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! 😋😋😋“

“Must have the Mochi fantastic“

“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.“

“The food here was incredible and the ambiance is very nice! There is a nice variety of beverages, especially cold ones for the summer time. The staff were super friendly, especially Enrique, who came to chat with us. Although they weren’t doing seating service, the food arrived at our table very fast.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“Excellent food and the best chai!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“refreshing and fulfilling smoothies Healthy and great taste“

“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 cafe is the best part of cafes. Amazing tasty food. Genuinely good coffee. Friendly staff. I love the atmosphere. The seating is cozy and there’s always calming music playing. The free water is infused water! In the morning this is the place to wake up in and it will set your day off for success.“

“My wife and I stopped here for some breakfast before heading out for our day. When you walk in, the place has a nice quaint atmosphere. We ordered a breakfast burrito and a bagel breakfast sandwich. The food was really good! It did take a little bit of time for our food to be ready, but the guy behind the counter was so pleasant and running his butt off!“

“We visited yesterday around 2:30 PM, and the team at the counter was incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful. They made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. The chicken pita was delicious, and the sea salt & olive oil ice cream... OMG. We talked about it all day. Can't wait to come back!“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“It is a cool and nice lounge!“

“A surprisingly refreshing twist on a classic iced latte. The citrusy orange flavor paired well with the espresso, creating a smooth balance between bright and bold. Not overly sweet, with a creamy texture that made it easy to drink. The orange notes added a fresh summer feel without overpowering the coffee.“

“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) ☀“

“This has definitely become my new local coffee shop. It’s the kind of place you can go to every day before work starts—it has already become that for me.

The atmosphere is great; it’s a very easy place to get some work done or settle in with a book, and the outdoor seating is a huge plus. I love coming here in the morning for an iced mocha and their sausage, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel. The seasoning is excellent and the food is always fresh.

The staff is super nice and they are incredibly quick with orders. I’m already planning on heading back this Saturday with my new read.

Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Grabbed a smoothie and some wellness shots out of there yesterday. The vibe was perfect and it felt very welcoming.“

“Good shop, good pie. Placed an order for their lemon meringue pie, all went well and as planned. My only complaint was that it wasn’t real lemon meringue pie, it was key lime pie with meringue and lemon instead of lime. Different recipe. It was still tasty, but it wasn’t the real thing.“

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

“Suosittelemme Chef Mikko Catering ravintolaa ❤️😍“

“very nice 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 🥐🍇🍕🧁🍫“

“This is open and airy place with cool, white subway tile decor and lots of windows. You order your food and it’s delivered to your table.
I had the tuna and hard boiled egg on a croissant. It was delicious but a bit too heavy with the mayo and sour cream. Less mayonnaise and more red onion would have made it a better sandwich but it was so tasty.
My husband had the cooked eggs, bacon and cheese on sourdough toast. It was hot and delicious.
The coffee was also excellent and I had mine in a big, black glass coffee cup. There are no free refills but the person bringing out the food got me a free refill which was much appreciated.
This place is located by all the hotels and right around the corner from ours so it was very convenient.“

“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.“

“I don’t live in this part of town but always try and stop in when I’m in the area. Very friendly conversation, great bagel sandwiches and coffees. And top it all off it has great music, puzzles and a relaxing vibe. A special place to relax and slow down.“

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

“Chez Lily has some of the best coffee I've ever had. I stop by every morning, and it's always consistently great. The atmosphere is awesome—super welcoming and a great way to start the day.

The customer service is what really keeps me coming back. Everyone is so friendly, and you can tell they genuinely care. Big shoutout to Iyanna, Kai, and Diego! They're always kind, upbeat, and make every visit a great experience.

Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for amazing coffee and an even better vibe!“

“It's a really cute little place. Their signature latte is delicious, and a pastry I tried was also really good. Definitely will be back :)

UPD: and when I've forgotten a bag there, they figured that this review was by me and reached out. Truly the best!!!“

“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!“

“We visited milk and honey at the wharf first and it was amazing. The food, the decor, the music, the vibe - everything exceeded our expectations. Then we visited this milk and honey on H street on our way back to New York because it is close to
The train station. The food is amazing, service was excellent. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars for the food is because I wish they had more toppings for my chicken sandwich and I did like my latte over at the wharf location better but the food was really good nonetheless!! Thank you guys for great service“

“I was looking for a spot to chill, enjoy coffee, and get some work done on my laptop. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this place. The walnut, chocolate chip cookie was fire 🔥🍪, the orange blossom latte was on point, and the music selection fit the vibe perfectly. Dennis kindly welcomed me from behind the counter as a first time visitor/guest and made me feel welcomed & shared great recommendations.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

“Delicious tea, scones, chai, and latkas“

“Great coffee, a super chill atmosphere, and exactly the kind of spot that makes easing into the day enjoyable. The bacon cheese danish was incredible, and the friendly conversation with my barista about Ted Lasso made the whole experience even better.“

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

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

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