My friend Emma was in town this weekend, and like me, she loves to explore and try new restaurants, soI I used her visit as an excuse to check off El Techo Rooftop from my DC bucket list. Located just above Rito Loco in Shaw, El Techo is my kind of spot—it has great decor and great Mexican food. Two of my favorite things in a restaurant!

The 1100 square foot rooftop is stunning—the bar has a beautiful tile pattern flanked by colorful barstools and there are tropical plants throughout the space. But what’s really breathtaking are all the flowers they have hanging from the ceiling! To top it off, they have colored lights that shine on the flowers to add depth. It’s truly an Instagrammers paradise.

The rooftop is completely covered, but by a tent, not by a permanent structure. To keep things comfortable in the winter, they have plenty of space heaters throughout the rooftop. Since it’s not central heat though, I’d recommend dressing in layers or bringing a light jacket in case if it’s a colder day. We were right next to the edge of the tent, and while it was warm, I was glad I had my jacket to drape over my shoulders.

We went in for brunch, but El Techo is also open for happy hour/dinner on weekdays.

Though they offer bottomless brunch, Emma and I opted for single mimosas and started with some queso and chips. For our main meal, Emma opted for the breakfast burrito—it looked delicious!—and I ordered nachos with pulled chicken. Though the food wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, I’d definitely go back for brunch or happy hour since the atmosphere is just so fun.