Wikipedia

Rumba (restaurant)

Rumba is a bar and restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. Opened by owner Travis Rosenthal in 2012, Rumba was named one of the best new bars by Details magazine and has been recognized by Tales of the Cocktail.

Rumba
Rumba's exterior in 2024
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedSeptember 14, 2012 (2012-09-14)
Owner(s)Travis Rosenthal
Street address1112 Pike Street
CitySeattle
StateWashington
Postal/ZIP Code98101
CountryUnited States
Coordinates47°36′50″N 122°19′43″W / 47.613805°N 122.328576°W / 47.613805; -122.328576

Description

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Rumba opened as Seattle's first rum bar.[1] Eater Seattle has said, "With its hardback Hemingway collection and aquamarine, Caribbean blue accents, Rumba radiates an upscale, tropical vibe". The menu has included Central/South American and Caribbean cuisine such as ceviche, empanadas with mushroom or spiced chorizo,[2] jerk chicken wings, pork belly tostones,[3] and tacos, as well as sandwiches, daiquiris,[4] and non-alcoholic drinks.[5] Seattle Metropolitan has said the bar serves Cuban cuisine and "exudes a languorous Havana vibe".[6] Rumba has small plates and a drink list with approximately 700 sugar cane spirits.[7] The interior has bookcases with "island" tchotchkes.[8] Rumba has been described as a "sibling" of the Spanish tapas restaurant Tango's.[9]

History

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The bar's exterior, 2023

Media outlets first reported on a new rum bar from owner[10] Travis Rosenthal in May 2012. A "late summer" opening[11] became September 14.[12][13] The bar debuted a sidewalk patio in 2013.[14] In 2014, the bar manager launched a loyalty program in the form of a Rum Map to sample various rum varieties.[15] For Halloween, Rumba hosted a pineapple carving contest and served Funk Juice (rum with pineapple).[16]

The bar began serving lunch in 2015.[5] Jet Lutge became Rumba's first dedicated chef in late 2018.[17] As of 2019, on Tiki Wednesdays the bar served "over-the-top" tiki drinks.[18]

Inside Passage

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Rosenthal secured the lease to additional space and opened Inside Passage,[19] which has been described as a speakeasy and a "bar-within-a-bar that serves amazingly unique drinks and nautical vibes".[20][21] Inside Passage is accessed by a "secret passage" and has a giant sea monster calleed Kiki hanging from the ceiling. It serves "wildly creative" drinks, with each having a "different story and different elements".[20]

Reception

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Rumba has included in Details magazine's list of the best new bars in the U.S.[22] Leonardo David Raymundo included the business in Eater Seattle's 2017 list of ten "first-class" Caribbean restaurants in the city.[2] Writers for the website also included Rumba in a 2023 list of twenty "essential" Capitol Hill restaurants.[7] Tales of the Cocktail's regional top ten lists for the West Coast included Rumba in 2018.[23] The bar was also nominated for World's Best Spirits Selection by Tales of the Cocktail in 2020.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Perry, Julien (March 14, 2013). "Rumba's Connor O'Brien Rhapsodizes About Rum". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Raymundo, Leonardo David (July 14, 2017). "10 First-Class Caribbean Restaurants in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Rocher, Frantz (October 5, 2017). "Rumba". Thrillist. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Gujavarty, Shalini (September 17, 2012). "Rum-tastic Rumba Debuts on Capitol Hill". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Hill, Megan (June 22, 2015). "Rumba Launches Lunch Starting Today". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Rumba". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Stewart, Jade Yamazaki (September 28, 2017). "20 Essential Capitol Hill Restaurants". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Rumba Review - Capitol Hill - Seattle". The Infatuation. January 21, 2022. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Gujavarty, Shalini (September 14, 2012). "Fall Tracking". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Hill, Megan (January 31, 2018). "Salumi Is Building a Production Facility for National Distribution". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Gujavarty, Shalini (May 10, 2012). "Seattle Beer Week Kicks Off at Elysian; Capitol Hill Gets New Rum Bar". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Gujavarty, Shalini (August 9, 2012). "Rumba Plans September Open; Forage With Blaine Wetzel". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Gujavarty, Shalini (September 11, 2012). "Most Anticipated Bar & Restaurant Openings of Fall 2012". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Perry, Julien (June 11, 2013). "Event Planning". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  15. ^ Groset, Sonja (October 21, 2014). "Four Seattle Bartenders Share Autumnal Cocktail Recipes". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Billups, Sara (October 27, 2014). "A Dog Bar in Chophouse Row; Rumba's Pineapple Carving". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Hill, Megan (January 12, 2018). "New Chef at Georgetown's Grill-Centric Restaurant Adds Spanish Influences". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Meny, Ellen (July 3, 2019). "Rumba's Carribean [sic] food and exotic drinks bring the tropics direct to Seattle". king5.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Burnstead, Brandon (August 25, 2021). "Ahoy! This Capitol Hill bar is the gateway to an underwater abyss". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Meny, Ellen (September 14, 2021). "Travel under the sea at this unique Capitol Hill speakeasy". king5.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "Inside Passage Review - Capitol Hill - Seattle". The Infatuation. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  22. ^ Perry, Julien (January 22, 2013). "Vessel & Rumba Get National Props; No More Nomad". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  23. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (July 23, 2018). "Old Ballard Liquor Co. Is Changing From Distillery to Nordic Restaurant". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Guarente, Gabe (May 8, 2020). "Seattleites Can Now Get the Much-Coveted Tajarin from Spinasse for Takeout". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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