Water Bar

We stopped in after viewing a movie across the street. Great location. Drinks were great. We had the truffle fries. They were really good. Service was great. Very friendly and helpful. Great location. Will definitly be back when its warmer to enjoy.

Great place to grab a drink and a snack. Even on one of the hottest days it was still pleasant to sit in this outdoor restaurant. The bartender was super pleasant and quick for service. Wish they had more food choices but what we ordered was definitely a good value and tasty.

Great location to people watch from above. Service was very attentive. While the menu is limited, it’s perfect for a slightly more than bar type of place. The wings were awesome, the panini was very good. As our server suggested “tots are good” and they were, but can u really mess up tots? Our only minor complaint is that the cocktails had way too much crushed ice in them. Looking around this seemed to be universal. Perfect place to unwind at the end of a long day if you aren’t expecting a full on 5 course meal. Looking forward to returning.

The bar's location is great, and the atmosphere seems inviting. However, the drink and appetizer selection is a bit limited. While I understand they might be short-staffed based on other reviews, the service wasn't attentive during my visit. Additionally, my drink differed from others who ordered the same thing, suggesting inconsistency. Despite these shortcomings, the location is a draw for me. I would consider returning if the menu expands and the service improves. I hope the bar takes customer feedback into account and makes some positive changes.

I was told they had NEW MANAGEMENT because I noticed the entire staff was completely different. Please be VERY aware when you go to the Water Bar ordering drinks. This establishment adds extra charges for drinks. I'm not sure if it's just on Happy Hour expensive drinks, but they add an additional $2.00 or $3.00 for "ingrediants" as I was told on top of the already expensive $12.00 happy hour drinks. They charged $3.00 called Margarita to my $12.00 Watermelon Margarita. The $12.00 should pay for my entire drink along with the ingrediants. Same thing when my girlfriend ordered a Tito's drink, they charged and additional $2.00 for the "soda", when she already paid $12.00 for her drink. Needless to say, this is NOT indicated on their website. VERY DISAPPOINTED. Service was NOT the best that night. I will NEVER return there for Happy Hour again or for drinks.

Very cool outdoor place with small food stands. Tried the water bar itself. Service was bad. Drinks over priced. Food selection was poor and what I got was not good. Chorizo oysters were decent , fried shrimp sandwich was terrible. Small fried balls that didn't even taste like shrimp. Waitress was very bad and was not around when needed. The lady next to me had to constantly get up and go find her. Place needs work and better food. Both my appetizer and dinner cane at the same time, and I still had no silverware.

It is the esthetic and view for me. Sitting by the fountain on a hot summer evening was quite relaxing 😌 👌 A nice space with options for varieties of small plate/handheld food.. I counted 6 eatery with alot of options to choose from; Thai, taco,pizza and wines 🍷

I had a fantastic evening at Water Bar, enjoying the outdoor seating with a laid-back breezy atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with friends. The cocktails were the real star of the night. I tried the strawberry mule and the spicy margarita. If you’re looking for a spot with great drinks and a chill vibe in Arlington, Virginia. This is definitely the place to be. I can’t wait to be back for another round.

So, I ended up at Water Bar in Arlington last night, and let me tell you, this place is a total vibe! The outdoor seating felt like I was chilling in a postcard ,great vibe and just perfect for meeting my friend. Honestly, if you're in Arlington and you don't stop by this place, what are you even doing? I'm already planning my next visit because these drinks are calling my name.

Come for the cocktails and stay for the food. Extensive beverage list and slot of interesting cocktails on the menu you wouldn't normally see. Burger looked unassuming but was bursting with flavor. The sauce went just right with the smashed 2 patties. Bun was soft yet crispy and perfectly held the burger. Fish and chips had the right fish to batter ratio. They also had very nice holiday lights. Service was attentive.

First time at Water Bar a nice restaurant/bar surrounded by a fountain wall of water. Beautiful location to take photos. We had the following appetizer's and dinner: -Lobster roll with crispy tater tots. I'd order this lobster roll again very close to what you get in a restaurant in Maine (4.5/5). -Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings. They were crispy with a delicious dipping sauce (4/5). -Crispy chicken wings. The wings lacked flavor on the batter (3.8/5). -Tuna Poke Bowl too small for the price and it was too citrusy for me. I'm used to traditional poke bowls (3.8/5). -Guacamole with chips (4/5). The guacamole tasted fresh with the right amount of lime and salt. The service was good but wished the restaurant had a better happy hour menu with more food and drink options. Happy Yelping :)

OK you guys, the vibe is hot. Unusually hot for Arlington. Pentagon City needed this place. And, while it might only have 3.5 stars on Yelp as of this writing, it was needs-a-reservation packed when we arrived. Since we didn't have a reservation we ended up at like the last 2 bar seats at the counter facing out over the water and honestly...we were perfectly happy sitting there. It helped that there was live music in the park below, a fitting summery reggae. Honestly, it felt like we weren't in DC. It felt like we were on vacation in Miami or somewhere tropical. I had worn men's botanical print silk button-down over a bandeau midriff top - 100% the correct sartorial choice. It was also LITERALLY hot, temperature-wise, but we were seated next to a fan so, actually, perfect. Food was also good and honestly, for this area, given the price inflation lately, on par price-wise, though I may not have felt that way if it had opened with these prices a few years ago. Portions were maybe a little small, but not egregiously so, and I have no complaints about the thematically appropriate (read: seafood, but not over the top) menu selection or the actual food execution. See my pics. Cocktails were fine. Again, pricey, but pretty standard for the area. Not the quality I've come to expect for slightly higher prices at Salt or other bars that are billed as capital "c" COCKTAIL bars, where you order food to go with your drink and not the other way around, but these were fine for a place that's as much about food as it is drinks. I'd stick to what's on the cocktail menu, though, or the very basics. The cocktail menu does seem to rotate seasonally, which is nice, particularly since the menu when they first opened - which admittedly, I did not have a chance to try and should not judge - seemed to lean really heavily into the briney and savory cocktails, which isn't everyone's thing. Service was hit or miss. Or server herself was helpful and personable, but good luck getting anywhere with bussers or helpers. We ordered hummus and the hummus itself was really good, but light on the pita. So half the hummus was left with nothing to scoop it. Someone, not our server, came by and asked if we'd like more pita. Yes! And we were happy to pay for it if they charged, but it never came. Many minutes later, now realizing more pita was an option, we asked another helper person. She agreed. But several minutes later, no pita. After a third and final attempt, we asked our actual server for more pita. She said no problem, but again it never came. And when she came to check on us later and offer our bill it's like the pita request had never happened. On the other hand, she was knowledgeable about the menu, able to answer questions, able to handle substitutions (e.g., putting ceasar dressing on my non-ceasar side salad instead of the default, etc.). Anyway, is it absolute gourmet perfection? No. It's not 5 stars. But a solid 4. Mainly, you're coming for the overall experience and the vibe and to get to play pretend that you're actually cool and chill and live on the beach and don't work in a depressing city full of beat down federal office lackeys, Hill staffers, underpaid NGO wonks and overworked attorneys. And for a few hours, it will actually make you believe.

Service: 10/10. The service was great. Salmon Burger: 8/10. It was missing some seasoning on the salmon itself. I also felt the salmon was a bit dry. Overall it was ok. Poke Bowl: 9/10. It had good flavor. Would definitely order again. Overall:

This restaurant is in a very unique location with a great view of the cityscape. It is nearby a railroad so be prepared for some noise with that, combined with any of that from the live music that usually happens there. Outside of that, it's fairly quiet. When I arrived, I was quick to be seated but it took about 30 minutes to get a waiter to take our order. That gave me plenty of time, unfortunately, to read the entire menu which centers around seafood and comfort food. I ended up ordering the pork sandwich that came with chips and was very good. I wish it didn't take so long to take my order or bring out my food. I'd also add that the water served was disgusting; tasted like melted ice water from a cooler. I'd stick to the cocktails only if I were you. If you got a lot of time and are in the area, not a terrible spot.

Me and my buddy were in Crystal City looking for a place to get some eats and drank yesterday (Tuesday noonish) and we were like "let's just hit up the Water Bar!" And I'm glad we did! We had the whole place to ourselves lol great rainy day spot. My buddy had a few Jacks and Coke, I had the crab empanadas which were amazing!!! Definitely try them if you go. Service was great, bartender was very friendly and helpful. The ambience is nice, u get a Caribbean feel up there with all the water falling down lol Def check them out next time you're at the water park! Sit at the bar, the seats are very comfortable. 5 stars fo sho!

Went for a corporate dinner and we were the only group in the place. Was not super impressed with the food especially since it's supposed to be specialized in seafood. My oysters had shell in them and with the shrimp cocktail the shrimp themselves had an odd rub/seasoning on them (maybe old bay) which is not typical of shrimp cocktails anywhere else I've had them. The seasoning ruined for the flavor for me and I didn't even finish them. I would prefer to give positive reviews but if you want properly executed seafood, I wouldn't suggest this spot.

TJ was at the bar when we stopped by for drinks. She was so sweet and amazing. The service was great and the old fashioned was delicious and beautiful. The bar all has a great view and good music. I will be coming back.

Food was mid but very pricey. Service was mid...waitress never made sure our drinks came but they did make them on the house...with that being said, no cap they were just OK It's outdoor seating so it comes with the elements which on this particular day was a nice summer night to have dinner. I heard that I came after they switched managers so the food menu posted on Yelp is not the same as what the restaurant serves unless people have posted updated pictures. Try it for yourself cuz we have different taste buds but in MY opinion, I won't be returning ‍

Beautiful bar, lots of plugs to plug in your laptop if you are working from home. Really enjoyed the food options and the view!

I visited The Water Bar a few months ago but on a recent visit learned they are under new management and have changed their menu. The tomato salad, crab empanada, and oysters are no longer food options. It's still a great happy hour or meet up spot... and, the bartenders are consistent. The drinks are amazing.

How uninspiring. Yea, the area has been seriously gentrified and cleaned up, and the water feature. I'm sure it's gonna be really refreshing in the summertime and I'm sure that when the weather is better, it's vibrant. But I found the menu boring and service was on the slower side, it took for the food to come out. It took them a while to warm up and be friendly. The appetizers filled in the holes that we were looking for, but nothing impressive.

If there is one reason to visit the Water Bar it's definitely for the beautiful outdoor bar space! I popped in one Saturday afternoon over the summer and was immediately wowed by the location! Its gorgeous! However - that's where a lot of the thrill ends. The service was okay at best. The bartender was fairly new and wasn't familiar with the menu items to provide much assistance (although he was very kind). But the real lack of service came from the hosts who were pressuring us to move seats at the bar which ultimately lead us to close our tabs and leave. Nobody was particularly rude, but the service left a bit to be desired as far as making water bar a fun place to be. As far as cocktails, I didn't get anything fancy and stuck with a prosecco. Can't mess that up! As far as food nothing was really wow-ing us on the menu so we popped down to the food trucks below to have a fantastic dinner. However, I do want to highlight location/venue is beautiful with lots of fresh air and nice views! Plus the bar was packed with people enjoying different cocktails so I highly recommend for grabbing a drink. Overall I'd say our experience was a 3.5 but I'm rounding up because it's worth a visit and I'll be back! Perhaps next time with a reservation instead of sitting at the bar.

We found this restaurant on Instagram. Really nice location in Arlington VA. The service and food were very good. Definitely get the calamari and the ceviche. Both were prepared well and delicious! Definitely a spot that you can have a good time with good food.

Nice view, seating right next to the waterfall fountain. We came for brunch on a Thursday, so not crowded. The Executive Chef came out to greet us and check on service and food. The Menu provided during our visit (noon) had limited options...specifically, no poultry, no pork. I am a sparkling water person ...they offered fountain sparkling water but no sealed bottles. The chef did find us one bottle that was left from a previous function. The short rib grilled cheese, lacked seasoning and no sauce. Look like it was prepared in a panini press. Out of food items ordered, fried oysters was the hit.

I can't believe I am about to say what I'm going to say but here it goes. Finally, a restaurant that was found on social media that lives up to the hype! Water Bar has come across my social media pages a few times and normally I would disregard as the era of social media influence on restaurants doesn't normally live up to the hype once you visit. Surprisingly, that was not the case the night we decided to visit. Water Bar is a cocktail and oyster bar tucked in a unique location within Crystal City Water Park. The night me and my bestie/partner and crime Spencer joined for date night was during the perfect summer evening, not unbearably hot and there was a refreshing night breeze, that was accompanied by outstanding service and delicious food. While the menu is limited, if you are seafood junkie, I'm sure you will find something on the menu to enjoy. We went with the fried calamari, crab empanadas, short rib grilled cheese and the Chesapeake crab roll. Hands down my favorite of the evening were the crab empanadas. The were GBD (golden brown and delicious) packed with tons of blue lump crab. I seriously could have eaten those for the night and been content. Everything that we ordered was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I'm so glad we gave Water Bar a chance. You can believe we will be back to enjoy some of their other menu items and cocktails.

The drinks were good. Nothing outstanding. It's a cute environment with lots of seating. You will need a reservation on popular nights or hope there is a seat at the bar. The service is the only reason I wouldn't give it four stars. It took awhile for our waiter to bring water and come to the table. We asked questions about the drink menu and he didn't have any real response (is the cucumber martini popular? How spicy is the spicy margarita?). We had to find him just to ask for the bill. The drinks also tasted like they had been sitting outside for awhile

Fairly good service. Attended an event with hors d'ouvres and bar service. Food consisted of hummus, guacamole, crab wontons, slider burgers, and shrimp on toast. Not an overly large venue which makes it ideal for small to medium-sized groups.

We came here after seeing all the rave reviews and the menu. However, the view and concept is romantic and modern along with the perfectly placed table games found throughout the restaurant in a posh way. Not the tacky games but think custom wooden games that were actually clean and regal. This is where the experience ended. My group came here expecting the menu seen online which included the short rib grilled cheese, crab empanadas, and fried oysters but we were told that they are under a new owner and new management and the old staff and head chef were all fired about 3 weeks ago. Big mistake the menu is now extremely limited with only 5 apps including hummus, guacamole and wings and 6 sandwich options which included a chicken sandwich, lobster sandwich and cheeseburger. None of the items we came for were a part of the new menu. I ordered a glass of wine while my group contemplated what if anything we wanted to eat, I was literally served maybe 3 ounces of wine no more to the point people from the other table asked if I had requested a half pour. I mentioned this to the waiter and she IGNORED me. We ended up leaving and heading across the street for a proper meal.

You know, its the front of the house that sets the tone for a high end cocktail bar. You approach, hear the music, and are received by the maitre d at the front podium. Those of us at a certain age recall the high-handed ropelines of the eighties where if your outfit or deportment were judged sub-standard you were turned away. Still a disturbing recall! But here at Water Bar, it could not be more relaxed or welcoming! We had an office event that due to operational commitments started an HOUR late...you might think our big set of tables would be given away. Not so! The maitre d, a beautiful and charming ambassador, Jennifer, not only kept our tables intact but received us with a beaming smile and a tray of glasses with two fingers of chilled wine on the house! Like she was inviting us into her home, she made sure everyone was comfortable and welcomed! With the investment of charm and maybe a couple of bottles of wine shared with us, Jennifer has made this lovely, comfortable, and welcoming venue our new "go to" for office functions! The rest of the staff were equally welcoming and responded as a team to the calls of the quaterback. G R E A T! We'll see you again for sure! Cheers, Mike

We were given such great care and attention during our time. Plus the food was FANTASTIC! I am looking forward to returning to the apres-ski pop up before the Christmas season is over!

Water Bar seems like a chill spot that would be cool to come for happy hour or to get drinks really quickly. They have a really small menu, so I wouldn't say it's the place you should go if you really want to eat and stay for an extended period of time. The oysters were delicious. I've only had oysters that were bad once in my life, so I wasn't surprised the oysters were good at Water Bar. The Aquaspice mocktail I got didn't list the ingredients on the menu. My waiter described it similar to a margarita. Yeah so it was not my favorite drink. It wasn't disgusting but it was just tart and I would have preferred for it not to have any pulp.

So thrilled to be exploring these kiosks. Several small pop ups with some great food and drink in there Water Park open spaces in Crystal City across from Morton's and Alamo Draft house. Cracked Eggery breakfast was tasty and fresh. Tiki Thai was quite tasty although not as spicy as we'd like. Falafel Inc was also enjoyable with great desserts. . We look forward to continuing the explorer

Husband and I stopped in this restaurant as we drove past the front of its waterfall area. We didn't have reservations but sat in the lounge area which was perfect because we were under heaters! Leon was our waiter and he was super accommodating and just had good vibes. We ordered a lot of shareable plates and our favorite was the Chorizo Oysters and Shrimp n Grits (which had a different taste but were good). We ordered a Rum n Coke and Dark n Stormy. The price was good our total was a little over $100, but it was worth it. Would definitely recommend and come back to visit.

Gorgeous place! Love the zen ambiance; loved the friendly and attentive service and the food was fresh, generously portioned and delicious! Will definitely revisit!

Big Vybez! Chunky guacamole, calamari! Very delicious. Really laid back place. Great place to go for quick bite.

Do better waterbar Management. It's too bad that the location is so nice....but not worth receiving a Martini and Champagne in a plastic cup. Service is horrible.

Great location to people watch from above. Service was very attentive. While the menu is limited, it's perfect for a slightly more than bar type of place. The wings were awesome, the panini was very good. As our server suggested "tots are good" and they were, but can u really mess up tots? Our only minor complaint is that the cocktails had way too much crushed ice in them. Looking around this seemed to be universal. Perfect place to unwind at the end of a long day if you aren't expecting a full on 5 course meal. Looking forward to returning.

I had a great time at Water Bar. I especially enjoyed sitting outside. It had a relaxed vibe the fresh air, casual atmosphere made it the perfect spot to unwind after work. The food was the highlight. The lobster was packed with lobster made perfectly seasoned on about buttery roll I also tried the shrimp and it was just as impressive crispy flavorful with just the right amount of spice , you're craving seafood or just a chill outdoor meal. This place is a must visit in Arlington Virginia. I'll definitely be back.

My company hosted a private event at The Water Bar earlier this week. We had around 100 guests. We worked with Caroline to reserve the event. It was effortless, as Caroline was extremely knowledgeable and flexible. Our team had a fantastic time! The staff is very welcoming and attentive. The venue itself is really lovely. It's conveniently located in Crystal City / National Landing, surrounded by food vendors. There is also occasionally entertainment in the park. Highly recommend Water Bar for your next corporate event, or a place to stop in and dine.

The food was absolutely delicious, service was quick and the staff was amazing. Our waiter was perfectly attentive and they even helped us tremendously with a birthday surprise. The location, music and ambiance were exactly what we needed for a fun night out.

Julio was great! The service and drinks were great. Even thought I rained a bit we had a great time under the covered patio. Highly recommend the dirty martini.

Visited the recently opened Water Bar (a little perplexed why an outdoor bar opened during fall/winter) the water features surrounding the bar are beautiful and we were able to easily access the bar and were immediately seated (we made a reservation) Our server was friendly and attentive and we were able to get custom mixology for spirit free cocktails - the food was typical bar fare with little flavor - the potato chips were flat/stale. I would visit only for a drink at the bar if in the water park area but not for bar bites and with the cool weather I'm not sure how comfortable it would be to sit in the bar since it is open with only plastic zipper coverings over the open areas

When you walk up, the waterfall is the first thing you see. It's a nice touch and the area is very well kept. We were greeted and seated almost immediately. We were able to pick where we wanted to sit, so of course we chose a table with the best view. We only came for appetizers and drinks. The menu items were a bit pricey but after eating the crab empanadas, it was well worth it. Definitely a place to hang out when the weather is nice, or a quick drink after work.

I stopped in here with a friend after we saw a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, as we were looking for a bite to eat in close proximity to the parking garage. In very bright lights, we saw water bar. They have an open air patio that has the plastic sheeting to keep the wind and cold air out, but it was still pretty chilly on the inside as we weren't seated near one of the heaters, and both ends of the seating area are open to the elements. In terms of the ambience displays have very relaxed vibes where is comfortable seating areas as well as high top and bar seating. My friend ordered a peppermint tea and the shrimp and grits. I ordered the crabcakes. The peppermint tea was very interesting as the sweetener which I believe was a simple syrup comes in a shot glass on the side. Her main complaint was that mixing the tea with the sweetener dropped the temperature of her tea, so it was more room temperature/lukewarm than hot. She enjoyed the shrimp and grits although the breading on the tomato was a little heavy for her. My crabcakes were delicious although a little heavy on the breading/filling. I would've preferred them with a side or would've liked to have the option to add a side, but I understand that type of this restaurant is more bar menu/small bites. Both dishes were plated beautifully. Our service was wonderful from start to finish. We were greeted and seated promptly. Our server was friendly and attentive. I'll definitely visit again, but I'll probably just come for drinks.

Gross company. GM is awful. Food is very mediocre. Super hot in the restaurant as well. Also, good luck having a conversation with the loud train in the background!

The service was non-existent. After our initial drink order, our server said our table was being handed off to someone new. We waited over half an hour for her before asking the hostess to please have someone place our food order. Yet another employee arrived to take our food order and then we never saw him again. Finally, we flagged down a busser because we just wanted to pay and leave. The food was okay - certainly not worth the hassle.

Went for my birthday!!! Food outstanding...staff excellent..! Don't believe the hype.... Go for yourself!!!

We had some issues, but they were quickly resolved. The chef is cool too! Very friendly and efficient. I would totally go back when I'm back in NOVA. The setting was wonderful too. We didn't check it out at night. But we suspect it's a vibe. Check it out!

Would give 6/5 stars if I could! Top notch vibe, great neighborhood walk away for Crystal City locals and the food and drinks can't be beat. If you can, ask for Hunter; the man is dynamite behind the bar. Great conversations and a cocktail wizard. Dude has recipes front and back, can make custom cocktails in a pinch and is charming as hell. Will be coming back.

I went to water bar on Friday with a couple of friends for Happy hour and it was amazing. The food, drinks and service were amazing. we started at the bar with Diamond who is a gem. Then we moved to a table were Leo was our server and did an amazing job. The managers checked on us. we felt well taken care of. The prices were inexpensive compared to other places in Arlington and DC. we will be back for sure sooner then later

Was skeptical about visiting due to reviews. But we had to check it out to see for ourselves. We weren't disappointed. Due to limited menu the chef still found a way to accommodate our desires. Everything pictured was great.No long waits. With hopes that the summer is a success we will be back!

Went to Water Bar this past weekend, and was not impressed. Love the location and the set up but the food left a lot to be desired. Anya, the bartender was wonderful. it was chilly so she made us some hot toddies which were delicious. We tried the crabcakes and the crab melt. If you actually like crabcakes you won't like either of these. More filling than crab meat. Not sure why they are open when it's so cold out because when that wind hits it rips right through the restaurant and nobody is safe. I will come back when it gets warmer out. also, the menu is very limited, but they will be introducing a new menu soon. I look forward to that.

Water Bar hasn't been open that long but it's obvious they still have some kinks to work out. While the wait staff was friendly, they were terrible servers. I saw several people sit for a few minutes and leave when no one came to take their order. I had to ask for everything... a drink, water refills, to order food, and to ask for the check at the end. If they can figure out the service issues, this place could be great. The restaurant was not busy... Aside from the service, the food was good! The crab empanadas were delicious and filling. I'll give it a few months and give it another try.

LEON was the absolute best! There was a gentleman from corporate, Scott that was wonderful! The hostess was super helpful. Food was decent...scenery great! Worth a visit.

Very poor service. Here for an event and the bartenders completely ignored me for 20/25 minutes. I finally got in contact with a server and she ordered drinks for me. I stood in front of a bartender making drinks and she ignored me for 20 minutes straight. If there's an event, staff should've been properly staffed. Horrible service for only two drinks. I will never patronize this establishment again.

This place had a rough start. Now, on the third manager and a new menu, I give it rave reviews! Salmon and lobster rolls were delicious and the server was awesome.

place is awful. as soon as we walk in, the hostess had major attitude. she needs to fix it. understaffed, and everything looked awful anyways. i left after her attitude. they had no waiters and it was empty. who owns this place? LOL close it.