12 Stories comes from a group that runs one of New York’s trendiest hotel bars
12 Stories takes up the top floor of the Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf -- Anna Meyer/12 Stories
The Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf is ready to show off its buzzy rooftop cocktail spot. The 3,500-square-foot drinking destination, dubbed 12 Stories, is scheduled to open on the 12th story of the hotel tonight at 4 p.m.
The anticipated arrival (75 District Square SW) marks the D.C. debut for Gerber Group, the prominent bar builder behind New York City’s trendy hotel bar Mr. Purple and Grand Central’s reinvigorated Campbell Bar.
Last fall, owner Scott Gerber announced plans to open his first D.C. bar atop the same hotel that houses Kith and Kin, chef Kwame Onwuachi’s critically acclaimed Afro-Caribbean restaurant on the lobby level.
Mr. Purple cocktails that are making the trek down to D.C. include the GG Manhattan (Woodford Reserve bourbon, caprano antica vermouth, angostura bitters). Both the Grey Goose Vodka martini and Bombay Sapphire gin Negroni are served “super-chilled.” A Casamigos-filled margarita also arrives in time to beat the D.C. heat. That tequila also makes its way into the Blue Velvet alongside blueberry juice, lemon juice, and soda.
There’s a reason why Casamigos makes so many appearances at 12 Stories: Gerber’s brother, Rande Gerber, co-founded the billion-dollar tequila brand with George Clooney.
A J Street Spritz is made with Tito’s vodka, Amaro Nonino, lime juice, raspberries, Domaine Chandon, and sparkling soda.
While drinks are the star at the antique mirror-lined bar, a short list of upscale bar fare includes local oysters, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and a ceviche-style crudo. Sun-drenched Instagram pics will start once brunch service kicks off in May.
When patrons take an elevator to the top floor, they’ll be greeted by wired pendulum lighting and lots of velvet, marble, and wood accents. Concrete flooring acts as the base for plush leather furniture that lines the 170-seat space.
A next-gen operable glass system made by NanaWall spans 26 feet and opens up to an outdoor patio arrangement. Anna Meyer/12 Stories
The industrial-chic look was created by SLDesign, the hospitality artist behind NYC steakhouse American Cut and Michael Mina’s Pub 1842 in Las Vegas.
Floor-to-ceiling windows soaring 13 feet provide direct views of the Jefferson, Lincoln and Air Force Memorials, as well as the top of the Washington Monument and Hains Point.
12 Stories will operate weekdays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
