Cuba Libre's food and drink reputation speak for themselves - Excellente!! What I'd like to point out is how they are amazingly maintaining the 'art' of customer service. Their management and staff handled an initial issue with our large party reservation, extremely well using the lost 'art' of customer service. In an age where tech and social media have caused us to have an 'anytime access to all' mindset, customer service has faded to the background. Cuba Libre however, has mastered providing customer service gently, with grace and humility. If only there were more establishments willing to work diligently to establish a relationship with their patrons that's worth preserving. read more

Had the Cuban sandwich combo and it was great. Perfect size and crispy bread with all the toppings. It was served with black bean soup and a salad. I personally didn't think the black bean soup was anything special. If i could get the sandwich without the sides I would have. For others, ask for the sides to be replaced. read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Cuban - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is as close as I can get to Cuba by visiting Cuba Libre during the winter restaurant week. Cuba Libre is located in prime downtown Penn Quarter and offered a 3 course prefix dinner menu at $40. My server recommended that I start with the empanadas, followed by their popular slow roasted pork, and ending with the flan. The pork was tender, savory, and juicy. The flan is their signature dessert. It was silky and enhanced by the deep caramel. Simply delicious. Happy hour is Monday - Friday 4pm-7pm at the bar only read more

Charming Cuban restaurant with delicious food and space to dance off the meal! The space offers a Cuban themed night life with dancing on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30pm. Remember to keep your receipt for free entry to the party on your next visit I enjoyed the Salmon Del Vedado which was cooked to perfection. The salmon was juicy, meaty, and topped with a flavorful crispy skin. The coconut rice is not as coconut flavored as I anticipated, however, it was definitely delicious! It also has pistachios mixed through the rice which created a delightful balance of texture by adding a nice crunch. Tres leches is only tres leches if the milk is prevalent and this rendition was executed authentically! Very tasty, milky, and a SWEET way to end a great meal. The Pollo Asado was tender and juicy. The bread was a bit too crunchy for my preference, however, I enjoyed the flavor of the mango butter. I cannot fail to mention how amazing the espresso rumtini was! If you air on the side of a potent but sweet expresso drink, you'd enjoy. It is made with rum which was a nice twist! Service was great and staff were accommodating. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and recommend for a fun change of pace in DC. I'll be back for the Pescao Frito and the dance party! read more

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The interior of this place is sadly better than the food. We were highly disappointed on this visit. We came because we were in the area and looking for something to eat after attending the Car Show. Luckily for us, It was their "Restaurant Week" special for $40 so we decided to give that a try. We were able to get 1 appetizer, 1 entree and a desert for that price. They also offered a (3) flight mojito for $18. The mojitos were warm and only one of them tasted good. The options were: classic, pineapple and Passionfruit. Now when It came to the food, the beef empanadas were good, but the chicken one was just mid. Their coconut shrimp was decent, but missing the coconut. However the sauce that It came with, was banging! The pork was so terrible, my friend described It as dirty dish water... so you can just imagine. The other food items were mid as well. They had Tres Leche and Flan for desert and the flan was decent, but the Tres Leche just tasted like soaked bread. To my surprise, the bread basket was super good! Especially the sweet butter All in all, this place may be a cool spot for their dance floor vibes, but the food is just not It. On the plus side, the service was excellent! read more

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This is a great place to visit. They have flavorful sides, soups and an assortment of entrees with a Cuban flare. This celebration spills over into performances, music and a fun atmosphere. You can come for food and get a side of music or vice versa. read more

Walking back from the Christmas Tree Lighting, my friend and I stopped at Cuba Libre for some drinks (and to warm up lol). We were both impressed by how authentically Cuban the inside is, from the decor to architecture, and festive with the holiday lights. It was a little before 9 when we got seated, and we noticed the light up dj booth near us. Our waitress said at 10:30 they move all of the tables and it becomes a club. We ordered some plantains, a Passion Fruit Mojito, and a Paradise Rum Punch. We enjoyed both drinks, and the plantains were good as well. We appreciated the music was at an enjoyable level for listening and holding conversations, but that definitely changed at 10:30. It indeed became a club, with loud music and also people conveying to dance throughout the restaurant. It was a great way to end the night, dancing to salsa and bachata tunes. read more

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Just what we needed after walking around the convention center all day. Stopped for dinner with no reservation and were able to get a seat fairly quickly. Considering the location, the food was fantastic! Started with some cuban bread with butter and a cuba libre before moving to the main star: lechon asado with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. The lechon was super flavorful, tender, and juicy (I'd used less capers, but that's a matter of preference), the beans were nicely cooked and thick enough to mix well with the rice (for cuban-style moros), and the plantains were ripe enough to make them super sweet, as one would expect. A little pricey, but location certainly plays a factor here. All in all, a wonderful, flavorful meal in the heart of DC. read more

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Finally made it for Cuba Libre for the Restaurant Week. They offered a great sample of the extensive menu for a really affordable price. The empanadas were flavorful and packed with meat. I tried the beef and chicken which were equally good. The dipping sauce that accompanied it was zesty. Now for the main dish, the chicken was moist and spicy which made it the star of the show. It was the perfect amount and they served a decent amount that I was able to bring home leftovers. The cookie with the flan was a nice touch. Everything was thoughtfully curated together. The servers were really nice and knowledgeable about the menu. We went for an early dinner, but the place quickly became packed signifying it as a great option for dinner. The background music was A1 as well. Will definitely be returning. read more

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Came here with some girlfriends and had a great time! The service was great, our waiter was very attentive and told us his recommendations! The food was well seasoned and tasty, great portions as well. The crowd was a mix of families, old and young. Definitely a time for a family event, birthday celebration or just hanging out! Will definitely be back! read more

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I went to Cuba Libre recently and decided to try something new, Ropa Vieja, and absolutely loved it. My wife and I typically get and share the Gaucho. Service was great and the staff was awesome. read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Mama Amelias Empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My daughter and I decided to stop here for a quick bite after watching Shen Yun in DC. We were seated promptly without any reservations on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy but there were a good crowd by the bar. We weren't that hungry so we decided to order a bunch of appetizers. Let me tell you! I was very disappointed ... that we did not come here sooner. Everything we've had was AMAZING! Only complaint I have is that I wish there were more of what we ordered. Surprisingly, we had a lot to take back home for leftovers. Service was also exceptional. Looking forward to trying more things on their menu. read more

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I've passed the place 100's of times and decided to pop in one afternoon for happy hour. Let's just say I will not be back unfortunately. Here's more about the good and not so good of the experience. THE GOOD - they have happy hour - they have tons of space inside and can accommodate a large group - their butter and bread that they serve complimentary is sooo sooo good. I could've eaten like 2 servings of this to myself lol - our waiter was pretty good, he was understanding when we didn't like items THE NOT SO GOOD - ooopf their chicken empanadas almost made me vomit because of the texture. Not to mention a small empanada is like $8, I don't think it's worth it. Their beef empanadas are made with an olive and raisins .... (I'll just leave this here, I didn't taste it but that just sounds odd and not authentic) - wings were too thick and too much breading and also kind of slimy - drinks were def made with really cheap alcohol Skip Cuba Libre unless you're going to one of their events at night or when you go try something other than the items above read more

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We came here because we heard about dancing at night but we got here a little too early. It was around 930 pm so we just ordered some food. We had the ropa vieja & the empanadas. The Ropa Vieja was good but it only comes with white rice (I'm used to them always serving it with black beans and rice or with Congri & maduros). The empanadas were fried too hard. I didn't really like them. The drinks were average. The place is pretty cute and when were leaving, they were starting to pick up the tables & the music was really great. The bathroom, however, had a long line. read more

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I was excited to stop here for Happy Hour since it has been a while since I have been here. It was a bad experience at the start. There was no one greeting us at the door and we weren't sure where to sit so we ended up at the bar. We sat at the bar for a while before the bartender who was having a personal conversation with another employee looked up to acknowledge us. We were finally helped but there were many times throughout the evening; we had an issue with ordering and assistance. The indoor space is nice and had plenty of seating but the lack of customer service made me not want to return. Also the happy hour food selection was very limited and what we did order left more to be desired. The chicken wings were too thickly breaded (it was a weird texture); the beef empanadas was tiny and lacked any flavors. The only good items were the guac with plantain chips and yucca. read more

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I was really excited to have a Cuban brunch but man was I disappointed... TRANSPORTATION: A few minutes away from the Gallery Place Chinatown metro stop. AMBIANCE: This restaurant is GORGEOUS. I heard from friends that they have salsa classes at night but we went during the day. It was pretty much empty so it was pretty quiet. SERVICE: We had an exceptional server. We had a decent sized group and he handled everything very well. However, we were the only diners in the restaurant and the food still took an incredibly long time to come out. Even appetizers took at least an hour minimum. The manager eventually came due to the complaint about a consistently raw burger but no real apology about the wait time and food coming out individually. FOOD: Cuban Brunch at Cuba Libre FRENCH TOAST A LA CUBANA Vanilla custard-soaked brioche bread. Pure maple syrup and panela soaked sweet plantains, fresh whipped cream BISTEC CON HUEVOS* "Steak and Eggs." Grilled skirt steak, herb chimichurri, pickled onions, fried eggs, manchego, romesco sauce, crispy breakfast potatoes ONE-EYED ROPA VIEJA HASH Braised, shredded brisket, bell peppers and onions over potato, yuca, maduro and corn breakfast hash. Topped with fried egg, Cuba Libre hot sauce CROQUETAS Basket of traditional ham & cheese and creamy chicken croquetas. Mustard BBQ sauce and dijon-garlic mojo ARROZ CON POLLO Long grain saffron rice, boneless chicken, green peas, yellow corn, Spanish chorizo, roasted piquillo peppers MASITAS DE PUERCO FRITAS Tender chunks of pork slowly roasted in Spanish style sauce, sautéed onions, mojo, white rice, black beans, tostones SHRIMP CUBANO Jumbo shrimp sautéed in Cuba Libre enchilado tomato-culantro sauce, white rice, maduros Overall: I hear that the salsa classes are great! But the food left a LOT to be desired. In our group, I don't think one person was excited about their meal and for some reason, my friend's burger kept getting sent back raw. Unfortunately we'd never return in a dining capacity. read more

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The service is friendly. Not necessarily fast though so be ready to order everything so you're not seating there a long time. Drinks and food are on point and worth it. Definitely tasty and the leftovers taste sooo good. The ambiance is like an island inner patio and feels nice. They have live music n feels like a dance club some nights. We had most of main dishes since we went a couple of times. I'm Dominican so picky with my Caribbean food. As for stars I'm rounding up to 4 bc the drinks n food are so good. Service is a solid 3. read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Menu - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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When you walk inside the entire interior is decorated as though you are in a Cuban plaza eating outside under the stars. Our waitress was quite pleasant and came around our table the perfect amount of times. We tried the trio dip with plantain chips as our appetizer which was very yummy. The highlight however was the free bread with mango butter, a unique treat that sweetened the night. I got the red snapper which for the price was likely the worst deal on the menu. Was it delish? Yes. Was I still hungry 37 dollars later... also yes. I think my main issue was that sometimes in "elevating" a cuisine you miss all the elements that make it so great. The best Cuban food I've ever had is not from a place that needs to decorate the interior to evoke an "authentic" experience. It was always from hole in the wall pop shops who grew up on it. read more

The truth is that we never got inside or tasted the food. We made reservations for NYE and they called AT 5:30pm to tell it was a mistake. Even after I confirmed with them Via phone and the texts they sent me confirming the reservation, they still cancelled it. Needless to say we were disappointed on such a special night. We managed to find a place but had to wait an hour to be seated and missed the fireworks. read more

Had a good time at Cuba Libre during their bottomless brunch. We had a table of 13 and Tobias was our waiter who treated us very well! We got 4 types of pitchers including red sangria, white sangria, mimosa, and pineapple mimosa and they kept the drinks flowing. Everyone at the table needs to part take in the bottomless brunch to be able to do it. They also gave us complimentary bread and butter which was delicious. I got the CHURRASQUITOS BOWL BENEDICT from their brunch special and it was great and super filling! We went at 1pm on a Sunday and the place was pretty empty which was Jude for a table of 13. I liked the ambiance to the left of the restaurant on the side of the bathrooms, but couldn't find much appreciation for the green lights on the side of the restaurant where we were seated. We wanted to get nice pictures but everything had a green hue to it unless we used flash. That was the only downside to the dining experience. Otherwise, I think we all had a great time and really appreciated the attentiveness of our sever, especially for such a large group! read more

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Went with a work group and immediately thought the atmosphere was fun but was worried that it was all about that but food would be terrible - nope food was delicious. I had vaca Frita and it was perfectly charred and crispy in bits and the sauce was excellent. Our group also tried the bread, meatballs and croquets - all very good especially the meatballs. Would happily go again next time I am in town. read more

We stopped in here on whim on the way to the Christmas market. The warm complimentary bread with mango butter was surprisingly delicious and a great snack while we were waiting for our meal! The mojito was ok, nothing special but did taste like limey mojito. Staff was friendly and our server was attentive. Our food came out in smaller but perfectly portioned meals where we were both able to finish both of our plates feeling full with no leftovers. This place definitely has a cool vibe. Bathrooms were clean and neat. read more

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I had the chance to stop by Cuba Libre for a taste of home while in DC! Literally, since beside my DNA, I had eaten at their Ft Lauderdale outpost a few years back. Cuba Libre was recommended by both an Uber driver and my hotel's concierge. With an interior layout idealizing La Habana Vieja, there's also a small stage and hosts salsa dancing after around 10pm. During this last trip, I didn't stay for music, though. My server was pretty attentive and on point in my plating. Drinks: of course I started with a well-blended Classic Mojito right down to the lime and slice of mint. It had enough of a buzz to serve as a great intro to my meal. I also loved their Hemingway Daiquiri (Don Q Oak Barrel spiced rum, guarapo - sugar cane juice - muddled fresh lime and orange) and a sprinkle of sugar in the rim as a dessert cocktail. For food, I started with a hearty plate of black bean soup (frijoles negros) and the classic Cuban bread toasted with butter. Black beans are essentially "soul food" for Cubans, and I also enjoyed an extra side that came with my masitas de puerco (pork chunks) entree. Along with the other side of tostones and white rice, this "completa" was a generous portion of juicy roasted then fried pork. Together with the sautéed onions and citrusy mojo sauce, this made for a great dinner. My perfectly jiggly flan, with whipped Creme and dulce de leche garnish, made for a sweet closing with the aforementioned Hemingway. I would definitely recommend Cuba Libre for a nice night out of Cuban food and music in the DC area. read more

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This place was fantastic. Good ambiance and service and the food was great. I was even impressed with the portion size.

The food is always great! I highly recommend the Lechon Asado. They get real busy, so make reservations

5/5 Came on a Saturday before the MLK Block Party and I was starving. The only reason I came was because it was close to the location and I haven't been a long time. Now as I write this review Im wondering why I don't come more often, I had a great time! The drinks were great, and strong. The bread appetizer with the mango butter, to die for!! We also ordered the appetizer platter with a sample of all the items, everything on it was great. I vibe and the bartenders make this place really nice! Definitely try a Caipirinha and a Mojito! read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The decor is pretty cute. The food came out super fast. I used to go to the one in Philly so I was excited to try this one. Ropa vieja is $32 and mojitos are $15. The food was good but I feel like I remember it being better or maybe larger portions. Service was fine. read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Interior decor - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went during Summer Restaurant Week. We sat on the patio. I ordered the salad, veggie paella and dulce de leche, as well as the mojito flight. The mojito flight had very little if any alcohol. I'm a lightweight so I know if liquor is present. The salad and veggie paella were very good. The paella was even better the next day. The dulce de leche was not good. Service was fine, only issue were the mosquitos and roaches that wanted to dine with us. The server did give us some bug repellant spray, as the tiki stick things were empty. read more

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Cuba Libre has a really good happy hour deal. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the food options are great! I loved the yuca fries the best! But all of the food was good. We sat at the bar, and it wasn't crowded. The service was quick, and the bartender was friendly. read more

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We visit this restaurant on our trip to Washington DC. The foods are excellent! We recommend the shrimp skewers with fried rice, good marination and the texture of the rice is wonderful with some crunchy rice grains mixed in! MOREOVER! We enjoyed our service from KARLA. She's very informative and recommended us some really goods options. Her attitude is beyond wonderful! read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - White and red sangria - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been here a few times for brunch and drinks with friends. I will say that despite it being tight (and honestly a bit sus the first time), I have no true complaints. The food and drinks have yet to disappoint and the service is good. read more

This was recommended as one of the best restaurants in Washington DC. While that may be true, it did not live to those expectations. The service was slow and inattentive. This may have been due to us going for the last dinner slot, before they were transition to their bar/club from only being a restaurant. When we arrived, all guests were sat in the back room while they moved things around at the front. When we left, the bouncer had arrived and the ambiance was more of a bar/club scene. We would have stayed if we had not already had plans to go elsewhere. For starters, we ordered el Plato Cha Cha Cha, which is a sampler of a few of their appetizers. I loved this option because it gave us a chance to try a little of everything. For main, we shared an order of Ropa Vieja. The ropa vieja was okay, I've had better, and wish it was a bit more savory. The maduros were a nice touch. read more

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Horrible experience. First time here and had a reservation at 5:15 and sat at 5:10. Ordered our apps and food before 6pm and still didn't get food by 6:30/6:45. Ordered 2 appetizers and the server brought out the empanadas and never received our trio dip platter. You'd think that would arrive before the empanadas? Ended up leaving before entrees arrived and server told us it would be 5-10 minutes for entrees at 6:10 and by 6:45 did not receive. Had a show to get to at 7 and ended up leaving before getting any food. Watched several tables that were sat after us receive food and complete their experience. Very disappointing. Will not recommend to friends. read more

*Updated Review* It had been several years since I visited this place. Definitely pre pandemic times! Came here recently for a farewell happy hour for a co-worker and we had a good time. They have great happy hour specials - begins at 4 pm. I really enjoyed the red sangria! I recommend it. Service was great. We were able to push some tables together and paying separately wasn't an issue. I will be back for more sangria : ) read more

Brunches & Bubbles . Highly rec a window table for the sake of good lighting and people watching as both pair nicely while tanking a bottle of bubbly (aka, self mixed "mimosa"). Peak the bottomless drink option, but note...our bartender friend was extremely unimpressed, borderline detested, with their espresso rumtini and sangria. We entered a lively opening brunch crowd surrounded by an authentic rustic Cuban aesthetic and music - our party totally added to the fun. Everything we ordered embodied traditional Cuban flavors and were presented in the usual contemporary fashion. Food was delicious and filling, but to be honest, my mission was sustenance to enable drinking myself a champagne sweater. Service was a bit slow because of unorganized handling of tables between food runners and our waitress - but nonetheless, we were fed and cups filled. . cheers! read more

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If you have never had Cuban food then this is the place to have it first. When people walk in they are greeted not only by a friendly and welcoming hosting crew but a decor that is extremely inviting. Our serving crew led by Lily treated us like royalty. For the two of us to drink a half pitcher of the classic mojito was perfect. While we are seasoned guacamole eaters, we were drawn to order it because it had crab meat in it; something we never had before. We also shared the traditional Black Bean soup which was extremely tasty as well. Our main entrees included Salmon Paradiso and Ropa vieja (aka old clothes). The beef in the Ropa was extremely tender and the salmon just melted in your mouth. We also ordered a side of avocado and sweet plantains. Coming from a Latin background both sides did NOT disappoint. What was really awesome to me was how manicured the platings and presentations of each dish came, include our drink glasses too. Even the extra lemon and lime was uniquely offered to us. We hadn't had lunch and ate dinner too fast, our mistake. The upside is that we had plenty of room in our stomachs for all the food. The downside is that because we ate so quickly the staff brought the next courses out too quickly too. 5 stars!! ...and the next time are in Washington we'll check it out again!! Oh and eating at a Cuban restaurant was not our first time last night. read more

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Cuba Libre is an excellent Cuban restaurant that has a great happy hour. The beef empanadas and mojitos are a delicious snack for mid-afternoon shopping! read more

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Cuban Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Decided to step out and try something different. I was glad I did! The atmosphere was a neat building and plenty of room. The menu was fairly simple which was nice to not be overwhelmed. I had the passion fruit margarita to start. It was tart and not too sweet. (Just as advertised. The Ropa Vieja was recommended by the bartender. I went with it and was not disappointed. I would definitely do it again! read more

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This was another great experience! The service was on point from start to finish! The food was a real treat, which we all enjoyed. Of course, right after dinner we stepped right into a continued great ambiance with some music and dancing. Phil K. read more

My wife and I ate here tonight. Our waiter was Nic. He was very attentive. We started with the croquettas and guacamole. The croquettas came with a garlic mayo and a BBQ sauce. The guac came with fried plantains. It was all delicious. For entree, my wife had Pollo Asado, I had Ropa Viejas. Again, both were excellent. Dessert was Cuban flan and cafe con leche. It was a very, very good meal. read more