Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge

If I could give zero stars for service I would. It was 8 p.m. on the dot when we walked in...the bar doesn't close until 10 p.m. There were two of us, only one of us got our drink. The employees made it very clear they were ready to go home. While sitting there, 7 more people sat at the bar and ordered drinks, PLUS several people had walked to the pool. One girl was standing there with a handful of money and had clocked out so she wouldn't wait on anyone and just kept saying she was waiting on her manager to come sign her off. The guy behind the bar continued to ignore us for 40 minutes. He put on gloves and was cleaning bar mats off the floor and preparing to shut down with a bar full of people sitting there. By that time, we didn't even feel like it was sanitary enough to even try and order another round of drinks. The whole experience was very disappointing, beyond disappointing actually. After not getting any type of service whatsoever it took forever for us to get his attention for the bill. For an establishment that claims to be so upscale, we would have gotten better service at a dive bar. Please read my other reviews as I leave positive reviews and don't just point out bad

Absolutely stunning view! Heated Pool! The menu is reasonably priced and the portion sizes are fair. The only issue is that the food is prepared elsewhere and the staff brings it up to the pool area. I waited 20-30 minutes for cold fries and slightly cool burgers. Our food arrived with three additional parties orders so it’s a bulk order/bulk delivery service :/ very disappointed since I ordered at least 15 minutes prior to another party, however, our food was served at the same time. Went there once and did not return. Ara Rooftop has the potential to be the best food experience in Hotel Effie if they can either get a kitchen area upstairs or better manage how to get food quickly to guest.

We didn’t have any food here. We just stopped by for an after dinner drink. The aesthetics and the atmosphere were really great and the drinks were very good. However, three bartenders looked right through us for about 20 minutes and waited on other people that walked in after us. The service was severely lacking. Maybe they just wait on regulars. I have no idea. We have not decided if we will ever go back or not.

I attended the Halloween party, drawn in by the promise of a costume contest. While the hostess was fantastic and the bartenders were great, the contest itself was a major disappointment. It felt completely rigged, with the winners being employees. The first-place winner even arrived right when the contest started at 9:30! Paying a premium price for what turned out to be a blatant display of nepotism was incredibly frustrating.

Atiya Blackwell here, I’m a lover of finding the best spots in town. Over the weekend, I went to the Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge located in Hotel Effie in the beautiful town of Miramar Beach, FL. As someone who loves a good rooftop scene, I'm always looking for the ultimate spot. Let me tell you, Ara is great! The setting is tranquil and stunning - the perfect place to have a cocktail with friends and take in the gorgeous surroundings of the North Channel out in the distance. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, always making sure your drinks are full and your experience enjoyable. Plus, the drinks here are delicious! My favorite so far is the Grapefruit Spritz. The vibe at Ara Rooftop is super chilled out, but I’ve noticed they always like to mix it up and with live music, it can turn into quite a party if you're up for it! Whether you're looking for a relaxing night or an upbeat atmosphere, Ara has it all! From signature drinks to amazing views, great music, and friendly staff, it's an all-around great experience whether you're a local or just visiting. I give it five stars!