50 Best Coffee Shops in Washington

“The food is wonderful. We always eat here when we come up from Richmond, VA. The staff is great as well.“

“Great waiter- delicious food, unique and cooked perfect! Music and vibes were very very fun!!!“

“I'm from Texas and have been dying to find a breakfast taco spot. I might as well have been in my mom's kitchen, eating tacos on a Sunday morning. that's how amazing La Tejana tacos are!“

“It is impossible to have a bad experience here. I’ve been coming to this place for well over 4 years now and it never disappoints. The staff is great. Drinks are amazing. And it’s just a really nice to be. The chai latte is worth every sip.“

“There’s something magical about Little Black Bird. It’s the kind of place that draws you in quietly, then stays with you long after the night ends. From the moment we walked in, we were wrapped in a sense of calm sophistication — every detail, from the lighting to the music, felt just right.
The food? Thoughtful, elegant, and deeply satisfying. Every dish told a story, and you could taste the care that went into each bite. Chef Ryan is clearly cooking from the heart — there’s a quiet confidence in his food, a respect for ingredients, and a creativity that never feels forced. It’s refined, yet incredibly approachable.

The service was equally unforgettable. Sara, the general manager, is the kind of hospitality professional every great restaurant needs. She has an innate grace, a genuine warmth, and a gift for making each guest feel like they’re the most important person in the room.

It’s rare to find a restaurant that feels both special and unpretentious, but Little Black Bird nails it. We came in for dinner — we left already planning our next visit. What a gift to have a place like this in DC.“

“Did the cocktail mixing class. Great food and awesome experience!“

“Founding Farmers Tysons Corner is AMAZING. Thank you to Bobbi and Aaron for such wonderful service and great food.The baby shower for our friend was truly a lovely evening and loved by all who attended. Happy atmosphere! Highly recommend this Top restaurant 🥰“

“great food and service nice spot“

“San Matteo is such a neighborhood gem, with consistently stellar food and service. I always order one of the house-made pastas and end with the tiramisu and chocolate lava cake. The servers are warm and attentive-- shout out to Carolina who was so friendly and extremely accommodating of our picky eater's needs!“

“Overall lackluster experience. There are better French-style restaurants in DC. Cute place, great location, food was just ok. We've had better similar dishes elsewhere locally. Wait staff was attentive but seemed disinterested. Might try brunch one day. Not sure we'd return for dinner.“

“Amazing food! Great server and wait staff. Creative and unique. Would go again!“

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

“Washington rang me up and was so kind and you can tell he loves taking care of guests at Maman. The vanilla cloud cookie was so yummy along with Oprah’s fave - kitchen sink cookie. Such a treat if you’re looking for a mid-day lunch, coffee or a snack. They also have craft cocktails and a happy hour. Definitely check them out!“

“wonderful gem of a spot! delicious cocktails and food. extremely knowledgeable staff“

“My go-to coffeeshop ever since moving to the neighborhood a year ago. The coffee is delicious and every sandwich is made fresh. Comfortable seating on the upper level with views of the nearby park makes for a great spot to relax. Highly recommend over the many chain coffeeshops dotting Navy Yard.“

“Favorite local coffee spot. Great staff! Great coffee!“

“Great place. Wish they would open a 2nd place at Liberty Exchange in Sykesville - 2 units still open for a nice coffee place (that isn’t Starbucks!) one is right next to Basta Pasta!!“

“I went in on 4th of July for the first time and tried an iced la banda (lavender) cappuccino at the awesome Robin's suggestion. It was creamy and perfect for the summer day, and Robin was so kind! I took my friend back the next day and we got an iced cortado, an iced orange despadura, and an iced.. vanilla latte! Yeah. Another customer suggested adding mocha to the orange, and it was HEAVENLY. I was skeptical of orange in coffee, but no, I was wrong! There's a reason why the despadura is the most popular drink! The other baristas are equally nice, and I just like the vibe there in general. We found a nice place to sit outside. I think the only suggestion I'd give is to make the coffee display in the center of the shop a bit smaller so people can get around it more easily. Unido is so cool. ☕️🌸“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“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 staff are super friendly and they serve food right on time. Food is fresh and sumptuous. Price is reasonable and place has a great simple and clean ambience. Definitely a must go. 💯💯💯“

“Great coffee and staff! Highly recommended!“

“This is absolutely one of my favorite places to go! The Roost was my go to during the pandemic with tons of outdoor seating. Since it was in my neighborhood we frequented a lot. The staff watched my little one practically grow up there! It became our meeting place and neighborhood watering hole. Quick and efficient and some of the best food and customer service! We’ve moved from the area but always stop by when in town because it feels like home!“

“Great coffee, good ambience and nice people :)“

“Great atmosphere and healthy options!“

“Great place to get a coffee, great people working here and wide selection of deli/bakery items. Also right across the street from Lincoln Park, this place has been a staple for our house“

“Perfectly spacious and fun urban spot, great coffee, lovely blueberry cake, super friendly staff, opens early, a great and relaxed spot for a couple of hours of work on your computer“

“So delish! One of Dupont’s many hidden gems.“

“Such a lovely, consistent coffee house and bakery experience. The environment and aesthetics are nice and relaxing, the food selection for pastries, sweets and meals are great. Love the new summer tea choices along with their tried and true coffee choices. Prices for drinks are similar to Starbucks, but with a more elevated and welcoming experience.“

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

“The fam and I stopped by here after a trip the Postal Museum (review to come on that for those of you who follow...aka my wife) and were really impressed. Coffee shops are a dime a dozen in the city, but good coffee shops can be pretty hard to come by.

Ebenezers was a breath of fresh air both metaphorically in the sense that it's a beautiful shop and had a really refreshing, open atmosphere, and literally because they pump the AC inside and it felt great coming in from the muggy outdoors.

The coffeehouse itself it's surprisingly spacious. On the main level there's a good amount of both indoor and outdoor seating. When we came (early afternoon) we were able to walk right up to the counter to order and had no trouble finding a spot to sit. They also have a basement seating area that had a lot of seating, but it looks like they open and close that for private events, so not sure frequently it's available. Nevertheless, it was open when we were there.

The staff was super friendly and helpful. They took our orders quickly and we were able to just sit down and wait...and wait...and wait some more. I think there was some issue with the espresso machine because the barista kept pulling shots and then smelling the coffee that came out. After doing this a couple of times he called over another employee and did the same thing with him. After a brief consultation they didn't do anything to the machine, pulled the shots for me and my wife and handed them to us.

I'm not really sure what that consultation was, but I've got to say, that little demonstration didn't give me a lot of comfort about what we would be drinking.

Nevertheless, putting that behind me, we grabbed our drinks, went outside and started sipping. Honestly, they were both great. I ordered a latte and it was wonderful, my wife ordered a lavender iced latte which was also quite nice. Maybe the barista pulling shots was just THAT exacting, who can say for sure?

All in all, this is a great spot to stop off. It's really close to Union Station, easy to walk to and a nice place to sit down and do some work. I'll be coming back and hoping the espresso machine is cleaned by then.“

“Best bagel I ever had! Great customer service! I love this place! Hilltop!“

“I stopped by Pitango for dessert, and it definitely hit the spot! 😋 I tried two flavors: Stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate chips) and Fondente (dark chocolate). I don't usually eat gelato, so I was pleasantly surprised by the creaminess. The service was excellent; I wasn’t sure what to choose, but the cashier helped me by offering samples and sharing details about each flavor I tried. One of the chocolate flavors I sampled was incredibly rich and chocolatey—it's water-based and vegan-friendly, which was a first for me! The restaurant was nice, clean, and had indoor seating that could accommodate several people, but I decided to take my treat to go.“

“Great service, amazing coffee! Fantastic atmosphere!“

“I’ve been going to this coffee shop since 2012, minus the years they were closed for renovations and COVID. The coffee is excellent. The tea is excellent. The service is excellent. The vibe is excellent in that it’s not trying to be anything other than a coffee shop that’s been around for a long time. 10/10, no notes.“

“Amazing bagel place with a few shops in and around DC, it’s a small business and there is no seating available except outside.
I personally recommend the sun city bagel and latte. Prices are OK and never had any problems in regards with food safety. Must try“

“We’ve always loved Baked & Wired’s goods, and we knew they would make the perfect cake for our wedding day. Of course, they delivered. Baked & Wired was very easy to work with and the cake was just right! Our guests loved it, and we can’t wait to eat the last slice on our one year anniversary!“

“Nice atmosphere and drinks. I got the mocha and it was decent, specifically because the mocha was good. The London fog was on point. Only disappoint was the cheese and chive scone. Not bad flavor but would have been infinitely better if it was warm.“

“Had coffee with a friend at one of their outside tables. Everything was perfect except we a server didn’t come to us to take our orders despite our asking. Eventually I went inside and put an order in and someone (who was so nice) brought things out to us (a coffee, a cold drink and a piece of banana bread - all delicious). They were probably just too busy. Still the best coffee shop and nicest staff in AdMo.“

““Exceptional coffee that is worth a special journey.” The absolute best Italian-style coffee shop (+pour overs) in the city. The espresso-based drinks are on par with, if not better, than any I’ve had in Italy itself. My only personal tasting note is that the espresso roast they use is a little light for solo shots of espresso, at least for my palate, as it feels a little tart. I like a solo shot to be more of a rich, toasted kind of thing. But when mixed with hot water in the americano or a little touch of milk in the macchiato or the cortado, the result is sublime. The flavor profile of the espresso-based drinks is so dynamic. You have to try the macchiato or the cortado here. Also, the pour overs are fantastic and I find the descriptions of the pour over options, of which there are usually at least 5–ranging from lighter to darker—are spot on. If there were Michelin stars for coffee shops, I’d give this place 3: “Exceptional coffee that is worth a special journey.”“

“Amazing cafe reccomend to all people Spanish, American , Black , dont matter anyone here is welcome love the food love the smoothies are amazing just wish the place had a better schedule and was open everyday possibly? and close at 8PM or something or maybe close at 6pm i am a teenager and i give this a perfect review!“

“As a Central Asian who grew up with a similar culture and cuisine, I can confidently say this is the best Middle Eastern restaurant I’ve ever visited.

We sat at the bar, where the two bartenders provided great service.

The dishes were creatively presented and rich in diverse flavors. The Pita with Mushrooms and Hummus was our favorite.

The Frozen Halva Bar is, without a doubt, the most unique and delicious dessert I’ve ever tried. The combination of chocolate ganache, sesame, and halva ice cream blended perfectly. Thank you, pastry Chef, Evyn.“

“This bakery, located in D.C, has a fabulous atmosphere and some superb treats! Their coffee and hot cocoa is chef’s kiss. Love this place. ❤️“

“I am so happy Compass has made its way to AdMo! I love their coffee - especially their seasonal peppermint mocha. While I have always had great service at a Compass, this store's hospitality is truly great! Andrew, especially, is incredible!“

“I let the server/bartender order my drink and meal and it was amazing! Great atmosphere, great food! I would highly recommend!“

“Great bagels and staff. Having lived in Philly and NY, I came to DC with a high standard for bagels. Call Your Mother is the truth.“

“If there’s one thing I love it’s CONSISTENCY, and Compass is consistently yummy and quick! My top two drinks are the vanilla cream cold brew (add whipped cream & thank me later) or vanilla latte with oat milk. But the seasonal cherry blossom cold brew tops them both when they serve it in the spring. Great place to work if you’re looking to get out of the house, and the baristas are the sweetest. 💗 This is my neighborhood shop & they all know my name (and order!!) whether it’s been two days or two weeks since I last dropped in.“

“Convenient, great menu, friendly staff . . .“

“Decadent. My first pavlova ever and it was pretty good. Cookie sandwich is very dark chocolate with pecans and a nice contrast to sweetness of pavlova. Was skeptical that the gluten free part of the other pastry would be good but it was fine :)“

“One of my favorite coffee shops in DC!! Tucked away in the outskirts of Adams Morgan, Yerevan may not look like much from the outside, but this hidden gem is an absolute delight. The staff is all super friendly, and they have the most incredible selection of pastries, coffee, and tea. I have probably tried half of their pastry case, and I continue to be impressed with each and every item. I absolutely adore their homestyle baklava -- the phyllo dough is perfectly crispy and soaks up the honey and nut mixture beautifully, and the dessert is simultaneously decadent and not overly sweet. The honey nugget is a great little sweet bite, and is the perfect gluten-free treat or small pick-me-up, and the honey cake is absolutely incredible. It's a smidge overly sweet (as the main flavor is, as the name implies, honey), but it still manages to be amazing.

Beyond their lovely sweets, their drinks are incredible. They have one of my favorite matcha lattes in DC, as well as a matcha rose latte that is perfect when you're looking for a hint of spring. Their coffee is also wonderful, with a great nutty aroma and deep, robust flavor. It's also served in the cutest little Armenian mugs, which really adds to the overall experience.

The space is shockingly large, with 4-5 larger tables and a couple 2-person tables, all beautifully arranged with cute little flower pots and throw pillows. They even have a small stack of books and board games if you get bored of yapping and need something else to keep you entertained. It's the perfect, cozy little spot to either read, work, or catch up with friends.“