Melanie J.

I go to this colada when I'm in Crystal city! Their drinks are really good and love the shaken mango passion fruit tea drink the most and it's affordable! I tried the sampler today, the pastelito was decent but the croquettes were delicious with the guava sauce! Tostones were standard and chicken tender was pretty tasty but still standard. The decor in the place is cute too and you feel like you're in Miami haha. The staff is always friendly and attentive if you ask about allergens!

Michaele M.

Stopped in for some drinks. There are two outdoor bars, one downstairs and one upstairs. Fun atmosphere and friendly service. Decent prices, also. Spicy Cubanella Margarita - sweet and spicy. Cutting down just a bit on the sugar wouldn't be bad but tasty overall Guava oatmeal cookie - sweet and filling.

Manny M.

First time ever stopping by Colada Shop, and I have to say--it was a pleasant surprise. I hadn't traveled in a bit, so walking through the airport and suddenly seeing a Colada Shop felt like spotting a little slice of Miami tucked inside the DC area. For anyone who grew up around Cuban cafeterias, that's a comforting sight. I decided to go straight for the classics. The picadillo pastelito was on point. Flaky pastry, lightly glazed with that signature sugar on top, and filled with seasoned picadillo (ground beef) that tasted very close to what you'd expect from a traditional Miami Cuban cafeteria. Honestly, if someone handed it to me without context, I'd assume it came from a ventanita somewhere on Calle Ocho. The café con leche also delivered. They even ask if you want it Miami style with sugar, or you can dial back the sweetness to your liking--which I appreciated. Not every place understands the sacred balance of café con leche and sugar. Now for the jamón croqueta. The flavor was good, but the texture suggested the oil might have been a bit too hot--or maybe ready for a refresh. It had a slightly over-crisp / burnt exterior. Also, traditionally croquetas have the ham blended smoothly throughout, but mine had a couple small jamón bits that didn't seem fully processed. Not a dealbreaker, just something that stood out. Overall though, I'm genuinely excited to see a spot like this here. It's nice finding a place that brings a bit of Cuban coffee culture and pastry tradition into the airport scene. Next time I'm passing through, I'm hoping to explore more of the actual food menu and not just the snack lineup. But for now--pastelitos + café con leche = a solid airport win.

Ron S.

Great atmosphere and really good food. Ordered using QR code on the table. Easy, no fuss. Each item was delivered individually as it was ready. Coffee was good, pastry excellent. Wrap / sandwich was lovely. Good stop outside DC. No crowd on a rainy Tuesday, but the space is on the small side and I can see it getting crowded.

Carl C.

Wow. This place is packed for Sunday Brunch, and they still create a killer cortadito at a reasonable amount of time. Loud, too. This place with a crowded bar. Next time I will try their other drinks and adult beverages. They seem very popular with the college and young professional groups. I tried their guava danish/pastry. Very nice flavor, and just warm enough for the palate. Despite the limited space, it's a great place to meet up with a group of friends and/or family. There are a couple large tables in the back. I look forward to visiting during the week.

Sarah P.

My family of 5 stopped in for breakfast on our way to the Army Ten Miler Expo for packet pick up. The walk from the Crystal Gate Marriott was quick and easy. The seating was a little sparse, not really meant for large parties or families, but we pulled together a few small tables in the window for the whole family to sit together and made it work. Wasn't an issue at the time, but probably would be if it was a little busier. We go meatless most of the time, so the big draw to the menu was the non- meat options. We started with a blue matcha (the kids and I loved it) and espresso for Lorenzo. I indulged with an espresso martini as well. Different- made with rum and banana liquor- but tasty. The kids shared a sweet cream pastry and a plantain muffin. They were gone in about 10 seconds. The kids also all had the churro waffles- Suri and Lolo demolished them, but Sadie ended up being a bigger fan of my food. Lorenzo got the plantain and cauliflower soup, and I had the crispy congri rice salad. My salad was sooo good, but I think Sadie ended up eating more than I did. We also had the plantain stew empanadas, I'm not sure what was even in them, but they were really good. We tried about half the menu, and loved every bite. Definitely worth the visit.

I'm late to the Colada Shop hype but I am so glad I finally tried it. Their Cuban inspired menu was hard to choose from. I got the crispy congri rice salad and guava matcha glow smoothie. Both were great and the staff were friendly and checked in on us even though we ordered through the kiosk. The outdoor space was busy with happy hour coladas, so refreshing for summer. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

Hannah H.

No, Colada Shop, just no. Our experience with one of your staff members really left a bad taste. We usually love coming here for breakfast and coffee, as we prefer your morning options. We stopped by to try your HH options on an early afternoon, and a newer male staff member seemed to purposely 'choose' and 'target' specific individuals to service - IYKYK He clearly was going out of his way to ignore our table, not wanting or caring to get our drink or food orders. The outdoor patio space isn't that big, and, honestly, you really have to make an effort to avoid the already seated patrons (which many tables were not filled yet when we came). Not really sure what his issue was, but we confronted him and inquired why he continued to skip over us - his response was that he 'thought we were still deciding' - we then pointed out that he was willing to take orders from multiple individuals and/or groups that had literally just arrived and seated, who were not even ready. Sus. It was crystal clear that he had some weird hateful bias or some problem - we have decided to not give our patronage to your business again. Shame on you. +nope

Stephanie S.

We really enjoyed our meal at Colada Shop. The colada shop Cuban was great, and we'd definitely order it again. The empanadas were amazing too. I loved the toasted coconut on top of my virgin piña colada, and the mojito was really refreshing. We'll definitely go back to try more of the menu!

Hussain L.

I had the Santiago bowl with chicken, half and half rice in greens. It's a well-rounded dish, but the chicken lacked sufficient spice To my taste. The staff are very kind. The chicken portion size is small, beware. The sweet plantains are nice dessert treat. This airport restaurant in C terminal has music and open seating.

Reana K.

If you're looking for a place that has plants and cute gifts, look no further! My mom has the biggest green thumb I know and when we passed by this place, she couldn't pass it up. Inside the place is super cozy and cute. They had floral claw clips, a decorated Christmas tree with the cutest ornaments, and an abundance of plants and pots. There's an area too to sit down and relax.

Austin G.

What a perfect place to meet up with friends during good weather. Near National Airport, we met a few friends flying into town for dinner. Here's our experience. 1) Food: The menu is Cuban and serves a variety of pastries, salads, sandwiches, and more. Every dish we got was full of flavor and well made. The chicken empanadas weren't dry and the sauce they come with is delicious. The BBQ guava sandwich was excellent. The guava pastry our eight-year-old daughter enjoyed. They also have a kids menu and our daughter loved the quesadilla. 2) Drinks: Water is self-service inside, but don't sleep on the $8.50 frozen daiquiri. It comes with lime, carrot juice, and clementine and is so refreshing. 3) Service: Staff were very attentive and friendly. Order from the QR code at your table or order inside, whichever is easiest. When the food is ready, they will bring it out. 4) Space: There's indoor seating and an outdoor patio. The design is inviting and there are murals inside. They also have two clean restrooms inside. 5) Neighborhood: In the heart of Crystal City, you can usually find parking down near Long Bridge Park. The area has lots of other restaurants and green spaces. The Crystal City Metro is a block away.

Diana P.

This new location is really nice and very conveniently located in Crystal City, VA. The menu has great items to choose from. I ordered their seasonal horchata and matcha flavored drink , which was okay, but the plantain nachos were really good -- i'd suggest order them with meat if you are hungry. Otherwise, a great shareable snack! I ordered the chicken empanadas but they were sold out (after I had placed my order) so I got a spinach replacement instead.