Reviews of Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Washington, D.C. (Restaurant)

Marcelo Lang

Went there for a Saturday brunch. Sat at the bar, ordered a couple of special mojitos (mango and coconut), pineapple guacamole, Cuban paella , followed by 3 Leches as dessert. Everything was delicious, the service was fantastic (gracias, Loyda), I would go back and do it all over again a hundred times over.

Clark Prothero

Atmosphere is great, food was excellent and authentic. Service was exceptional.

Virginia Williams

Restaurant was good! Definitely try yucca fries and empanadas. Rum flight was underwhelming.

Marveline Engle

Delicious food, great atmosphere, awesome wait staff.

Jordan Harris

Food is great. Service 5 stars and Night life amazing. If you dance to bachata, salsa, meringue and love a mixture between hip hop, r&b and EDM it's the place for you.

Brian Babineau

Decent food, but high prices don't justify. Over $19.5 for a cubano? Come on now...I don't care if you throw in a can of beans and a salad...no excuse for the high prices. The atmosphere is great, however. Maybe just stick to drinks and happy hours.

Alex Bienko

With a great decor to complement the food, it's a great spot for a date or a birthday party. The food is excellent and while the pitcher margarita was a bit lacking in terms of a kick, it was delicious. If you decide to drive, parking can be a bit tough if you don't want to use the parking garage across the street.

Jay

Interesting and relaxing Cuban ambience. Great food.

Bill Robertson

Not sure how to write this... without sounding like all the other reviews. So let’s just leave it as highly recommended, enjoy the Ropa Vieja and an R&R Old Fashioned. I left there feeling content. Server was awesome; I asked if my dish could be prepared without bell peppers and she made it happen. Will definitely be back!

Michelle Harris

The Pico Pico was delicious. The sauce on the plate was creamy. The dipping sauce was a little to spicy for my taste The fried chicken roll on top of the salad greens was light & tasty.

Armando Roman

Was pretty good. Was there for a work event so menu choices were limited, yet very tasteful

E. Rosario

Excellent tapas, superb service and amazing decor. Cuba Libre will take you away to a small Villa in Havana and fill your senses with delicious flavors of the Caribbean, lively rhythms of Afro Latino heritage and nostalgic aesthetics to complete the full experience. Come for the delectable food, full rum bar then stay for the lively Latin music on Fridays/ Saturdays after 10 pm.

Victor Elia

Food: The empanadas are some of the best I have ever had, all three varieties. Just try them. The mixed grill platter is great also. The steak is a little tough (just because of the cut) but the flavors are on point, and the sauces with them put it over the top. Service: The wait staff here is attentive and very helpful with suggestions if you are not familiar with Cuban food. Friendly also. Atmosphere: You are transported to Havana, in a bright, cheerful and open dining room. I would suggest going to any location of this place as they are consistently good.

John Towers

We had an amazing experience here. The atmosphere is colorful and inviting. The food was delicious and plentiful. All of the wait staff was extremely helpful and friendly.

Chase Kelly

Great atmosphere and the food is always spectacular.

Jack C

Spacious cosy place with indoor and outdoor seating. Interesting menu with reasonably priced food. A large menu of rums! Fast service.

Viajando con Mercedes

This restaurant is one of my favorite in Washington DC the best food the best drinks the best music on Fridays . We love it

Danny C.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere with some relaxing music. Good food selection that won't disappoint.

Mike W

Love the food the drinks the decor. Great place for parties and nightlife

Candice Gomesz

I loved this place. Walked quite a bit to find it and it was totally worth it. The service is brilliant, they are all super friendly. The food is

Elana R. S.

Used to love this restaurant, especially for happy hour. But they have gotten rid of so many vegetarians options. No vegetarian empanadas?!? Seriously?!? You know guests have different dietary restrictions, right? Tons of creative veggie friendly Cuban food out there! Wanted to come here for a business lunch, but cannot because all they have for veggie food for lunch is nachos, one soup, and one salad. Not even a normal entree. Sad and makes me feel like the restaurant doesn’t care about me. If they fix this, will be 5 stars again. For now, vegetarians, skip this place.

Melanie T

Wow, my mom and I were here on a busy Friday night (make a reservation!) and had a fantastic experience. The food was SO good and the service was great despite how busy they were. It’s not cheap but I think the quality of the food was worth the price. I would love to come again!

Scott Shilling

We always like to have at least one meal here when we visit DC. My daughter loves everything on the menu!

Mr. Jones

Attractive space, good food. My only complaints are that the hostesses and one waitress had attitudes. Also playing CNN on all the TV sets was a bit of a turn off. Not everyone wants to be bombarded with fake news while enjoying dinner.

Cory Steighner

Decent spot. Cool vibe. Food all sounds good looking at menu and looked good but some things were definitely better than others. I've gone back over the years and worth stopping by.

F Beaudry

I had the black bean soup and chicken croquettes. The soup was very good. The croquettes were good, but not spectacular. I also had a classic mojito. No hint of muddled mint or lime, so it lacked the flavor I've come to expect of a great mojito. Thus, 4 instead of 5 stars.

Darcella Craven

I'll start by saying the manager attempted to fix the issues. The food was excellent. It does take way too long even for a casual, laid back group. Staff behaves as if they haven't seen large groups which of course isn't true. I'd go back if I had a lot of time to spare.

Stephen Jefferson

Service was slow but it was a busy Saturday. We got the mix grill which wasn't anything to brag about. Chicken breast was well seasoned , steak was ok " chimichurri sauce made it taste better" and shrimp was bland. Comes with onion rings that were spicy for some reason. Will try it again, other table raved over there food.

David Terrero

Delicious food and amazing service

Linda Brinklow

Stopped by twice for happy hour. The pace is amazing! Their caipirinhas are out of this world. Snack menu is good. Staff is very friendly!

Wilson Dinarte

Looks like completely new staff/owners since the last time I came. Not the same Sunday brunch place it used to be. Won’t be coming back. Sorry CL, it was great for a little while. Good luck to you guys!

Shalonda Manns

This place is very unique. The owners have put a lot of thought into the menu - many choices but traditional would not be a word I would use to describe it. I give it 3 stars because it was just to "gourmet" for a lunch spot. Try it for a date night and it maybe great.

TJ Clark

So I am not one to write things about a restaurant, but I have to in this case. I had such a great experience here. I think the last time I had Cuban food this good was when I lived in Chicago. And this place was EXCELLENT with a great atmosphere and wonderful service. Our server was well versed in the DC area and helped us find what we were looking for as tourists. I would eat there again and recommend it to anyone who has never tried Cuban food. I was delicious!

Felix Pena

Where do I start, the place is well decorated and it comes with a very friendly staff. None of that matters if the food dosen't cut it, let me tell you that this place is like a paradise for your mouth. Everything we ordered was beyond expectations the manager came to the table to ask how our dinner was going, they bring the check in a Cuban cigar box. Top notch choice, we will definitely come back to this place next time we are in DC.

Florence Luna

I highly recommend this beautiful Cuban restaurant! The service is outstanding! And the food is out of this world! Honestly everything we tried was delicious however, I would recommend the guacamole appetizers with plantain bananas. Great happy hour menu that was fun ordering many different appetizers since we had never been to a Cuban restaurant. When I say the service was great it really was! The chef was out in a restaurant talking to and making sure they were enjoying their meal. How often do you see that? Okay enough said I highly recommend it dry it out.

Levi Weerts

I rarely comment on a restaurant or experience but will definitely say this was a surprisingly good spot food was great drinks were fantastic.... Cuba Libre fires on all cylinders. Definitely recommend. Must try of the evening was the empanadas.

Eric Williamson

Excellent spot! The ambience, customer service and the food....exceptional. my wife is very picky about her food and drinks and she loved this place. We went back later that evening for their nightlife and it was fun. We enjoyed the music and dancing. We will definitely go again when we are in DC

Andrew Clapper

Went for happy hour - the portions on appetizers are comically small (the Guac is served without chips?) but the drinks are good. We were here for the Mojito Day deal, so that could have impacted service.

Nelly Seda

Excellent Cuban cuisine, the decor is superb. I thought I was in La Havana!

Zachary Josebeck

The food was amazing. My only gripe is the service felt a bit "off". We got our food quickly, but they brought the bread when we were already halfway through our meal, they took forever to bring the check around, and they switched servers on us halfway through without any comment or mention that they will be taking over for the previous server who took our order. The whole vibe just felt odd. It was a shame because the food was so delicious! I still recommend going, maybe it was just an off day.

Lorraine Harris

Arrived too late for food, but the music, dancing, and drinks were great. Will definitely try again for food first!

DrGilad Segev

Good drinks.cool,place. Didn't appreciate bouncer literally pushing me to clear walkway to dance floor when I wasn't even close to the dance floor.

Tush chaw

Great drinks and delicious tapas, make sure visit during happy hour from 4pm to 7pm and its only available at bar, service was slow and it wasn't busy at all Bartenders were busy chatting with fellow staff and was difficult to get there attention everytime we need something Food was great, especially empanadas and tuna ceviche

Arelis Villafane

Food was very comercialized. I am originally from the Dominican Republic and a very good cook so was disappointed with what I ordered Coffee is not very good, which was surprising. Server was polite and attentive though.

Robyn Taylor

I'd been waiting to try this restaurant out for some time and was finally able to do so. Unfortunately, I was rather unimpressed. We came in for dinner and the menu was minuscule. I spent more time taking in the atmosphere than I did exploring the menu. We ended up ordering a variety of appetizers. None of them were special and reminded me of something I could pick up at a grocery store hot bar. They were definitely not worth the price. One of our party's members has food allergies. Before being seated, we were asked if there were any food restrictions and we stated them. There then appeared to be a disconnection with the waiter. He didn't seem to understand that we did not want any of the sauce with the allergen anywhere on the plate.On top of that encounter, one of the wait staff ended up spilling water on another party member. They did however come back with a wet nap, but in the end, Cuba Libre was disappointing.

Ro A

Wait staff very attentive and salsa night with DJ piojo did a nice job with variety of music.

Aaron Lowe

Mojito was good and strong with friendly bar staff but it went downhill from there. First one of the waiters heard our waiter say something offensive to my father. He spoke to my father saying, "You shouldn't let him (our waiter) speak to you like that." I don't know what our waiter said and my father "brushed it off" but it was not a good sign. I then had to explain the concept of "machismo" to my father. Not a good start. It took 20-30 minutes for Cuban bread to come out. We really liked the banuelos but you have no right to offer "paella" as a side of rice with a few shrimps floating in about 5 tablespoons of sauce. False advertising there. Your tostones are ok but I prefer them maduro. Very loud inside. Not conducive to family conversation. Pardon any misspelled Spanish words. I will not be recommending your establishment. I paid for the dinner but left no tip. It was not deserved.

Martin

Good lunch options. Have not tried dinner yet, but the appetizers were delicious and our server was attentive.

Abhinay Tadwalkar

The place is full of fun. Good food. Drinks are awesome. Especially the Sangria is my favorite at Cuba Libre. Loved the ambience. The music attracts people to the dance floor.

maryvn christmas

The food was excellent.. the mojitos were wonderful..had 2nds .. the banana bread dessert is sooo good.. Excellent service.. Ben was a fantastic waiter .. I'll be back..again..and again

Yanay Viera Lorenzo

The croquetas were really good. I can’t say the same of the rest of the food. The ambiance is very nice though.

yssa guevarra

Love the interior decorations! Food was amazing! Drinks are fantastic. On the side note, server took way too long to serve us the food (30 mins wait). Other than that fantastic dining experience

Gail Walsh

What a nice restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is very comfortable. The drinks were delicious too

Claud Ge

Food is ok.... Service meh. Expensive for what they offer and did not have the dish we wanted to try. Chicken on combo platter was very very dry

Ryan DeVeau

Such a FUN place! Awesome drink specials and food. I was personally new to Cuban fare, but if you want something different that wont break the bank, this is your spot. Be careful, the cocktails will sneak up on you!

Debi Williams

Beautiful evening with friends...great authentic Cuban food, drinks, service, and ambiance. The birthday girl got a yummy banana cake dessert sent our to her. The manager even invited us to salsa night but we are all travelers and will miss what promises to be a great time!

Yvonne Wright

Delicious food! Amazing drinks! Great atmosphere. I try to stop by here when I'm in D.C. for drinks and appetizers. They also have an incredible Sunday brunch.

A M.Davy

Had a wonderful time! Great drinks and good customer service

Melanie Hernandez

Places like this make me wanna move to DC. the party was great the location super convenient.

Michelle Smith

Didn't get to enjoy it, had a party if nine but the hostess refused to give us the open seating because the place was supposedly about to turn into a dance spot. My party and I had to leave.

Olga Mendez

Amazing food and great service. I highly recommend this place.

Leonard Blumberg

It's a nice place with impressive interior decor, good drinks, and good food

Robin Cooke

Nice, but I like it better for dinner. Keep up the good work.

Dee Walker

The food was awesome and the birthday cake was great.

Charles M

Food is ok. Service is friendly, helpful, and moderately quick. Happy hour specials are good. We tried the six item sampler which was a good way to try several options at a reasonable rate. The Roja Sangria was good and the guava cocktail was really good. Check it out for happy hour specials.

Aldo Mereles

It is great food, atmosphere and service. I was impressed how they took care of us as we showed up and ate a great meal. They even gave us a little something special for our celebration. Will have to return soon.

Jeremiah Leonard

I had no idea what I was doing but i danced anyways. 10/10 would make a fool out of myself anyways.

Dbrownwvable

I enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere and overall vibe of the place. We were sat immediately and our waitress was prompt and attentive. This was my first time there so I wanted some suggestions from her ( alina) and she gave some great ones. The drinks tasted good (although small) and the food was really good as well. The next time we go I'm taking a group as this place lends its self to a group setting.

Russell Roy Tritico

Excellent Cuban Rum bar. This place has really authentic decor and atmosphere. The staff was very nice and attentive. The drinks were perfect and I tried several of their specialty Cuban cocktails. I wasn't sure what to order so I took recommendations for the waitress and all the food was delicious. The bread they bring is incredible. Don't skip that.

rosa mateo

Good Food, Good Service only by the waitress who waited on us. I would have given this place 5 star, But no one knew who was in charge, not even the mangerl. I made a reservation 3 weeks in advance requesting a window seat I was told it wouldn't be a problem, but when we arrived we had to wait for a table and they wanted to sit us in a corner next to the entrance. To add insult to injury there was a male hostess who told me that they have a full service bar and we could sit at the bar for dinner. This male hostess needs to tuck in his shirt and get retrained on how to address issues, not all ladies sit at bars for dinner. i have been here three time, and never had a bad experience. hopefully they'll have a meeting on how to address issues and are good at accepting constructive criticism.

Elise Weber

We sat outside and ordered the guacamole and plantains- yum! Mojito pitchers were half off because it was Monday- score! Ordered the vegetariana paella and it was delicious! Service was excellent.

Danny Kim

Checked this place out right when it opened for lunch, and it's a pretty spacious floor. Went to sit at the bar and it is not noisy at all, but if you sit at the dining area, it is pretty noisy. Definitely enjoyed the quiet during my meal. Ordered the Del Mar, which is a three-course meal consisting of a Levanta Muerto Seafood Soup, Tuna Ceviche, and Pez Cobia. For dessert, ordered the Mami Totty's Arroz con Leche. The good: Levanata Muerto Seafood Soup was creamy and can definitely taste the coconut milk with a hint of truffle. Although it is a small bowl of soup, it was very flavorful and had mussels and shrimp and crabmeat, although wish it had more scallops because I don't remember tasting it. The Tuna Ceviche was delicious, and had nice chunks to the yellowfin tuna. Pez Cobia was pretty good, as the Black King fish was soft and moist, and really liked the black bean sauce and bits of green mango on top. Mami Totty's Arroz con Leche is the restaurant's classic Cuban rice pudding, which consist of a recipe handed down by Chef Pernot's mother-in-law that comes with a side of coconut macaroon. While it was good if you enjoy rice pudding, it wasn't anything spectacular that I would order again. Instead, I would be keen on trying the other desserts they offer. The bad: While I enjoyed the meal, I felt the portions were to small to justify the price. Had the Pez Cobia came in a larger portion, I would have enjoyed the meal instead of leaving unfulfilled. Overall, the quality of the food is delicious, but the portion size is lacking for the cost. Definitely worth checking out, and will return to try other desserts.

lee thieling

Food was very good. The wait staff and manager were very friendly. Dont bother with the mojitos.

Nora Dethloff

Wonderful experience and delicious food. Everyone in our group loved their dinner, and the mojitos were excellent too. I had the vaca fritos and it was amazing. The decor is fun and creates a good ambiance. Staff was friendly and efficient. A wonderful dinner!

Amanda Dennis

We went for Restaurant week with a friend and so were able to try almost the entire brunch menu. It was all only fine. But a single dish is go back to the place seeking. Nothing truly bad, mostly just really boring. Service was horrible. Took forever to come talk to us, never checked our water, we had to flag him down and ask for more, and seemed confused by basic questions about the menu. Decor was very cool.

MATT Wisconsin

Most excellent food (especially seafood), atmosphere, and service. They have a rum bar. Why are you still reading this sentence; GET OVER THERE !!!

Tracy Fischer

What a wonderful place! The atmosphere was playful. We chose to make small plates of many of the appetizers and they were all excellent! We were particularly fond of the ceviche, the pineapple guacamole, the pulled pork empanada and the dessert trio! (The sangria and mojitos were great too) The staff was attentive and helpful. We will absolutely return next time in DC!

Yolencia Dickens

Great service food was good and great bread and butter amazing I would go again

Carlos Llanos

Good food and service. However, it’s way too expensive and the portions are not big at all.

Johnleia Lambert

Cuba Libre is a slice of Havana. The food is authentic and reminded me of my recent trip to Cuba. The brunch menu has many options with the Agua Frescas being the highlight. The juices are so refreshing you forget they don’t have any alcohol. My favorite was the Limonada Rosa but honestly you can’t go wrong with any of the juices from the menu. The food portions are plentiful. I recommend each person order a different large plate so you get a taste of the many dishes on the menu.

LeBron Lebron

Nice place to have dinner and fun at DC, also, you can dance later during the night

Tameka Amado

Please make sure when guests are booking for brunch it is clearly communicated that there is a hard stop at 3pm. Had a young woman say she spoke to me about my reservation but I spoke to a man..twice. I would have changed my reservation time. Cuba libre is still great food and a great time on the weekend

Yah Moh

Cuba Libre is decent. Great music and atmosphere. Only complaint is the drinks can be pricey.

oscar quintanilla

Nice place for drinks and food

Randy Byler

Food and atmosphere was amazing! Best food we had our entire trip.

Elizabeth Jaramillo

I love this place! It is cozy, music is great, service is awesome, cocktails are excellent, and the food is delicious. It is perfect for having lunch and for drinks after work. The empanadas are delicious. We go once month!

Nati

Place it's nice. The music it's even better. I would of rated the place a 5 but the food was not worth the money.

Paralee Massie

The chicken empanadas are delicious!! However, I was quite envious of my friend who ordered a burger. The burger melted in my mouth! It was juicy and the sauce they put with it was sooo good. Next time, be sure to order the burger.

Jeremy Meshew

A random find that completely surprised us. Staff was very friendly and the food and drinks are calling me back.

Amber Shaikh

Atmosphere was comfortable, good service, great to try different tapas for happy hour. Very enjoyable.

Katherine Bernal Vigil

Accidentally submitted a 4-star when they really deserve a 5-star! Although their food looks very delicious I actually went at night when they transform it into a club type. The bartenders were so nice and attentive. At the door I was greeted by George who was amazingly friendly! What I really loved was the vibe and the music was great! The lighting was a bonus as well as the glowing sticks they handed out. Lastly, it was only $15 to enter which is $5 cheaper than other places! 10/10 recommend!

Judy Fernandez

An embarrassment to Real Cuban food! It was terrible! Starting with they “Mango butter.” The wicked flavors that are NOT in certain dishes in the Cuban cuisine were not a smart choice. If you’re going to Sell yourself as authentic then do just that! Do your research and then execute it properly. The worst Arroz con pollo ever! Pieces of dark chicken that were tough and tasted old and microwaved... actually looked like pork. The smoky chorizo taste in the Arroz con pollo is repugnant. All in all being a Cuban- American myself, I can tell you the disappointment and disgust of this experience was not what I was expecting. My family was not expecting neither... after all the great reviews. It’s Indicative that there’s not much knowledge in the area of real Cuban food. Wish you luck and definitely lots of changes need to happen! A friendly tip is to start with something as simple as “sauces.” A simple creamy Garlic sauce would be great or a minuto. Also the “fritura de malanga ( That sauce totally kills it) in a bad way!

Elena Anderson de Lay

Visited for a Friday happy hour and there were several options available on the HH menu but in smaller portions. I decided to order from the regular menu and the food was tasty. Many of the meat dishes are marinated in citrus juices so they have a slightly tart taste. The crab and guacamole dip has pineapple in it. Regular guacamole isn't available. The service was a little slow but the manager on duty checked in on us frequently which was helpful.

Linith Paltrow

We got there at 11pm. There were plenty of people eating but they quickly started pulling chairs from the bars. The DJ came out and the party started. They played spanish music and the crowd was fun and not too rowdy

C B

Everyone I was with loved what they ordered. Staff was very nice. But once items were ordered it took forever to be served.

Dawn Bellinger

Stopped in for drinks and ended up getting appetizers. Everything was cooked to perfection. It's pricey but worth it. This place is popular. Many people make reservations. We didn't but we had to sit at a high top.

Ahmad W. Hanif

Love the decor and ambiance of this place. I am used to Spanish (Spain food) food so the food was very close to it, but not quite. Delicious nonetheless! The servers are knowledgeable of the food so they can help you with any food questions. A bit pricey but definitely worth dinning at least once.

Lexy McCauley

Great food and service! Got the guac which was great for a personal main, and could be great to share with friends for an app. They have plantain chips with the guac and some of the mains, too!

Lulu ayala

My favorite Cuban food spot in DC. My boyfriend is Cuban so yeah, its the closest thing to Cuban food you’ll get around here. The staff is always friendly and the food is always good. Also, at night it becomes a nightclub. Music is okay but i wish they played more Salsa... they kind of get stuck on reggueton and bachata ...

Dondré S

Great venue, the food is also great. The restaurant feels authentic with all the decorations and plants/flowers. I had a great experience here our bar tender was very cool. He helped walk is threw the menu and explained everything in great detail. I also love that they have outdoor seating.

Madeline Alger

Fantastic food! Tastes like my mother's cooking, very authentic! Great atmosphere and superb service too!

Az A

The Happy Hour prices are actually a waste of money, and the drinks were not good. I only recommend the pineapple mojitos. The empanadas are terrible.

George Keane

Love the empanadas and mojitos! Always great food. Worth a visit, without a doubt.

Angelica Artiles

I’m from Miami and this lives up to its hype. Great food and even better service. Their Friday night is a salsa night and they have music and a “dance floor.” It’s a worthy homage of the Cuban culture. A true home away from home.

Kathie Keys

Loved this place! It was charming, the food was excellent and the service was great! Definitely will go back for date night.

Mandy M

First visit. The food just wasn't good. Immediately at the hostess stand we were asked about food allergies to which I responded yes raw onions. Mojito Awful. Watered down. Didn't taste mint, lime or rum...I have no idea what I drank tbh. Empanadas Combo of beef, pork and chicken. They all tasted the same and in one all I tasted was cheese and corn. Seafood Paella $33 Rice was super wet and bland Mussels were filled with sand...*crunch crunch crunch.* Clams were slimy Lobster was chewy Baby octopus was inedible, I chewed on this for awhile to get it down, couldn't spit it out with the person across from me also eating even though I really wanted to. Shrimp was the only item cooked properly Extremely overpriced for this low quality seafood Oh and the paella was covered in red raw onions...what was the point of asking for food allergies if you're going to kill me anyways? Service was sassy in a good way. Loved her.

Ellen Santistevan

Very very nice. Much more expensive than my usual fare but excellent for a treat. The ropa vieja was excellent. I recommend the dessert tapas for the table to share.

Charly Hinojosa

I came here to celebrate my birthday for brunch with a group of 12. My experience wasn't a good one. Although the food was okay (nothing special), i will not be coming back. The service i received by Ramon was not a good one. My friend ordered a dish that lacked in flavor, so she asked Ramon if she could switch it. He rolled his eyes at her and in a rude manner said okay. The mimosas were pretty much water with syrup and we didn't get them till after 30 mins of being seated. It took 40 mins for one of my friends dish to come out and another friend didn't receive it at all, we had to remind Ramon that she was missing her food. At the end, Ramon reminded each one of us how much we should tip. I was incredibly embarrassed that i brought family and friends to this restaurant. No server should never tell a customer how they should tip.

J W

Great drinks and appetizers! Has a fun welcoming environment.

Keiosha Hunt

This place far exceeded my expectations! The service was exemplary and so was the food. Great brunch deal and beautiful decor. My friend and I received the best service from Tara and Indigo. We will definitely be back. This place gives you Cuban vibes in the middle of the city. This is a must try!

Jeffrey Gomez

It isn't really authentic Cuban food but it's still pretty good.

Michaela Tourville

I had a great time here. My bartender and server was Lucas. He was fun to watch as he created tons of amazing drinks. He recommended wonderful food and drinks to match. It made my day to come here and to have Lucas as my bartender!

angabor

We were surprised to find a Cuban restaurant in DC, fair enough. We came from Florida and we now the taste of a good Cuban food The reason I give 3 stars is because we have to wait 30 min. because we arrived at 3:30 and they don't serve dinner before 4:00 and we also passed lunch time, so there is a gap between 3 to 4 were I guess you can't order food. Doesn't make sense to me, but that is the explanation they gave us.

jason hardy

Great decor and atmosphere. Perfect for after work happy hour.

jordan frye

Great service and wonderful decor. Dishes have authentic Cuban flavors. Price point is very reasonable

Roquois C

Went to Cuba for brunch and the food was great! Ben was our server and he was awesome! He was hella busy but so attentive to the table and super nice. Definitely going back and will ask for the same server! Drinks were really good too!

Yaritza Pena

The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Definitely would come back next time I'm in DC. Absolutely recommend!

marina harvey

If you want want to party. Go here. Leave your bad attitude and inhibitions at the door. Prepare to dance and smile.

Brian VanRobert

Found this place by simply walking by on the street. Best decision my famliy made on the vacation. The decor of the restaurant gave me the authentic cuban feel from the tables and chairs to the music. The food was cook to perfection steak was juicy and not tough. A little pricey two people ate and spent $78 BUT I will definitely be back to spend another $78.

SS D

Food was good especially the ribs. Good ambience and fairly fast service. It lost a few stars because our waiter,Sam, just didn’t want to be there and only did the bare minimum. We had an issue with the food and couldn’t find anyone to address it until the Manager was walking about checking on the diners. Our experience was a little underwhelming due to this.

Patricia

It was a very nice looking restaurant. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and it was as good as expected. Coffee was also very tasty.

Mark Graham

The guac with plantains was artistic. Tasty lunch combinations. Server was fantastic as was setting. Latin music and dance on Fridays and Saturdays with a DJ.

Francisco Paez

Awesome place! Great service. Tried the cubano sandwich: perfect! Great place to dance as well in some nights works as a salsa place

Frederick Ashby

My wife and I celebrated our fifth anniversary here and I think it was a great choice. The steak was exceptional, tender and perfectly seasoned for the chimichuri theme. The chief was kind enough to re-cook the steak because he wanted it to be a perfect medium, and gave us a free appetizer for the "trouble" -- we didn't even say anything about it and honestly wouldn't have been picky enough to care. That kind of care tells me know they have passion for what they do, and it truly shows in their dishes. They certainly have the best Cuban food I've personally ever had.

Amanda

We sat at the bar and the bartenders were great and they filled us in on how good their Mojitos are. So we ended up trying some of their Mojitos and they were delicious. The food was so good as well. We'll definitely visiting this restaurant again.

Molly Lutrey

I could find no fault! The food was absolutely delicious, the servers were kind and attentive, and the decor is phenomenal! We went for brunch and got their brunch special. Two plates of food plus a non-alcoholic drink for $23 per person. I will definitely go back soon.

Trish Nolan

Very delicious food, excellent service. Especially enjoyed the crocettas and the empanadas. The cocktails were on point, the pisco sour was expertly made.

Carlos Tigreros

While the service was timely, the speedy service falls flat when the meal is mediocre. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and the initial appearance of the sandwich was disappointing. The bread was hardly pressed, the flavor of the sandwich was bland. The meal falls really short to better Cuban sandwiches I have come across in Chicago, Miami, and Cuba.

Karen Healer

Delicious Cuban food and our waitress was outstanding, going though how the mojitos were arranged in the menu (sweetest to least sweet) as well as her favorite dishes, and she also seemed to know just when to check in and not. The main dining room is gorgeous though a little Lad Vegas feeling. There's a side dining room they is quieter but with less ambiance. There's dancing later in the evening. Highly recommended even for vegetarians.

Jason Riem

Cuba Libre is a really good place to get high quality Cuban food. Service is on point and presentation of the food is excellent. I do feel as though the value for the food would have been excellent at about ten percent less. If you are looking for quality food with no regard for price this is a quality choice. If you are more value conscious you might be happier with other options. The theming also adds a nice touch.

Davina Teter

We had great service here! Keisha was our waitress and she treated us as if we were family! She gave us delicious suggestions and recommendations for accompaniments. She was attentive. The food was amazing! Our party was thoroughly surprised, we all cleaned our plates! We made reservations for my husband's 30th birthday, and he was happy. It was also salsa night! Cute place, felt like you were in Cuba!

Darrel Mullis

This is by far some of the best and most authentic cuban food you will ever experience. Starting with the pineapple guacamole, black bean soup or toasted Cuban bread it’s fresh, full of flavor and satisfies everyone’s taste buds The Cuban sandwich is simply the best ever. The fresh fish sandwich is a real treat. The fresh spiced pineapple is off the charts full of great red pepper flavor The only disappointing part was the service during both of my recent visits. The wait staff was very aloof and acted as though they were doing a big favor to provide service to the table or bar. They are knowledgeable but not friendly

Chuck Friesema

The lechon asada meal was very delicious. Also had the flan for dessert

Patricia Havens

Great place for Fun and food the staff was accommodating and professional and fun. happy-hour is superb great portion sizes try the sampler definitely will be back when I visit Washington

William Faulkner

From the moment you walk in you see you're in for an experience. My first time here I tried the empanadas, each of which are good enough to stand on their own. They make a cup of coffee that has coconut milk in it which is absolutely worth trying. With the chocolate torte. Or the flan. Or anything on the dessert menu.

Ceci Guarin

The food was excellent and the ambiance absolutely amazing!!! Coming back soon.

Brittchanging Daily

Bartender Johnathan was amazing! Not only did he make sure that our drinks were delivered to us fast but he also made sure that our food came fast as well!! Will always look for Johnathan every time I go

bonnie bernau

From the moment you enter, you'll feel as if you're at a festive street cafe! Traditionally-inspired, yet modern & unique Cuban dishes (including vegetarian variations of empanadas & paella) will satisfy any diner! Be sure to try their impressive variety of cocktails, sangria, mojitos, and margaritas! Even though we arrived between brunch & dinner, thanks to a welcoming greeter & personable waiter Steven, our visit & meal was very memorable.

Johanna Morales

Good music. Good drinks. Good atmosphere

Jacob Kuba

The atmosphere is very nice. It makes you feel like you're somewhere else!

Denton Cohen

Unbelievable food and great service. Prepare to spend ~$50 for two people, but also prepare for that to be totally worth it!

Anthony Munns

Liked it a lot. Friendly staff. Excellent classic Cuban fare. I had the burger which had a wonderful tangy sauce, and came with tasty plantain chips. My colleague had a Cubano sandwich which was good too. Cuban coffee of course. Reasonably priced in an expensive part of town. Well worth a visit.

Mariel Lopez

We went there for lunch on a Friday. The place is beautiful and the food was very tasty. It is a little pricy but considering the location is okay. The service was good and or server was very nice. The desert was delicious!

Sarah Saunders

We loved this place! Food was delicious and service was good. The crab guac is amazing. Cuban sandwich was awesome.

Tiffany Crawford

Birthday dinner. Had a great time. Great waitress and great atmosphere. Crowd was very diverse. Great place to go and just have a good time with friends or a date. Go for dinner and stay for dancing.

Bryan Doyon

Excellent Cuban food packed with flavor and great drinks. The food is both comforting and creative and each dish has great quality ingredients. Service is fast and friendly but the place can get busy and chaotic at times so you might have to wait initially to get seated. An excellent place for date night or with groups.

Yulun Hsieh

the happy hour cocktail and food are reasonably priced and tastes great

Robyn Richards

My all time favorite rum bar. Got a sweet hookup here, created great memories. And there's rum flights!

Carlos Brito

Server was extremely courteous, attentive and charismatic. Keesha was her name I believe and she was training someone. Chicken and waffles was amazing but I didn't take a picture; I forgot. It was a slightly spicy boneless piece of chicken which I prefer. Some people say the bone gives the flavor but it was very tasty with the rum infused maple syrup. Mango pieces on the dish give it an exotic/unique spin. You'll love it.

Nana Kwame

Great food and the music is

Bree Lavonia

Decent food, terrible service. The waiter actually told me to stop trying so hard when pronouncing the dishes names, served us our split appetizer with no side plates, served us our entree with no utensils (we ended up waiting 10 minutes to receive them) and only checked up with us once. wouldn’t recommend.

linda erdinc

could find no fault! The food was absolutely delicious, the servers were kind and attentive, and the decor is phenomenal! We went for brunch and got their brunch special. Two plates of food plus a non-alcoholic drink for $23 per person. I will definitely go back soon.

den chip

I loved the place! They have salsa dance night on Friday, and the food is quite good. I would recommend it.

Octavia Robinson

I didnt really have a good time here. My father in law brought me here for my anniversary since my husband is currently deployed. Our waiter kept forgetting to bring us extra things that we ordered. I had ordered a coke, but didnt say anything when he forgot because I shouldn't be drinking soda anyway. So I just sipped on my water. The music was loud and the atmosphere was party like. The restaurant also turns into a night club at night. If you're looking for a party place to hit up to eat but also have a good time, then this is the place for you. But if you're more quiet and not with the hype ALL. THE. TIME, then do yourself a favor and stay away.

Anne Margaret White

Absolutely the best mojitos I've ever tasted. Bar staff was helpful and engaging. Would be back this weekend if we loved in DC!

Jason Tussing

The food was amazing. This is a great place if you want to get authentic Cuban food. However, the service was terrible. We waited for a long time for the waiter. Then we ordered our food, which actually came out very quickly. So much that we didn't have time to eat the appetizers. Our waiter was too busy flirting with the girls at the next table to refill our waters. When we asked for the check it took over 30 minutes and he didn't bring the correct checks. Also, for a rum bar they have an embarrassingly small selection of rum.

Debbie McDonough

Food and service were excellent!

Ben

It's like if Disney made a Havana theme park. Nice staff and good drinks, but very weird vibe.