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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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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Ambiance was great immediately with the speak easy hidden entrance. Food was fantastic. We had a sampler plater and got to try a number of different Cuban specials. Our waiter Oscar was amazing, even bringing a special meal not on the menu for our toddler. 5 stars. 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 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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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

Highs and lows, this bar could great but misses a few marks: This is the second best "quirky rum bar" I've ever been to. The first is a pirate-themed place in Toulouse France so the standard was set pretty high. The space is perfect: gives you the feeling of a speakeasy, with a low-ceiling saloon at the end of an indoor alley, which leads back out to a covered outdoor porch and second bar tucked away in the back corner. The Cuban food was quite good! IDK anything about authenticity but it was tasty! The steak, the Cuban sandwich, empanadas, yuca fries, all tasty! The cocktails TBH were very bad-hotel-bar mid. Just OK not impressive at all which was disappointing. The weird: They had a flight of 3 rums from a single brand - which were pretty mice. But if two people want to do a tasting, it's cheaper to just get the shots. Bad pricing decision, shouldn't the tasting be a way to promo the rum (and set up follow up pours)? or are you trying to squeeze an extra few bucks? What's also disappointing is that they dare to add a 20% tip onto the bill. And this is on a party of 2. WTF is that. I'm docking a whole point for that. So great potential, kudos to the kitchen, but to management: please kick the cocktails up and be less shortsighted on the business decisions . read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Cuban sandwich (split between 2 plates) & yuca fries center. - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

*3.5*** Food- shrimp appetizer was tasty, meat platter a little dry but flavorful, empanadas were the favorite. Service- service was fine, additional food or requests took a while. Drinks- rum drinks were tasty. Vibes- underground restaurant and cellar vibe. I hear it's a fun vibe for nightlife. Maybe I'll try that next time. Free salsa dancing and good music. read more

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We had the chicken and beef empanadas. They were both delicious the beef more than the chicken. The bread on the empanadas was amazing ! I would rate the empanada a 6/10 it was good but we have had better. The drinks were great but they weren't strong at all. For the frozen drink they didn't even add a shots worth of rum just a few drips. The bartender was not really excited that o wanted a frozen drink since it was at their outside bar so he basically told me no I won't be getting it. Until another bartender said they would go get it for me. The Cuban sandwich was good but it taste just like a regular sandwich. For 2 orders of empanadas 3 drinks and a sandwich our total was $140. 20% gratuity is automatic no matter how many people are on the bill. I think the resturant is beautiful I love the aesthetic I have been wanting to come for awhile. They also sell cigars and have an outdoor room to smoke in. read more

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On a lovely Sunday afternoon, came to have brunch before going to the nationals baseball game. The place was pretty empty as it just opened when we arrived. We were seated nicely in the patio section which had a back bar and sunlight roofing. We got the tower which was plenty between the three out of the four and it was delish. I had the papas locas which I devoured and so did e shine else with their plates. No one was dissatisfied with their meal and service was very attentive as well. I usually have a sweet tooth after a meal and I'm a sucker for flan but honestly did not think was the best flan I had, as it was a bit too solid for my liking. Also, it's a cigar lounge as well and you can order a cigar while your at the table. My partner thought it was okay and seemed to taste a bit old and not in a good way but still enjoyed everything overall. read more

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

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came for double date x salsa x bachata night && we had a time! the food was amazing as we got the platter that can be split between 4 people && the cost is great! stephanie was our serve && she was attentive, sweet && accommodating to my veggie needs (thank you so mich stephanie!). we got the rum old fashion && a bit sweeter for me but a dab of water && it was perfect! this place is cute && a lot of fun with a lot of space! i look forward to cooking back =) read more

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

I love this location very discreet and in the cut. It really felt like I was in Cuba walking through. The cocktail tower is not to be missed. The fuego drink was the perfect mix of tart and spice.The food comes out quick. My only complaint is the grill was broken so they couldn't make steak but my Cuban sandwich was very good and tasted authentic. The beef empanadas came out piping hot and full of flavor. read more

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

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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

Made a reservation on opentable. When I realized my friend and I were running late, I was forced to call the restaurant to modify. When I called, I was told that Casta's doesn't accept opentable reservations. I told the hostess that I was able to reserve on that site, but apparently they don't use it anymore. Thankfully we were able to push our reservation an hour later, which was great for us. MAKE RESERVATIONS ON THEIR ACTUAL WEBSITE! Only street parking, or find local parking garages. Came on a Sunday to eat and smoke cigars however the CIGAR ROOM IS CLOSED for renovations. Maybe open in about 2 weeks. This was disappointing, but we decided to eat there anyway. Sunday was brunch but in such a small space, it was a little crowded and extremely loud. There was only ONE WAITRESS for the entire restaurant. JUST ONE!! So, naturally service was a bit slow. The waitress tho had a small on her face and she was forced to cater to everyone. Shout out to the barbacks and persons who delivered food to tables also! Had the beef empadas, good as I remembered. They came out piping out! But I didn't have any water left (was waiting 20 min for a refill) so I waited a while to eat them The Frittas were just okay. Bread that came with them, were just as delish also Until they open the cigar area, and get more waitresses I will likely not return anytime soon read more

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Casta's is a Cuban rum bar with an inside dining room, enclosed patio and a cigar lounge. I've been for HH twice and enjoyed it. The service was a bit slow when they first opened but then everything picked up. I'd highly recommend the passion fruit mojito beef empanadas and the Maduros (sweet plantain and cheese wrapped in bacon). The HH is M-F 5-7pm and I believe on Thursday they also do a late night HH from 9 pm til close. They also do events like salsa dancing and cocktail classes. read more

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

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

Two words: MOJITO TOWER! Shared with two friends and we each got 2.5 drinks worth for brunch. We were feelin good and although there was a good amount of ice it didn't taste watered down. I tried their lechón asado - one of my favorite Cuban dishes - and they had it in sandwich form. The meat was juicy and I scarfed it down! The yucca fries it was served with weren't the best though - felt undercooked. And it was a little disappointing that they didn't have coffee the day we went. Overall a-ok though and I would return to sit on their patio & maybe try their happy hour. read more

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I've been looking forward to coming to Casta's for brunch for a while! Unfortunately a lot of the previous Yelp reviews were correct in their feedback. The food was pretty good! Drinks were fine - I was excited about the frozen espresso martinis, but I probably wouldn't reorder. The mojito was solid. Service charge is already included at 20%. The covered patio was great for an outdoor brunch on a nice day. I was the first customer at Casta's for brunch this Sunday. There was barely any staff around and no hostess. The place reeked of cigarettes & the bathrooms had not been cleaned in the slightest for probably the entire weekend. I really wanted to love Casta's, but it wasn't as great of a brunch spot as I was hoping. read more

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Came here with a group of people to have a couple drinks and to snack. The place is really unique and off the beaten path. Good service, good food and a chill vibe. read more

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

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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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If you didn't know Casta's was there, you might miss it and that would be a shame! It's an underground hideaway with the best Cuban food you've ever had. We stopped in for a drink and some late night snacks. We were seated right away and the staff were friendly and having a good time with everyone. The mojitos and Havana Vice were delicious and a perfect complement to the ambiance and food. As for the food, the sampler platter had basically all your Cuban favorites and each item was better than the last! The Empanadas and Cuban Sandwich Sliders were particularly delicious. There's also a cigar patio under the alley but you have to bring your own Cubans . I will definitely be back next time I'm in DC. read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Don't miss the entrance to this unique literal hole in the wall restaurant. - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm visiting my daughter at GWU and while she had some academic duties to attend to, I grabbed some cocktails amd a snack for dinner near my hotel. The bartender was great! She not only made my drinks the way I liked them (with a few mods), but also found a way to get me the black bean hummus on the side with my empanadas. I wasn't looking for a full meal so it was perfect! Note: they include gratuity even if you are eating by yourself at the bar. And on Sundays the kitchen closes 2 hours before the place closes. read more

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Dark. Loud. No real table service. But the kitchen is open! We had yucca frita, Las Borrachas ribs and Abuelita's Ropa Vieja. For a late night spot, it was actually quite good! We just couldn't see what we were eating and couldn't hear each other talk . It seems that they can't decide whether they want to be a restaurant or a night club. Music was Latin and we danced. Mostly a young crowd. The bartender made really good mojitos. read more

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

Arriving late into the District after a long day, I was delighted that Casta's served the needs of the Tapestry Hilton West End directly above this location. Embracing a speak-easy vibe, yet with an outdoor cafe feel, we split empanadas and a classic Cuban sandwich. A fun list of cocktails accompany a pleasant venue. read more

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

A friend of ours invited us to brunch here yesterday afternoon. At first my wife and I were sceptical based on some of the reviews. But our experience was much different. I really enjoyed the small Cuban restaurant feeling this place has. The decor and the music leads you to think you are back in Cuba. They played music in the background which was a nice touch. The service was very good. We opted for bottomless option for mimosas and they bring you out a bottle of Cava which was very good. The food was definitely a big hit at our table. I had the Cuban Sandwich and I must say it was prepared well. The server did not rush us, afterwards we sat down me and my friends and had a cigar. Definitely a place we would return. 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

This is definitely a spot to go to get your night started! Great selection of drinks (and rum variety). $5 beers and $10 frozens for happy hour, which run 9-12am on Thursdays! They also have some nights for salsa dancing if that is up your alley! For food, highly recommend the Cuban sandwich, can't go wrong with that! read more

In DC for a few days and after a long redeye flight I wanted a bite to eat. I quickly checked Yelp for suggestions and - bam- there it was, Casta's. It was a few blocks away so I hoofed on over. It was tucked away in a residential building in Georgetown. I was ushered to the full-service bar area and promptly seated. The menu looked good with some authentic Cuban dishes, but I knew what I wanted. The Cubano sandwich was delicious, albeit a little dry. Nonetheless the only real detractor was the distracted wait staff who were spending all their energy on wiping silverware and discussing a local power outage. The handful of guests were an afterthought. Maybe it was just bad timing in my part. If I'm back in this neighborhood I might pass them by in favor of another spot. read more

Didn't have any food last night, aside from the churros which were warm and delicious! Brought my line sister here for some drinks and to catch up! Only reason for not giving 5 stars is because while it was still acting as a restaurant, the music was so loud at the inside bar, we basically had to yell to talk even though we were right next to each other. The outdoor patio was packed; guys outside were smoking cigars. Looked like a great time. Also, can't remember the exact time but they turn the bar into a club so they took our barstools to make a dance floor. That's when we decided to leave. Overall, drinks were solid; somewhat strong but still delicious. read more

Casta's Rum Bar - Dark n Stormy and Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Beautiful restaurant, the service and food were just alright though. Me and a friend stopped by for a late brunch, no reservation, but we were seated immediately. The restaurant layout is super cool, and the back patio is gorgeous, but the cigarette/cigar smoking kind of tainted the vibe nonetheless, we still enjoyed our mimosas. We both REALLY wanted the empanadas, but they were unfortunately out for the day. We ended up getting a pork sandwich which was recommended. It was OK, we aren't huge fans of pork so a bit unfulfilling. We were brought plantain chips which were delicious! I would love to try the empanadas one day, but I'm not sure if I would come back. read more

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When a very good friend invited me to brunch but suggested the same ole thing, I took control and redirected brunch to Casta's Rum Bar. It had been on my bookmarks forever but recent Yelp friend's pictures brought it back to the forefront of my Yelp things to do list.. Lol! I am now an absolute fan!! Luckily my friend knew exactly where Casta's was because I would have driven by it at least 5-6 times before I finally found it. It is literally beside a boutique hotel with just a sign and a door leading you down approximately 10 steps. Once you get to the restaurant, it was authentic and raw. I loved it immediately! We were led through the restaurant to the bad azz outdoor enclosed patio which has a full bar and is cigar friendly to rear. The owner has a cigar factory in Cuba and those same cigars are available for purchase to his patrons. The food was very good! I had the cast iron egg scramble topped with bacon and sausage and my friend had the Cuban breakfast sandwich. The mojitos and frozen rum swirls that accompanied our meals were the hit of the show...strong and super tasty! I can't wait to return for dinner. I saw several menu items that really caught my eye!!! I love things that are not the norm and Casta's is DEFINITELY not the norm. Couple that with good food, fun vibes and service that was fast, friendly and attentive, what more could you ask for. These are all the things that will make a brotha come back FOR SURE!! read more

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Casta's is a great spot for dinner/drinks for weeknight happy hour or on the weekend! Solid cocktails, I recommend the Fuego Dorado (think spicy margarita with pineapple)! Food here is decent, nothing that'll blow you away but it's all tasty! I recommend the skewers, Cuban/Chicken sandwiches and the empanadas! Happy hour from 5-7 on weeknight featuring $10 cocktails and some snacks! read more

This is a really cool spot. I love the vibes of it, it feels a little hidden and hard to find and then it's so lively inside with such a huge, winding space. I didn't looove what I got food wise but the drinks/ambiance and what it offers in a somewhat lackluster area for dinner/pre kennedy show options. read more

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I was really excited to go to this restaurant and try the Cuban cuisine. It is below another establishment and going down the into the restaurant, a mouse ran over my boots. That should've told me to turn around and go somewhere else. Unfortunately, I proceeded to go. We ordered a few Cuban dishes, including tostones rellenos, shrimp ceviche, and a Cuban sandwich. The tostones were terrible. The meat was basically inedible and the tostones were overcooked. Similarly, the Cuban sandwich was hard as a brick. The only thing that was somewhat decent was the shrimp ceviche, but there was really nothing special about it. You would think with such a great location and tons of clientele this restaurant would be on their A game as they have much competition in the area. The drinks were decent, not great, and it was good to be able to have Cuban cigars. Those are the only positives. This place was also very expensive and gratuity is included in the check. I went on a Saturday night and it was a very young, college vibe. They had Latin music playing, but not the biggest hits. As a Latina, I really hope that this is not what people who visit DC think represents our best cuisine. This restaurant needs to do better. read more

Everything about this dining experience was so great! We came here on a weekend for dinner and loved our time here. Food: -Media Noche: Our server described this sandwich as the classic Cuban with better bread, so I had to try this. It was so delicious and I loved how the outside had a good crunch to it, and there was a good portion of meat inside. The cheese was melted and the pickles were thinly sliced and crunchy, which led to a perfect balance of textures and flavors. -Yuca frita: These were not my favorite, but my friends both raved about these and liked them more than regular fries. They're a good option if you want something that has a crispy outside and very starchy and thick potatoey inside. The sauce that it came with was so yummy and tasted similar to a thousand island sauce. We asked for extra sauce and dipped our sandwiches in it too. -Maduros Envueltos en Tocino: These are a must try! Our server recommended these and said they're a popular item, and I'm so happy we got them. The sweet plantain paired with the crispy and fatty bacon was a good sweet and savory blend. The two paired together along with the sauce was so yummy and flavorful! -Churros: In my opinion, these were pretty average. There wasn't anything too special about these churros, but the sauce was really yummy. It came with a coffee and chocolate sauce, as well as a dulce de leche sauce. My favorite was the dulce de leche sauce! Service: Our food came out relatively quickly and our server was so funny and friendly! He had some great recommendations and we were really easily able to split the bill. read more

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My friend and I came here for lunch one day and really enjoyed it! This place is tucked away in a place where I never would've noticed it. The subterranean dining room has low lighting (the indoor portion was closed) but then you emerge into a semi-outdoor space with island vibes. I've since returned a few times, and aside from the cigar smoke in the semi-outdoor open area (yes, that is authentically Cuban but also rather annoying), this is a nice spot. Last time, I came with a friend and her dad, who spent most of his life in Cuba, and he gave most parts of the meal a thumbs up. The Cuban chicken sandwich is consistently good, and I like the customizable Tortillas al Caldero that they have for brunch. They come in a cast iron skillet and are oozing with whatever meats, veggies, and cheeses you select. The mimosas are reasonable, and it's easy to have a few glasses of those or Chanchanchara and have a bubbly good time. Service is usually hit or miss, with us often having to flag down someone a time or two. But on the other hand, they usually bring out the dishes a lot faster than expected, which has always been great! The vibe is also dancier in the evenings v. more of a brunch party on the weekends, so Casta's has all the bases covered! read more

A wonderful hidden surprise. The staff was awesome the atmosphere was relaxing and fun. Will be back soon. read more

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If you love rum, then this is the place for you! I was truly impressed with the large selection of rums here! My brother always bragged about this place so finally visited and had a great time. We were celebrating a family friend's birthday. Had some nice cocktails and small bites! I can't wait to come back! My only "complaint" was that it was really hot and they had some fans on but it didn't help much! It's definitely a cute spot for a date night or girls night out! Apparently the same weekend we came, Neyo was here. Sad I missed that. I had heard that this place is hard to find and I can see why! I almost passed it, but the flag outside helped! On a Saturday, parking wasn't too bad - found a spot around the corner. read more

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Came here on a Tuesday at 6:45 pm. It was packed. We just made the last of happy hour so we were very happy. I loved that the mojito was not super sweet. It also looked very pretty with the different gradients of colors. The 3 stars are for the fact that when we were about to walk in, there was an extremely loud and off putting scream that came from the bar. We walked in and realized it was the host. Quite unprofessional and bad start to the experience. I definitely get having fun, but would have not preferred the screech read more

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