Colada Shop debuts in DC this week, as Juan Coronado and Daniella Senior open their 2nd area location at 1405 T St. NW. Expect an instant neighborhood favorite in the form of an all day coffee shop and eatery turned afternoon and evening cocktail joint.
The focus is first and foremost on the coffee menu. This includes the signature 4oz Colada, a sharable Cuban-style espresso. But there’s a full lineup of coffee concoctions which cover all the coffee-house classics, as well as a range of others with distinct Cuban vibes, such as the Cortadito, Cafe Cubano, or the Chocolate de la Abuela, a classic Cuban hot chocolate. They’ll also be serving their house Havana coffee blend.
When it’s time to switch from caffeine to booze—typically my favorite time of the day—you’ll find a selection of affordable beer and wine, as well as eight signature cocktails, each priced at just $8. Dubbed the Calle Ocho cocktail menu, it’s named in honor of Little Havana’s main street.
Here you’ll find classics, such as precisely made, beautifully crisp Daiquiris, as well as Pina Coladas and Mojitos, along with options such as the Hotel Nacional, with two types of rum, apricot liqueur and puree, pineapple juice and lime, and the Cascara Old Fashioned, a rum riff to the original made with cascara syrup and house coffee bitters.
In the kitchen, executive chef Mario Monte offers a range of small bites, such as the house Colada Shop Cuban sandwich, with slow roasted pork shoulder, ham, mojo sauce, pickles, and Swiss cheese, several varieties of croquetas and empanadas, and a lineup of pastelitos, stuffed Caribbean pastries.
In the morning, you’ll be able to order from a light breakfast lineup to go with your coffee. Options here include breakfast sandwiches, as well as Spanish-style tortilla omelettes, granola, or simply traditional Tostada, toasted Cuban bread topped with butter, jam, or avocado and tomato salad. Small baked treats will also be available to go, and they’re offering catering for hungry office crowds in search of a hearty breakfast or lunch.
While space is currently limited to just 15 seats indoors, with a small patio out front when weather permits, there’s already an expansion plan in place. Expect a 20-seat lounge to be added within four to six weeks, and an open rooftop by April.
Whenever you stop in, expect a lively, friendly vibe, replete with Cuban music to help get you moving until your caffeine fix does. Or one of those $8 Calle Ocho cocktails, which I know I’ll be coming back for. Visit ColadaShop.com for more information.
