UGH, Lent! Every place that I've reviewed during Lent will have to be revisited so I can test out the drink selections (which is why I can't give Bossa the 5 stars it deserves). Sigh. That said, Bossa is kind of phenomenal. We went for one of my girls' birthday outing. Live salsa sung by a superhot Puerto Rican man, accompanied by a full band, including a trumbonist. It was my first time in the presence of such music and it took my breath away. My friends and I mostly lounged (with me watching my friends suck down mojito after succulent mojito). Although the music was awesome, there's not a lot of room to dance; ie, when the birthday girl danced with this guy, they fairly consistently ran into the other couples around them. Granted, the other couples deserved to be run into since they didn't know what they were doing, and were awkwardly gyrating their nonexistent hips on each other. Shrugs. That said, the crowd is mostly international and pretty diverse, including, for some reason, a contingency of Georgetown University masters' alumni, who recognized me as Library Girl. Again, shrugs. Bossa is also part art gallery, and while I was there, they featured black and white photos of what looked to me to be an indiginous African funeral (lots and lots of raw emotion), which was COMPLETELY contrasting to the euphoric mood the music created and struck me as odd, but it's definitely a conversation starter. Overall, I had a darn good time, despite going mojitoless and barely being able to move on the dancefloor. We shall revisit! ;) read more

My girl and I have been coming here for a couple years. If you like live Latin music, this is THE place to go. Every Friday and Saturday nights, they have a live salsa band. Honestly, for the price $5 per person, you can't beat this. I can't stress this enough - this is the ONLY place in the DC area to hear quality live latin music. The only downside is the dance floor and dancing. The dance floor is quite small and the people going there aren't the most veteran of dancers and often enough, are a bit on the sloppy side. My girl and I are dancing vets so we have a tough time with this, but if you don't care, then it should be great. The place is small but has a great ambience to it. The service at the bar is decent enough and if you want a DJ experience, they have an upstairs area for more dancing (they would play top 40, house, latin). You can actually reserve the upstairs for a private party if you're so inclined. read more

I visited Bossa on a Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. I had never been there for dinner before, but had read the positive reviews and suggested it as our destination. BIG MISTAKE! Bossa took our reservation for 13 people, but did not bother to mention that they were not equipped to accommodate our group. The place was not particularly busy. But for Alicia, our server, it was apparently overwhelming. Once we were all seated we were told that there were rules. These rules included no split checks, only two credit cards and no sides. I have never been in a restaurant where the waitress announces rules, but we laughed it off and played along. She took our drink orders, but would not allow us to order appetizers until she came back with our drinks (she also messed up our drink orders). After she finally took our food orders, she actually took 20 minutes to put the orders through to the kitchen! After an hour and a half of waiting for food we decided to cut our losses and just pay for the drinks. This turned into a bit of an exchange between Alicia and our group as she started blaming it all on having a big group. It got a bit loud, but when another table applauded when we told her that her service was awful, we knew we were not alone. Apparently the other patrons dining there had waited an excess of 3 hours and had their orders messed up by Alicia. At the time we left they had been waiting for the check for more than half an hour. Hope that this was just a bad night for Bossa. But, being as they never once tried to apologize for the bad service and blamed us for having such a big group, I imagine that good service is not part of their working culture. Really disappointing. read more

Service was horrifically slow. Asked for bread and never got any, when they did bring bread it was one slice with no oil or even butter. Ordered 4 tapas which took over an hour to make and were very small portions (although somewhat tasty). No interaction from the server. And they don't even have a happy hour! Skip food here, maybe just come for the music. Will not be returning read more

There is a reason why I love this place....its is because I love music, and more importantly....I love dancing. So, a venue where I can seriously "break it down" without bumping into sweaty bodies is a good time for me....if you add live music to the scene...woah, i brace myself....if the upstairs DJ plays old skool hip hop tracks you havent heard or danced to in ages....then, hot damn, sign me up. You mean I can find a seat when when I need to rest my hot toes? Fantastic clientele? (I've been there on weekends and weeknights...and you know you'll find "good people" somewhere in the mix of Bossa). Beer? Liquor? Decent wine? I can even salsa dance if its the right night of the week? Did I mention that DJ updstairs? (Saturday night). And let me not forget that when I just want to grab a drink with friends...I can do so outside and partake in some serious people watching..... three thumbs up for Bossa...! read more

Bossa can be a happening place. Our friend Ben is currently bartending here upstairs on the weekends, and he *will* entertain you. When Bossa first opened, it served a really nice, organic dinner. In fact, we hosted our wedding rehearsal dinner at Bossa. They gave us the 3rd floor, and put together a menu for twenty people. The food was very good, and everyone loved the venue and the service. Successful rehearsal dinner! At some point they stopped serving full-on dinner. They still have organic beers though :-) read more

Decor and setting is a warm artsy feeling with the great photos along the wall and mural above the bar. Not a lot of seating save for the mini-tables lining the left and right walls but it's not a big spot so understood. Bartenders (contrary to previous reviews) make a strong drink. I read that they didn't make strong drinks and mistakingly started the night with a double jack-and-coke...and the dancing bear was unveiled!!! The upper level is pretty much a wide open spot with two couches and a smaller bar. DJ was spinning top 40 hip hop, R&B and 90's house which is pretty much my thing (dancing bear loved this!). But....there is this odd area in the back that I did read about in other reviews and ...just as others have said that it's a weird empty dark lit area with a single chair! WTF...is this an area for drunken torture sessions or moody lap dances! Both of these acts occurred at one point during the night!. Overall it's a nice departure from the other swilling spots (Felix, Brass Monkey, Tom Tom..etc.) and a nice chill tone without being pretentious. I would definitely go back again! read more

Great brazilian music and organic food. I tried the seared tuna once it was good.

This bar/lounge is always fun. I've been here twice once for a friends birthday and second for a friend or a friend's salsa band performance. Always lively and fun. The first time I came here there was a burlesque show downstairs so I was a bit taken aback when I walked in and saw nipple tassels, but after the initial surprise it was really entertaining! The upstairs bar and dance area has cushy seating around the windows so its great for people watching a looking down onto 18th St. My second excursion to Bossa was for a salsa band which was so fun. Everybody was up and dancing to the music and I got pulled up onto the stage, which was exciting. Always a great time. read more

I was rather excited when I walked into Bossa to hear a friend play in one of the random bands on a weeknight because the size is right, the mood is right, and the art is right. I mean, they have old hippie naked men hanging out of the walls (in photography)! It really set the mood, and when I saw the bartender lighting some incense to make sure we were all mellowing out, I was totally fine. But then I get the tab for buying my friend a drink: two caipirinhas for $22?? Okay, well we'll go back next round and order something a little more basic. Wait, $8 for a rum-and-diet? Wow, these are some NYC prices up in here! Whatever, the mood was good, the band enjoyable, and I loved how Adams Morgan attracts anyone from rastafarians to people in suits to just the cool, hip crowd to listen to some good music! read more

This place is amazing! From the music to the food. I stumbled on to this place after an ad appeared on my facebook. I love going to listen to live music. Especially when its flamenco. The ad was for a live rock, flamenco flare. And it was free on a weekend. How can I pass it up? The band was set to start at 8pm so I arrived 7:45. Got seated right by the stage. Perfect. Ordered some drinks, each one was better than the last. Also, enjoyed some of the dishes. I forget exactly what I ordered. But everything was delicious. The band was excellent! They played until 9:30ish I believe and new band was to start at 10. The second band was spanish ballads. For the second portion of the evening they take away all the tables and this place becomes a club. There is seating left against the wall as they cant remove the lounge seating and the stools from the bar. But otherwise the house gets PACKED. My recommendation is show up early, get a reservation, and if you dont like crowds dont show up after 10pm. In all, i will return both for the entertainment and food. This is a hidden GEM of DC! read more

Did Bossa on a date and fell in love. With Bossa. ;) The stories are all true - it's a sexy young crowd full of expats from Brazil and Latin America and curious, adventurous Americans in a hip, comfortable ambience. The music is pure Latino (every night I've been), the dancers can work it, and it's so packed you can jump in and kick up your heels without embarrassing yourself too much. (Like, for example, if you've had one too many and want to dance the samba as a tipsy, sassy merengue.) So go soak up the atmosphere, kids! Time's a-wastin'! read more

It was Bossa, Saturday night. My old classmates were visiting from Miami, trying to get us kicked out of the bar. We had come to Bossa as a last resort, thinking the live band might provide an uplift. The band was good, (A band of gray-hairs, playing them blues) ... but we were too far gone to appreciate. These old classmates of mine are of reprehensible character, and so, wanting to cause a scene, two of them stepped on stage and pretended like they were playing the instruments...but it only excited the band, and energized the crowd. That's when I took off -- I can't the blues. read more

Bossa seems a little hidden - the outside doesn't lead on to the greatness inside. The set up is pretty typical for AdMo - narrow, 2 stories, tables on the side and an open space upstairs. Tons of great salsa music (live) and twice as many latinos and salsa dancers on Saturday night. A lot of couples just sit off to the side, look "groovy" in a Common meets Jill Scott kind of way, and peer into each others' eyes while everyone else dances. Bossa is one place in AM that I think I could return to - and not against my will. read more

What a surprise this was. I was in the area with a friend and we were looking for a place to eat. We noticed a sign that said free samba/pagode lessons in the window and the music sounded great. We went in and were really impressed. First of all, the pictures and art on the walls are amazing. I dont get the connection to Brazil, but the photos are all from India and some brightly colored festivals there. The service was friendly, although the server accidentally threw away half my meal because she thought I didnt want to take it home (lady that was my lunch!) I had a steak with beans and white rice. It was simple, but really good. My friend had the eggplant and was really satisfied. We sat at the bar and enjoyed some caipirihnas as well. The added bonus was that this place wasnt filled with drunk fools that usually frequent places in Adams Morgan spots. read more

While visiting DC just a couple weeks ago I learned that a client of mine was going to be playing with his band at a restaurant / lounge just around the corner from where my cousin lives. It happened to be Bossa and it turned out to be a pretty nice joint. There's an open area between the front window and the bar in the back with bench seats and several tables. The band plays on the raised stage in the front window which allows for a good view even all the way from the bar. The restaurant was located upstairs which I didn't check out but they also have a DJ spinning records up there as well. I would visit regularly if I didn't live in SF it's a pretty cool place and every Thursday you can see a really cool contemporary jazz band called Touch Acoustra. http://www.acoustra.com read more

Oh what a find. Friday night in Ad-Mo can be a bit dodgy if you're not into the gangsta frat-house scene but this place is a great oasis. The atmosphere is relaxed with a live band downstairs bangin out old-school salsa rhythms and a DJ mixing up techno and house beats upstairs. While the downstairs dance floor can get crowded it isn't dominated by hardcore salseros that look down on us lowly novices. All are welcome to dance here. With a $5 cover and moderately priced drinks this place isn't a budget buster. Get there early for dinner and the cover is waived and the food is really good too. I stumbled into this place with my girfriend and it instantly became our go to Ad-Mo spot. read more

Very clean. Different than any show that I have been to. Very chill atmosphere. However for a salsa bar I was confused that they didn't have Corona. Didn't smell like a locker room which is a change. Very lounge like with many seats. I saw a show in the upstairs, and was surprised that the salsa dancing and salsa music downstairs didn't compete with one another. The only thing is that it's in Adams Morgan, and there is literally no parking! I got a $100 ticket because I pulled in after another car and didn't realize there was a bus zone sign. Annoying. I'd go back if I had a personal driver... or found a garage or something because I hear the metro is a sketchy trek. read more

First, I would like to be transparent and own up to the fact that this is my neighborhood bar, and I am indeed biased. That being said, this is a great music and dancing spot that is somehow remained douchebag-free in Adams Morgan. Live Jazz, Salsa, Samba, House, Jam band, Experimental and even a great open-mic poetry night every second Monday of the month. They also have DJ's spinning upstairs and a small outdoors seating area that I highly recommend for happy hour and will certainy appease all of you smokers that want to sip and smoke in DC. Come by and sit, drink, flirt, listen, dance and shake it. read more

Its ok this place most off the people who goes there they know how to dance salsa n merenque, cus truly sometimes not in the mood off wen someone ask me to dance n they dont know what they doing i then i got to play teacher The live music is preaty good it also depents whos playing that nite i will go, I love t bartender is very fast serving drinks i must say DO NOT order wine from there for some reason it taste like it was sitting for days. I always go to order a double vodka cus my drink always seem like they put more juice than vodka.. read more

A NW/AdMo gem! They've got great live Latin music on Wednesday/Friday nights. Such a fun place for dancing or just drinks; well worth the $5 cover. One of the few places which isn't overcrowded by questionable AdMo visitors :) read more

There are many things to say about this place. Unfortunately, it has a lot of potential but it is not there yet. I'll begin with the service, I walked into the place which was empty (around 830pm) to find all the staff huddling around the bar on their cellphones. I stood there for at least 2 minutes staring at them to no avail. Eventually, I just went up to them asked them if they had a menu available, after a bit of a blank stare the staff decided to hand me one menu (there were 2 of us). After perusing the menu I ask them to explain a couple dishes to me, to which I got some more blank stares.. This continued even after we decided to stay because we wanted frankly to eat something you don't eat every day. The food was good, it was well made and definitely unique, the capirihna was good at least.. That is all this place has going for it right now. The service was mediocre at best, and the outdoor seating is lacking any type of significant lighting. Thankfully we had a restaurant.com certificate. Won't be returning here for dinner unless I see it gets full with people. read more

This place sucks and the staff is very unprofessional. They are rude and do not belong in the service industry. Waste of my time while I was visiting for the weekend!!! read more

Bossa recruits good bands and parties. But homegirls at the bar moves way too slow. I'm glad they're weren't a lot of people. Even still, when nobody is there I waited ten minutes to be seen. Plus, doormen can be arrogant. Typical DC place: cool and fun, nice ambience, but lackluster staff. Still got love for this place tho. read more

Step one: enter and be inundated with smells (incense) and sights (photos of indigenous Africans) and sounds (live music from both up and downstairs. Step two: imbibe. (delicious mojitos, well poured hard booze, frosty beer in bottles and cans. Step three: enjoy. (the space is narrow and a bit crowded...and I was a bit perturbed to see obvious dust bunnies and dust on light fixtures directly above the bar....however the people watching is great, the music was fairly good, prices are moderate to high and there was only one bartender.) A cool spot to stop for a cocktail if you're in the adams morgan area...the menu actually looked pretty solid but we were there for drinks and drinks only. read more

Feijao Tropeiro Appetizer - great bean, rice, and meat side dish. Most dishes here are meat with a side of rice and black beans. Simple but hearty. Muqueca is one of the more interesting entree offerings. Bossa has a typical Adams Morgan feel. Atmosphere is cozy and casual. We were expecting a bossa band at 8pm but they never came. Caipirinhas were $10 each - I wish we had known that before we ordered $80 worth of them. read more

For years I've been coming here, off and on. There was a lull when it came to live music, but now it seems that management has really picked up and has consistently good music and happening things going on there. Brazilian, Jazz, Reggae, etc. Also some really awesome afrobeat parties there now and then upstairs. Good bar. Food is good as well, though abnormally quiet during dinner time. Really nice service. Outdoor seating for the smokers. Best of all, for Adams Morgan, it's not "ghetto"... read more

I love love love Bossa! I've been to DC twice and both times my experience at Bossa was awesome. They have live music which is always a plus. The food and drinks were good and the service was great. I highly recommend this establishment if your looking for a friendly atmosphere and good vibe. read more

I just realized I haven't shown the deep love I have for this place, so here it goes: Bossa, eu adoro você, e eu adoro as suas músicas e o seu pessoal. I come here at least three times a month, more frequently on Saturdays, but also on Fridays. On these nights, two excellent salsa bands perform on the ground floor: Fridays belong to the Alfredo Mojica Group and Saturdays to my fellow countryman Raul Morel's Tumbao band. Raulito and his musicians will not only play salsa, but also a couple merengue, cumbia and bachata songs. He's always making the same dumb joke that he's half Dominican and half Dominican. As for the waitstaff, they are the nicest and with the right attitude to delight a crowd that very frequently packs the place. Drinks are not cheap, but they are made with attention and they actually taste very good, unlike those of other places. I wish the beer variety were wider, though. On the second floor, there usually is a D.J. spinning more modern Latin rhythms, and let me tell you it's a trip down Nostalgia Avenue for those of us who grew up listening to El General, Fulanito and Proyecto Uno. What I also love about this place is that it's unpretentious, safe, and people go there generally with the right attitude of dancing. Congrats to management for finding the right formula of a venue that keeps people coming back. read more

4.25 I like this place and I do not like to dance. For much of the time, it is an unassuming, chilled bar, good for a drink and a chat with friends. Then it turns into a bumping (but not obnoxious) dance scene later in the night. Otherwise, I like the ambiance, two floors and friendly people here. Good drinks and somewhat decent price. I would recommend if you are past the frat boy-esque bars and want something with a little more substance..well, as much substance as a bar can possibly have. Nice art work hanging from the walls. Had food once here of the 8-10 I have been here. Small portions but only so so taste and kind of a little over priced. Don't come here hungry (or if you do, leave, eat something nearby and come back). Otherwise, like I said, I like the place for 2-3 drinks. read more

The drinks were great and the tapas were tasty. It wasnt crowded. We went at 7pm on a Saturday. They have live music a DJ starting at 10. Cool spot for date night. read more

I fell in love with this place as soon as I stepped in !! I have been a long time fan of Bossa Nova, Brazilian and Samba music in general for many, many years and I had NO idea there was a place strictly dedicated to this culture and music. It's Beautiful! I had my first visit this past friday for their Samba night with Rafael Ponde ( a Sweetheart btw!!) and I couldn't ask for a better evening. The staff were very friendly and welcoming even though we arrived as soon as they opened. Our food was pretty good, with the exception of the rice and beans dish which they returned for me without hesitation or drama. The music,the art on the wall ( peeped my favorite Antonio Carlos Jobim ) the ambiance, the dancing, the food, the drinks, the smiles...the warmth of everyone there. I swear I can't wait to return, I even went home and YouTubed how to Samba dance...that FOOTWORK THOUGH!!! Thank you Bossa, I am one tall, tan, young and happy girl ( that was an Astrud Gilberto reference btw)! read more

When trying to think of something negative to say about Bossa, it becomes extremely difficult. I have only been here during the night life, however, but my experiences here have only been positive. They have live music every friday and saturday night with authentic latin groove and being from just south of the border, I can say confidently that the performances rock! Not only that, the people going to the bar/club are very nice and outgoing. My friend learned to salsa dance here via a stranger grabbing him and showing him how its done. In the end, Bossa is arguably one of the best spots in the DC area for live music, dancing, and a good time. read more

Wish I could give 10 stars! I've never salsa danced, but did watch some videos, and my friends helped teach me while I was there. Everyone was super friendly and willing to help new people, no drama anywhere, just a group of happy adults wanting to dance and enjoy the live music and the positive vibe. The bartenders were super friendly as well, as was the doorman. It definitely gets crowded, but they have dancing on both the first and second floor, and ZERO attitude from anyone. There is a nice patio outside the front entrance where you can take your drinks and smoke and people watch the throngs of pedestrians enjoying Adams Morgan. There is street parking, and a parking garage only a 2 minute walk away. Tons of eateries (eat in or to go) within a 1 minute walk. I got there late, so I can't speak to the food, but I'm sure it's fantastic. I will definitely be back! read more

I used to have this strange, unexplainable and thoroughly embarrassing fixation with Brazil. Enough to the point of learning Portuguese, dating a complete dimwit named Felipe (But then again, he was half Brazilian) and practicing this martial arts form called Capoeira. Bossa Nova became my favorite music genre. Cahaca became my favorite drink, and I took Samba lessons. Obviously. But that was several years ago and while I'd like to pretend I have no recollection of those embarrassing days, I was instantly drawn to Bossa; this sexy, beautifully low-lit lounge in Adams Morgan that has lots of Bossa Nova and Samba music, Caipirinhas and all things Rio. It's true, the décor is seductive. On the first floor you have those lounge chairs set up along the edges and warm, dim lighting which go so well with the breezy Bossa Nova music that's being played by the band. It's got a very chill, mellow and surprisingly grown up vibe. But the second floor is where you're reminded that you're still in Adams Morgan. It's a lot more crowded, but remains to be interesting with the DJ who manages to keeps the salsa dance floor action going. Bossa is cozy and after a few rounds of some well-made mojitos and delicious organic food I knew I liked it. But oddly enough, despite the Latin American theme, it doesn't have enough of a hook to keep me coming back here regularly. And I personally think it's because the theme can get repetitive very quickly. That said if you haven't been here yet and find yourself in Adams Morgan; and you don't want to swim in a sea of frat boys, give this place a shot. For me, I think it's time to fixate on a new country. Brazil just doesn't cut it anymore. read more

Came here for Saturday night live band and salsa - cannot comment on the food because I did not try it. I will comment on the music and atmosphere. I'm from Miami and it's hard to find cozy, comfortable Latin spots for a cold chilly night. The band was amazing - super old schools rhythms you won't find Pitbul or reggaeton here. Come for a good time with girlfriends or a date - bar is cute and super comfy. It's a small place but I did not find it cramped like a typical Admo bar. Would recommend looking ahead of time at the website to see what entertainment there is for the night. Highly recommend if you love traditional Latin music! read more

This bar is uber-hip and filled with life. We went for a happy hour and ended staying there all night. The bar area is very comfortable. The atmophere is very chill and international. Brazilian music, lavish seating and great photography on the walls. I could easily see someone smoking a hooka or some cheeba here. Check out the Last Supper above the bar - it's a must see. It can be a bit crowded. Overall, a great place to go in Adam's Morgan. I hear the food is all organic - bonus! read more

I want to start off by saying my husband and I LOVE trying new restaurants in DC. We were so excited to try Bossa, although, we hadn't heard great things about the place. I made a reservation for my husband's 30th birthday for 15 people on a Saturday night. I made the reservation 2.5 weeks ahead of time and called twice to confirm the reservation. On the day of the birthday dinner, we showed up to an empty restaurant with only servers and a manager/owner present. We were a bit confused, but then a bald, rude man came up to us to let us know that the restaurant was closed! He claimed there was a fire next door and their kitchen was closed. We asked why no one informed us. And, he continued to say he just found out about the fire (LIAR-- We asked next door what time the fire occurred and they said 2pm!). No one called us or let us know that we should make a reservation somewhere else and that their kitchen was closed. Anyways, instead of the bald owner/manager apologizing to us, he started to get defensive (bc he knew he was wrong) AND yelling at us! I've never seen a manager with such bad people skills. What a horrible experience for a birthday dinner! Luckily, we were able to find a place for 15 on a Saturday night next door. Let's just say the 15 of us will def not come back! I've never seen such unprofessionalism....EVER! read more

My friend and I decided to host a joint birthday get together with friends of ours last Saturday night (jan. 16). I arrived early with a friend and we stumbled into free salsa lessons upstairs which was a lot of fun and a nice surprise. We then made our way downstairs to join up with the group. After spending 10 minutes trying to get the bartender's attention she finally took our food and drink order. While taking a photo or two my co-birthday girl's drink was cleared from the bar while still pretty full. When we asked the bartender what happened to her drink she simply told us, "I haven't cleaned anything from this area". When a few friends joined us they too were hungry and tried to place a food and drink order with the bartender. Once again we were completely ignored. Fifteen minutes later she acknowledged my friend and when he tried to order she told him the kitchen closed at 11. It wasn't yet 11 and we told her that, and she just said "the kitchen is closed". So my friend left to get food elsewhere. I was truly disappointed in the lack of service from the bartenders. It wasn't that busy so there is really no excuse for the rudeness and the lack of professionalism. Normally I wouldn't post such a review, but as someone who also works in the industry I was appalled at how callous the bartender was. Despite how much we enjoyed the salsa band and dancing upstairs I don't think I'll ever come back. I'd rather spend my money at a place that truly cares about their guests and prides themselves on good service. read more

I've gone through this place quite a few times. The atmosphere is fantastic, the art, the music (great live salsa on Fridays). BUT the chick bartenders downstairs pretty much blow! If you like waiting 45 min for a drink while the bartenders chat and flirt then you'll be happy read more