50 Best Cafes near Kensington

“Good customer service, clean and very delicious food.. Highly recommend and I give 5 ⭐️“

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

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

“great food and service nice spot“

“first time here, the staff was very welcoming. food was fresh and delicious. Can't wait to come back and try more items“

“Must have the Mochi fantastic“

“We visited with friends and thoroughly enjoyed every dish we tried. The atmosphere was absolutely beautiful—elegant and beautifully designed. I loved the overall vibe of the place. The food, coffee, and the entire experience were simply fantastic. Highly recommend!“

“This place does not disappoint! The matcha bubble tea I ordered was one of the best bubble teas I have ever had. It was creamy and the perfect amount of sweetness and tapioca pearls. Also, the strawberry tiramisu was of this world! It was so light and perfectly balanced that I quickly ate it all up. The prices are also reasonable and the owners are very nice and patient. I will definitely be going back!“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“This place is perfect, right down to the soap in their bathrooms. They always have an amazing, affordable, diverse selection of wines. The food is also incredible. The staff is always friendly, never pretentious, and never fail to give a good suggestion. (Shout out to Gaile, they might be my favorite server of all time.) As a young person, this is an amazing place to get into wine. The owners, Jackie and Philippe, are fantastic and welcoming hosts. I am a bit of a regular and they are truly lovely people. It is a CRIME that its not the most popular spot in Arlington.“

“I recently discovered this cafe in Arlington and I love it! They made such a great use of the space; it's cozy and decorated so nicely. I LOVE the avocado toast and the coffee is to die for. I've spent a few mornings sipping an iced latte while reading a book outside and it was simply perfect. It was the first place I went to when I got back for spring break. My new favorite! Would highly recommend.“

“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. ☕️🌸“

“Amazing place, all four visits have been delicious, and incredible. The dishes are so beautiful they could be in magazines…. But they’re far better in my belly! I absolutely love this place, heading there for the fifth time later today 😊“

“YouEBe Cafe in DC is one of those places you just want to hang out in. The vibe is super cozy and welcoming, with a mix of modern and homey decor that makes you feel right at ease. Think soft lighting, comfy chairs, and cool artwork on the walls. It's the kind of spot where you can easily spend a couple of hours catching up with friends, getting some work done, or just enjoying some “me time.”“

“Excellent food and the best chai!“

“Chocolate pudding 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤“

“very nice 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 🥐🍇🍕🧁🍫“

“The food was delicious, we were 9 people, everything we ordered was delicious. They don't accept reservations, the lines to order are long but the wait is worth it.
I don't give it 5 stars because the bathrooms were disgusting.“

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

“I’ve been to hundreds of delis over the past 40 years and this one did it right- crispy fries but not burned, just right toasted wheat bread, real chicken breast and fresh green avocado on the sandwich. Portion not too big or small, friendly service, clean bright interior. I knew it was authentic when I saw the Mexican Cholula hot sauce bottle on the table. They just got it all right for me on a quiet weds afternoon, well done!“

“Delicious coffee! I’ve had many iced lattes in my life and the one I had here is definitely up there as one of my favorite cups. The service was also amazing — Greg is so kind and helpful. Definitely stop by if you’re in the area and looking for a good cup of coffee and a solid breakfast :)“

“I like this environment very much, it allows me to work quietly. A cafe that pays attention to the environment and the quality of the coffee is good, I believe they will get better and better in the future. Reviews from Arlington residents.“

“This place has The BEST eclairs, pastries, cakes and individual quiches I've found anywhere in Northern Virginia! It is my mission to try all their deserts eventually.

They also have mini teapots nestled on top of a cup if you are dining in. The staff are so friendly and remembered me from my first visit there when I came back the next week.

I highly recommend you check them out, you will want to return again and again I promise.

Parking: They have a patio with a few tables where you can sit outside when the weather is nice.“

“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.“

“spacious inside. some seating outside as well.. good place to eat, drink, and view art.“

“Have visited twice so far and love Maman's aesthetic and decor but even moreso the coffee, food (the Michelle sandwich!) and the pastries. Everything is simply incredible. On top of it all there is excellent customer service from Fatih and the team!“

“The staff was very friendly, helpful, and overall amazing. The person who helped us gave good recommendations. Some of the things were a bit overpriced for what you’re getting, but they did have interesting food and drink options.

Parking is horrible, but that’s to be expected in Union market. there were a lot of people doing work on their laptops but other than that, there was a pretty good amount of space to be seated if you could find it.“

“It is a cool and nice lounge!“

“Went to a sick Metal show upstairs in the music venue. Nice smaller room with killer sound. Gets pretty packed & drinks ain't cheap but a great spot to see some underground bands especially punk rock & heavy metal. Nice big rooftop patio out back. Talked to some nice folks & the bartenders weren't stuck up like most rock clubs. Lots of bar seating

Parking: Same as everywhere in DC

Wheelchair accessibility: Upstairs“

“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. ❤️“

“Great Sandwiches and Conversation!!!“

“Amazing food, always made fresh to order at a family owned and family ran eatery. Home style cooking, great for picking up a quick lunch. Love the quality of the beef and chicken. I order the beef bibimbap rice bowl and the chicken curry with rice dish. Both excellent! Highly recommend!!!“

“My family and I ordered couple of bagels, and breakfast plates. I personally ordered the western omelet, my older son got the breakfast plate, and my wife and other son got 2 bagels with cream cheese. Taste wise, everything is good, we enjoyed our meal, what really stood out was the price. The previous day, we had Star Bucks, 4 drinks and 2 croissant which came out to around $60. Here, we had breakfast for around $30 and 2 of the plates are fresh cooked meals and tasted great. The food tasted so good, I only remember to take a picture of it 1/2 way done.

While the place was small, there were at least 3 tables to sit larger family of 4 to 6.“

“My favorite breakfast place in Petworth, food is delicious, service is amazing, and it has a very homey atmosphere. I really enjoy the Full Plate Special, the flavors are incredible and the bread is always fluffy. Thank you for so many breakfast and coffee visits!“

“Best cappuccino I’ve had since Italy! Great service and cozy atmosphere! I’ll be back!“

“Very good coffee drinks! Nice atmosphere too.“

“Me and my friends are here in DC for a weekend’s fun and was so happy to find this hidden gem!!! We ordered all their house special lattes, the two lavender signature/ lavish and the pistachio latte, they all tasted so amazing. Probably the best latte I’ve ever had in my life. I’ll be missing it so much.😭😭💜💕💚 The barista offered each of us a free chocolate brownie sample and it was absolutely heavenly delicious!!!!! Atmospheres also amazing, the ac is also comfortably chilling. Lulu isn’t here today…but there are pictures of Lulu all around the cafe! So super cute. Loved this place💗💗💗“

“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.“

“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.“

“Visited the café today! Loved the delectable and creative menu, the warm service, and the beautiful, cozy interior. We enjoyed the inasal, tocino, and ube latte (complete with delicate latte art) courtesy of Sun and Stars Coffee. Our kid was thrilled she could enjoy an ube steamer, too-- and didn't want to stir her drink because she found the art (Hiraya's logo in this instance) so beautiful. If you want reimagined, creative, and elevated Filipino cuisine where the flavors simultaneously bring back sensory memories of the comfort food of your childhood, this is the place for you. Can't wait to return!“

“My caramel macchiato was delicious 😋“

“Great place: friendly staff, good drinks, and excellent service.

I loved the vibe in this café. It’s the kind of spot where you can read a book, work on your laptop, or meet up with friends.

Jesse had a great attitude and made a perfect matcha. Thank you!

The music selection was good, and the volume was just right. I usually leave cafés if the music is too distracting, but that definitely wasn’t the case here.

This one’s officially on my list of favorite cafés and recommendations 🤍“

“Gluten free divine. Cafe and shop and lovely people“

“Came here for coffee and breakfast. I ordered bacon and eggs, wife ordered a croissant sandwich. Hers was better than mine. The small hash brown patties came soggy and almost undercooked. The eggs were fried nicely. The toast was supposed to be sourdough, but it was more like a thick cut of white bread and under toasted, probably because it's so thick. Bacon was nice. I had a cappuccino and it was acceptable, but not good enough to finish. This is a really clean, nice, professional coffee shop with a lot of working professionals stopping by. Good atmosphere and a solid go to spot.“

“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“

“Reservation was ready when we arrived. Tower Oaks lodge is an elaborately decorated restaurant so the ambiance was good. We were dining early in order to make a 6 PM movie so the restaurant was relatively quiet. The food and service were excellent and timely to get us on our way to our 6 PM movie.“

“I love BevCo. I've been going off and on since they opened in 2017 and it really is a great place with great food and drinks and great people. It's great! My one complaint is that they have great burgers but don't have mustard, which is a crime (I brought my own)“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a fantastic experience at this amazing place! The coffee was incredible—I had my first amazing latte in a while, and it truly hit the spot. The food was delicious, and everything was beautifully presented. The place was clean, well-organized, and the decor was absolutely stunning—above and beyond what I expected.

Thank you to everyone for the great service and hard work. I’ll definitely be coming back!“