The Salsa Room

AWESOME PLACE! I was there Saturday ⁰¹⁄₁₆ with some friends to celebrate my friend’s Raul birthday. They were so attentive, their food was really good, I loved the music and atmosphere was amazing. A place I would definitely recommend to visit if you wanna have a good time. I’m definitely going back myself

I go to The salsa Room to DANCE, I have been going for three years now. I rarely if ever, eat there, or drink there. I’m comfortable going on my own knowing there are always people I know there, or friends are always willing to meet up.
I’ve gone long enough to know which DJ’s I like, and I especially like the hardwood floors. I don’t go for the classes. I show up at 10:30pm, walk in, say hi to friends, put on my dance shoes and DANCE!
VIP card is nice to have. Wednesdays Bachata nights are sometimes free with that (and more with VIP card).
IF YOUR ALREADY AN ACCOMPLISHED DANCER, just moved here looking for social dancing, just like you had from where ever you came from (Latin preferably: bachata, salsa, merengue, Kizomba, Zouk, ect.) then YES hit up TSR (The Salsa Room, just one of the many options in the DMV)
IF YOUR A FIRST TIMER DANCER looking for ambiance, a nice paced class where you can learn, have a good meal, enjoy a drink, with that welcoming feeling, then you need to find an Arthur Murray or Fred Astair studio, with a nice restaurant near by.
LOL!!!

LOVE TSR! :) :) Everyone is friendly. I go there often and always have a great time. Getting VIP cards saves you money in the long run. Classes are great and the owner is always trying new things to keep it interesting and fun! Check it out if you are a seasoned dancer, beginner or just looking for great food!

Very rude staff and people are relatively old for the most part. Drinks are way too expensive!

Went for NYE 2016 with VIP tickets. Didn’t think it was anywhere near worth the price for what you get. Service was below average, the two dinner choices were nothing special, worst of all they refuse to give you tap water– $ 3 for a bottle of water and they force you to open a tab (while sitting at VIP table) just for water. Clearly a ripoff.
On top of that, it’s not my biggest problem with this place but worth mentioning… location. It’s far out from anything in terms of Arlington standards. Closest metro is pentagon city but still a 5 minute cab ride. If you drive there is a lot right next door.

Come to the salsa room if you’re new and learning salsa for the first time, or if you are a seasoned vet. Its a wonderful venue with plenty of space and a beautiful hardwood floor.
Here is what I like:
— the smooth hardwood floor. It’s like a ballroom, so tons of space for dancing and good for your dancing shoes so you glide, or slide… not sure how to describe that, but you get the point.
— the salsa or bachata music selection is pretty good.
— the outdoor patio, its nice to go out there and have a seat and relax, get some air
— the lights and the misty fog, adds a cool element of mystery!!!
Oh, they also have live concerts from time to time. Its been a while since I’ve seen a live band there, but the few I’ve been to, it was a wonderful time.
What I’m not thrilled about:
— they don’t play enough good, current Merengue. Its always like old school, like old and outdated, rarely fresh and current. I guess I’m picky… I like good merengue from the DR.
— the lady at the front accepting your money could be a bit more upbeat and smile. She’s not welcoming at all.
— It can get really hot in there. The AC needs to be pumped up. With all those people dancing, it can become uncomfortably hot, humid and muggy.
— The female bartenders need to wear more fabric… seeing all the low cleavage and butt cheeks is not flattering.
Other than that, this is a solid place for salsa dancing and bachata, very little merengue. They offer lessons for beginner and intermediate. I think this is a good place to learn, practice and improve your skills over time.
Guys — try to avoid tossing the women around like rag dolls when you’re dancing and trying to turn your partner! You don’t have to demonstrate every single turn pattern you have in your arsenal on the first dance!
Happy dancing :-)

My first time here was new years to ring in 2015. Since then I’ve been going maybe once a month on average. I usually have a good time. I rarely bring anyone with me so those of you debating whether you would be alright by yourself (mainly if you are a woman), I’d say you definitely would be. Everyone is friendly. Drinks are strong, music is good (I’m not that picky) and the people who come out are overall good dancers. I’ve definitely improved my technique and learned a lot by coming here.
I had to post a review based on my latest experience at TSR, however. I went out there on a Friday night, literally 4 days ago to be exact. It was pretty chilly so I had a coat. Went to the coat check and paid $ 3. The woman gave me my ticket, I gave her my coat and then went on my merry way to twirl around on the dance floor for the next four hours. Once the place was ready to close I and my last dance partner at that moment went to get our coats… only to find that all the coats had been claimed. There were no more left at the counter!
But let’s back up… the guy I finished dancing with had mentioned to me that the woman tending the coat check had walked out of the building (he assumed for the night) probably 20 minutes before closing. I guess he didn’t think anything of it. But how could peace out like that when it’s her job to watch the coats? Or were all the coats definitely gone by then? If that’s the case where the hell were our coats?
The manager, VICTOR came by and we explained the situation. He and some of the employees remaining did a sweep of the place to see if our coats would turn up. Nothing. All the manager could say was the same old stuff, «I’m sorry.» «This has never happened before.» Blah blah blah. All I could think was that this woman had one job to do for $ 3 a pop… watch the damn coats and make sure she returns the correct coat to the correct person. Of course off to the side of the coat check there was a sign with that ever familiar line, «We are not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.» But still, if someone or a business provides a service that requires a payment, they damn well better do their absolute best to not mess up.
The manager assured us that he would review the surveillance footage and contact us that NEXT DAY with an update. We each provided descriptions of the coats and also our contact info. I was very upset. But I am a fair-​minded human being. I knew that cursing the guy out or trashing the place would do absolutely nothing to solve the issue. But I definitely let my displeasure be felt by completely walking past him and out of the building without a word, ignoring his apologies
Fast-​forward to the next day. I hear nothing from the manager. So I decided to give him one more day to follow up. Still nothing. On that Monday I sent him an email and jogged his memory about who I was and what the situation was. Again, no hostility, but I made it clear that this situation would really affect my enjoyment of this place if he refused to put in some effort on figuring out what happened to my coat. He responded and again assured me that he would review the footage… which told me that he indeed did not review it the day after all this took place like he said he would. He also asked for a description of my coat AGAIN… which told me 1 of 3 things…1) He wasn’t paying attention 2) He forgot about this situation 3) He didn’t care. What blew my mind was that he was taking notes of my descriptions that night. So why was he asking for a description again? Just so there was no mistaking a second time, not only did I provide a detailed description again in the email, but I even attached a photo of me wearing the coat. In his reply, all he said was, «Ok thanks.» As of now, still waiting for an update. If someone somehow stole it, there is nothing I can do. But getting an «I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened ma’am,» is absolutely unacceptable. He wants to boast about having surveillance, he better use it and figure out what the hell happened.
Takeaways: The coat check woman needs to take a pay cut or be fired. She had one job to do. How do you fail at a coat check? 2) Management needs to take more responsibility. When a customer encounters a situation that the establishment is responsible before (I don’t care what that damn disclaimer on the wall says), they need to do everything in their power to resolve it. 3) How long would I have waited for this guy to contact me if I didn’t send out that email? 4) I will never leave my coat with these bammas again. I’m debating whether I will show up to this place any time soon again… yes they lost my coat. But it’s their lack of action after the fact that has really ticked me off. Maybe I should’ve cursed the dude out and thrown liquor bottles on the floor. Anger and aggression is the only language people understand when you want something to get done. But we will see if my politeness and calmness pays in this situation.

It use to be a very inviting place (Cecilia’s). But, the sons took over and tried to make it trendy (floor layout) with aspects of elitism (VIP). Before everyone was treated as a VIP by the original owner. The present management are now in it for a money grab!

They should rename this place The Bachata Room since that’s all they seem to play anymore. I used to like it here because I like salsa. bachata isn’t something I’m into with strangers since I don’t care to grind on some random guy nor do I want to be that close to anyone.
In terms of salsa, there’s a mix of dance levels here but it’s more so guys who just want to practice than those who know what they’re doing. The good thing is that the dance floor is large so your chances of getting your foot smashed is reduced.
They nickel and dime you for everything from cover charges (even women) to water. I really don’t like paying for water since I’m fine with tap but they refuse to give you any (which I think technically may be illegal since they’re a restaurant).
VIP card: to get this you must spend $ 40 on a cover charge to waste a Saturday night listening to shitty top 40 music from 2 years ago that’s been remixed with a reggaeton beat. So make sure you really want that card!

The place refused to serve water. I was forced to buy bottled water for $ 3. That’s not very hospitable after you’ve paid $ 10 cover. I’ve been here several times before and ordered drinks too. THS! You just lost my business!

I’ve been coming here for over a year now and have had a pretty great experience. Dance instructors are top notch and as a bonus, entertaining and fun. There tend to be more guys than girls, but the club recently introduced ladies night on Fridays (and maybe Saturdays) and this started to change. Ladies night also seemed to bring in a younger crowd (20s-​30 year olds). Drinks are a bit pricey, but I suppose that is to be expected. The venue also has nice seating areas and even a seating area outside, which is nice.

Venue is nice, ladies were free on the night I went. The instructor was meh– seemed overly concerned with trying to keep with the new trend of «funny» salsa instructors (ok David from Born2Dance is actually funny), and thus going overboard on the innuendos. What can I say? At least that shit was free.

The honest truth is that this Damn place is a ripoff.
Bought the same drink from 3 diff bartenders and they charge
Me 3 deff prices. 9, 10, 12… People go there cuz is convenient that’s all. It’s so sad how they use the Name SALSA to attract people. They have the worst DJs… Pls stay away from this sorry ass place… Hope they close Down!!!

I love how the Salsa room offers a bunch of dance classes. I love how they AREN’T located in Washington. Probably one of my favorite things is that the men come there to dance, not hit on you.

Great DJ!
I wasn’t very fond of the lessons though, I’ve had better lessons at other places; too many people to try and see the instructions of the instructor standing in front of you.
Haven’t tried the food yet.
My only disappointment was that they moved my stuff off the table– I didn’t know that the tables were only for people who reserved them. Try putting up a sign…

I went to the Salsa Room on Saturday night with a group of 11 people and we had a great time! I recommend coming early to find parking across the street near the meters. There were Salsa and Bachata lessons for the first 2 hours then open dance floor for the rest of the night. The food was also very good– I recommend the fish tacos although they were served so quickly that my food was cold by the time I got done with the first lesson.
Overall I give the it an overall score of 4 stars only because I wish there was more time dedicated to the Bachata lesson. I highly recommend it for a night out with friends.

No tap water at the bar — no matter how much you spend on drinks. Not cool.
I just can’t give a positive review to a business so cheap.
The space is okay, and you can find some great dancers here. But given the other options in DC, it’s just worth the drive here.
The classes here are fairly consistent with the other classes in DC.
The staff is okay, but can have a little attitude at times.
Street parking is possible if you get here before 9:30…tightens up after that.

My thoughts are pretty clear on The Salsa Room. I like salsa dance. They offer salsa dancing. Therefore since I like to salsa and they offer salsa dancing that is a very obvious win/​win situation. Another win is the fact this place is walkable from my place. I rarely use this benefit since I am dead tired after twirling, dipping, and maneuvering in ways that are unnatural to the human body. Some how I still manage to bend it in that way though. I am sore and I don’t feel like walking ⁴⁄₁₀ of a mile home. Parking is available though, and usually without hassle since it is on the Pike.
I’ve been salsa dancing for almost 7 years. I consider myself far far from being a pro. I might at best consider myself intermediate since I have drifted in and out of it so much. After a few dances with a couple of dance partners though, they bring you up to speed and things feel natural again. Where am I going with this you ask? The Salsa Room feels natural to me. The ambiance, the flow of the people, and the general demeanor of the place is so relaxing. Everyone is here to have a good time and no judgments are made regardless of what level of dancer you are.
They have various levels of people who dance from beginner to dancers who have been dancing for years and years. The pros make beginners look like pros if the beginner quits looking at their feet and just go with the flow of the pro. Example of someone looking at their feet when dancing would be me. This is a really bad habit I need to drop… that and also trying to lead.
Twice a year the offer what the call a VIP card. I just happen to come on the night they were having it. I didn’t know they were having it since I just wanted to salsa, and it was a spur of the moment decision. I decided to purchase it for $ 20. What it does is gives you discounts at the door throughout the year from the time of purchase. The only other time they offered it this year was in January. It is worth the buy if you come here often, but otherwise it is unnecessary unless you just want to have it for future. I am going to try and make a point to come more often as I want to get back into the ‘swing’ of things. Ha… did you catch that pun?
What I do not like about the Salsa Room is they try to nickel and dime their costumers on everything. Cover changes every hour and a half. From 8:30−10 it is $ 10, and after 10pm it goes up to $ 15. Sometimes it is $ 20 if there is a live band. Needless to say this is one of the more expensive salsa dancing places in DC metro. I get the cover charges if it was in DC proper, but sure not on Columbia Pike!
I rarely will drink when I am here. Again, prices for drinks are ridiculous. For a water alone is $ 3, and they won’t refill them for you forcing you to either refill it in the bathroom or buy another one.
*Here is my advice on water bottles*
Ladies, if you want to save some money… and are large chested… bring a bottled water in your bra. They check purses at the door and the don’t serve cups of water. I saved $ 3+ dollars by doing this. I know this is tacky, but I’m saving money and the girls are coming in handy for something.
I put this handy piece of advice in the Unilocal Tip line too. Watch out that someone from the Salsa Room comes across this review, and next time I show up they’ll be doing body searches to ensure women won’t pull this trick. Skinny/​flat chested ladies are not recommended to pull this stunt. It will be too obvious! I guess having some fluff comes into good use sometimes.

Last night I was assaulted by a bouncer at The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike, Arlington Va) while on my way out the door to go home. It was one of the worst nights of my life. Here’s what happened.
I went to The Salsa Room to celebrate my friend’s birthday who reserved a «VIP» area of the club. I had worked all day and was tired, but I decided to go for at least an hour. Why is this important? Because we had a dedicated server for our party/​section and we could only order from her. I ordered water and was told they only offered water bottles and they were $ 3.
After an hour I said goodbye (approx 10:45pm), gave the birthday girl the $ 3 for the tab and walked out. At the exit I was stopped my a bouncer who said I couldn’t take my water bottle.
We went back and forth about this rule. I knew this rule for alcohol, but it was my first time it was applied bottled water. Once he explained I could be leaving with alcohol in the bottle, I agreed to finish it. I did say to him «fine I’ll drink it now, but you don’t have to be an asshole about it» At this point I stepped away from blocking the door and began drinking the water.
This bouncer came right at me and squeezed the bottle so that the contents splashed me. I still had the bottle in my hand so when I moved my hand to prevent more from spilling, he grabbed me and plowed me through a group of 5 – 7 people in line waiting to enter and then continued to literally throw me out of the club. In the process of him letting me go, I got caught on his ear piece and the cable broke. I was so afraid of what he’d do next that I left the scene immediately.
I was completely sober and just trying to leave. I agreed to drink the bottle of water because I didn’t want to waste the $ 3. The bouncers actions we excessive and uncalled for. I sustained multiple scratches and internal bruising from his assault. I was so shaken up too.
I returned back to Arlington after called the non-​emergency police line and met with two ACPO’s a short distance from the club. One of the officers went inside, but returned when there were three black bouncers and the response give from the club (I don’t know who) was that they didn’t know which bouncer was involved). The two officers explained that there’s pretty much nothing they can do about it, but I still asked them to take my information and file a report.
It’s likely true that nothing will come out of this. I still plan to contact management to file a complaint. In the meantime, I took photos of the visible injuries.
I want to share this story to warn people of the way The Salsa Room allowed their bouncer to behave. I am a law abiding citizen, Marine Veteran, and Civilian Marine working at Hqtrs Marine Corps in the Pentagon. I am not a criminal or drunk who deserved this treatment.

This place would have gotten two stars but my visit there was not so pleasant. I have a number of folks who tell me great things about this place. I think it’s because they have a fair number of theme nights and large dance space. The enviornment would is great, and I’ll probably end up going back. But I’ll be smarter about it next time.
The thing that knocks this place down in my books is the operations.
They advertise they open at 8. On my visit 05FEB2014, they kept people outside waiting in the cold on purpose for ten minutes. When we went inside to escape the below 32 degree weather we were told we had to go back outside. No apology for opening late. Just ushered to go back outside into the cold.
Next strike… they charge you $ 3 for a bottle of water. Places in DC I know charge you a DOLLAR for a bottle of water.
Last strike… charge you $ 3 for coat check! Places in DC I know charge you $ 2 dollars for coat check (BlackCat) and other places I know are free (Nicks) and I hate paying for coat check!
Second to last strike but not as upset… the instructors are hard to follow. There’s alot of start here… start there… do this… do that. This may just be a personal preference in learning style. I noticed there was alot of emphasis is put into the guys leading. Granted it’s the guys job. But they completely gloss over the part where the women have a responbility in being good follows. I can’t lead a girl with noodly arms.
For a non DC establishment… they shouldn’t charge prices like they are DC when they are in a not so fancy part of Arlington.
After reading the bad reviews on this place, i’m honestly surprised that as much as management writes back to the negative reviews that they are trying to change. How little if anything has changed.