Colada Shop Adds a Retractable Rain Cover to Keep Rooftop Parties Going

Colada Shop is rolling out a retractable roof this week to keep April showers and harsh UV rays away from customers as they sip tropical cocktails and eat Cuban snacks.

The cafe off 14th Street NW is hosting a spring kickoff party tomorrow to introduce its rooftop and ring in a couple of new vegetarian dishes: a roasted cauliflower and spring onion croqueta and an empanada stuffed with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and cheese.

Maya Oren/For Colada Shop

The vinyl pergola unfurls at the touch of a button, enclosing a majority of the rooftop. A small portion of the space will remain out of the pergola’s reach. That’s reserved for small smaller gatherings in case management needs to separate the rest of the space for private events, Colada Shop president Daniella Senior says.

When it rained during private events in the past, guests had to vacate the roof and move downstairs, where space is already tight. The pergola guarantees the rooftop’s year-round availability.

“I don’t want rain to ruin someone’s expectations of their event, or just chilling,” Senior says.

On Thursday, Colada Shop will bring back its weekly “Havana Nights” happy hour on the roof from 4 p.m. until closing with $6 cocktails and $2 empanadas.

People can also buy three new cocktails: the “Guava Berry” (white rum guava, passion fruit, lime, and Maraschino), the “Canela” (Bacardi 4, cinnamon syrup, lime and angostura) and “Carnaval” (white rum, melon liquor, coconut syrup, pineapple juice and lime).

Maya Oren/For Colada Shop

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