Penthouse Pool Club

Consistently mismanaged.
I had a few bad experiences here before I filed a complaint with the front desk.
Each time I went… the staff let anyone in, even non Vida members who acted like it was a public pool doing cannon balls splashing into peoples drinks, gave the regular guests attitude, and when you ask the front desk what the policy is on guests they state «it’s always changing» when I went I counted 15 – 20 non Vida/​penthouse members in bands and only a small handful of membership paying folks… I should have never bought a membership and just snuck in with the rest.
When I filed a complaint the front desk no one got back to me on my request to cancel
Nor did anyone return 2^nd follow up .
What a shame. Don’t waste your money.

Beautiful place. But for the monthly price there should be service. There is none. I sat for over an hour and not a single waitress came by to take my order. They literally sat at the bar chatting with each other. Definitely a disappointment and I doubt I will continue my membership.

This place is truly an oasis in DC! Great views, drinks, food and fellow members. Don’t join though, don’t want it to get too crowded… haha

My wife had 8 – 10 passes on her account from the previous year. At the beginning of this summer, she called to verify the number of passes to begin using them that weekend. VIDA told her that there policy changed at some undetermined date and so they removed the passes because they had to be used last year. They had never informed her of that policy change. She has called the manager now 4 times and the calls aren’t returned. So after years of being a VIDA member, spending literally thousands of dollars at the gym, VIDA decides to arbitrarily steal $ 250 worth of passes. Thanks but no thanks.

it is a nice scenery, and i wish it wasn’t so cold the day we went. I like it and the food and drinks, but there were a lot of gay men there. Kinda ruined the scene seeing the good looking men and they weren’t even available. I was told later that this is their spot. If that is true, this isn’t a place i’d really want to frequent as i am into men and not really looking to chill at a pool with gay men. not fun.

Really in love with the pool went for a night time pool party. Beautiful place, they have free open to the public pool parties on Tuesday. Only downside is party gets sold out quick so even if you come down you may not gain entry, and the super high fee to become a member… a bit to exclusive for my test.

I came here today with about eight friends. We had a cabana and I put my credit card down to open the tab. We ordered a bunch of food and drinks. When it came time to pay the bill, they brought a check to sign, but not my credit card. I informed them my card was missing and they said they would go for it. So after an hour of Brie (our waitress that lost it) avoiding us, the manager came by to say that sometimes they drop the cards in the wood deck. He took my info down and said he would call if they find it. Seriously. Now I’ve got to deal with canceling a credit card. Not the best customer service. Drinks started out weak, ended kind of strong. Food was mediocre. Music was too low. My condo doesn’t have a pool so unfortunately I imagine I’ll get dragged back.

It’s nice up on the roof! I have only been because of Twilight Tuesday’s. The first two times I didn’t swim, it was night, but it was still warm. The second time I should have came prepared but I didn’t. So last night my third time I came ready to swim, I knew it was going to be 60 degrees or lower but I knew this was my last chance since it’s Fall. The pool is heated, but damn it was cold outside. They provide towels and plenty of awesome seating. The cabanas are gorgeous. They had two fire pits going last night that I took full advantage of once I got out of the pool.
There are mostly guys looking for guys up there, but everyone is friendly and social. I have heard that the food is amazing.
I will definitely want to be on the list for next spring and summer to be able to visit the pool.

Update: Hello Again!
After talking with the manager my friend and I decided to give VIDA another chance. Since we did not have a pleasant experience the last time. The manager wanted us to go back to hopefully have a different experience!
It started out great! We got Sangria, Champagne and food — was delicious — I got a Salmon Sandwich that was amazing (recommend that!). Our Waitress, Patience, was very informative and fantastic service! The weather was warm, we even got in the pool!
Then we see the General Manager and he remembered us, and we started talking about how it was rude to snatch a drink out of someone’s hand while they are drinking and asked for an apology. He refused and said that it was in the policies and procedures that he could do that. He had the right to do anything to get people out. Remember all we are trying to do is finish the expensive drinks that we ordered and there is still another table full of people (6+) that he has not even gone over to tell them to leave. He refused to apology, and said if we don’t like it we could leave. In fact, he just told us to leave. He picked up our cups, half empty bottle and kicked us out the door still wet from the pool. He escorted us out the door and told us we are not welcomed back, don’t worry we will not be back to this establishment.
According to the manager — he has never gotten a complaint about the GM, so I guess we are special?
OK…

The negative reviews posted on here gave me pause, but especially given the crazy heat in DC, I’m so glad that I joined a happening, local pool club that is well kept, serves food and drinks, and a really nice place for me to hang out with some friends. In my experience, the service has been friendly and prompt, and the music is pretty low key. It gets crowded on hot summer weekends, but understandably so. There really isn’t anywhere else like it within walking distance of Logan/​Dupont/​Adams Morgan/​U Street. And while membership isn’t cheap, I don’t feel like I am paying for something that I am not receiving — however, the cost of the food/​drinks can add up. (Frankly, if it were «cheap,» it probably would not be someplace I’d want to go.) Yes, it is quite a scene, but I think that’s part of its appeal. And yes, you may not have three pool chairs lined up in a row as soon as you get there, but people come and go, so you will shortly. The only things that I would flag for prospective members are: (1) there seems to be a lack of coordination between Vida and the pool club, so it’s unclear who handles what; and (2) because the pool is surrounded by decking and artificial turf, both of which get extremely hot in the sun, walking barefoot is uncomfortable. If you can handle that, you — like me – will be happy you joined.

Went for «Twilight Tuesdays» and the service SUCKED! First drink took about 8 minutes, went and hung out with my friends. Went back for our second round and it took 15 minutes. What is so frustrating about the situation was it wasn’t THAT busy. There were maybe 20 people waiting for cocktails around the bar and the bar tenders could not handle it. The bartender on my side of the bar was not managing people as they came to the bar, but where they were in the bar. A couple times he had to look up drink recipes. When he was close to me and I thought I was going to order my drink, he turns and goes around the bar to people who just arrived.
Understand they may have been short staffed, but really? It is one of your busier nites and you are not offering drink specials.. .everything is rack rate. GET SOME DECENT SERVICE IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE PREMIUM PRICES.. ..

Staff members are letting their obnoxious friends in for free here. If you don’t have the connection, you’re paying and will get half assed service. Last summer (2012) I witnessed the bar manager actually nearly get into a fight with someone! He was barely stopped by a gym employee who was swimming in her off hours. He still works there (has circular dark rimmed glasses).
I frequent the gym and the pool is full of freebee non members. I live two blocks from Vida and go frequently, I can tell who’s who. I am paying plenty to go here though. The staff members also frequent the pool in their off hours. Being that the lounge chairs are so contentious and I don’t always get one, this really makes me mad.
I love the actual place but the business concept is constantly evolving. Is it a neighborhood pool where anyone is welcome? Is it exclusive to people who can afford to pay for the membership? Is it a night club/​bar that doesn’t charge admission? Is it a place to host big corporate or other events?
Personally I may be canceling my pool membership. You can be a Vida gym member (not paying for the pool) and come for drinks in the evenings free. The weekends are more of a typical U Street nightclub crowd, including employees and their friends, not a place just for members.
I should add that I will not eat here if I am too hungry because I don’t expect the food to come anytime soon.
Personally I would gladly pay a generous amount to have an exclusive relaxing place without the freebee kids that don’t have memberships and have bartender friends. It has grown to be more of a U Street nightclub with a pool. They are chasing the money of the alcohol and club music apparently and struggling with the exclusivity part, but still hanging onto it for dear life to keep those membership dues coming in. I would like to see a new manager and clean the place up with all new staff. I will gladly upgrade my star rating after that.

The rooftop pool is beautiful, but don’t join the club if you expect to relax by it. They play loud, awful club music all day long, seven days a week. They should at least give it a rest on weekdays, when it’s relatively empty and people are trying to relax.
The pool is completely mobbed on the weekends, and you need to show up early to get a chair or spot. The guest policy is constantly changing, but perhaps the new limit of one guest per member on weekends will help. In the past, it has seemed like some people were bringing 8 or 10 guests, crowding out dues-​paying members.
For me, one of the nicest parts of membership last year was access to the roof bar in the evenings. They recently limited this benefit, by shutting down at 7pm four nights a week to host private parties. In general, the management has been pretty incompetent. The good news is its constantly changing, so fingers crossed for the new team.

I absolutely love Penthouse Pool Club!
I went on Memorial Day weekend with a few friends. I was able to get into the pool for free because a friend of mine is a member. I love the décor and color scheme of this pool. Usually, I am not a huge fan of pool parties; they can become hectic and sometimes pools are dirty and it just freaks me out. The Penthouse Pool Club is extremely clean and the staff is super friendly.
I enjoyed the noise level; I didn’t feel like I had to scream while talking with friends. The music was «club» music, which really adds to the venue. I also ordered a drink and some wine. My drink was really strong! It was something with tequila.
I did not actually get in the pool; it was actually kind of cold this Memorial Day, so I just relaxed by the pool.
I’ve read other reviews where it says it costs $ 20-​$ 25 to get into the pool if you are not a member. After my great experience, I wouldn’t mind paying an entry fee the next time I go. If I lived near U Street, I would actually pay for a membership.
The Penthouse Pool Club is also gay friendly.

posh members-​only rooftop pool
highly recommend the portobello burger and tuna tartare
decent wine selection

Part of the Vida gym, which puts even the nicest Equinox gyms to shame

I joined about 3 months ago — it was a rocky run in the begining. Everyone quoted different prices for everything and i was lost.
Seems they have gotten it a bit more together now and are extending hours which is nice. The food service is still a bit spotty in terms of time — they don’t do crowds that well yet. The food is good though! The drinks are great too! They are learning to cater to a member environment, having staff walk around and hand out water and on occasion free ice cream (it’s the little things!).
The only thing that seems to be weird is that I pay a lot of money to be a memeber and everytime i go there seems to be more and more people that aren’t members and just «walked in». I’m not going to lie — Im a little more than bothered by this, only because Im bitter that I pay a good chunk monthly and other people just walk in off the street… it makes me wish i didn’t get a membership and was just smart enough to talk in like everyone else seems to be!
They need to be more strict about not coming in unless you are a member or with a member so that their members don’t feel taken advantage of.
It would be nice if they gave members two free guest passes every month so you could enjoy a day at the pool with your close friend as a perk.
The pool is gorgeous — they used to have some bad staff that didn’t know what was going on (see old reviews that knock it with one star) but they seem to have a good team in place now with Lou, Jose and Oscar and the others and are doing really well!
I love going — i go as much as i can :) they really make you feel welcome and invited!

Vida pool club feels like a super exclusive pool party that you have been lucky enough to get an invite to. It is a little slice of LA or Miami in DC. Yesterday the pool was packed with beautiful DC people sunning themselves and drinking cocktails. Waitresses brought around frozen fruit as people sat in the pool or in loungers socializing. Definitely a scene for now, but will be interesting to see how it develops and if it becomes more laid back or more VIP– oriented.
First let me tell you what Vida Penthouse is not:
— a place to bring kids (you must be over 21)
— a place to swim laps
— a place that you casually go to after your work out to have a dip.
— a traditional gym pool
It is:
–a place to see and be seen by others (dressed to impress)
— mostly a cocktail bar that happens to have a pool
— filled with very friendly people, both staff and other members who will chat with you
The primary clientele is the DC gay male community. This is not to say others are not welcome, but ladies, you are unlikely to meet your boyfriend here.
The only reason I am giving them 4 stars is because this is their first summer and I think they still have to work out some kinks in their operation.
If you want to get in and you aren’t a member, members can get you in after 5pm on weekdays and after 7pm on weekends. Otherwise it costs $ 25.

I stumbled across this place while hanging out at the rooftop of Local 16. I glanced to my left and noticed some rooftop cabanas a few buildings down. I was intrigued, so my friends and I closed out our Local 16 tab and started the hunt for this mysterious roof top oasis.
We matched it up with Vida Fitness. I was like, no way. But the elevator inside opened, and a bunch of people walked out, so we walked in. A few seconds later, we’re on the roof top of Vida Fitness… aka the Penthouse Pool Club!
This is an AMAZING set up! There’s a rooftop pool, cabanas to relax in, a bar, and food service. There are outdoor fire pits for those not so warm nights. My only suggestion is to keep your drink away from the fire cause your cup WILL melt!
Anyway, I LOVED the ambiance and the crowd was amazing. Granted the place leans more to the male community, that just means that there will be no lines for the women’s bathroom. =D

So I have a bitter taste with this pool club. Every time I have attempt to hang out there, they are closed or closing early. I went to their grand opening tonight and it was ok, not really their fault since they can’t control the rain. I was quote different prices to use the cabana from $ 50 to $ 250 which didn’t make any sense. They can’t really service liquid yet and there is no food service but I am still paying full price to not really get what was promise. Not really friendly staff maybe because they don’t know what they are suppose to do. I really hope they get it together because right now it’s not.