49 Best Cafes near South Riding

“The food was good and the service was friendly and efficient. Overall, I had a pleasant experience. However, I noticed mosquitoes in the restroom, which was disappointing and affected the cleanliness of the visit. I hope management addresses this issue, as it would make the experience much better.“

“From out of town and came to Ocean8 Hookah Lounge and had an awesome experience! Ended up going multiple times! The hookah was top-tier and the food was fresh. If you're in VA and looking for a great vibe with quality food and smoke, this is the spot!“

“Super nice owners. Delicious food.“

“The coffee was incredible. My friends and I loved the relaxed atmosphere. Next time we will also try the food.“

“Clifton Cafe is our new favorite evening spot on the weekends. We’ve been customers since the original owners opened it years ago, but until this past fall we did more to go orders than dine in since the service and time to prep food was often slow and unpredictable. Now we go almost every week. We’ve noticed big improvements since they expanded their kitchen and redesigned the bar area. Their new pull up bar is beautiful and spacious. The new owners and management are great too! We love the evening staff as well, especially Ian and Nicole. They are very personable, accommodating, and attentive. They have great happy hour specials from 3-6 and make the best margaritas and espresso martinis. Some of our favorite dinner items include the crab dip, Mediterranean salad, cuban sandwich, burgers, crab cakes, quiche specials, banana pudding, and too many crepes to name! We also appreciate that they have become more family friendly. We had a last minute party of 14 on a Friday evening (half of which were children ages 1-11) and they didn’t hesitate to pull some tables together in a private nook to accommodate our large group (again thanks to Ian and Nicole). We noticed they finally got a changing table in the large bathroom, which they are about to install. Our kids are past that stage, but there were several times when they were little that a changing table would have been helpful.“

“Wonderful food and coffee! Staff was so friendly and welcoming. I ordered the caramel espresso latte and a chorizo breakfast burrito! Enjoyed all of it! Staff was accommodating to substitutions needed! Can’t wait to come back and try the lunch options! Will be back!“

“This is THE BEST pastries I’ve ever had! So fresh, delicious, creative, flavorful, and appealing to the eye!!!!!“

“This place is the best! I've tried a handful of drinks and all of them have been absolutely delicious. I've tried some of the food, and it has also been amazing. The staff is very attentive and polite, and there are a selection of board games available to play. The seating is comfortable and the atmosphere is great.“

“This place offers some of the highest quality sandwiches and plenty of delicious desserts! The staff is very friendly! It is very big inside and plenty of seats to sit in, whether it is with family or friends, or even your significant other!
It is definitely a hidden gem!
Definitely recommend this place, so give it a try!

Go get brunch and try their delicious sandwiches and desserts!!!“

“Visited The Commons Fooderie and had a really pleasant experience. The food was fresh and full of flavour, especially the grilled sandwich which was perfectly toasted and paired well with crispy chips and a delicious dip. The drinks, particularly the strawberry matcha latte, were beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The café itself has a lovely, bright atmosphere with stylish décor and lots of natural light, making it a great place to relax. The staff were warm, friendly, and attentive, and the central location makes it an easy and convenient spot to visit. Would definitely recommend and will be back again.“

“My fav tea spot! A wonderful menu.“

“Best Matcha ice cream and other soft serve…. Yummy 🤤“

“Delicious tea , friendly staffs“

“I just finished an absolutely fantastic meal with my family and felt compelled to share our experience. This restaurant is a true hidden gem, delivering phenomenal food that caters to diverse tastes.
We started with the falafel, and they were perfect—crispy on the outside, moist and flavorful inside, easily some of the best I've had. The beef shawarma was equally impressive; the meat was tender, perfectly spiced, and served with delicious accompaniments.
What really surprised us, in the best way possible, was the Philly cheesesteak. It was authentic, loaded with thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, and fresh ingredients. It might sound like an unusual item for the menu, but they absolutely nailed it!
The staff were welcoming, the service was prompt, and the atmosphere was great for a family dinner. Whether you're craving authentic Middle Eastern cuisine or a classic American sandwich done right, this place delivers on all fronts. We will definitely be back!“

“Brew Birds is an amazing local cafe with fresh and delicious food, great coffee and a rotating selection of beers/ ciders. The staff are very friendly. I don't eat out during the week (only home cooked), so a Brew Birds breakfast burrito is usually the go to treat. I can personally recommend the Roast Beast, the Turkey BLT, the breakfast burrito, and the basic B. This place is my favorite part of the neighborhood!“

“Hands down, the best cheesesteak I've ever had — a solid 10/10.
If you're local, this spot is an absolute must-try. The meat was perfectly seasoned and tender, the cheese melted just right, and the roll was fresh and held everything together without getting soggy. Plus, you need to add jalapeno, it's a kick!!! Every bite was packed with flavor. You can tell they put care into every detail. Whether you're a cheesesteak connoisseur or just looking for a great meal, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Wish i discovered Sunrise cafe sooner. Their breakfast burrito is really good. classic home style cooking, good ingredients. they should be raking in dough with food like that, a name like Sunrise Cafe on Sunrise Ave right next to the metro. put up a sign!“

“Love the service and friendly stuff“

“Oh my gosh! I love this place! We were visiting from Texas and this was our everyday morning stop (and it may or may not have been an evening snack or two also ). All the different pastries were awesome (my son had a mango cream bun every time). You HAVE to try the Tiramisu latte. Oh! Oh! And the Black Forest Cake was the friggin bomb! More than how great the food was, the ownership and staff were spectacular! We felt like we were popping in and seeing old friends. If I am ever anywhere near here, I will definitely come by for more delicious treats!! If you live nearby, support this locally owned shop. They deserve all the success possible.“

“One of the best breakfast spots I’ve tried in the area.
The place was extremely clean, the service was very fast, and the food quality was honestly outstanding. You can truly taste that they use high-quality and fresh ingredients — nothing felt cheap or processed. Everything was delicious and prepared perfectly.
What impressed me the most is that despite the premium quality, the prices were actually very reasonable. Definitely worth visiting again and highly recommended for breakfast lovers.“

“Thank you, Nediera. (I hope I spelled that correctly) And your recommendation was on point ;) Thank you!
And I wanted to add, I listened to something thereafter about how humans need an example to act upon and mirror at times, and I was personally going through something and you served as the prime example of this lesson..
Thank you for the kindness and generosity!..!“

“I'm heading back to Taiwan this afternoon. For my last meal in Virginia, I made a special trip to this warm and cheerful place to enjoy a delicious Club Sandwich! I'm looking forward to returning to Virginia soon and coming back to enjoy the food there again ❤️“

“great Cuban sandwich and absolutely awesome ambiance“

“Family owned cafe that is tucked away in the back of the building. The staff is kind and quick to get your order ready. I got a cheese panini and I wish the cheese had been melted a bit more, but it was still delicious. The food bar always has a great selection too. Definitely worth trying out.“

“Great Cafe! I have a few favorites here. Try the Lee's favorite, Italian Cold Cut, or the California Club. They have daily specials that include combos with fries and a drink. The ladies that work here do a great job and everything is delicious.“

“Best food!!!! Good coffee and very nice people.😘😘😘😘“

“Everything Combustible ⛽️ Save a lot of money and any purchases“

“Almost every time I need to go out for lunch I go to gallery cafe. The people are really nice and make the food with love. The food is really good and very reasonably priced. I especially like the pastrami sandwich and paninis. 10/10 highly recommend!“

“authentic Japanese, fuffly pancakes are amazing“

“This place is absolutely phenomenal. It’s a great place to go and meet people let alone buy some fine pastries and sit down and have a conversation with somebody that you don’t even know. I come here quite often. Just sit down and relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or a Boba tea. I need a fine pastry. I end up leaving with 50+ dollars or more in pastries either for my family or friends and family at work each and every time I come in this place it’s absolutely amazing. The service is beyond the people that come to this place are awesome. I’ve never ever in the last few years that I’ve been going to this place had a bad experience every each, and every time that I come into this place is amazing.“

“This is a great place for lunch! Salads, sandwiches, and subs are freshly made. Somewhat of a hidden gem in the business district and I hope more people find it. The outside dining area is awesome ? ?

Parking: Parking is free and right in front of the cafe ☺️

Dietary restrictions: Good place for dietary restrictions. Most items on the menu can be custom made to your dietary preferences ?“

“This is a pretty average Panera, similar to most other locations. The food quality is decent and consistent, though I do feel it’s a bit overpriced for what you get.
Employees are generally okay to good—nothing exceptional, but no major issues either. Location is almost brand new, but parking is definitely a downside. Street parking is paid (24 hours), and while there’s an adjacent garage, I didn’t notice any dedicated parking for Panera—most spots seem reserved. Overall, not very convenient, especially for a suburban area where easier parking is usually expected.“

“That great and the shop decorated good“

“This Panera is well-run. It’s a “to-go” place and Hina is always welcoming with a smile. All the staffs are welcoming to be honest and place is clean. More like my favorite mobile ordering location for Panera. Kudos guys!“

“We were driving by and just happen to see it. Decided to turn around and give them a shot. Place was clean, staff was professional and to this coffee addict, the coffee was a 10!! Will definitely be back!“

“20260328 My coworker recommended this bakery. The lady at the register was so friendly and nice. I ordered the chicken and avocado melt sandwich, and it was delicious. Recommend eating it fast before it gets cold. Tastes better warm. While waiting for my food, I came across the items on the back wall. They were leftovers from the night before and sold at 50% off. Each container contains different things, which means, different prices. 50% of each pastry in the container. I wanted to try the mushroom and green onion claw, and I ended up getting a container with 2 claws and 2 bacon and cheese pastries. What a deal. I also bought a peach and almond tart which was real good, not too sweet. The Chai latte with soymilk was a bit lighter in flavor than that at Starbucks.“

“Stopped in this evening to pick up meals. LOTS of choices! My family and I each tried a different meal and all three were very good! We will definitely be back for more!“

“homey“

“What a truly charming little café! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed by the warm and friendly staff. Hamza the Shift manager was very nice. I had the chance to meet all the employees, and I was impressed by how polite, attentive, and informative they were—they really went out of their way to make my experience enjoyable.
The café itself has a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and their drink menu is absolutely fantastic. There’s such a wide variety to choose from, and everything I tried was delicious. It’s clear that they put a lot of thought into their offerings, and the quality really shows.
Overall, this café is a gem. I left feeling happy and refreshed, and I can’t wait to come back and try more drinks. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a friendly, welcoming place with amazing beverages!“

“I am so happy to discover GreenFare Organic Cafe in Herndon, VA! Their food is delicious and healthy. I highly recommend the mushroom enchilada and pumpkin soup! If you are looking to treat your body well without compromising taste, I highly recommend you check it out!“

“The food is so good! I’m visiting from NYC and I found this place in a Google search. I didn’t expect it to be this packed, especially on the 4th of July. It was so good that I ordered food to go. Coming from NYC, the amount of food I got for the price was more than I expected. I got the Trifecta and the waffle was huge- it was the side! The coffee was so good and tasted fresh. I wish I could come here again.“

“Worst location. I have never been in Panera Bread this dirty before. I visit this chain few times a week all over norther VA, this place was bad…every table was dirty and greasy, filthy bathroom..it was horrible. I felt like getting up and leaving right away. I told one of the employees that tables need to be wiped and he acknowledged the issue. Ten minutes later I saw one of employees running around spraying tables barely wiping them dry. I had to get up and finish the job myself. Panera Bread, this is not up to your standards! Very disappointing. Will avoid this location at all cost.

UPDATE: Gave this location another try and was pleasantly surprised with an improved service and cleanliness of the place so I am updating my review rating. Please keep it up for your customers.“

“The best chai latte! Great morning to sit out and enjoy!“

“Staff were very friendly. I had the sausage, egg, cheese croissant and it was tasty. Fairlybpriced considering its in the airport. I would definitely visit this place again during my travels through the Dulles airport.“

“The food is great. Today life happened and sevel mishaps took place. My sausage didn't come out with my plate, my coffee cup was filthy, and then I got a bunch of coffee grounds in my clean coffee cup twice. But through it all Andre maintained his composure and delivered excellent service through all of the mishaps which truthfully, helped me maintain mine.“

“Good place. I took 1 star off because they fail to label all sandwiches. Which is very important when a large group orders where 3 people got a you pick two and 1 person got a full sandwich. I went out to my car and counted the amount of sandwiches we received, and thought I was 1 short. I brought in the bag and they re-checked my order and said that we had everything. In the end we did have everything and I had miscounted, but it still could have been avoided if they had labeled all of the sandwiches. I think only 2 of the sandwiches were labeled.“

“I rally enjoy First Watch. Was introduced to this place when I went to Daytona Florida. Glad they are expanding through out the nation.“

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

“Food was excellent. Atmosphere was great. Only complaint is that the woman at the front got my order wrong and insisted that she was right. I didn’t want to make a big scene so I just let it slide. Wouldn’t want to come again if I have to deal with a cashier that has a poor attitude.“