Carla

The guy that welcomed us to the bar and explained the dynamic was very kind and welcoming. Bartenders are very slow and rude, it might be due to working out the kinks of a new bar… but the lychee martini did not taste sweet, and tasted of pickles? My friend got the dirty martini and it was watered down, no olive flavour. Price was better than most places in D.C. but the low quality matches the low price.

Heard this place was opening by luck as some of them were moving things in when I passed by. Finally made it out on a whim and enjoyed my time there. The drinks are nicely priced for the area, staff are friendly, and the live DJ was playing good music to my taste. Highly recommend the band bang shrimp bao. Plan to be back soon!!

Adam and Jeff are some incredible bartenders. Good vibes good drinks!

My friend and I had been seeing all the hype about Carla on 18th Street on Instagram, so we decided to check it out on opening day! First off, I loved the vibe and decor. The space is cozy, stylish, and really inviting. We sat at the bar, which was a tad chaotic, but honestly, that’s to be expected on opening day while everyone is still working out the kinks. The bartenders were juggling everything—making drinks, putting in food orders, and even helping get food out to guests. They definitely had a lot on their plates! That said, Gigi was doing a fabulous job behind the bar. I tried the Hugo Spritz, which was lovely and refreshing. My friend had a non alcoholic beer which he enjoyed too! For food, we ordered the chicken skewers and meatballs. The tzatziki that came with the chicken skewers was absolutely delicious, and the meatballs were the standout for me—so flavorful! Overall, we really enjoyed our time at Carla. Opening days are always a little bit of a work in progress, but I think they have something really fun here. I’m definitely eager to come back and check out the live music another time! ✨ .