francisco is THE BEST waiter to ever exist!!!! literally made our night so much better

I remember coming to Casta's Rum Bar back in the day when it was more of a nightlife spot, but recently I've been going for their happy hour - and honestly, it's become one of my favorites. Their mojito is exactly how it should be: super refreshing, light, and not overly sweet. I also tried the frozen piña colada, and it genuinely transports you with every sip. So good. Food-wise, you really can't go wrong. The yuca & tostones basket is a must every time - perfectly crispy with a slight tang from the sauce that keeps you going back for more. I've had both the chicken and beef empanadas, and adding a little of the sauces they serve with them just brings everything together. I was a little hesitant about the maduros envueltos en tocino (plantains wrapped in bacon), but they completely surprised me - in the best way. Sweet, savory, and honestly addictive. And the Cuban sandwich? Top notch. You can tell they've really nailed the bread, which makes all the difference. Everything also comes with a side of greens in a light vinaigrette, which balances things out so you don't leave feeling too heavy. The vibe is lowkey with dim lighting and always great music playing - perfect for a date night or just catching up with friends. The servers are always very attentive and polite, which makes the experience even better. They also have a separate smoke room where you can wind down with a Cuban cigar, and the prices are pretty reasonable. Definitely a spot I keep coming back to. read more

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Food was decent but there are some misses that I wouldn't get again. The service was really good, we sat at the bar and even though they were on their phones a lot they made sure to be aware of what was happening around the bar. I would give this place a solid 3.5 stars. I honestly didn't realize this was more of a club vibe until I was asked for my ID at the door and heard how loud the music was, but at that point there was no turning back, I wanted to try the food. As more people came in the music got louder and louder and I remember how much I liked this vibe when I was younger and it was funny how much I wasn't a fan of it now. The drinks were good I got the white flag which tasted like tamarind with a smooth after taste from the vanilla. For the food. We ended up only really looking the empanadas and the guac, I would pass on the octopus the flavor tasted pretty off. I eat a lot of octopus and it tasted like it wasn't stored properly. If you are looking for a place with a lot of energy and a slightly younger working professional crowd, it's a nice spot. I think some people were secretly smoking inside though and it ended up triggering my asthma so be aware of that if you have asthma. read more

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Food was phenomenal, service was friendly and attentive and this place was poppin! Definitely a place for the younger crowd to hang and enjoy rum based drinks, Casta will not disappoint. Music and the low ceilings/latin decor definitely set the mood. Can be a bit loud at times especially when packed but it is worth it for the delicious Cuban food and other bites from Mexico, Peru and other Latin American cuisines read more

This place is odd to begin because you enter and then wind around, and then you come to a bar and you're told it's closed so continue on. But this is a well priced option for happy hour. I had a Havana Vice (I've seen it called Miami Vice normally) which was awesome. Seems like a cool place that I would want to spend more time in. read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Havana Vice - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This restaurant is deceivingly large. During brunch hours it appears the patio is the only part that's open. My friend had the mixed rice. I had a taste and it was really good. It was also a decent portion. My Cuban brunch was just OK. The rice was really good but the chorizo was a bit tough. Our waiter was very helpful and attentive. read more

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David was a great bartender! He made sure we knew what dishes were favorites and same with the drinks. I loved both the drinks I tried (pics below). We enjoyed a few apps here, I did the beef empanadas and my boyfriend indulged in the pork belly bites. Both were superb and very seasoned, enhancing our drink experiences for sure! Looking forward to returning here soon! read more

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I love this spot man!!! From the lil maze to actually get inside to first see a complete dining area to realize you haven't even made it to the final spot.. Then poof you're in the patio area which is warm and cozy.. a good amount seat by the bar but all a lot of others in the patio area. I had every drink on the preferred drink menu. David made each drink to my liking and with a flare Cuban to it.. Mind you this is a rum bar so they do flights of all types of rums around the world. They have over 200 rum selections. I waited till 4 to indulge in the pork bites... when I tell you that put me in such a great mooood! I love this place wish I was up there block from them.. definitely will be returning soon. read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here for salsa night on Wednesdays. Love the vibe, the instructor is so personable and fun! Learned a whole salsa routine in about an hour. Tried the food also, solid selection and the bartenders were great, strong drinks! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I always come back for happy hour which is from 5-7pm. I always order all the food options and get the pitchers which I share with friends, but the atmosphere is so welcoming, and the music is great. A lot of people get up and dance around all night. There are 2 bars located in the entrance and one walking further in. It's half patio and half inside, but I love both sides. I wish I took pictures of the food but happy hour always wins haha However, parking sucks so bad, it's the only downside read more

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While staying at the Ritz (across the street) and hanging out in the area for a Saturday night, bar hoping and dining, we came here on the way back to the hotel. We sat in their section of tables that's in an "indoor" courtyard area and the service from the lady helping us was great, so was the service we received when trying to find a table. Even though they were very busy and packed, we were able to find a table. I was not only seeking a drink, but also a late night snack. Their menu is loaded with plenty of options, including stuff to snack on, so I chose a couple beef empanadas and an order of yuca frita. The empanadas were great! Piping hot, fresh, and loaded with flavor! The yuca was reheated from being previously fried. It looked and tasted like it was reheated in an airfryer and burnt slightly on the edges, thus it came out too hard in spots with a slight burnt taste - Definitely not what I like about fried yuca. The venue is fun... loaded with rum too! Many types of rum, for those seeking shots of specific rum. Plenty of seating throughout, but they were quite busy and most of the kids (yes, I said "kids") in there looked like they were under 21... Many acted like it too. I'm too old to be hanging out in places like that. But the food was nice and so was the service. read more

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Came here last month during my week long visit in DC. It was my first time had Cuban food and I absolutely loved it! Owner was super friendly and came over to our table recommending dishes, every single one was spot on! The Beef Empanada was exceptional! This is a popular hang out place for GW students. But we came at 6pm so it was relatively quiet. We will definitely come back next time we visit DC. read more

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Came by Casta's Rum Bar to celebrate a friend and colleague's birthday and for a little happy hour fun. Casta's feels like a hidden gem - The food and drinks are really good, making it a great spot for after work happy hours or just catching up with friends. Casta has what feels like a underground entrance that leads you down a hallway into a little Casta's oasis. Even though you're technically underground, there's ton of light and a nice "outdoor" vibe in the patio area. There's also a full dining room with a full bar, plenty of tables and a overall great atmosphere that my party really enjoyed. The service was great. We had a large group, and the staff went out of their way to make space for everyone, even adding tables and chairs as more folks arrived. Our server was really friendly, welcoming and made sure our drinks and food came out in a timely fashion. The food and drinks were really good. I tried both the chicken and beef empanadas and loved them both. The cuban sandwich was tasty as well! I will definitely come back to try items on their dinner menu. Overall Casta's is great for drinks and food with friends. I really enjoyed my time here and will definitely be back. read more

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The service was outstanding. The servers were nice and courteous. We sat in the closed patio section which was very esthetic. They have a pretty good music selection as well. I got the two gluten free options: the shrimp and the plantain chips with black bean hummus and salsa. (Please excuse the horrid picture of the chips but I wanted to show the set up). The shrimp was great. I didn't sample the bread just to be on the safe side. The salsa was the standout on the plantain chips platter. The black bean hummus was satisfactory but it left a bit to be desired. All in all, it's a good place to grab drinks and appetizers. As far as gluten free options, there were no entrees labeled on the menu so be prepared. The group got empanadas and raved about the beef ones. Members of the group got the cuban grilled cheese and the classic cuban but noted that the yellow mustard was a lot. read more

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Definitely walked right past the entrance... Sat at the bar with my buddy and we enjoyed ourselves. There was a latin dancing lesson going on and the music was very loud but we enjoyed watching. We loved the cocktails and the prices! $15 or less in this city is fantastic. The rum punch was my favorite. Chicken quesadilla was devoured quickly. Ropa vieja sandwich was solid, but I wanted a little more flavor the the meat. The tostones flight is a cool idea. They are shaped into cups and filled with different meat or guacamole. The chicken was my favorite. I enjoyed the dipping sauce as well. Our bartender was very friendly and made our drinks quick and very well. Suggestions: More hot sauce options, Tabasco is far too basic for Cuban fare. The tostones could be a little softer IMO. read more

Casta's is a fantastic spot to start the night at with tasty drinks and bites! The ambiance was adorable. This bar is tucked away in West End - quite fun to discover! I started off with the El Presidente and split the Beef Empanadas. These were a delicious pairing with the spicy beef and slightly sweet, limey rum cocktail. My only complaint was that there were only two empanadas - there was no indication of this on the menu. The service was speedy and very accommodating. Will definitely be back to try more drinks with a bigger group! read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Beef Empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such a cool and fun spot! Free salsa dancing on Wednesday's from 7-9pm (starts around 7:20pm). It gets very crowded, but still a great time! Make sure to take advantage of the happy hour from 5-7pm. read more

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Checked Casta's out with it being a bit hidden and giving off speakeasy vibes. They have several areas of the bar each offering a distinct atmosphere. There is a big bar and space when you walk in giving off more of a club vibe with people dancing. Through the double doors on the right there is another bar that is quieter and more of a lounge. There is a back "outdoor" area that is covered and where you can smoke or order cigars. Service was slow and the staff seemed a bit stressed. Prices were reasonable and I was actually surprised with how inexpensive the cocktails were. Due to the limited cigar bars in the city, this could be a less smoke filled alternative to Shelly's Backroom. read more

Great place to go for HH with a large group. They have a variety of pitcher flavors to choose from and HH goes to 7pm. Probably best to make a reservation! We had multiple servers check on us during our time, but James was super attentive and helpful. The food is OK - plantains and guac were my fave! It gets a little warm on the patio FYI - the fans help a little bit. Overall, Casta's is a great place to go for HH and not too far from the metro. read more

The food was good, though the service was a bit slow. We sat in the basement section, which was very dark, and the seating wasn't comfortable. We went during happy hour--right before the lower level transitioned into a club--so I wouldn't recommend it for dinner. I've attached my video below. read more

This spot has a very speakeasy feel to it , you have to enter through the basement to get there from the street. I ordered the short rib empanadas & they were really delicious, well seasoned, cooked perfectly. I just came in for a drink and quick appetizer but I'd like to try this place again for dinner soon read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Menu - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved the vibe of this place. We sat on the covered patio and it was so cute for a brunch. The menu is a bit small for my preference which was the biggest downside for me. Also not that they add 20% gratuity & 3% service charge to your bill no matter what. The service was quick, nice, and accommodating. I ordered the Steak & Eggs and it was delicious. I got the steak medium and it was cooked more like medium well as were the eggs, but it was very flavorful. I've heard a lot about this place being good for dinner, happy hour and drinks, so I would definitely come back to try these out. read more

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This place was outstanding! I recommend the bacon wrapped plantains! They were amazing. I came in a group of 3 for dinner excited to check this place out. It was pretty busy which I thought was a good sign the food was good. The all of the food was great and my only complaint was that the meat was dry. This could have been a fluke so I'll def be back for another go. read more

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We went here for brunch on a Sunday. I didn't care for the location. It's in the basement and closed off like a maze. While the service was good, the food was very bland. Just an FYI, if you are not a drinker and someone at your table wants to purchase the bottomless mimosa, everyone at the table has to purchase the option. Let's get to the food. I ordered the steak and eggs. Ordered the steak medium, but it lacked seasoning and flavor. The eggs were hard, and the potatoes were soaked in oil and hard to eat. However, I did enjoy the beef empanadas and the chirros I'm not sure if I would go back for brunch it seems like a good place to go clubbing. read more

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This place is awesome. I love Cuban food and rum, so when I saw this place pop up on my phone I had to check it out. We grabbed a couple seats at the rear bar and ordered some drinks and food. I had the El Nacional, which was excellent. The frozen strawberry daiquiri was also very good. The food here was solid. The veggie empanadas were excellent and the Casta's ceviche was delicious. Definitely popping in here the next time I'm in DC. read more

Before I begin, I'm no stranger to this restaurant and have been visiting since they first opened their doors. From that first day until last night, the food and drinks have remained consistent, very few misses, but yes! it is one of the best Cuban restaurants in town! Service: the staff is fun and friendly and that makes for any great dining experience. Ambiance: I would recommend this place for a good time, live music, decor replica of a nice bar in the heart of Cuba and a good ol time. Seriously, you step into this place and you're immediately transported to an authentic island experience. I love it! Good for dates? Yes! But the music is very loud so take this opportunity to have a fun date and move those hips. Good for groups? Absolutely! Bring your friends or coworkers and go have a good time. Kid friendly? It is loud and lively so kids might be a little more sensitive to the noise. Experience: now let's dive into the drinks and food. Drinks: Fuego Dorado (Patrón Silver, Plantation Pineapple, Velvet Falernum, Pineapple, Jalepeno, Lime, JM Bitters Piment) This drink is normally $13 but serves for $10 at their HH (ends at 7pm) THIS DRINK WINS!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, it's strong and would probably take you down after a few rounds. In the past, I've had their mojito, daiquiri, and pina colada- all of which were amazing! But this Fuego Dorado was a true winner! Food: Because I have been here before, I love their empanadas, classic Cuban sandwich, and yucca basket. Last night, I decided on the classic Cuban and it did not fail me. This sandwich was EVERYTHING! Dare I even say that it's one of the best Cuban sandwiches in town. The bread was buttery soft and perfectly pressed. The meats inside the bread were seasoned to perfection and absolutely juicy! The hint of mustard, cheese, and pickle added a tangy/sweet flavor to the smoky flavor of the meats and that completely took the sandwich over the top. I love this place! It's been a staple from my years in graduate school until now. Definitely gets crowded on some nights but I would ultimately say that it's worth the visit. read more

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Loved the ambiance and vibes of this place. Attentive server and very kind. But warning on food Immediate bubble guts and pain in my stomach after leaving lol I have a strong feeling it was the ceviche.... Maybe stick to cooked food here. read more

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Drinks: I got the Casta's rum drink and it was so good and pretty strong - 2 glasses was plenty Good: their empanadas were good and yuca and tostones basket was delicious! The pork belly bites were average, the pork belly wasn't that tender so chewing was kind of an ordeal The only other thing was we were 3 people and we ordered a spread to share amongst the three of us plus drinks and they had us shoved into a really small table and wouldn't let us move to a bigger one. Other than that, food was good, music and energy was lively, just inconvenient seating read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Beef Empanadas Pork belly bites Chicken quesadilla - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The mojito was fantastic, so smooth. The highlight of the meal, though, was the Camarones Al Ajillo. The sauce was incredible, perfect for dipping the yuca fritas once the shrimp were gone. read more

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Vibrant but cozy! Great Cuban bar with authentic dishes and fun summer cocktails. Walking downstairs you're transported into a vibey cigar bar and lounge. Then you can walk outside to a bright enclosed back space with lots of plants and various seating style. This is a great spot for groups after work or to meet with friends on the weekends. They also have salsa dancing which would offer a great date night. I've had better Cuban food and the service was a little slow so that's the only reason for the loss of one star but it was an otherwise great experience! read more

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Incredible spot in D.C! Fantastic music, ambiance, and the food is to DIE for! Special thank you to our waiter Francisco, who was able to highlight the best food and cocktails on the menu. We even tried cigars for the first time, which were delicious! Could not recommend more. read more

Great ambiance to meet friends and get the night started. Classy and fun. I encourage to take an uber/Lyft. read more

I went to Castas for happy hour and had a great time. They have a good happy hour deal with signature cocktails for $10 and food is all reasonable. I loved the rum cocktail and the fried yucca. It was a fun environment to have happy hour with a friend. I would definitely come back. read more

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Fun spot for a late-night drink, but I wouldn't recommend it for dinner. The food is overpriced and mediocre, and the restaurant is dark and always reeks of cigar smoke. read more

This location is hidden and located near a hotel. It looks secretive as you walk in. The restaurant looks like it has a lot of history. The service was good. We made reservations, so as soon as we arrived we were seated. We picked this location based off something we saw on TikTok. The food was ok. This was my first time here and I was trying a new experience. It is not my cup of tea, but willing to try something off the dinner menu. Parking...it's D.C. so you can try to find something on the street or you can park in the many garages near by. read more

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Franscinco was amazing!!!! He deserves a raise!!! The vibe is amazing!!! Food was good!

Great small hidden salsa bar! I loved the plantains and the rice was yummy. The chicken was okay could have been better. The drinks were okay. They have salsa classes on Wednesday night which was fun! read more

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A nice spot for happy hour if you like the option of having a quick bite and a cigar afterwards. The HH options are decent although the empanadas are a bit bland. The staff are super friendly and the atmosphere overall is great for young professionals. It gets very busy, which slows down the wait staff (normal) so have some patience. This is a place that's hidden if you don't know about it. But there's definitely a large contingent that "know!" The guacamole, plantain chips and RUM are the standouts. We had both the chicken and beef empanadas, the bacon wrapped plantains, and guac. The "sweet tooth" rum flight was a perfect after dinner complement with my cigar for dessert. read more

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I was looking forward to trying Casta's since I was staying overnight in the Tapestry hotel, which is in the same building. Pretty nice to take the elevator down and end up right next to the host stand. There are two sections: the darker, indoors part, which feels a little like a cave. It has an L shaped bar and some painted murals of Cuba adorning the walls. Up the ramp is a covered outdoors section with an additional bar and this is where everyone was congregating towards with the 70 degree weather. We walked in at 5 pm, right at the start of happy hour, and ordered a pitcher of mojitos. It cost $40 during happy hour as opposed to the usual $55. While there was plenty of fresh mint in the huge pitcher, I guess it may not have been muddled, because the first sips tasted like Sprite. I had to grab a few extra lime wedges and we started spooning the mint from the bottom of the pitcher into our glasses and that did help. So it wasn't great that we had to do some work to improve the taste of our mojitos. For food, we split the fried pork chunks with caramelized onions, plantain chips, and mojo sauce as well as the shrimp in garlic sauce with guindilla peppers and a fried tostones cake. The pork was very good, a nice sized portion, and I really enjoyed the garlic mojo sauce. Crispy plantains with a hint of salt. The shrimp were the star though. Great garlic flavor and the shrimp were super tender, not rubbery at all. I didn't have much use for the tostones. Oh, and take note. The later it gets, the louder it gets, so plan the time that you arrive accordingly! read more

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Love this place for brunch! Also a super chill spot at night! Drinks and food were great! Good music and vibes, outdoor area is cute too read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Bloody Mary Mimosa Cocktail shots - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia