RumBa

I came here with a friend on a Wednesday night when Trade was too crowded to catch up at a reasonable volume.
It’s a hotel bar – slightly cheesy décor, but the bartenders were really nice and helpful it we got seats at the bar which was nice.
We both had two glasses of wine and shared the cheese platter which was fine-​cheddar, Brie, fig jam, plain toast and raisin toast – nothing special but it was good to snack on. We were still a little peckish and got the truffle fries which were good – thin and crispy and salty and hot. I was ready for a salad when I got home!
The sound level was good for catching up, there were some cozy seats not at the bar, the age range of the patrons was probably mid 30s plus.
At the end of the night we both paid ~$ 50. Was it worth it? Probably not. I could have spent the $$ elsewhere nearby (Otto or any of the places down over there) and had a less generic experience, but it was a hotel bar in the seaport, what did I expect? Next time I’ll try something else.

Flew in on Thanksgiving, so choices were slim to none. Thought I was getting lunch in the plane. None… so I was very hungry by the afternoon. Fish tacos were recommended by bartender. Service was okay. Beer was good. Fish tacos were bad. Bland, no seasoning, blah. Gross store brand soft corn tortillas. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Overpriced food that didn’t deliver.

I never thought I would write a scathing Unilocal review, but I was wholly unprepared for the lack of service I encountered tonight. The bar was not terribly busy, so I felt reasonably confident that I would be served after having discovered several lineal feet of counter space. Much to my amazement, the bartenders failed to notice me during my lengthy and exhausting trials of waving, signaling, gesturing, and attention-​seeking behavior. I used to come here for a nightcap on occasion, but there are plenty of other places I’d rather spend my money now. I won’t be back, and I would make a sincere effort to deter any friend from falling into this trap. Time is too scarce to waste.

My most recent mantra has been — at least this summer — when in doubt, head to the Intercontinental and grab a seat at one of their many bars. Chances are — not only will you not be disappointed with your decision making process, you will be surprised and vowed by things that you were not expecting. Bring in RumBa.
To begin with, what an ambiance! The décor is underplayed yet very classic. The music is not too loud. The staff is very attentive and super caring. And to top it all off — the drinks are out of this world!
I have been here for a couple of private events and then to meet friends on a whim after work. Every one of those occasions have been times that have been embedded in my memory capsule — all for good reasons. Here are my distinct takeaways that keep bringing me back to IC for so many…
+ Drinks: Where should I begin. The kind of choices you have are incredible. I especially love the fact that the cocktail menu has a couple of specialty drinks /​concoctions that i had never come across before. 1944 Mai Tai: Yes Please!
+ Not Literal: Just because the theme is all about Rum, doesn’t mean you cannot get to pick a non rum based libation. Of course you have the equally fun VodkaBa right next door, but the menu boasts of quite a few combinations of non rum based drinks.
+ Wines /​beers: Again, the choices are endless and sometimes it feels as if there is anything under the sun this place would not serve? (please — this is not the place to go for Fireball shots — and honestly, I don’t know what the big hype around the same really is!?)
+ Champagne lounge: I dig the space and the ambiance — so demure and beautifully lit. Just right for a private gathering; whether it is truly private or corporate; goes well with either.
+ Food: I have to say the food choices are limited. But then again, the emphasis is really on the drinks. Ideally one should go here after a proper dinner. But if the mood is to drink and have appetizers, the food menu definitely serves the purpose. I had the fish tacos with a fancy Caribbean name — they were quite good.
In a nutshell, if you are looking for a great night out with friends and peers, nothing beats RumBa when it comes to location, choices, ambiance and fantastic service.

Great service! Attractive people. Smiles. No negative vibes. Good food, measured shots on max side. Real value

This place is covered in bees and the service is mediocre at best. For $ 15 a drink, I should not have to be stressed about the bees nest covering the center bar. Not acceptable for Intercontinental and the premium prices. Real shame given it’s in a great location.

FUN! Great service! Good appetizers, beautiful ambiance. We were here as we waited for our whisky pairing over at Sushiteq. Had a great time with the staff, and enjoyed the «finger food». Great happy hour place to hang out!

For a bar where the specialty is rum, my «1944 mai tai» was strictly run of the mill and quite weak. As a $ 15 drink that’s really pretty unacceptable. The room is attractive, but no sound insulation means it’s ridiculously loud. 2 big screen tvs also kill any ambiance. A really disappointing visit. For hotel bars with upscale cocktails, Clio Bar at the Eliot delivers some of the best in the city at the same price point.

Expectations were neither high or low, I was hoping for above average but to my surprise Rumba at the Intercontinental was a great option during my stay.
The drinks were exceptional, tried the popular drink of Brazil, the caipirinha for the first time, it’s a like a Mojito on steroids. Enjoyed every sip… The Devil drink was another great choice. Both cocktails hit the spot, highly recommend.
The food was the one part of the experience that surprised me the most. Thought about only doing appetizers at first, but the entrees turned out better than expected.
The Ahi Tuna Tostada was the perfect starter, enjoyed it very much. Portion could’ve been better though. The Barbados Fish Tacos were very tasty and most importantly, fresh. The Chicken Thyme was was moist and cooked to perfection, a great option for those looking for something on the healthy side. The one Ding goes to the fried calamari, this one I didn’t enjoy. it had a good sauce but was way too salty. The Guacamole was outstanding, but the portion again could’ve been better.
If staying inside The Hotel is your thing, give Rumba a try. They offer a good menu and provide good service. If anything they are a bit pricey and could do better on some of the portions considering the cost… Something to be mindful of.

I had the fish tacos and yes they were pretty good. I was really bummed that they didn’t have the clams, was so looking forward to them. It’s always the little things for me so I have to mention that the limes that came with the tacos were dried out. The limes are the key to a great taco for me! All in all it was a good lunch.

We stayed at the Intercontinental for our anniversary even though we only live 25 mins away. The Rumba bar was a great «last stop» before calling a night, but we’ll definitely return in the future. The comfy chairs and fireplaces make it a great place for friends to gather. They even have Vueve Clicquot by the Glass!
This is not a crowded clubby bar. Even on a Saturday night it was thin at 10 pm. I like it this way because it gives more room for larger groups, and the ability to get a seat. Multiple fire places made it nice too, so there isn’t just one set of comfy seats and a fire place that everyone wants. Many to choose from!

The Mai tai is the best in Boston. After visiting Maui I was turned on to the Mai tai. The Hawaiians use light rum dark rum and a mixture of fresh fruit juices, delicious. Many places in Boston use grenadine among canned juices blehhhh. Anyway highly recommend. Raw bar is delightful as well.

Rumba was the second stop for us last night. Great apps and drinks at the end of another fabulous evening filled with good food and good company. Great service from bartender Dragan. Ask for him when you go and he won’t disappoint. Atmosphere was great and the delicious, chocolate treat made our night.

Really nice ambience at the lounge. The menu had ample offerings, both for food and drink.
I ordered a champagne cocktail and the tuna tartare and calamari. The tartare was great and the calamari was pretty solid. The sauce on the side needed a kick, and our server was accommodating in suggesting some options.
The wait staff were very attentive, both at our table and at others.
Would definitely recommend this place to lounge and relax for a while, very fun spot.

Two words: CHAMPAGNE LOUNGE.
It’s a private, back room. Cool. Funky. Fun.
Rumba’s a busy bar smack dab in the middle of the über hip InterContinental Hotel. In the summer, this high end business hotel transforms into a discoteque; complete with DJ. DEFINITELY a place to check out…

It may be the New Years Day staff hangover but service here during lunch on New Years day was dreadful. The waitress cycled between utter disinterest to complete disregard for waiting on us. The only saving grace here is the food and view. The lunch menu has some unique items such as veggie burger sliders. The cob salad was excellent. The view of the harbor is great although I was not impressed by the seating arrangement. My advice is hold off until the summer for the outdoor seating if you really want to enjoy the experience here.

I bleed green for RumBa!!!
Ok… maybe that was a bit cryptic. As an environmentalist and co-​founder of the largest sustainability networking group, I was not only thrilled to find a certified green restaurant at one of my favorite hotel chains in the Intercontinental Hotel, but also one where the bar food was delish beyond expectation.
I had the Garlic Nantucket Scallops (holy cow good… ok… holy SHIT good!), the truffle fries (weren’t the best I had, but good enough), the pulled pork sliders, and the chicken wings. Seriously good grub for a rum and champagne bar.
And for you trivia nuts out there… a lot of people don’t realize that RumBa is not «rumba» the dance, but rather, homage to the Boston accent. Yep, it’s «Rum Bar» pronounced «Rum Bah». And yes, there is a specialty line of rum-​based cocktails on the menu.

What a terrible bar that enjoys ripping people off.
Take a look at their liquor menu and read the disclaimer at the bottom:
«There will be a $ 3 service charge when rocks are requested.»
My friends and I ordered three whiskey’s with ONE rock each. Just one, to enjoy the whiskey the way it’s supposed to be enjoyed. Waitress did not warn us that there would be a THREE DOLLAR charge for an ice cube — we didn’t even see that warning because WHO DOES THAT?!
I guess we should have ordered it straight and gotten a cup of ice to make our own drink.
Although the waitress was nice, she did a poor job of trying to explain the 3 $ charge, and also could not name another bar that has service charges for ice (though she claimed she’s «seen it before») If anyone has seen this charge anywhere else please let me know where so I can avoid that bar.
The atmosphere reminded me of what I would imagine an old, creepy cruise ship to be like.
Also, who cares about a big rum selection? It doesn’t make a difference when most people just use rum for mixed drinks.
And (since I’m on a roll) what a dumb name for a bar, I think we’ve all had enough of the play on words/​Boston accent names.

As the name suggests, RumBa offers an exhaustive selection of rum, and the idea for the bar’s theme stemmed from the former presence of the once-​vibrant rum trade in New England. The name itself originates not from the Latin dance, as one might expect, but instead is a play on how local Bostonians pronounce «rum bar.» During the summer months, patrons can also enjoy RumBa’s outdoor patio, situated right on the harbor.
We walked up the small set of stairs into RumBa and felt like we were walking into a plantation. A huge wooden fan with blades in the shape of leaves circled above the horseshoe-​shaped pewter bar, and the seating area around the bar consisted of couches with turquoise tapestry backs, brown leather chairs, and low tables fashioned from old Louis Vuitton trunks. To the right of the bar is a hidden room (the Champagne Lounge), which can be reserved for private receptions.
The bar itself is quite a sight, as there is a three-​tiered shelf covered with chicken wire and stock full of rum hanging directly above the center of the bar. As soon as we sat down, our bartender brought us waters and these amazing mixed nuts, served in a silver martini glass. They’re coated with cayenne pepper and gomme syrup (a sweetener typically used in mixed drinks) – which is actually made using some of the hotel’s own honey, extracted from its rooftop apiary.
The drinks we got there were delicious and STRONG. A bit pricey, but definitely worth it!

PLACE: This bar is part of The InterContinental hotel,
which is very high end, classy and fabulous.
DRINKS: The menu has original drinks to temp you,
and the BEST CAIPIRINHA IN BOSTON! *smile*
Caipirinha is the national cocktail of brazil! leblon cachaça, fresh muddled limes and granulated sugar suggested flavors: mango, blueberry, raspberry, pineapple & jalapeño, honey & ginger
STAFF: the bartenders are friendly and fun