brain to think of something interesting and quick to do on the Virginia side of the river. Then I remembered Skydome Lounge, the revolving restaurant in the Doubletree Crystal City.
A bit cheesy, but it would be a great option to grab a drink and watch the sun set on all the monuments.
It wound up even better than I expected.
Glorious weather and a clear view of everything — we could see the Washington Cathedral, the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial, even the Catholic University Basilica in the far distance. Not to mention close views of the Reagan Airport runway and Air Force Memorial.
The restaurant still turns a slow hourly circle but some upgrades had been made, including removing the flat screen TVs in the middle to allow more light from the glass dome.
The appetizer and drinks menu had also been upgraded, though their tasty cheesy biscuits were no longer an option. When I went a few years ago the draft beers were non-existent and the bottles of beer and wines by the glass were the usual boring distributor selection you see everywhere. 
Now they have local Virginia beers on draft and a selection of more innovative cocktails such as a Spiced Pear Lemonade (so tasty) and a honey-lavender infused La Bee en Provence. The wines by the glass are also much more varied, with wineries you don’t see at the average hotel bar, including a Merlot from Wahluke Slope, WA. Prices are typical DC bar prices with wines starting at $10 a glass, cocktails around $12.
My friend loved the experience and even I enjoyed the views. At 5:30 on a Thursday the restaurant was empty thought it was starting to fill up at 7:30. 
Parking options were also good. The road outside the hotel offers metered parking, free after 6PM, and typically isn’t too crowded.
To get to the restaurant you’ll need to take the elevators in the North Tower to the 14th floor, get out and grab the Elevator 3 devoted to the Skydome.
If you’re looking for something slightly off the beaten path I can definitely recommend this as a quirky stop!
The Skydome Lounge.