Solaire Rooftop Review: A Skyline Worth Seeing… But Maybe Not Paying For

Richmond has a growing rooftop‑dining scene, and Solaire Rooftop, which is perched on the 20th floor downtown, is one of the few spots offering a true panoramic sweep of the city. The view is undeniably gorgeous. The experience, however... doesn’t live up to the setting.

The PROS

• Gorgeous view 

The skyline is the star of the show. Sunset over the James River, the Capitol glowing below, the city stretching out in every direction... Visually, it’s everything a rooftop should be. Unfortunately, this is where the positives end.

The CONS

• 18% “scenic view” fee  

Solaire adds an automatic 18% surcharge simply for being on the rooftop. It’s not subtle, and it’s not optional. You’re paying extra for the view whether you want to or not. It's a tacked-on 18% fee that has been artificially created to rake in more cash from their guests.

• Modern "QR" ordering - pay first with no service
  
  Solaire replaces traditional service with a QR‑code ordering system that’s presented as “modern,” but in practice feels more like a way to sidestep the basics of hospitality. You scan the code, choose your meal, and pay before anything arrives, a setup that leaves you committed regardless of how the food turns out. The process even includes a tip prompt prior to payment, an odd ask considering you haven't received the food yet and no one is actually providing table service. Once the order is placed, staff simply bring the food and move on; there are no check‑ins, no follow‑ups, and no sense of being looked after. It’s a system that prioritizes efficiency over experience, and it shows- especially when paired with the already‑inflated 18% “scenic view” fee, making the tip prompt feel less like gratitude and more like another attempt to squeeze the guest. 

• Expensive, mediocre food  

A $20 burger would be fine if it tasted like a $20 burger. Instead, it lands squarely in hotel bar territory: edible, but forgettable. The fries were serviceable, but the burger itself was bland, slightly dry, and entirely unremarkable. It’s the kind of dish you finish out of hunger, not enjoyment. 

• Long wait times

The evening starts with a delay. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, it took several minutes before any staff member acknowledged us. That slow response set the tone for the rest of the visit: once seated, drinks took 10–15 minutes to arrive, and the food followed the same lethargic pattern, another 30 minutes. The pacing is consistently sluggish, out of sync with the level of business and entirely at odds with the restaurant’s polished branding. 

• Sub-par service

The service issues deepen once interaction actually begins. After finally being acknowledged, we were told a table needed to be cleaned before we could be seated- a puzzling claim given the number of open tables, including several along the edge with unobstructed views. Staff insisted those tables were reserved for parties of three or more, yet groups of two, and even solo diners, were already seated there. Guests later moved to those same tables freely, making the restriction feel arbitrary rather than policy‑driven. Throughout the meal, staff repeatedly promised to check on something, whether it be seating, drinks, an item, a follow‑up- and then simply didn’t. When they did return, it was after noticeable delays. The prevailing tone wasn’t overtly rude, just unmistakably disengaged, as though hospitality was secondary to going through the motions.

• Dress code not enforced  

The website advertises a dress code that suggests a polished, upscale environment. In reality, guests were walking around in hoodies, T‑shirts, and casual streetwear. The disconnect makes the dress code feel less like a genuine standard and more like an attempt to artificially inflate the restaurant’s sense of sophistication.

• Ambiance vs practicality 

A live trumpet player added atmosphere, but at a cost. The performance was competent, even pleasant in theory, yet the volume made it difficult to hear the person across the table. It contributes to the ambiance the restaurant is clearly aiming for, but it undermines the basic practicality and enjoyment of actually dining there.

Final Verdict -  1/5
★☆☆☆☆

Solaire has the view, but not the fundamentals. Between the manufactured surcharge, the 'modernized' QR-code ordering system, the forgettable food, the sluggish pacing, the indifferent service, the unenforced dress code, and an ambiance that prioritizes spectacle over comfort, the experience never rises to meet the setting. It’s a rooftop with potential, but not a restaurant that earns the price, nor the patience, it demands.