Darna Lounge

It is absolutely atrocious that something like this has made its way into the nice town of Arlington. Why would an owner post something like this unless he was trying to alienate other people? Is absolutely horrible that someone in a friendly neighborhood would try and do something like this. Combine that with mediocre food and service there is no reason to ever come back to this place.

I came here on Sunday night, May 18, with my girls. While at the bar, a guy I did not know offered us drinks. I felt uneasy about it and wanted to discreetly speak to the bartender (who appeared to be Asian or Filipino) to ask about the drinks without alerting him. She leaned in, but not close enough for me to speak privately. I gently touched her hand (emphasis on gently) hoping she would lean in closer or move down so I could talk to her more quietly. It was a very light touch, and I did not even realize I had done it until she reacted. She pulled her hand away and jumped back as if I had tried to harm her. It was humiliating. I immediately apologized and told her that I did not mean it that way. She ignored me, walked away, and did not even acknowledge my request for a lime. Her reaction made me feel like I had done something terribly wrong, when I was just trying to handle an uncomfortable situation quietly. It made me feel like a predator, and that was never my intention. I simply walked back to my table with my friend who did not take the drink. I fully respect boundaries and understand that staff have the right to protect their space. I just wish there had been more emotional awareness in that moment. As a woman working in nightlife, I would hope she could recognize when another woman is trying to quietly ask for help. That interaction left me feeling judged and disturbed because my intentions were not harmful at all. Thankfully, our bottle girl who tended to our table was amazing. (Had a slick-back bun, was light-skinned) She was incredibly kind, professional, and beautiful. She truly made our night better. The music and the overall vibe were great. I just hope the staff receives better training for how to handle situations like this, especially when it is clear a guest is trying to communicate something sensitive. Not every gesture is threatening. If it were not for our amazing bottle girl, I am not sure if I would return. Otherwise, no complaints.

Very rarely do my two uncles—one of them with his wife—have free time to go out with me and my wife for some fun. February 22nd was one of those special nights. After attending a concert in Washington, DC, we chose Darna as our after-party destination, and let me tell you—the service and hospitality were out of this world. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel like celebrities. Their attentiveness and energy created an unforgettable experience. My only regret? That we didn’t get there earlier! I go out fairly often, and I haven’t experienced service like this in a long time. Bravo to the entire crew for making our night truly exceptional. – Moe

I went there on Thursday evening. And it wasn't crowded, even though most of the parking spaces were available, the valet at the door tried to forcefully ask for money like a mafia. This wasn't even a tip. This money was just for leaving the car there. Even though I told the valet that I came to this place and that I would go in and have fun, he forced me to pay 20 dollars. And we left without entering this place.

Went for a fun Thursday night, they played a lot of great songs. Modern and old reggaeton from the early 2000’s, as well as bachata, some salsa and merengue. it’s a Spanish night on Thursday’s. Very cute waitresses and excellent service. The bar area is very crowded and takes time to get drinks from the bar but most DC and Arlington bars are like that anyways. We didn’t eat so I’m not sure about the food. Had a great time overall 🙌🏼