You may not believe it, given the light snow we saw last night, but ’tis the season to get sloshed on a roof deck. While D.C. is quickly becoming more and more of a beer garden city, let us not forget the joys of drinking on a roof: people watching, a sense of entitlement, being higher than others. Here are eight roof decks DCist writers like to drink and dine on. And remember, we did this last year, so consult this list before getting all huffy in the comments for leaving out [insert rooftop bar here].

Photo by Rebecca Shley.

MAD MOMOS: Just because Mad Momos is one of the few bars with a deck in Columbia Heights doesn’t automatically make me include it on this list. No way. The large, spacious roof deck space of this 14th Street restaurant and bar is a nice reprise from that of Red Derby’s right down the street, which often becomes too crowded to move. If you’re looking for a quieter, more relaxed roof to drink on in Columbia Heights, Mad Momos is your spot. — Matt Cohen

Mad Momos is located at 3605 14th Street NW.

PACIFICO CANTINA: The food and drinks at Pacifico Cantina are not why it stays open. That credit goes to the Mexican restaurant’s roof, the finest on Barracks Row. Keep is simple drink wise and enjoy the great view of 8th Street SE from the large deck area. —Sarah Anne Hughes

Pacifico Cantina is located at 514 8th Street SE.

RED PORCH AT NATIONALS PARK
Grab a cheap Nats ticket and head to the upstairs at the Red Porch Restaurant just inside the Centerfield gate and above section 100. The bar is always in the shade (and out of the rain), the beer is always flowing, and if you can snag a spot against the front railing, you’ve got a great view of the action on the field. It may be a bit too loud in the bar area to hear the announcers, but if you are looking to chat and get your drink on while watching some baseball, this is your spot. — Lynne Venart

Red Porch is located in Nationals Park at 1500 South Capitol Street SE.

RED ROCKS ON H STREET NE: Every floor of the Red Rocks on H Street NE is beautiful. The first floor has a nice industrial vibe, the second open and airy with a catwalk, but the roof—the roof!—is where it’s at. The front of the building features a retractable roof, while the back has a patio area with views of the Capitol and Washington Monument. The food is delicious, there’s always local beer on tap, the staff is very friendly and the scenery is unbeatable. —Sarah Anne Hughes

Red Rocks is located at 1348 H Street NE.

ROCK & ROLL HOTEL: H Street’s premiere concert venue is really like three different clubs in one. The bottom floor hosts some of the city’s best shows; a frequent stop for many national touring bands. The second floor has a kind laid-back pub vibe, but often hosts bumpin’ dance parties. But the third floor, the club’s rooftop bar, is an entirely different beast. It’s spacious enough to fit a whole bunch of people, and half of it’s covered by a canopy in case it rains. With equal standing room and tables, it satisfies whatever you might want from a great rooftop bar. Bonus: they do Metal Brunch sometimes, which is tight. — Matt Cohen

Rock & Roll Hotel is located at 1353 H Street NE.

ROOFER’S UNION: Hey, remember The Reef? It was a douche-tastic bar that closed unceremoniously after a stabbing. Bummer, right? The good news is that Roofer’s Union took the place of the The Reef, including its rooftop bar. Now with an improved beer selection, the bar is even better. This is among the best people watching in D.C. since most anyone who wanders around Adams Morgan on a weekend is ridiculous. — Alan Zilberman

Roofer’s Union is located at 2446 18th Street NW.

MELLOW MUSHROOM: And not far from Roofer’s Union is Mellow Mushroom, which, in the days of The Reef, was the less packed, less douchey, more modest roof deck bar in Adams Morgan. OK, I’m cheating, it’s not so much a bar than it is a pizza restaurant with an awesome roof on it. But you can drink on it so it still counts. No one eating pizza and drinking on a roof deck ever really had a bad time. That’s a fact. — Matt Cohen

Mellow Mushroom is located at 2436 18th Street NW.

ZENTAN AT DONOVAN HOUSE: We’ve talked up the rooftop at Zentan before, but it bears repeating: That view from this Thomas Circle hotel bar is spectacular. — Sarah Anne Hughes

Zentan is located at 155 14th Street NW.