Renowned forerunner in the beverage industry Juan Coronado and partner Daniella Senior announced the opening of Colada Shop in Washington, D.C., a concept that blends together the contemporary lifestyles of Washingtonians with the Cuban traditions of starting and ending the day.
Paying homage to this Caribbean way of doing coffee, food, cocktails and social lifestyle, Colada Shop is a casual café and eatery where guests come for the quality of offerings and the unmatched hospitality. The second location of Colada Shop opened February 1, at 1405 T St NW.
“We are very excited to come to DC and to this incredible and dynamic neighborhood,” says Senior. “This second outpost will be a much cozier interpretation of our sister location in Loudoun County but will have the same energy, vibrancy, and—of course—incredible Cuban bites and drinks.”
Seating around 15 guests indoors (and additional 16 patio seating starting in the spring), guests will be able to delight in an ingeniously crafted menu by Executive Chef Mario Monte and an exceptional beverage program conceived by Juan Coronado. Featured small bites in the menu include the Colada Shop Cuban (slow roasted pork shoulder, Swiss cheese, cured ham, pickles and a signature mojo sauce), as well as reinterpreted comfort nibbles like the Caribbean style pastelitos (pastries filled with tropical flavors such as guava, sweet cream cheese, and Cuban meat pie) and a variety of the iconic Cuban-fritters known as croquetas (ham, chicken and seasonal flavor).
Food items will be priced between $2 and $11. For those wanting to indulge in a Cuban feast at the comfort of their homes or businesses, this DC location will be the hub for Colada Shop’s catering services. For a quintessential Cuban breakfast, guests can order specials such as Spanish Style Tortillas and Tostadas (6-8 ppl $30); House Made Mango, Coconut and Almond Granola with Yogurt Parfait (6pp $15). For a hearty lunch, featured small bites include classic Cuban sandwiches (10 whole sandwiches for $95); as well as reinterpreted comfort nibbles like empanadas ($22 per dozen).
Enthused by the rich history of Cuba and by the lively main street, Calle Ocho (or 8th street), in Miami’s Little Havana, the beverage program will feature 8 specialty cocktails all priced at $8. Guests can anticipate a selection of classics and originals such as the Daiquiri (white rum, lime juice, cane sugar syrup); Hotel Nacional (white rum, dark rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice, lime, apricot puree); Mary Pickford (white rum, pineapple, grenadine, maraschino); Piña Colada (white rum, coconut cream, pineapple, lime); Tumbao (classic piña colada with amaro float); Mojito (white rum, lime, cane sugar syrup, mint, soda); Cuba Libre (dark rum, Mexican coke, angostura); Cáscara Old Fashioned (aged dark rum, sweet vermouth, cascara syrup, angostura). In addition, a selection of local and national brews, seasonal concoctions, house-made soft drinks, and specialty coffees will also be featured on the menu priced between $6-$11.
Central to Colada Shop will be the Cuban-inspired coffee menu, which will include an array of caffeinated drinks such as the typical Cuban coffee, the Colada, which is 4oz of Cuban-style espresso traditionally meant to be shared. Sharing a colada remains a prominent social and cultural activity and is customary of workplace breaks in Cuban communities.
Other coffee drinks offered include Café con Leche – a Latin Latte with a shot of Café Cubano and hot steamed milk; Cortadito—an espresso with a splash of steamed evaporated milk and foam; and Café Bon Bo—an espresso with sweetened condensed milk. Coffee drinks will be priced between $2.50 and $6.50. “Cuban food is filled with stories and has always been the perfect expression of their culture,” says Senior. “Cubans are passionate about food and sharing it is something they truly love. Our hope is that the spirit of Colada Shop is that of keeping Cuba close to our hearts and that our blenders and espresso machines like conversations are continuously buzzing at this place.”
