50 Best Cafes in Washington

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

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

“Must have the Mochi fantastic“

“refreshing and fulfilling smoothies Healthy and great taste“

“Excellent food and the best chai!“

“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.“

“Great food and friendly service! I came hoping for something like the food my grandparents used to make, and they truly delivered particularly with the cheese boreg and yalungee. Very thankful to have them cater a dinner for our visit to DC for a celebration of life. 💜“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“What a fantastic café with an incredible variety to suit every palate! Whether you're in the mood for a delicious hot shakshuka or something sweet to indulge in, this place truly delivers satisfaction.

I absolutely love the concept of ordering first and then choosing your seat—it's such a relaxed way to enjoy your meal. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a perfect spot to unwind. Highly recommend!“

“very nice 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 🥐🍇🍕🧁🍫“

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

“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!“

“Wow, what an amazing place for solo travelers looking for a port in the storm. Gisell was phenomenal! Super knowledgeable about all the products and provided stellar customer service. Amna and David were friendly and helpful. I got the Dragonberry bowl and it was great! Excellent for those who seek gluten-free products. I will most definitely be back.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 .“

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

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

“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 👍“

“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.“

“My new favorite coffee shop! I ordered a latte and breakfast sandwich online, but forgot to order decaf, so I called the number on the Toast account, and it was the owner's personal cell (whoops!). He said he would relay the message to the cafe, and he did! The latte is great and the breakfast sandwich was also pretty good. The atmosphere is just ok, not sure I would choose to eat in. But overall happy. Special thanks to barista Diego!“

“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.“

“I stumbled into this relatively new coffee shop in Shaw and it instantly made me smile. The owner is local and incredibly welcoming, and the coffee is absolutely delicious. There’s something really special about seeing a small business like this thrive exactly where it belongs.

I ended up lingering longer than I planned—just enjoying a quiet morning coffee and chatting with people as they came in. It’s one of those places that feels both friendly and thoughtfully designed, where you immediately feel at ease.

Couldn’t love it more—an easy five stars.“

“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 .“

“I enjoyed this place. A-. The food was good, although ordering was a little confusing. I had a Jerusalem bagel which I've never had before, but enjoyed it very much. It's a busy place so be prepared to have to figure out how to do the ordering and then getting a seat. If I lived locally I would eat at this place a lot.“

“Best coffee value in Downtown. Baristas are pros“

“Outstanding service, flavor, and value… plus an outdoor rooftop space! Couldn’t have asked for more.“