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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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

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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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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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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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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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

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

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

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

I had a great time at Casta's Rum Bar Restaurant! The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the food was delicious, with a perfect mix of flavors. Definitely a spot I'll return to for more tasty bites and great drinks! Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie read more

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

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

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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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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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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Fun underground hip environment and very family friendly for dinner. The service was excellent for our party of 7 and the empanadas were a must try! Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

I went here during Happy Hour to meet up with a friend. I loved the lowkey ambience, dark, but not too dark, good latin music (Bad Bunny, Karol G, Feid...), people were dancing and talking. We sat at the bar, and the waiter was nice and answered our questions. Food: We shared everything. The empanadas were pretty good, they give you two, hot. Then we got skewers, which I believe was part of the large entrees menu, but not enough food in my opinion; 3 skewers with veggies and white rice. Taste was good. Almost forgot about the tostones because they were lackluster. Bland, chicken had no flavor, tostones themselves were hard to swallow... We didn't want to eat a lot, just share some apps, but it was eh. Drinks: We shared a HH pitcher of mango mojito and it was good but we agreed it could have been a little stronger. The HH cocktails did sound good. It's a cool place to hang out. More about the connecting than the food but maybe I got the wrong things. Favorite part was the music read more

If you are looking for a hidden spot that's a bit divey but has a solid cocktail program this place is worth a visit. If you can find it. We went looking for it and almost walked past the entrance as it is a basement level door off the street that is not easy to see. Once you enter you are greeted by the friendly staff that direct you where to go. We walked through a few narrow hallways that let to an inside dark intimate bar and walked out to a back bar that feels like your outside but is covered. It felt like we were in Havana! Definitely a vibe. We sat at the bar and ordered a drink and it was delicious! I had a Smokey mezcal drink that was the best mezcal cocktail I've ever had. We didn't stay for food but a few people around us were eating and it looked good and they seemed happy. read more

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

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Never got to try the food! Made reservations 3 weeks ago for Easter brunch on their website. The website said they would be open with special hours on Easter Sunday. Yesterday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday, I called to confirm we had our table reservations for the patio. The gentleman who talked to me assured me and he noted on our reservation it was to be a patio table. Tonight, the Friday before our Easter Sunday reservation , I got a call that the restaurant was closing for Easter! I went back on their website and they were still taking reservations!!! Needless to say it is impossible to find a brunch reservation for a group of 5 for Easter this close to the event! read more

Food and drinks were good but towards the end of our meal 2 rats ran into the dining area. read more

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Easily one of the best happy hour spots in DC. You won't go wrong meeting up with co-workers here. read more

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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

Amazing vibes! I got the chicharron with yuca and absolutely loved it. The drinks were good as well.

To find the restaurant you have to look since it is kind of hidden, but they usually have a sign out front, so you know you're in the right place. The restaurant has lots of indoor seating as well as a small outdoor area. Decent Cuban sandwiches. The yucca fries are a must order for the table! So yummy! The empanadas are also great if you don't eat shellfish. The staff is very nice. I love how they open the restaurant and teach different dances at night. 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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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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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

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

total hole in the wall. enter through a below street level alley, and follow it back to the bar. awesome. exceptional selection of rum. extremely knowledgeable bar staff. I enjoyed a 20 year solera technique Costa Rican rum, and my wife enjoyed her El Presidente Old Fashioned. delicious and well built cocktail. we had dinner reservations nearby and stopped in for a cocktail to kill time, but the aroma of the Cubano sandwich the guy next to me ordered was superb. we will definitely be back for dinner in the near future, and we're aleady very much looking forward to it. read more

The service was amazing! The food was amazing! We went for brunch and the food and drinks were fun and flavorful. The place was a bit hard to find from the street because the signage was small and you have to walk down stairs to get in. Parking was also a bit difficult. But once you overcome these and make it inside the restaurant, you find a cute, nicely appointed space that really is reminiscent of Cuba. Will certainly be back. read more

This place was amazing. Visited here for brunch and the vybz was great. The staff was very welcoming and the food was delicious. I ordered the Cuban sandwich which was very flavorful and asked for some additional mayonnaise on the side. The show stopper was was the mojito tower and bottomless mimosas. My party had a great time and we appreciate the shots on the house. read more

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

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