Cafe Citron

Wow, what a fun experience. While Ive heard about the dancing at night, I decided to try it for their food. With great happy hour menus (theres a main one and one each day and different times 6-8, and 7-9), it offers a diverse selection of food.I shared a Planchitas Sampler with one other person and it was a perfect amount of food. While usually not a fan of chicharrón, I really enjoyed theirs, but was not a big fan of the chicken. I did enjoy the yuca and plantains!For the drinks, the Bichota is on the sweeter side but otherwise a fun drink and the one Id recommend

Its a decent place to go to. The music is good & the staff is excellent. The problem tends to be the crowd who cant handle their liquor. I know this is common but it seems a bit higher here. Its not a place for you to go if your 30+

I went only for the club experience.Overall it was good. No cover on the Friday night I went. It started to fill up more later in the night. It seems like an older crowd, like a lot of 26+.Music was alright, a lot of what I think latin songs over EDM beats, personally I like more reggaeton. We didn’t hear any bachata though :( just salsa and merengue.They have 3 different floors which is cool.

Great place for dancing and meeting people. Been going there for 7 years off-and-on.As of recently (5/4/24) - stay clear or be wary of petite short blonde bartender (on highest floor; although she probably rotates between the floors).She bumped into a female customer and called security to handle the situation as opposed to apologizing and continuing about her business. Security asked customer to leave.

My friend needed water and we were told by our bartender we can not order water without purchasing another drink after we had already ordered drinks with the bartender. The service was not great and at one point i was almost charged $8 after going back and forth over a cup of water my friend needed. As a place that serves alcohol i would expect them to be able to spare a cup of water but all the bartenders cared about was trying to make us pay and refused us water AFTER already having drinks ordered

Step Up Your Nightlife at Cafe Cintron: A Sizzling Experience of Free Salsa Lessons, Outstanding Food, and VIP Treatment!I recently had the pleasure of visiting Cafe Cintron in DC and I must say, it was an incredible experience! My fiancé and I attended the free salsa dance lessons, which were so much fun and really made our night memorable. We even got to celebrate her birthday and the staff went above and beyond to make us feel like VIPs.The food at Cafe Cintron was outstanding. Each dish was made with care and attention to detail, and the flavors were just perfect. From the appetizers to the main course, everything was top-notch. The menu is diverse, with options to suit every taste bud.The music was another highlight of our visit. The ambiance was lively, and the selection of music kept us entertained throughout the night. We could not resist getting up and dancing to the rhythms of the Latin beats.Overall, I highly recommend Cafe Cintron to anyone looking for a memorable night out in DC. The combination of great food, lively music, and friendly staff make it the perfect destination for any occasion. I will definitely be back and look forward to experiencing the amazing atmosphere all over again.

Came here for the beautiful decor and lively atmosphere but the food was surprisingly really great. Im still thinking about that lomo saltado! Came here in a large group for dinner so we sat on the balcony. Drinks were strong and although the food took a while to come out, the lomo saltado, beef/chicken empanadas, and tacos were all great. Service was also great (I think being up in the balcony leads to more attentive service because the bartender is right next to you). Music is very loud so dont come here if you want to have a conversation, but the dancing started around 10-11.

What a great bar! they do salsa lessons in the basement and the place opens up over 3 stories. Great service and guaranteed a fun night.

Clubby atmosphere with GREAT Latin music, amazing food, killer happy hour deals, and excellent service! The Latin hot dogs and beef arepa are both fantastic and a steal (2 hot dogs for $8 in THIS town??), plus happy hour is every night from 6 to 8. We were there pretty early for just dinner, but it would be an epic dance spot later in the night. 10/10 cant wait to go back!

Came at about 8pm on a Friday and host was very accommodating for a a table of 6. Food was great, drinks were well mixed, music lends a fun atmosphere. Even with my minor kids they were spot on with service and accomodations. Water was always topped off and the couple of mixed drinks were spectacular. Thank You Citron staff for a pleasant dinner with a sound track to liven up any meal.

The food is delicious but the music targets the teenager crowd who takes over the cafe, after 10pm. This place is not a traditional Hispanic restaurant or club... not in the price, music selection, or crowds. Not recommended for people above 20 looking for a traditional Hispanic local.

I had an appalling experience at Café Citron recently, primarily due to the behavior of one of the bartenders, a blonde woman. Upon attempting to navigate through the crowded space, she forcefully shoved me aside without any courtesy, prompting me to politely ask for an apology. Instead of acknowledging her actions, she proceeded to yell at me and even threatened to involve security.To add insult to injury, when I attempted to address the issue, she blatantly shifted blame onto me, refusing to take any accountability for her disrespectful behavior. This was witnessed not only by my friends but also by other bystanders present. Despite the clear evidence of her misconduct, the bouncers unjustly ejected me from the premises, citing reasons that remain unclear to me.Furthermore, the managers lack of concern regarding the incident was deeply disappointing. Its disheartening to see such disregard for customer satisfaction and basic human decency. Moreover, the consistent rudeness displayed towards me and my friends, who are Afro-Latinx, raises concerns of discrimination based on ethnicity, especially considering the bartenders differential treatment towards patrons with fair skin and fine hair.In conclusion, my experience at Café Citron was marred by unprofessionalism, disrespect, and apparent discrimination. Its imperative for establishments like Café Citron to prioritize inclusivity and address such instances of misconduct promptly. I sincerely hope that steps will be taken to rectify these issues and ensure a welcoming environment for all patrons in the future.

Visited August 2017 2nd best tamales on the planet next to my Mom!!! Hope you still offer them

I went for the first time to Cafe Citron Friday night and the vibes were amazing! Stephanie was my dance partner the whole night from behind the bar. She made it so fun. 10/10 will be back

The tacos are so delicious! Eric makes the best margaritas and mister Torrico is lit 🔥

Great place for night life … great music and atmosphere 🙌🏼 been going there for long time already. Very recommended

The place to be for some latin dacing in DC - havent been there in the last 8 years bit Im sure it will be the same!

We had a great time dancing! Unfortunately, we had to be confined to the basement dance floor, but for good reason - upstairs was too full! Nonetheless, I would not have had the best bartender Rica who was extremely attentive, friendly and on top of her game. Music was really fun and others on the dance floor were generally friendly. Good times! Cant speak about the food, as we did not eat.

Such a great vibe. Good drinks, good people and good music. The owner is an amazing woman. I went there by myself and was totally safe and comfortable and left with new friends.

Nice to place to dance ,

Only let us downstairs :( smelled like bo but its usually fun

If you are in the area I suggest checking out this place for free salsa and bachata lessons. The instructor was really encouraging, patient with all attendees, and kind. This place has great service and drinks!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars: Decent Yucca Fries with Pork Chicharron**The yucca fries with pork chicharron were decent, but the pork was overcooked and dry, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the dish.⭐️⭐️ Stars: Disappointing Beef Empanada**While the exterior of the beef empanada looked appetizing, the inside was disappointingly cold, lowering the rating of this dish to 2 stars.⭐️ Star: Unacceptable Citron Buffalo Wings**The Citron Buffalo Wings started promisingly, but most of them were undercooked, posing a health risk. I can not recommend consuming undercooked chicken, warranting this dish only 1 star.Despite these shortcomings, the white rice and black beans were satisfactory. However, the uncomfortable experience of interacting with staff regarding the undercooked food, coupled with the mandatory 20% tip policy, diminishes the overall dining experience at Cafe Citron.If you get there early enough, they sometimes host free salsa dancing lessons in the basement.

Great safe environment to enjoy with friends. Good drinks & great mixed of music.

Stumbled across this place, and it is one of the few restaurants that are opened during covid-19. This place has excellent vibes, their happy hour is amazing such as their mojitos and their margaritas.

Last night, my friends and I visited Cafe Citron to celebrate a birthday. Unfortunately, upon reaching the entrance, we were denied entry by the bouncers, citing that we were not dressed appropriately. I must emphasize that each member of our group was attired in button-up shirts and khakis, adhering to what we believed to be the establishments dress code.What was particularly disheartening was witnessing the bouncers allowing entry to other patrons who, like us, were dressed in casual attire, yet they happened to be Latin American. It was evident that there was a discrepancy in the application of the dress code, which made our denial feel discriminatory and unjust.As someone who values equality and fairness, this experience left me deeply concerned. I believe that every customer should be treated fairly and respectfully, regardless of their background or appearance. Such incidents can tarnish the reputation of an otherwise esteemed establishment like Cafe Citron.

Best bar in the DMV. Music is lively, bartenders are friendly, and the empanadas are to die for. Can’t wait to go back when the pandemic is over.

Never a dull moment when you come here. Has to be my favorite Latin bar/ club in DC. They have many different events during the week and an extensive happy hour menu. Expect a long wait here on the weekends. They have 2 dance floors here and the place usually gets really tight.

A real Latin American style club (at least late night). Busy, bustling, crowded, pulsing latin beats, well-dressed pretty people, people dancing on the booths, staff dancing on the bar-- its easily the closest Ive found in the area (maybe in the US) to the dance clubs Ive seen in Latin America.Theres 3 levels, a quieter basement, a high-ceiling main floor, and a part-floor overlook upstairs. I love this sort of layout, rather than just one big room.Its not perfect-- service varies a lot depending on the bartender and the crowd. Mixed drinks feel like short pours. The bathroom situation is not great. And those crowds can make it hard to move. But if you know what a proper latin club feels like, youll enjoy what Cafe Citron has to offer.

Good vibe and good food. Definitely a place I will visit again, staff is friendly and music is great. After 9:30 pm the vibes gets better. Recommended

Had a great time on a Wednesday evening taking a free dance class! People were ultimately friendly and just overall had a great time! Go for the free dance classes! You’re sure to have an awesome time!

Do not go out here!!! Go out literally anywhere else In Dupont. They overpack the venue. My wallet was pick-pocketed here. One out of the 6 security guards actually cared when I approached them about my wallet being gone. None of them helped me even glance to see if they could use their flashlight to check areas. Zero empathy. Zero concern. They truly did not care and treated me like an inconvenience. My friends and I did the work of actually looking. At the end of the night we had a security guard even talking about us and laughing about us to a CUSTOMER, thinking we wouldnt turn around and see him laughing at us. When I asked if there was a number I could call first thing in the morning to see if it was turned in they told rudely me no and I can call them Wednesday night. What kind of business does not care to have customers reach out for lost items first thing in the morning? After speaking with multiple people about this place, Cafe Citron is known for being a place to get your things stolen. Do yourself a favor and go to other Latin night clubs.

Good drinks and good music. Vibe was great but food was disgusting. Youll come here to hang out with drinks and do a little dancing with friends/ppl but you wont come here for the food.

Went for a night out with friends and it was okayyy. No cover and decent line. I like the vibes in the lower floor. Second floor was very tight/crowded while third floor was pretty empty if you wanted to get some dancing in. Liked the Latin music though! Drinks super expensive

Went here for happy hour with my friend - staff was very friendly and attentive. Happy hour deals went until 8, which is much later than most DC happy hours! Food was good and drinks were strong, and they even offered free salsa classes!

Never in my life have i been denied water by a bartender. they said there was a $5 minimum for water. that has to be illegal??? i had already purchased a drink downstairs but the lady upstairs refused to provide me any tap water. i just looked at her & walked away.

This is hands down the best place you can be at on the weekend, the food was delicious and after the party began it was insane

Service was fantastic! Great ambience. Loved the dance classes.

The place is cute but I had a frustrating experience w/ the service they gave me. I asked for a White sangría and they served me a orange Juice w/alcohol. I felt horrible and left.

Our waiter was great (sorry I dont remember her name). But once it turned into the night club, 2 girls starting arguing with my friends and they went up to the securities to tell them we were throwing drinks at them. The security guy came just to kick us out. Never asked for our side of the story, neither they checked the cameras to make sure what really happened. Wonder if they automatically sided with the 2 girls because they were white and we were Hispanics. Although its supposed to be a latin night club. Not coming back here, yall should do better before kicking your good customers out.

The best combination skirt steak taco, flour tortilla with a some of spicy jalapeño on top, pretty good combination and a Flor de caña on the rocks. Something I didnt expected. I love it!! The music pretty good really good BPM.

Good place to dance and if you come for happy HR you can have small plates of authentic South American cuisine, excellent music. Cons small place and always crowded

Rating as a nightclub. Visiting from San Diego. Drinks were alright. You’ll get charged 20% tip automatically. (Guess it’s a DC thing). The main floor felt too crowded and music was way too loud. Music was good when I got there (salsa, merengue) then they played reggaeton for the longest, but no one was really dancing.The place is good to grab a few drinks, but it wouldn’t be my first choice to spend a night there.

Used to be one of my favorite places. I went expecting at least one bachata song and didn’t get it. It was also ridiculously packed to the point you can’t even dance or even walk around. I would leave and go back in one night hoping for it to get better and it did not.

I am here almost every other Tuesday for the Cuban music and dancing on the third floor. The event is Agua Night and its hosted by Alex. If you like Casinos Rueda, a little Son, Timba and latest from Cuba, this is your stop. There is also Salsa at the basement level and Bachata on the ground floor. Whichever floor you pick, no mater the night you go dancing, youd love the free lesson and and the festive atmosphere. Its cozy hot and good fun - just like the Caribbean! (Couldnt share the video)

I bought a ticket to a Bar Crawl. It was okay. I didnt get to try any of the food.

Good vibes but super crowded Saturday night. Got there around 11, not a bad line. Went pretty fast. Long line after 12am.FYI they charge gratuity automatically with card. One drink $17 total.

Came with a group of four after a conference. Our waiter was great. The food was good, too.

Be prepared for a club vibe. Good food and music, just didnt look closely enough at the website beforehand to know people would be dancing next to my table. Still a good time though, looked especially fun for those celebrating a birthday.

I danced the night away constant great dancing music that flowed to the next. This was my second time there once the weekend before the world shutdown in March 2020 and recently August 28. I enjoyed myself both nights. The bartenders were friendly and engaging with the music. I enjoyed playing the congas which make you feel welcoming and apart of the atmosphere there

My phone got pickpocketed while I was ordering a drink. Management did not do anything.

A nice place to go on a Friday or Saturday night to grab a drink and enjoy Latino and dance music. You will have loads of fun if u enjoy a place thats high pace and upbeat coupled with pulsating rhythm.

The food is good and the place very fun.

Three level club. Different free style music on 2 floors. Lower level offers free Salsa/Latin dance (group)classes early evening. Call to check days & hours for classes. Upper level offers intimate bar, and smaller dance floor.

Great bar and happy hour drinks are GREAT! Good atmosphere and just fun and friendly staff. Will be back!

I went here on a late Friday night and we had such a great time. They play mostly Latin music(reggaetón and salsa) There is 3 floors you can dance in after dinner service is over. It’s a pretty small place but they make good use of space, there is also a bar on every level. The drinks are really strong and fairly priced. I will definitely be back again.

I went to this restaurant last night, Friday, Feb. 7. Hands down the best customer service in the district. From the bouncer to the manager and server, everyone was pleasant to be around and made my dinner a great experience. I will definitely be back and recommend this spot to anyone wanting to be around good people and have a good time. The food was also great, I had the tacos. They came out quick and at a good price. The restaurant turned into a club closer to 11, and the bartender was very attentive to all of his guests. I didnt see anyone waiting for a drink or not getting five star service. Best staff! Thank you guys for making my Friday!

Salsa classes with Orlando were awsome. He really breaks the ice and gives clear instructions. Upstairs is also a mood after classes. The music is on point and the crowd is equally nice and high energy. My group went up to close out our tap and headout but ended up staying an extra 20mins because it was so fun. I definitely plan to go again.

Amazing place!!! The real Latin experience in DC!The staff are so nice, the food is incredible and all makes me feel in Colombia♥️

I greatly enjoyed this place, the ambiance and the disposition of the staff upon my visit. As background, I am married 40 year old on solo vacation in DC and wanted to just find a place to grab a few drinks and people watch. I like observing from the corner so I have detailed review to provide. My real party days are over so I cant handle certain kinds of places where the crowd get too rowdy or raunchy or where the bouncers are not doing their jobs of keeping things in check. I ended up here by happenstance after wandering the area, which is very lively at night on the weekends. This place was certainly a great party and I will be back.Being from Miami, I was pleasantly surprised with the mix of music, which really had everything including hispanic music with it. The DJ was certainly very good and kept a solid flow song to song without missing a beat all night. I was there from about 11 to 2 and I dont think he took a break or left his post for even once.The entire staff was very polite: all the bartenders and servers to the bouncers at the door and also the manager that kept going back and forth to check on things.The bartenders and servers did their jobs incredibly well here imo. As a manager within different industry, I know the value efficiency and human relations. As I observed, they excelled at it. The male bartender in particular had incredible enthusiasm throughout the night and was rallying the crowd with free shots at one point - he even noticed me, the old curmudgeon being quiet and made it point to get to me take one. All the bartenders/servers were super quick on the drinks and were dancing all night with the crowd. There was never more than a 1 minutes wait for me to get a drink and most of the time, they noticed when my beer was low and would ask if wanted another before I could, even though this place had a good crowd upstairs and downstairs.The drink prices are exactly what youd expect for a bar/club in DC. They were slightly less here than at other bars Ive been to but the drink costs are what they are in this town.Over the course of the evening, the crowd thickened. What I liked alot about this place is that it was a very heterogeneous crowd - from young 20-somethings to 30-somethings to a few over 40s and 50s. It was good mix of people that allowed even me, alone, to be comfortable and engage in conversation with many people throughout the night.The bouncers also deserve praise here. I spent time outside as well (smoking is not permitted indoors). First, they were polite and professional at the door as you enter. I observed them observing the room like hawks throughout the night and doing rounds. They were always with a smile and quietly going around and actually helping the servers/bartenders clean up finished drinks and little messes or answer questions or help drunk patrons. They did alot of little things that was able to keep the place in the right mood. And the way the handled the patrons that got too drunk impressed me most. They would spot them seemingly just at the right time and before a problem could occur. It was Disney-like in this regards. They were friendly in bringing them outside and explaining the issue and asking them to leave. This of course happened a couple of times but it was never a problem - everyone left with a smile with their a friend or two to make sure they got where they needed to go. No single drunk patron was removed that didnt have someone to care for them. These bouncers were good.Indeed, all of the employees were great. They deserve their paychecks.10 out of 10 would recommend again.

Free dance lessons Monday but not enough people for a dance partner. No beers on tap, just bottles she cans. Margarita was good. Staff is friendly, but prices are a little high except on Happy Hour. I had large chicken nachos $8 but there wasnt much meat in it. 3.5 stars round up to 4.

Would not let me in with legitimate NC ID.

Great place for a date night or just to hang out. Took a date here and did Salsa and Bachata lessons and dancing. Just great.

Very good place if you want to dance and Latino music. Great mix of reggaeton, salsa, bachata...there is a second room that plays commercial modern music, so anyone can fit in!Love the cocktails too !

Ive been coming here for over 20 years, same good music and atmosphere. It seems a bit disorganized when it comes to getting a table there, staff operates on different pages also prices should disclosed for all menu items. It is very confusing, I ordered a pitcher a mojito from a menu the bar tender recommended which said it was $35 when I got my bill it was $54. Kinda ruined my first time back to this place, its not the money but the principal of it. I felt the bartender hustled me

If youre new to DC and looking for chilled vibes in the early evening and a party later that night this is definitely the place to go. The bartender are super friendly the drinks are amazing. Just a reall great atmosphere, it caught me off guard but i really enjoyed myself. Good priced food and drinks. Favorite drink was a Moscow Mule

They barely played any Latin music. We payed over $400 to let us in because although their dress code is casual our friend was wearing JEAN shorts and they wouldn’t let us in unless we paid for a bottle that was over $200 because he was a man. They wouldn’t let us use the bathroom and they play favorites with Jackie and her buddy boys. It’s ridiculous. Even during Hispanic heritage month, they have NO RESPECT for our culture or our people.

Great music and atmosphere. Delicious Manhattan! The music served up by the DJ and further enhanced by the rhythmic bongo drums was a perfect combo.All of the above AND dance lessons downstairs for those so inclined to succumb to the rhythm and dance the night away.Good night made better by a great place!

Went there to dance the night away with my friends. This place turns into a dance club, once the restaurant part closes for the evening. I love their dance music! Had a great time! Although, the place is quite small and can get very crowded and stuffy.

Great salsa DJ and dancing!

This past weekend, I went for my friends birthday and a good time. But thats just us, we can have a good time anywhere we go. The problem we had was with the bartenders and security.Drinks here arent strong and pretty expensive. the bartender lady on the second floor seemed to want to save on the amount of liquor poured.The 1st floor is extremely crowded and small. It causes people to push against each other and get anxious/angry. My friends got pulled into a fight as we walked through the crowd. The security immediately grabbed the African Americans in the crowd (including some of my friends) and threw them out. They admitted that they took them out first. Management even apologized which was appreciated, but it was an empty apology.Like I said, we had fun, but be careful. Its better to spend your night elsewhere in the city.

Food and service were GREAT; however, the basement was a little smelly with a mildew smell, but other than that I had a great time for being my 1st time there.

This is for the club. The music is great. Apparently though, they will restrict water unless you continue to buy alcohol. I do believe this is ilegal no? Very disappointed that this establishment would withhold water from people who need it. To quote the bartender: I cant keep feeding you water all night.

This place was a lot of fun. Got there about 8:30 on a Friday, as expected it didnt get busy until later. Bartenders were really friendly, first margarita I ordered was good. The second one, a different bartender made and it was lot stronger. For under $8 it was worth it. The main level they clear out the tables and play latin music, great for salsa dancing. The basement is small but they have a bar down there and play more current, rap/edm music. Bartenders were giving out free shots. It was a blast, would definitely be going back. Didnt order a meal but the chips and salsa were a good snack with our drinks.

This may be the best nightclub for the Hispanic community! However, they did make numerous discriminatory decisions against Deaf/HH partygoers. I went there many times, but the bartender was very busy and stressed. Too bad! We are using our phone to communicate what kind of drinks we want. Thats extremely easy to read to allow them understand, rather than screaming at their ears for their damn drinks. All of a sudden, the woman quickly waved/flipped our phone. She mentioned, I cannot communicate with you because you cannot hear. Oh, this is 2022! There are many devices and apps to communicate with each other. Lets preparty first, then enter that bar without asking them for a drink. They are extremely rude.

I love going here because they have a decent priced happy hour. Only negative is that I wish they had more comfortable chairs around the bar area. Id love to come by for a free class. The servers are very kind. My friend got suddenly ill (not Cafe Citron food/drink related) and we had to assist him. I believe the manager was an angel! She stayed with him until he recovered enough to get him home. Ill forever support them for that! Thank you!

Not very “Latino” if all they play is tecno in the main and 1st floor.Basement is supposed to be playing salsa but people’s voices were louder than the music, so bad for a dancing place

Disappointing night for this club. Wouldn’t let group in because one person was wearing shorts in summer weather. Said you can buy $200 bottle if you want to get in. Not worth it. Can find good Latin music or request it elsewhere.

Always count on having a dream time here for Saturday night. No cover allows for the place to get crowded quick, still space to walk and dance, recommend going to the top floor or the bottom floor for more space. The drinks are good and so far no issues with bartenders, they tend to get the drink you want quick.

Hadnt been here before despite doing the Dupont area bar crawl quite a few times. First time visitor, and absolutely regretted not going here before. The place was phenomenal and the music was on point. Crowd was really nice and so were the bartenders. Might be the new favorite spot.

Horrible experience, smells like trash and the VIP area is a joke.

Great music, a must go spot during the weekends. Good happy and really good food. This place has been a favorite of mine for many years. Definitely worth checking out if you want to drink eat and dance.

The five stars aren’t for the drinks, nor for the food, rather they are for the nice atmosphere and the amazing Wednesday salsa classes led by Orlando. The energy this guy brings is just amazing, and his approach to teaching is definitely memorable. Not to be misunderstood over the food and drinks, they aren’t bad, 3 stars maybe but my view to things is that such a nice environment adds to the taste of food and drinks, and therefore the entire experience is totally five stars. Go there and support this place and if you like to learn salsa, absolutely go there.

Wouldn’t let me in because I was wearing shorts during the end of the summer. However, the bouncer insisted that the only way to get in with my friends was by buying bottle service - worth $200. Definitely sad that the few good Latino bars in the area are behaving this way.

Great place for dancing if youre looking for somewhere with Spanish music. They mix in some other stuff as well and its packed most of the time. Didnt try any drinks, but will be back next time!

LOVE this Latin dive bar, they try to be fancy but theyre not. Really its just a good place to get sweaty while dancing on an overcrowded dance floor. I always have fun here, wouldnt recommend them for dinner.

It was interested in this place because of Salsa dancing. Friendly crowd, and friendly dance teacher, it actually turned out good for my first experience in D.C. I would come back here again because a good experience of dancing at this place. What friendly scene I loved here.

My friends and I had a fun night here visiting from NC! The music was a vibe and the people were friendly including the manager and bouncer! It’s free of cost which makes it better. If you’re looking for a place to have a fun night out, this is it! Will go back whenever I visit DC again 🤩✌🏼

Food was good, and the atmosphere was upbeat. The crowd was mostly younger folks, but it was not exclusively so. The only downside was that the bartender was inattentive and rude. He seemed far more interested in flirting with female clientele than doing his job.

I have been a regular person in this restaurant/ bar attending their salsa and bachata classes. Orlando and Orianna are great instructors, but the owner Jacky is very rude. She wanted me to buy a drink every hour when I was in the bar, despite I buy a drink everytime when I attend the class to support them, even though I dont drink. Also, some bouncers are nice and keep it gentleman and respectful, but most of them are very rude and their goal is to hit on girls and take them home. I highly recommend you check out other places such as The Salsa room, Public Bar or Bistro or Sauf Haus as the same instructors teach there too, but the owners and bouncers are very friendly and nice to you and they have great food and ambience.

Looks like a little hole in the wall, but the food is really good...sucks that they only serve the chicken dish on certain days of the week. The drinks are good. Monday night dancing in the basement is fun as well...they should turn the upstairs space into a standing bar area or something though...oh and remodel the bathrooms.

Free salsa and bachata classes? Yes. This place has all that and super cheap drinks for a DC bar. Friday nights at 8pm will give you access to loads of fun and opportunities to meet new people and woo people with your dance moves.

Extremely rude female bartender with dark breast length hair. I discovered an unknown substance in my drink. I was disgusted. I have no idea what was floating in my drink. I didn’t leave it unattended. It was a slimy substance and dark in color. I will NEVER ever come to this establishment again and I would highly recommend against anyone going here. This place was packed and overly crowded, you could barely move. I only came here because I was with a group of others who suggested this place. Going here ruined my whole night. It’s not worth it.

Amazing night scene, owner is spectacular! Great drinks, music, and lively crowd! They even have a smoking room upstairs! Love this place, fave club in DC

Great place, 3 floors with different music. Overall great vibes, sometimes a bit crowded to a point it’s hard to dance but still had a great time. Majority of people are Hispanic which is a plus for me 👍

I went for dinner with my group and loved the vibe. They move the tables after 10 to make place for a dance floor. Their veggie fajitas arent worth the money but the tacos were delicious. Will visit again if I get a chance.

My best friend and I had a great time at Cafe Citron. The music was great, the happy hour deals were awesome and Jackie and Erica were so sweet! Erica served us great and made the time even more pleasurable. Will go back soon!!

We visited here for the first time last week. It was such a great time & the drinks were great. We met some of the best bartenders in the DMV. We will definitely be back.

Really disappointed ! Since Covid they apply a 20% gratuity to all checks which result in the waiter/bartender being so rude !!! We were on the underground bar we ordered shots (Lemon drop) and the waitress (Sandra) started to mix up the shots but instead of pouring us the whole quantity of it she decided that we would pay for her friends too so she poured half our shots and 2 others half shots to her friends !!!!! But of course we were the only one paying !!! That’s so nice to pay 10$ a shot + 20% automated and not even get a full glass ! I hope her friends enjoyed it because we’ll never come back again !!!!!!!!

Cafe citron, like most of DC bars has two different personalities:First, the happy hour hangout one. It’s a good spot for some Latin food and drinks. Chill atmosphere for happy hour especially on Wednesday or Thursday.Second, the crazy dance one. In Friday and Saturday night CC, is just amazing for dancing especially if you like reggaeton and salsa.Visit after 11.30, no cover, has 3 levels.

Security didn’t let my sober girlfriend, the event coordinator, in alleging she was drunk, while continuing to let in drunk males/other patrons enter this establishment

Good Music and Decent Drinks! Ideal to go out in a group and enjoy some nice Latino Music. They also have some latin drums that you can play around the place really nice touch.

Citron. What can i say. Awesome food, awesome bartenders, great crowd. So there i was, Thursday evening enjoying dinner at citron. Conversation started with the server, and she said checkout the night life. I came back at about 11pm, and let me tell you, if you love to dance and have fun. You will find yourself in paradise. It is fun, the crowd is fun, the dj is great, the bartenders are awesome.

Great music and vibe! I loved the drinks, the bichota was the best def worth a try!

Tight space. They have Latin dance classes every other evening. This place turns into a night club after 10pm. Cool music. But tends to be over crowded on good nights.

As far as the restaurant is concerned I have only had their empanadas which were really good. After hours this place is always a good time if your looking for Latin music. On the weekends there is often a gogo dancer dancing on the bar and sometimes they give out free shots.

I had a pretty terrible experience at this bar on a Saturday night. The bar was incredibly crowded, and loud, and it took 10 minutes of the bartender ignoring me to finally take my drink order. Once I finally got my drink, I assumed this place would let you open tabs, which most bars in the country allow you to do. Instead, the bartender grabs me aggressively and I agree to pay for the drink even though I vehemently disagreed with this rather unusual policy for a bar. There was also toilet paper all over the floor, which was not entirely surprising to me.

Wednesday is the night to go. Dance instructor Orlando not only teaches but makes it fun to learn Salsa and Bachata. Once the crowd is in there and the DJ starts playing music, you have no other recourse than to dance, dance, dance!

A bar, a club, a restaurant, a legend in the districts nightlife. Expect a line if you arrive after 9pm on weekends but the three levels of good music, amazing bartenders and great energy more than makes up for it.

Good place to grab a drink, dance, meet people and not get broke. I recommend their salsa class: have a beer and loosen up after uptight DC work day. I just don’t really encourage you to eat there. I didn’t find the food to be fresh or particularly tasty, but rather bland.

I have mixed feelings about this place, honestly it was somewhat of a last resort to theres nowhere else we can go. However, let me just say this place is fine; its not the greatest bar/Latin dance club to go to, but its fine. It got the job done :DLet me explain further, my friend and I went to this place after not being able to go to El Centro D.F., now thats a place I really like. But we came here because some of ours friends were under 21 and this place is 18 and over friendly. PLUS, a real plus, is that there is no cover, so that really helped.Theres 3 floors and usually dancing all around, but the party doesnt start until 12 so dont go early.Overall, the experience was fine, closer to good. Not many complaints.

Citron has great dancing, though its packed on the weekends to the point that you cant walk. The music is pretty great though, and the place has a ton of energy. Im a big fan of their Wednesday night salsa nights.

Drinks are reasonably priced. I went on a Wednesday night which was a salsa night and there were experiences dancers there as well as people just having a good time despite making all their dance moves up

Music was good, thats the only reason it got 2 stars. We had a reservation for a booth set up a day in advance, when we got there the girl took one of our credit cards and lisence and put it in her bra... then came back 20 minutes later, after she told us shed be back in 5, just to tell us the table was ready but half the seats were gone so now over half of us have to stand and still pay for the table. Plus the lady was rude about it all, I dont know what the ladys name was but Im not coming back

Went to have dinner with my girlfriend lats night.The server didnt not even ask if we were finish our food...when he was already picking everything up.Also we went for a dance with my girlfriend and left our new drinks in the table. Went we returned was not drinks or anything they did have clean up the table with out asking or anything.Do not recomend this place to anyone.Orrible experience.

Cafe Citron always has salsa going on somewhere in the bar, typically downstairs but sometimes upstairs as well. The bartenders also know how to entertain, especially when the Shots song starts playing. Come here to dance. The place is sometimes a little grimey, but they do their best to keep it looking nice. The drinks are also overpriced and the selection isnt too great.

I have seen Cafe Citron listed as a place you cannot miss in DC and I kind of agree. It has great crossover music, atmosphere, and good choices of appetizers (I have never dine-in here). My recommendation is to get there early (it is really good to start the night), as the place is really small and turns really crowd late on weekends.

Its a fun place to meet people, eat South American cuisine and even take free Salsa and Bachata lessons. Definitely recommend it if you dont mind loud music and tight spaces at times because of the crowd.

Free salsa and bachata classes on mon, wed, fri! So much fun! Even though I have been dancing salsa since I was 8, this was so fun to do. The fajitas are great! Id advise against the shrimp tacos. This place is packed on weekends with what looks like college kids.... not my scene. Go for the salsa!

I always look forward to their happy hour but other than that this is not a place I’d like to party at. I don’t really like the kind of music they play. The place is just not a place that becomes alive at night. Not one of my best clubs at night.

One of the best places to dance modern Latin music in DC. Fridays are less busy than Saturdays. Drink prices are fair and the music is on point.

Not such a club person but i really enjoyed going to this place sat night. They play Latina music and it reminded me of Miami so bad. I will definitely want to go again and see how its like on a friday night.

Really fun salsa/reggaeton bar/club. It gets PACKED so I highly recommend showing up before midnight. Also, a great place to watch South American sports (notably, this past World Cup). Sadly, it didnt bring us any luck, but the crowd was noisy and fun. The drinks were inexpensive. Couldnt have asked for a better experience.

If you want room to dance, this place will struggle to provide that after 11:00 PM. Can get very hot and cramped there, even though there are three floors to dance and order drinks. Music is great if you are looking for cumbia, reggeaton, bachata, etc. DJ experience varies with each visit. Four bars located so fairly convenient to buy drinks with expected prices. Biggest weakness is spacing, would recommend going in summer clothing

Visited Citron on a Friday night. As expected it was busy but the place is bigger than it looks with 3 floors and multiple bars. The DJs spun a good mix of reggaeton, salsa and house. Lots of people were dancing but only a few were salseros so if you are looking for serious salsa on a Friday night you will have better luck elsewhere. Still a good Latin club on a Friday night.

We went to café citron around 10pm on a Saturday and had a great time. They had dancing and great Latin music. We loved the DJ and the vibes!

We ordered drinks in what we were told was happy hour, then were charged full price. When we asked about it, the server disappeared, came back 15 min later and told us there was nothing he could do. Service was really rough the whole time, taking forever to come back with our decent margaritas. At least those were ok. Hopefully it was just this one server.

Were from seattle, came on a business trip and hear about this place, unforgetable time, people is cool and nice, great dancers, almost seems like all knew each other, great time. I was having so much fun.....great music, great people. will recomend definitedly!!

Best dinner and dancing date in a long time with my wife and another couple! I worked by this place for two and half years and am really bummed that I just found it. Its a gamble what was better: dinner or dancing? as they really both topped my expectations. We learned the basic steps of Salsa dancing with free lessons from a very funny and knowledgeable instructor. The staff were great, food was amazing (we had delicious pork, breaded empanadas, home-style fries, dipping sauces with cilantro and lime, and the meat just melted in your mouth)! We will definitely return again, maybe for the bachata dancing upstairs! Only downside was the dance floor was small with so many people.

I had a great time here with friends except for the creep who masturbated and came on his pants from watching us dance. When my friend alerted the bartender she wasnt taken seriously and security was not called. We left immediately.

Very little latin dance played besides reagetton on a friday night, disappointed about that. Lots of dancers waiting for it.

Great music. Lots of dance levels to choose from.

I thought this was a Latin place. Not one single bachata played the whole night. They only played American music. I don’t mind but there’s plenty of that already

If youre trying to get harassed by men its the perfect place to go. Loads of creeps but the music and staff are pretty nice. The creeps makes it not worth going tho.

I’ve been coming here way before COVID happen and keep coming back after their bartender lost my Credit card and ID and was promised to replace my ID(that never happened of course) but I still enjoy the atmosphere ……… never had any issue stepping outside and coming back in but this time around it’s an issue. The reasoning is they don’t have a cover, but then again they only say that to certain people. SMH!!!!!!

I loved it!! I had an amazing time, bartenders were super friendly. I cant wait to go back. Also the bongos, I LOVED the bongos. Cant help BUT dance.

If youre looking for a night of Latin dancing and strong margaritas this is the spot to go, the music is always great and they hold events for beginners, so if youre bored in DC on a Friday night is only because youre not here.

Nice little club in dc, it’s very crowded when I went Saturday night, but good clubs always are, no fee at door which is great for dc, nice salsa and regatón music, drinks are reasonable for the area, my only complaint would be waiting to get a drink, but it’s not the bartenders fault

Didnt eat while there, we went there to dance celebrating New years. Had some margaritas, which were $10 each.

Latin Mondays are so much fun! Jalapeno margarita just delicious! A bit spicy tho.👍 Recommend their tropical drinks!🤩Free salsa lessons start @ 8:00.

A great place to watch soccer, the specials during soccer were good. And the atmosphere during a match is really awesome! The food was good, I had the Breakfast Quesadillas and the Empanadas, both decent for bar food. Overall experience, especially for soccer is great

Good food. Kind of loud after 9pm. Salsa dancing downstairs. Pop Spanish music on main level. The fries are verrrry good. Churros are ok, not the best. Drinks are good but expensive.

This place like a Latin club is great, sometimes the DJ is not the best but most of the times is really good, can be very small but is still good

I went there for drinks during a short trip to DC. The drinks were good and reasonable price. The DJ played good Latin music. I was a little worry about the security, they seemed a little distracted and layed black. There were a few ppl that had too much drinks and got annoying.

Great place to hangout with friends in dancing nights! The consistency in cocktails is not to good between bartenders, and music needs to update a little bit, security and customer service is very good!

The space and prices are pretty good and they offer free salsa classes. However, when I went there, the DJ butchered an enormous amount of really good songs with tecno remixes.

I’ve never had a fun time here but today takes the cake. Met up with a friend for drinks the decided to go down for salsa classes in the basement. About halfway in I went to the bar to get a glass of water. The bartender looked and me and in a snide voice tells me they sell drinks and I need to buy something and not just mooch off of the free salsa. I tell her I’ve already bought a drink, but now I want water. She then gives me a disbelieving look and demands to see a receipt. I was almost speechless. I told her I couldn’t believe how rude she was being and went and got my receipt. When I got back to the bar she completely ignored me and when I caught her attention she said she was busy cleaning and couldn’t help me. Mind you she was clearly fake cleaning, I showed her my receipt and asked for her name which she then refused to give. Eventually she went a got a manager when I wouldn’t go away. Save your money and time and go somewhere else. If you want salsa classes go to Zeba in Columbia heights, way less crowded and more focused on improving, if you want to go clubbing, definitely skip this place and go to either toro toro or el centro. They’re bigger, play better music and don’t have aging waitress, on power trips.

The best Latin party, also the personal is so kind and friendly, you can enjoy three different environments. Free salsa lessons and good prices.

Great food for a small cozy place. The mojitos were good to. Get the pineapple!!! This also have dancing with free lessons. But it is a small place but gives an authentic feel! :)

Great atmosphere. Happy hour drink + food prices and taste were amazing.

This place it’s the worst I had the worst experience mostly with the manager maybe because I was a new client and he has preferences for the people he knows ! Which was so unprofessional. -5 stars

Great drinks and dancing! Food looked good too. Free salsa classes on weekends are a great way to meet new people

Bar tender had sticky fingers and stole my money off the bar while using the bathroom. When confronted he acted like a little punk and wanted to give me a hard time. After some discussion he gave my money back. Note: I have frequented this establishment for over a year and now will never go back nor recommend this establishment to anyone. This is DC not a third world country, train your people to act in that manner and if not find better personell.

This is a regular place I go to feel the cumbia beat & be served by the best bartenders in DC. Food is great. Music is great. Staff is great. Highly recommend for true parties looking to celebrate life.

Biggest problem with this place is that they dont serve free WATER nor free CLUB SODA. Its summer in DC, the lowest level of the club has no working fans, and its packed with people. You can imagine the heat and mugginess. I saw several patrons try to order water BECAUSE ITS HOT AS HELL AND WERE ALL SWEATING and when they realize water costs $5 (they only serve bottled water), they go without. I ended paying $12 for two club sodas. I dont know how you can run a bar like that. Its easy to set up a water station. Plenty of clubs do it.

Ordered Chicken wings its too salty, so dry and over cooked. The drink are overprice almost $17 for 1 small cuban mojito. But great music.

Unprofessional staff .. I witnessed the bartender being extremely rude to women trying to speak to the manager and then after a while the bartender just shrugged her off not really paying any mind to her .... then an altercation happened and the women that dances on the bar every weekend in the middle level swung at one of the customers... Ive worked in the restaurant industry before and I was taught the complete opposite of what was going on in this establishment Citron needs to have a staff meeting and re evaluate how they handle certain situations

GREATEST latin club in DC. I come here all the time and people and staff are always cool.

Will never come back. bartender said to me doesnt it look like im busy after being skipped over at the bar. Proceeded to go downstairs and give a better tender my money to get boozed up but I wont come back to that place. music sucked also

Great place for dancing and drinking. The dance floor was a little packed but the environment was great. Mixed crowd and right off the strip.

Great place. Great service and music. Following covid guidelines.

I was refused to enter because I had a backpack. The doorman offered me too leave it behind the trash can, which is ridiculous. The argument was that the place was full, which wasnt even true. I will never try to go there again and I recommend the same.

My favorite Latin music night spot. Have come here for years. Always fun

Great food, but HORRIBLE service with a total attitude. We waited 35 minutes for cocktails, only to find out that the server forgot to order them. Apology? Nope! It was OUR fault for sitting in the bar and not the restaurant area.The manager was equally as horrible. Dismissive, defensive, and wretched.Worst experience Ive ever had in DC.DONT EAT HERE!!!!

Try the 3pete. Its not really on the menu but they offer 3 drinks specials at $5 each. Get all 3 liquors, mix it with Coke.Plantains are awesome.Friday night salsa lessons. Bring a partner or steal someone elses :-)

Free salsa lessons on Wednesday (7:30) and Friday (9:30). After lessons they play mostly salsa on Wednesday and a mix on Friday. Great teachers and relaxed atmosphere.

Worst place to actually have your employees celebrate 6 years of business at this this place! Half of the people are underage and the city’s should have a police officer checking everyone coming in

Great atmosphere, great music. Salsa lessons were a lot of fun!

It was a friendly atmosphere compared to other clubs !

I am absolutely appalled by the level of MANAGERIAL service we were given on Saturday night. My friends and I took my boyfriend out for his birthday and we were buying him drinks upstairs. We made our way to the basement, where he asked a bartender for a cup of water. The bartender refused to serve him unless he paid $3.00 for it. He told me about it, so I proceeded to go and ask myself. I asked for 2 glasses, and she asked me who the other water was for. She then pointed to my boyfriend and told me I could not give him water. I asked her why, and she said it was because he didnt order a drink at the bar. I told her we all bought him drinks upstairs, that it was his birthday, and she told me to have him go upstairs to get free water, because she was not going to.I told her that made no sense at all because tap water is tap water, it should be free. Her exact words were: This is a business, he didnt order from me so I make no money by giving him free water. I dont get paid to get him water so he can either pay $3.00 or go upstairs. However she was willing to give me water. I was frank with her and told her, I didnt order a drink from you either so how come you are serving me? She tells me Eh well youre okay, I trust you, but not him. I asked to speak to a manager and she told me she was one of the managers tonight. I immediately walked away, gave my boyfriend the free water she gave me, and grabbed all my friends to leave. She was worried about losing money on FREE water, well she lost Cafe Citron business and 5 patrons that night.Not only is she trying to charge us for SINK water (which would not personally give her any money as she is charging it as a bar transaction), but refusing to give water to a patron is promoting that people do not sober up before leaving, which is highly dangerous, AND she was discriminating by serving me and not willing to serve him. I am very disgusted with this place and hope the owner reaches out to me to correct the action of one of his/her Managers.

This is the Latin America bar for Dupont Circle. Legit Latin American music coupled with the love of tequila inside. Space is pretty tight. Has an upstairs with a smaller bar that looks over the main floor.

Good music but it has a bad odor, also the bartenders jump on top of the bar to dance... that is ILLEGAL.. guys please check in to that before you get in troubles.

Nice place to go dancing late night but it can get pretty sweaty and crowded. Decent drinks and the (far) upstairs area is good for private parties.

Salsa playlist for the dance lessons is good, a lot of classics, but lessons are for salsa ballroom dance, not standard dancing like most Latinos understand it. Bartender was a little dismissive too

Place very small , long lines to use the restrooms .Most important if you pay with card be very carefull they charge you twice .Do not leave the tip line empty they will ipose their own tip ones you have signed.Wont go there again.

This is a great space for dancing, and they generally have lessons for bachata and/or salsa on weeknights. I am disappointed that they cancelled the kizomba/zouk night on Mondays.

The Bulgarian bouncer Boris and the other Latin guy in the photo are completely unprofessional and took me out for no other reason other than some baseless accusation. They asked no questions. They assumed Im guilty immediately only because a woman was involved. Outside the club, Boris proceeds to threaten me that will ban me from the club for good for taking pictures of the guy in the white shirt. Im a regular there. This is becoming ridiculous. Total pu_sies. How is this even possible in DC?

Amazing place! They serve really delicious food and they have good options in the drinks, the staff is really nice and friendly. Great customer service. 5 stars!!

They be partying hard in here. Love the mix crowd!! Great food and Great sexy Bartenders. Salsa and HipHop You gotta love it!!!

Good atmosphere and great service. Drinks were good. The Peruvian ceviche is not presented correctly but the seafood was tasty.

Nice people. Great music and dancing. Not sure about the food. Kitchen closes too early in my opinion

CC was my favorite club to go to Fridays and Saturdays but the last couple of months its been way too crowded to the point you get pushed around. Passed out drunks. It smells. I witnessed a few fights. Im VERY sad to say after tonight Im looking for a different venue.

What a fun place to dance, grab drinks, and spend time with friends! The DJ is great ABCs always mixing up new songs!

The free dace class instructor is really nice and funny. They want you to buy a drink before they give you tap water. Even if you spent money upstairs, you MUST BUY ALCOHOL TO GET A GLASS OF TAP WATER!! REDICULOUS!!!! 0 STARS for management and service.

Terrible service. Waiters add themselves 20% gratitude and still try too trick you in adding more after. Food and drinks are not all that. And your card has to have a chip to pay.

I used to be obsessed with this place when I used to live in DC. Good food and vibes. I love the free salsa classes. I think thats the only place in DC who gives free salsa classes regularly.

Nice bar with Latin inspired dishes and beverages. Nice place to meet friends for happy hour! Had a very good pineapple upside down shot😘

The food, the dancing, and the music were all amazing! And everyone on staff was so great! We had a really good time!

Great place for Latin vibes in the city. Always a great place to celebrate and dance!

Great place to have a couple of drinks and have dinner with friends. I have been so many times. The owner welcomes everybody personally.

Such great food (have a chicken taco!)...and the happy hour specials were amazing...and everybody has fun when the dancing starts up!

Terrible service! Was charged for additional tip when the 20% of tip was already added. Alcoholic beverages almost have no alcohal. Took 40 mins to pay. Because apparently you need a card with a chip.

Okay place, but it does get crowd and noisy. Drinks are pretty good. I cannot say on food. Young professionals do go there to get together.

Boris was amazing!! Come here for the day party, starting at 6 pm. This guy is amazing. Great service

Cafe Cintron is so Poppin and the customer service from the bar staff is through the roof the atmosphere is inviting and phenomenal I look forward to moving my feet on the dance floors again with my friends!!

I loved the ambiance! And the free salsa class!!! It gets packed quickly but other than that, its fun

Great pupusas, great service and fun scene. Free Salsa and Bachata lessons followed by a dance party. Great mojitos, too.

Food was ok, but the service was terrible, Ive never had this experience in any other bar. The bartender I believe he is from Russia was so aggressive and mean.. Every Time I asked him for a drink he was so mean and disrespectful.Worst place in D.C!!

Some people I know were just assaulted by other patrons, then kicked out of the place by the bouncers for wearing the wrong type of clothing. Very rough place, with a drunken, violent hispanic clientele.