Bossa Bistro & Lounge
Live music, dance nights and Brazilian food in Adams Morgan
Bossa Bistro & Lounge is an Adams Morgan institution built around live music, social dancing, and Brazilian hospitality.
Photo: Drew Callahan via Google
Before your first class
Salsa lessons are offered as part of the regular schedule, suggesting beginners are welcomed.
Heitor Presser event $10 at the door; DJ Berimbau $10 at the door; JazzMob DC no cover (donations welcome); DanceInTime salsa lessons pricing not stated
About this studio
Bossa Bistro & Lounge is an Adams Morgan institution built around live music, social dancing, and Brazilian hospitality. The venue occupies two stories with intimate, candlelit spaces and generous dance floors across both levels. You'll find the atmosphere designed for conversation—intimate lighting you can read by, music at a volume that allows talk—without the cramped elbows of a typical nightclub.
Dance happens regularly here. Latin nights featuring Grupo Tumbao and Alfredo Mojica Group happen multiple times each month, with DJ Berimbau spinning salsa, bachata, reggaeton and Latin pop party anthems on the upper floor. DanceInTime runs salsa lessons featuring music composed for the class, held upstairs on a rotating schedule. The venue also hosts Brazilian nights with live performers like Heitor Presser, who mixes samba, pagode, jazz, bossa and MPB.
Beyond dance, Bossa draws formidable live acts in jazz, rock, world music and Brazilian music. JazzMob DC presents early shows downstairs with a house trio of Elijah Jamal Balbed (sax), Andrew Musselman (bass), and Paul Jung (percussion), joined by guest artists—no cover, donations welcome. The venue has hosted acts including DC's resident Malian griot Cheick Hamala Diabate, Thievery Corporation's Sitali, Brazilian songstress Cissa Paz, and others.
Food comes from a head chef direct from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Brazilian tapas are served alongside caiprinhas, with options for carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free patrons. All dishes use locally sourced and organic ingredients.
The art gallery features local painters, photographers, and lithographers. The house's trademark piece is the "Bossacima Project"—artist Daniel Cima's take on da Vinci's "The Last Supper" recreated with Bossa regulars—which has a permanent home above the main floor bar.
Both floors are available for private functions. The venue operates Wednesday–Thursday 5:30 pm–2:00 am, Friday–Saturday 5:30 pm–3:00 am, and Sunday 5:30 pm–2:00 am. Closed Monday–Tuesday.
What to expect
Your first visit
You'll enter an intimate, candlelit space with good sight lines for live music or DJs. On dance nights, the floors fill with people learning or dancing salsa and bachata. You can order Brazilian tapas and a caipirinha, watch performers or DJ sets, and move freely between upstairs and downstairs without feeling rushed.
Instructors
Who teaches here
DanceInTime conducts salsa lessons featuring music composed for the class. JazzMob DC's house trio includes Elijah Jamal Balbed (sax), Andrew Musselman (bass), and Paul Jung (percussion), with rotating guest artists.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
Salsa lessons are offered as part of the regular schedule, suggesting beginners are welcomed.
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Bossa Bistro & Loungehasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Bossa Bistro & Lounge, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Bossa Bistro & Lounge
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Bossa Bistro & Lounge teach?
Bossa Bistro & Lounge teaches Salsa, Bachata, Merengue. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Bossa Bistro & Lounge located?
Bossa Bistro & Lounge is located in Washington, DC. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Bossa Bistro & Lounge offer private lessons?
Contact Bossa Bistro & Lounge directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Bossa Bistro & Lounge teach kids and adults?
Bossa Bistro & Lounge welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Bossa Bistro & Lounge?
The fastest path is to visit Bossa Bistro & Lounge via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.