1355 U Street, NW
From an email:
“Casa Kantuta, the first Bolivian pop-up bar in the U.S., officially returns Thursday, August 8. This time, the bar by sibling duo Carla and Juan Sanchez, will bring Bolivia’s culture, cocktails, and unique culinary contributions to U Street at SpaceDC for three months.
To celebrate the groundbreaking concept’s comeback, on Saturday, August 3, the Casa Kantuta team, in partnership with SpaceDC, will debut Bolivian Fest DC, a three-level immersive experience showcasing the Bolivian way of life. The first two floors of Bolivian Fest DC will be family friendly, featuring Bolivian street food, folklore performances like caporales, and a market with local small business vendors including Kusi Art by Ana Raquel. The rooftop will host a VIP party for those 21 and up with DJs Giox, Vico Vibez, and Henrry Zelaya, as well as live bands throughout the day.
“We’re so excited to mark our return with Bolivian Fest DC and at SpaceDC. Being on U Street makes us more accessible to so many people who already like to have a good time and support the local hospitality scene so having the opportunity to come back with such a big bang feels rewarding,” says Carla Sanchez, co-founder of Casa Kantuta and Bolivian Fest DC. “So many people have partied with us at our various pop-ups. We hope to see those folks and some new ones during this chapter of Casa Kantuta.”
Specifically, this chapter of Casa Kantuta is inspired by Carnavales de Oruro, a UNESCO-recognized festival deeply rooted in Bolivia’s indigenous traditions dating back to the 18th century. For this iteration of the bar, that means bringing the vibrant folklore, colors, and show-stopping presentation of the legendary festival to the speakeasy environment Casa Kantuta has come to be known for. The bar occupies the never-before-seen lower level of SpaceDC where no more than 36 guests can convene. There, guests will enjoy an expanded menu of traditional Bolivian snacks including salteñas, flights of singani, Bolivia’s national spirit distilled from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes, music, décor, and events all with carnavales themes woven into them, adding an educational component to an already exceptional hospitality experience.
Further enhancing the hospitality experience, Casa Kantuta has partnered with Latinx-owned consulting mixology firm, MVP. The newly formed cocktail-making collective of Washington D.C. hospitality industry veterans is leading the bar program and offering a completely new menu of customary Bolivian libations as well as Latin twists on trendy favorites like espresso martinis.
“We’ve loved bringing the dynamic spirit of Bolivia to Washington D.C.,” explains Juan Sanchez, co-founder of Casa Kantuta and Bolivian Fest DC. “Bolivian Fest DC and Casa Kantuta highlight our dedication to sharing Bolivia’s unique contributions and how expansive Latin cultures are with D.C.’s diverse community. This is more than an event and more than a bar. It’s truly a celebration of our heritage, a bridge between cultures, and a significant milestone for our community here in D.C.”
Bolivian Fest DC stages Saturday, August 3 from 3pm-2am. Tickets for Bolivian Fest DC are available now and can be purchased online. Regular admission tickets are $30, VIP tickets are $50, tickets for kids 12 and up are $10, and kids under 12 can enter for free.
Casa Kantuta reopens at 1355 U Street NW on Thursday, August 8. Hours of operation are as follows:
Pop-Up Hours:
Thursday from 6pm-12am
Friday from 6pm-2am
Saturday from 6pm-2am
Sunday: Open for special events only”