The Royal

The cozy neighborhood vibe is strong with this one. The Royal is coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night and delicious Colombian food purveyor all the time.
Here’s what you need to know:
+ Tea lovers will not be left behind in a dust of coffee grounds here. They have a solid selection of organic teas to cozy up too. My scent of my green tea blend was absolutely intoxicating.
+ They also make matcha green tea lattes and use coconut milk as a non-​dairy option.
+ Strong and mighty WiFi juice for the cost of zero pennies
+ A small but diverse menu that will please meat eaters, vegetarians, and pescatarians alike. Even though I live and die by the motto «Beef is always better,» I absolutely fell in love with their seasonal squash arepa and grilled avocado and quinoa salad. The dishes were the perfect size and had a bold, citrus tang. I could smell them being cooked over their open grill from the kitchen and it was positively drool worthy.
Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try their cocktails but a quick perusal over the drink menu has ensured a second trip back.

Very easy to order at the bar. Cozy places to choose from around the entire restaurant. Passers-​by will accompany you if you choose to sit outside at one of the few tables. Food options might currently be limited but they are tasty. I would give it 5 stars if it was a bit more high end for the same price.

Finally made it back to the Royal this past weekend, when the weather was glorious. A few friends and I sat outside and drank coffee/​booze and played scrabble for a few hours. The place was so laid back and the service was great. The guy working behind the bar was so so friendly and helpful (the opposite of what I experienced on my last visit.) I can see myself posting up here when the weather gets frightful and reading a book (jk trying to read a book but actually browsing the internet on my phone until the battery dies.

5 stars for the food. Their breakfast sandwich is the bomb, and the serving size gets me into a full-​on food coma. I’d like to come back here for lunch/​dinner + drinks!
2 stars for only having coconut milk as a non-​dairy option (no but really who does that?!). Whole experience with the staff is «meh», the girl who took my order was most certainly not very customer service oriented.

I’ll give three stars because the staff were nice. The food was tiny and not much flavor there. The martini I got was $ 19! Yes $ 19! It was tiny So not worth it in my opinion!

J’adore J’adore! Love this place for breakfast. It is a bar and kitchen, and if you check out their website, don’t be deceived, the place is actually much smaller than the photo, I think the pic was taken up from upstairs and may have used fisheye lens…
None the less, the place is not just a bar, it serves great breakfast, and there is a dinner menu. The menu is Latin inspired. I had Choripan which when I had it in Argentina, it is a huge sausage BBQed and served with bread like a sausage sandwich. Here it is a Catalan pork sausage with a fried egg and Mexican cow milk cheese. It is definitely enough to fill you up, My buddy had the Calentado (which means left over), it is a very nice plate of rice, potatoes, peas, fried egg, sausage. Coffee is great, the vibe is good. There is not many individual tables, there are some upstairs, there are communal tables and some window seats or eat at the bar. I will definitely go back for breakfast and find time to try the evening menu too.

You really, really shouldn’t come here. You are probably going to take my favorite seat and get on my ever-​lasting nerve because you have now «discovered» how great the Royal is with its fancy (but not pretentious) cocktails, its delicious (and unique) fusion food (try to roasted avocado, it will not disappoint), its friendly-​as-​hell bartenders, its great brick 1 ½-​story space and outdoor seating, and it’s cool community vibe. Yes, you’re very cool, now get the hell outta my chair.

Great spot! Great staff! And amazing cocktails!
Very comfortable and the location is key.

I came here for dinner with a few friends after some day-​drinking at the REI Thinamajig at Wunder Garten in NOMA. The space was great and we had no trouble finding a table. It wasn’t very packed on a Saturday night (which is a plus in my book!).
Drinks: We tried the Moscow Mule, Dark and Stormy, and Royal Cup. I wasn’t impressed by the Moscow Mule but the other two were good.
Food: I had the beef arepa and others had the burger and Morcilla (pork and rice sausage with potatoes). The Morcilla was very tasty, though the portion wasn’t huge. I liked my arepa. My biggest complaint is that I ordered a side of the Aji sauce to add some heat to the dish and it was far from spicy.
Overall, I’d definitely come back to try some more drinks and food if I’m in the neighborhood.

The Royal first caught my eye earlier this summer when I was taking a cab through Le Droit to pick up a friend. Just from the outside I could tell it was a place with a lot of charm and it immediately it stuck out as somewhere I wanted to try. From looking at their menu and seeing pictures I knew I wanted to go for breakfast & coffee as well as cocktails & dinner but for now this review will just be about the latter.
I went on Monday night with a few friends for dinner and another post-​happy hour drink. We ordered at the bar and sat outside. There are only a few tables out there but if you’re lucky enough to grab one I would; it has a very sidewalk café in Paris vibe. If you’re with a group I recommend each ordering a couple plates and sharing. We ordered the tomatoes plate which came with charred sweet corn, chick peas, raw goat feta, and fresh herbs. This was the standout for me; it was very fresh and full of flavor without having too many ingredients. We also got the house fries (they had a little kick), Butifarra (grilled pork & rice sausage, roasted potatoes), beef empanadas, and cheese arepas. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like but I will say I wish there were some more options on the menu.
The other thing of note is we had to order inside at the bar and then they brought our food to us on the patio. This was fine as it wasn’t crowded but on a busy night that wouldn’t be ideal.
All in all, I really enjoyed The Royal and am looking forward to getting back soon to try their breakfast.

+:
The breakfast arepa w/​avocado, egg, and tomato was delicious.
— :
If you’re going to charge $ 3 for a bagel, pls don’t give me a store-​bought Thomas’ bagel. Bullfrog Bagels would be good alternatives.
The corn muffin was SOO dry and tasteless.

What a cool find! Cozy and well decorated corner spot with extremely friendly and knowledgeable bartenders and some great little bites coming out of the kitchen. Highlights include the beef arepa, grilled squid, grilled avocado, and butifarra (sp?) Housemate sausage. Good cocktails and all local beers. Will have to go back to try the Zombie cocktail on tap. Thanks Jason!

I adore The Royal. I’m actually writing my review from the sidewalk seating right now (free wifi!) and on my third visit here in five days.
Reasons why The Royal is my new favorite place in DC:
1. Open all day! 7AM-​1AM (2AM weekends), meaning I can come here for a coffee and chat with friends in the morning, stay to do some work and grab lunch during the day and then return at night for a cocktail date.
2. Full menu that transitions with you during the activities mentioned in 1. Breakfast till noon, then lunch/​dinner for the rest of the day. Lots of cafes takes breaks in food service (and even close to flip between service) but at the Royal you can snack whenever you like!
3. Cocktails starting at 11AM. I don’t really need them yet, but I’m glad to know I can have them if I want.
4. Happy Hour is daily! 3 – 6 even on weekends, also a rarity for the city. On weeknights Happy Hour starts up again at 10PM-​close. HH does not include food (my one gripe), but does knock $ 3 off all of the classic cocktails for $ 7 pricing.
5. Drinks are strong! And there’s a ton of them — wine, beer, cocktails. Whatever you want.
6. Ambiance. The Royal reminds me of the cafes in South America and even with all the traffic on Florida Ave, sitting on the sidewalk tables is just the loveliest experience. Inside there’s bar seating, tables and a raised second floor if you want a more quiet date/​study spot.

I hesitate writing a review because I feel like I stumbled upon DC’s newest best kept secret and I don’t want the secret to get out. Since I love this city too much, I want everyone to know about cool spots.
The Royal is owned by Vinoteca and is a cocktail bar at night and a… wait for it… a coffee shop with strong, free wifi during the day. YES! When Compass and Maketto are crowded, The Royal will welcome you in with plenty of seating, power outlets, and great snacks as you work. Try an order of the house fries. They come thick cut with cheese, chives, and a slightly tangy and sweet sauce on them. They are as good as crack fries. I ordered a caipirinha and enjoyed it. It didn’t taste like one, but it still tasted good and sweet.
I’ll be back here for sure to work and poach their free wifi.

I stumbled upon The Royal one day after work, it was an afternoon where I really needed a drink– it happened to be the first Monday they’d ever been open. The décor was sleek, modern and warm.
I order a whiskey cocktail (not on the menu), that J (bartender) dames the Coast to Coast it was very fresh and aromatic, with a perfect marriage between sweet and robust. I believe it had rye whiskey, pineapple juice, some bitters and an orange peel, similar to an Old Fashion.
One way to make my experience more enjoyable is a knowledgeable bartender with a consistent routine to how they construct their cocktails, The Royal’s bar staff demonstrates that and they have a keen eye for detail.
Next I order a traditional Old Fashioned it was superb what made it even better was the large square ice cube that kept my drink nice and cold, while diluting it gradually for a smooth finish, many drinks could benefit from larger ice cubes lol. I also ordered the corn and mushroom fritters to accompany. They were crunchy, piping hot and savory, a great little bite to go with a well-​made cocktail. I would’ve liked more than two for $ 4 but overall my experience outweighed the little things. I’ll definitely be back.

I am a fan of The Royal! Since their opening, I’ve been here a few times to grab some coffee and a few bites. Their menu is not too extensive, offering a limited selection at certain times during the day. Items include Plaintain Bread, Toasted Bagel, Calentado, Bibb Salad, Grilled Steak, etc, as well as classic and featured cocktails, served starting at 11AM. I ordered an iced Mocha (this was strong and quite tasty; I usually add in half and half, and this just adds a bit of the creaminess to it) and a Beef Empanada (this comes with a side of aji sauce; the sauce wasn’t needed, as the empanada was pretty tasty on its own; it was more of a cornmeal exterior, stuffed with flavorful and seasoned meat and veggies). I tried ordering an Arepa once, but it was somehow forgotten to be included in an order T_​_​_​_​T The staff is super friendly, and I like sitting up at the bar. There are plenty of tables to sit, relax, order off the menu, enjoy your beverages, and/​or do some studying/​work. I still have yet to try their shaved cocktails, in which they use a Guatemalan vintage ice shaver, so I’m looking forward in trying them out the next time! Parking is a little tricky, as towing is strictly enforced in this residential neighborhood.
+iced Mocha: D
+Beef Empanada: D
+friendly staff: D
+restricted residential parking

FOOD: 4.5÷5
SERVICE: ⁵⁄₅
AMBIANCE: ⁵⁄₅
VALUE: ⁴⁄₅
OVERALL: ⁴⁄₅
Came here on a Saturday afternoon before the dinner rush on a recommendation. A new spot in the city! –on the stretch of Florida Ave/​LeDroit Park that used to be shoo’ed off as the «area nobody goes». Now it is a completely renovated corner spot, which, from the moment you pull the handle on the glass door, you whisper under your breath «wow, it’s beautiful». (Also, I’m also a sucker for typographical niceties) Thoughtfully decorated interior allows you to see everything at once, and it lures you in with its refurbished wood furniture, a compact marble bar with nicely organized bottles alluring you with light (reminds me of the setting of Founding Farmers but much more intimate).
The service was impeccable. Very friendly folks who welcomed us and answered every question, but also super easy-​going.
I liked my food and ravenously enjoyed the Butifarra sausage. It was a great balance of meat, salt, and fat, that was accompanied by perfectly roasted potatoes. I have not had this type of sausage before and would look for it if I went to Colombia again. The Grilled Squid was juicy and disappeared quickly.
However, I would say that the food/​value could be improved if the Grilled Squid were served hot (like it actually came right off the grill), could also use a bit of salt or some lemon on the side. Furthermore, I found the tomato dish (feta cheese, herbs, garlic, cumin) to be slightly underwhelming for a $ 12 dish. I love cheese, so maybe it needed more cheese (?) ;)
I want to go back and try cocktails, because they look delicious and made well. I also would say I am not jumping at the chance to eat a $ 6 arepa …
A note about the décor– (Can I add, I love that they have these old schoolchairs that have a wooden slat underneath them so ladies can put their purse there for storage without touching the floor. heh)
Overall, a beautiful new place that has a lot of potential and the food and service will lure more diners to the stretches of Shaw and LeDroit.

Place is nice, good music and great atmosphere. Food needs improvements and is quite expensive. As an example, arepa and empanadas are unsalted. I have to recognize that dish presentation is ok but paper holding the arepa is not practical when its contents are all humid.
The place is new so I think they can improve quite easily. Will return and hope to positively update my review.

So I like everything that the Royal is trying to be — the area needs an all-​day restaurant with good coffee, good food and good service. My husband and went in the evening and thoroughly enjoyed a sampling of the small plates, and some of the cocktails are very thoughtful and well made. The staff is also very friendly.
So why 2 stars? Because baristas have consistently made lattes that fill ½ the cup. ½ the cup! Where is the other half? And these aren’t cheap lattes — we are talking north of $ 3.50. For that price, I want a full cup. I shouldn’t have to ask — moreover, it happened in the morning and separately in the afternoon. I want to make this my go-​to coffee place, but I can’t and can’t recommend a place that tries to cheat on the latte. Milk isn’t that expensive.

This place is fabulous and has only been open for ten days. Why is it fabulous? Let me tell you.
First off, the décor is classy and cozy. The bar has old metal, wood, and marble — and looks awesome with all the pretty (and various! Lots to choose from) spirits. See picture.
Second, the staff is warm, excited to talk to you, and super helpful in explaining what Royal is all about. They give you a menu first thing, and though I didn’t go for food, it looked like a creative menu (…grilled squid anyone?!). I happened to walk into the place during a managers’ meeting — the managers looked excited about their new venture and ready to serve.
Third, the coffee is AMAZING. And I don’t say that lightly. I take my coffee vey seriously. They have grapefruit and mint water by the coffee bar for the taking. Such a nice touch. Oh! Almost forgot to mention that they have super fast WIFI and unlike other places (looking at you, Big Bear Café!), they don’t turn it off on the weekends. There are plenty of outlets to go around, which is something I really appreciate in a café.
Royal is currently closed on Mondays, but they said that would change in the coming weeks.
Breakfast starts at 7am. All juices are super fresh. The chef makes his own sausages in house, and works closely with local farms to get the whole animal — he’ll choose the farm based on availability so all the meat is fresh. It’s open until midnight every day — so head on over to get your fix. (The bar opens at 11am, so it’s got ya covered no matter how early you like to start!)
Royal used to be a liquor store in the 70s/​80s, called the Royal Liquor Store. They tried to stick to traditions and kept the name. I personally love it.
Come on in and try out what is sure to be the next hot spot. With such passionate owners/​managers, you’ll feel like a royal celebrity right when you walk in!