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.“

“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!!“

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

“Love everything! Can’t wait to travel to DC every year to visit.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“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.“

“Great ambience and good food. I would go back. My only complaint would be about the service, which was a bit strange. A couple staff members (including our server) kept trying to take our food, utensils, napkins, etc. as soon as they sensed we were slowing down. In spite of the fact that we told them several times that we wanted to continue nibbling on the bowl of fruit and fries that we were sharing, they kept trying to take them and eventually did just take them without asking even though we were still eating them. It seemed like they wanted to rush us out, except that our server never came back after that. We probably would have ordered another drink or even dessert if they had asked (they didn't) and eventually I had to flag someone down to ask for our bill almost an hour after they had taken our plates away.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“I’ve been coming here for years since I used to live in the area. Always so good. I love their chai— one of the best. And even though I don’t live in the area anymore, I still come by here when I’m in the area because they never disappoint. The owner, Yung, is very friendly!“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“I love the atmosphere of this place. When you enter La Cosecha, you’re welcomed by a variety of restaurants and small local businesses — it feels vibrant and creative.
But I’m focusing on Café Unido, because this coffee comes from my home country, Panama. So every time I’m in Washington, I have to stop by.

The space is filled with beautiful natural light coming through the large windows facing the street — perfect for enjoying a slow moment with a cup of coffee. The aroma and flavor are exactly what I expect from good Panamanian coffee: rich, smooth, and full of character.

I believe they could take even more advantage of how special it is to have a Panamanian coffee franchise in Washington — it deserves to be highlighted and promoted more. I truly hope they open more locations around the city so more people can experience it.

I tried the Caramel Latte, and it was delicious. If you like my pictures, give a follow on IG: @framinizingdiary“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“INSANE. I WISH THEY HAD MORE LOCATIONS. I get the roasted honey peanut latte. It's delicious. These staff are amazingly nice. If you are an LGBTQ+ individual, that's a plus. Don't pass this place up in DC. It's worth the stop. It's a neat set up to look like an oil field unit with coffee beans and uses physics to make coffee.“

“Great coffee and staff! Highly recommended!“

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

“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 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“

“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!“

“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. 💯💯💯“

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

“Every time I come to Washington DC I always make sure to stop here at this coffee shop. They have amazing espresso and coffee drinks. Today I had an iced Americano and also this little pastry treat with almonds on it. That was delicious. I think this is one of the best coffee shops in the whole area.“

“Blue Bottle Malibu is one of my favorite spots to meet clients and friends. The coffee is always excellent, the patio is relaxed, and the location makes it easy to stop by between appointments. Even though Blue Bottle has shops everywhere, the Malibu one has its own unique coastal vibe — bright, airy, and a great place to take a breather during a busy day. Always consistent and always a favorite.“

““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.”“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere and healthy options!“

“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“

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

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“I thought it was a really great beer. They did well with hiding the hit of vanilla, raspberry very unique infused flavors. Take my $ 🤟👍“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“