The Perch in Tysons

THE PERCH IS THE PLACE TO GO

New venue offers food, views and fun activities

Sabrina Boughanem Features & Copy Editor

The ambience at The Perch is a refreshing alternative to the usual Cava or Starbucks trip, offering food, a great view and a variety of activities for students looking for something fun to do.

The Perch, a relatively new venue which opened in mid-September of 2021, is located at the top of the Capital One building in The Boro. Its many activities and places to eat make it the perfect spot to spend Saturday afternoon with friends and family.

Though some aspects of The Perch are for more mature audiences, like their Starr Hill Biergarten, this spacious new area is enjoyable for all ages.

“I have two kids, so the space to run around is great,” first-time visitor Matt Butler said.

Along with being kid-friendly, The Perch features a dog park. Though the park is relatively small, its scenic view of the city is nice for pet owners to enjoy while their dogs play. The park is rather secluded from the rest of The Perch and offers a more peaceful environment for guests and their pets.

The Perch has games and physical activities, including several bocce ball courts and two giant chess boards for friendly games between guests. Along with these games, The Perch hosts OrangeTheory Fitness classes in the afternoons on the Grand Lawn for any and all patrons.

One of the more popular all-ages activities is The Perch Putt mini golf course, an entertaining activity located near the edge of the Capital One building’s roof.

“The golf was really fun,” said Destiney Komeh, a first-timer at The Perch.

Guests aren’t the only ones who enjoy the mini golf course. Jasmin Salgado, who has been working at The Perch Putt for four months, had nothing but positive things to say about it.

“[The best part] is the view,” Salgado said.

The placement of the course provides the players with a scenic view overlooking Tysons, which is a beautiful place to watch the sunset in the evening.

Food options for The Perch consist of two food trucks: Grandpa Hank’s Jamaican Chicken and Los Dos Carlos Street Tacos.

“The tacos [from Los Dos Carlos] don’t have much taste at all,” Komeh said.

Starr Hill Biergarten is an alternative, offering sit-down service at The Perch, but junior Kyra Macomber wasn’t impressed with the restaurant’s selections.

“[The food] was mediocre,” junior Kyra Macomber said. “It wasn’t awful, but...it didn’t really satisfy me.”

Food Truck Fun — The food trucks at the Perch are accompanied by a quaint seating area for guests overlooking the city. The several food trucks provide guests with a fast and easy meal option.

Although Macomber found the food to be overpriced, she acknowledged that’s not the main reason people eat at The Perch.

“You go for the experience,” Macomber said.

Along with The Perch’s beer garden, there is a stage and big screen that can be used to host concerts and watch sports games while fans sit on The Perch’s spacious lawn.

The Perch provides a venue for local artists at their amphitheater, with shows from artists such as the Big City Band and special events like drag bingo. Live performances are hosted Wednesday through Sunday every week.

Since its inception, The Perch has established itself as a premier destination for evening drinks and golfing. Whether or not this location will sustain its popularity as the weather gets colder remains a mystery, but the altitude foreshadows a frigid winter.

“It was a little bit cold,” Macomber said.

Macomber noted that the chilly weather was unexpected during summer months.

“I don’t think [The Perch] is going to be that popular [as the weather gets colder], especially because it’s an outdoor place and it’s already up on the rooftop of a very high building,” Macomber said. not so Mini golf — The Perch Putt mini golf course provides guests with a fun activitiy for spending time with others. The course is spacious and provides a lovely view of the city.

However, The Perch does have plans to maintain its popularity throughout the colder months. The website advertises seasonal events like holiday season fire pits, warm apple cider and blankets to invite guests despite the cold. These fun scheduled events will make The Perch a good place throughout the year, not just during the warmer months.

Big games on the big screen — The Perch’s stage with lots of lawn space for guests doubles as a big screen for sports games. This stage also hosts local and touring artists throughout the week.