Wilmer Valderrama’s Elegancia is now pouring inside La Cosecha at Union Market, bringing a Latin-forward cocktail bar and small-plates menu to one of D.C.’s busiest dining hubs. The concept leans into nostalgia, communal dining and a cocktail program meant to be part of the ritual of a night out, not just a flashy centerpiece for photos.
Elegancia is a partnership between Valderrama and Colada Shop co-founder Daniella Senior, and it staged a launch weekend in early February before opening to guests, as reported by Eater DC. In the kitchen, executive chef Jova Urriola leads the charge, while Juan Coronado oversees the cocktail program. Owners say both the design and menu were built to honor Latin American ingredients and shared-table traditions.
Menu and late-night ritual
The food skews small-plates, designed for passing around the table. Diners will find Wilmer’s Trio of panela nuts, ají amarillo olives and plantain chips, tequeños with smoked trout roe, sweet shrimp ceviche and Afro-Caribbean empanadas, according to Elegancia’s listing on OpenTable. For the night’s finale, Axios reports that Elegancia will serve complimentary sancocho at last call as a kind of ritual send-off.
When to go
Elegancia sits within La Cosecha at Union Market and follows the market’s listed tenant hours. Union Market shows the bar open Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 11 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m. The team is taking reservations and expects the space to work both for quick cocktails at the bar and longer shared-plate sessions for groups.
What this adds to Union Market
For Union Market, Elegancia adds a high-profile operator focused on Latin American culinary threads and community-driven programming. Axios reports that Valderrama also plans a podcast studio at La Cosecha to amplify local voices. Local TV coverage captured Valderrama and chef Urriola sharing a special ceviche in a segment on WUSA9, underscoring the owners’ emphasis on storytelling through food and giving Union Market yet another reason to stay out a little later.
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