50 Best Cafes in Washington

“I love this place! The food is phenomenal! I can’t get over the tempeh burger!!!“

“I stopped in with friends before a event Sunday evening. The staff was warm and welcoming. I had the lentil sambusas and a peanut-infused coffee at the staff’s recommendation. The food was fast and delicious- the sambusas were warm and spicy, and the peanut coffee was delicious! In a kind gesture, the chef sent over a sampling of sushi to our table. Fresh and refreshing, the sushi was a nice complement to my sambusas and hot beverage. I’m not on this side of town often, but now I have a reason to come back.“

“We had a great lunch! Highly recommended! 😋😋😋“

“We had the best time at KooKoo DC last night. They accommodated a table of 14 for my spouse's birthday and never let us feel like an imposition. The food was so fresh, authentic, and reasonably priced - I did a double take when we got the bill. I even felt like we went all-out with apps, drinks, and desserts! The owner was also so kind - we just felt so cared for the whole time and can't wait to visit again.“

“Must have the Mochi fantastic“

“great food and service nice spot“

“Stopped by after seeing high reviews. The atmosphere of the place is really nice. There’s quiet spaces to study. There’s cute little gifts you can purchase. However, the pistachio chocolate croissant I tried wasn’t good. I don’t like the taste of pistachio paste. Also it wasn’t fresh.“

“Excellent food and the best chai!“

“I just had an amazing breakfast here! The menu has a great selection of vegetarian options, healthy and so delicious.“

“I'm a retired chef from Louisiana but living in Nashville nowadays. I know about eating healthy and I would give this place 2 thumbs up.“

“Had a fantastic experience at Maman in DC. Dakota, Paul, and Kevin provided exceptional service from start to finish, they took the time to walk me through the menu, offered thoughtful recommendations, and even crafted a special drink just for me that was outstanding. The baked goods were absolutely delicious as well. Truly great hospitality all around, and I really appreciated the extra care they put into making the experience memorable. Highly recommend!“

“Nice atmosphere . Troy was a great host/server.“

“Every time I visit my family in DC, I always go to Cafe on 9th! Best place in the neighborhood to get a sandwich, and is NYC folk know how to judge a good BECSPK 🥪 if you want a great breakfast/lunch sandwich, definitely stop by here!“

“This place was an absolute gem during our week-long stay in DC. We visited it a whopping five times! We had such a great time, especially when we made a funny joke about breakfast for the next morning. 😂 Because we had already eaten it .“

“This is a tidy little cafe with a nice selection of healthy eats. I had a falafel wrap with a side of spinach and potatoes and a green smoothie. They have a wide range of options, from their popular chicken shawarma wrap to chickpea or salmon salads, and fresh pressed juices. What stood out to me was the fantastic service. The owner made great suggestions based on my dietary restrictions. It’s a great place to unwind, and a welcome spot im the neighborhood.“

“Delicious food! My friend and I went here during our DC trip. We liked it so much we made sure to go back the next day before our train left. We went back in line and ordered twice each time we went. On the second day, our cashier/server from the first time recognized us and said hi! The chicken in the amba chicken pita is INCREDIBLE“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“Today I had the best fried chicken sandwich since Kevin Tien’s Perfect seasoning—a little heat but not too much, smashed avocado, coleslaw, and chicken that had just the right amount of crispy covering that kept the chicken moist. I can’t wait to return for another.“

“refreshing and fulfilling smoothies Healthy and great taste“

“It is a cool and nice lounge!“

“very nice 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 🥐🍇🍕🧁🍫“

“One of the best coffee shops in DC and definitely a favorite of mine. I find myself coming back all the time. The orange raspadura latte is a must, and they have the best carajillos in the Union Market area. The customer service is always great, too.

They also have a really reasonably priced happy hour, especially for DC. Great coffee, great drinks, and consistently a good experience. I haven’t tried any food yet but can vouch for the drinks. Highly recommend!“

“The service is excellent, and the food is beautifully prepared and delicious, served on lovely Armenian-style plates. You can also purchase products from Armenia. I wish you every success and offer a big Armenian shnorhakalutyun (thank you) ☀“

“Sylvan Cafe has a quiet and quaint atmosphere with lovely jazz playing in the background. The staff is very kind and lovely and the food comes out fast.

The food is amazing and I mean really good for the price. 17 dollars for a veggie platter, is an amazing deal and the quality is out of this world it tastes delicious. Would recommend for anyone passing by in the neighborhood to stop by and support this small business.“

“Toastique is my favorite! That Green Machine smoothie can cure just about anything. I visited today and accidentally dropped my smoothie before I had a sip. They sweetly made me a fresh one and I left feeling embarassed...but I bet this smoothie will cure that, too.“

“Decent sandwich and lunch place. Was pretty busy when we stopped in and there wasn’t a ton of help behind the counter. Felt bad for the folks that had been waiting some time while food delivery orders were prioritized.

That said, the food I got was pretty great. The salad was a little too oily but it was priced pretty fairly for the amount of salad I got.

Overall a decent place. Would stop by if I was looking for a safe lunch option.“

“Great food and drinks! Lovely atmosphere! My favorite are the Belarusian and Ukrainian dishes like borscht and bliny. Also, love the light desserts.“

“This place is the best. Customer service, hospitality, and atmosphere is on point. Pies are to die for. I saw the Tan & Sober Gentlemen here and had the best time meeting the manager who is DC/MD born and raised. Will be coming back for more pie and shows!“

“Suosittelemme Chef Mikko Catering ravintolaa ❤️😍“

“The high quality ingredients make for the best espresso drinks I have ever had! Delicious iced tea in the summer too.“

“i got their matcha and it was so good! i also got their brownie and cookie to eat on a hike with my brother. the brownie was really tasty. i sat down somewhere during that hike and a squirrel tried to grab my bag of sweets which i just wanted to add because the squirrel liked the food too enough to try and steal it!“

“Great buffet and grill that feels like home. The owners are like family! Chef does a great job!“

“The Bacon egg and cheese Brioche was amazing!! I didn't love the apple turnover but that's because I'm not a big sugar person! Not her fault! Super friendly lady behind the counter and a little hidden gem! Our drip coffee was fantastic!“

“This little cafe is extremely nice and cozy. I really liked how the employees treated me and how they helped me out with my order. And on top of all that the food was very fresh and delicious and of course the matcha latte. Thank you very much !“

“OMG! My favorite place for juice, smoothies, avocado toast and acai bowls now has SOUP! Just had their potato squash soup, and it was better than my homemade soup (which is also delicious). Will be visiting often this winter for soup, cappuccino and "stay away cold and flu" juices. Sooo happy to have healthy options close-by!“

“Food was... Phenomenal. I had smothered biscuits with fried chicken and everything was sublime. Good came out fast, people were friendly. Had seating but everyone, including us, were just getting food to go. Decor is cute but not vibey. I will 100% go back if I am anywhere within 45min of the place for those biscuits.“

“Staff and baker were both so kind and welcoming to all who walked in. Some regulars they clearly acknowledged. It didn’t matter what one purchased. And calmly efficient to get everyone in/out. Patrons were also so wonderful, clearly a neighborhood gem. DC is still a city of people trying to hurry along, so I am not expecting lingering and community chit chats. Also around it are few hotels. Now the baked goods, one of the best chocolate croissant, orange scone and the banana chocolate loaf (I slathered it with some peanut butter for protein and that made it even more elevated). The egg sandwich with fresh focaccia a mist try on the spot. I would totally nominate them for an award. No fancy baked goods but that is why it is such a gem.“

“When it comes to coffee shops, I look for five things... good drip coffee, great music, good treats, good savory food options, and chill, kind people. There are very, very, very few that check all 5 boxes, but this is one of them.

The bagel sandwiches are bomb (shout out to the Humpty Hump), the coffee is always solid (it's La Colombe, iykyk), and the pastries/cakes are some of the best in the biz. I feel like I hear Sade whenever I'm in there, which is obviously great, and the people are the kindest. And the cherry on top is the cutest window seat--truly unmatched.“

“Great experience wonderful staff the kitties were a lot of fun!!“

“Cute spot, good oatmilk cappacino, and fast food made on order. They have a lot of bread options and turkey bacon or sausage as we as the regular ones. Limited seating in winter but enough and looks like a fun patio for warmer weather. It's in a a neighborhood and good for people watching and just being a part of daily routine of DC.“

“Exactly what I was looking for my remote work day. I got a little table in the corner with a plug and the london fog and pastries were excellent. Even with the high ceilings the space was not excessively loud where I was sitting, and there are both cubbies for focused work and larger tables and larger parties.“

“We came for a weekday brunch. We ordered a breakfast sandwich and a spinach omelet. The delicious sandwich was on a beautiful grilled bagel, and the egg portion was generous as was the cheese. The omelet was stuffed full of saites spinach, mushrooms, sausage and cheese. It was served with homemade potatoes and toast. We finished the meal with a generous fruit cup that was also delicious. The only thing that would have made it better was eating on a real plate and not paper. However, the food is totally worth making this a regular stop!“

“I love City Place Cafe and the staff is amazing🥰“

“the people are really nice and the food is great 👍“

“Quick, pleasant, and otherwise attentive, staff members at Colada Shop on The Wharf are consummate professionals. Even when I haven’t yet ordered, and am in line, staff prepares my order [they know my preferences] and swiftly checks me out. Coffee and food are delicious. Wonderful.“

“the best under 20.00 you're gonna find.“

“Delicious lunch today. Friendly, attentive staff and lovely atmosphere. Dogs very welcome! Look forward to our next visit.“

“A chill, super affirming space and the food and drinks were great! I’ll definitely be back soon.“

“I’ve loved coming in and seeing the staff make the fresh coffee on Sunday from the pot. Such a refreshing aroma. I like their espresso coffee with steam milk .“

“Besides delicious pastries, the best part of Boulangerie Christophe is the staff! Super friendly and kind to everyone who walks through the door. The gourmet sandwiches are a huge hit for my 15-year-old son too.“