Quietly introduced during July’s oppressive heat, the new feature is even more attractive as August temperatures normalize. In total, the restaurant features nearly 100 outdoor seats, including 36 on the new 80-foot long paver-stone parklet built atop 9th Street, which widens the already generous sidewalk along the full extent of the restaurant’s main frontage. The district’s new two-way bicycle track runs alongside the parklet, distancing diners from vehicular traffic. The 9th Street Tropical Parklet sits opposite a row of sidewalk tables flanking the restaurant’s storefront, creating an urban oasis for al fresco dining, with strolling pedestrians and passing bicyclists animating the scene. Upright versions of Adirondack chairs surround each of the parklet’s teak tables, which are shaded by colorful umbrellas and palm trees. Abundant tropical foliage and tiki torches create a transportive environment, much like the restaurant’s Havana-themed interior. Download the full press release here.
“While many pandemic behaviors have gone by the wayside, the public’s affinity for unique outside dining experiences has grown,” said Barry Gutin, Principal and Co-Founder, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. “We are excited that with the completion of the district’s repairs and reconfiguration of 9th Street, we have finally been able to reintroduce Cuba Libre’s popular parklet, which is now more tropical than ever.”
Since 2020, Cuba Libre has been a leader in creating innovative outdoor dining experiences, winning DowntownDC BID’s Experience Momentum Award for the original version of its Tropical Parklet, which was introduced that July with its tables placed directly on the uneven road surface. This new streetside dining experience is an improvement over the original, as it employs a system of over 200 small, adjustable pedestals to level its entire paver surface, and raises it even with the sidewalk, making all its tables handicapped accessible and allowing water to drain beneath the platform.
The restaurant’s earlier innovations continued in late September 2020 when Cuba Libre and DowntownDC BID debuted a new kind of “streatery” dubbed Dine Out on 8th, featuring large dining tents taking over the low-traffic, tree-lined stretch of 8th Street between H and I Streets during the fall season.
Late that same year, still deep in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing winter conditions, Cuba Libre introduced its ambitious Campfire Cabins, a heavy timber structure featuring eight large fire pit tables, each in its own protective pod. DDOT’s 2022 reconfiguration of 9th Street to introduce bicycle lanes forced the removal of this structure, however its popular giant Adirondack chair will be featured at the center of the restaurant’s new parklet, providing an amusing photo opportunity for visitors and locals.
About Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is located in the Penn Quarter section at 801 9th St. NW. The popular concept, now with five locations, launched to much critical acclaim in Philadelphia in 2000, followed by Atlantic City in 2004, Orlando in 2008, Washington in 2010, and Fort Lauderdale in April 2021, providing guests with a passport to Cuba’s intriguing flavors and cuisine. The restaurant’s name, which translates to “a free Cuba,” signifies hope for the future of the treasured island nation. The company’s mission is to provide an “escape” to Havana through exciting food, beverage and entertainment experiences that celebrate the Cuban people and culture. Founded by two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Guillermo Pernot, Cuba Libre’s menus reflect Cuba’s culinary traditions, as well as its emerging modern cuisine.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is poised for expansion into new markets. Principals Barry Gutin and Larry Cohen bring a unique combination of hospitality and expertise to each of their projects and have been partners in the hospitality business since 1995. For more information, please visit www.CubaLibreRestaurant.com.
