35 Best Cafes in Washington

“Came for dinner and I had such a lovely time… my server was Stella. She was so great… so attentive and had great recommendations. I had the ginger chicken soup dumpling and the crystal shrimp dumplings: delish! For main, I had the Maketto chicken. It was such a good balance of sweet and spicy.Had such a good experience thank you Stella!“

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

“Excellent food and the best chai!“

“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.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“Had some fabulous bakery goods and painted the al fresco dining space out front. Enjoyable time!“

“A chill, super affirming space and the food and drinks were great! I’ll definitely be back soon.“

“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. ❤️“

“Amazing croissants. So flakey and full of wonderful filling. A great value! The mango pannacotta was amazing! The value for the price was fantastic as well! I briefly met the owner. The sweetest person you will ever meet! If I lived in town, I would be here ALL THE TIME!“

“The food was good but the cashier had a very bad attitude. Didn't give our drinks when we ordered and when the drinks didn't come out with our food, we went back to the cashier for them. His acted like he couldn't be bothered and was really off putting.“

“Food was very good and wonderful servers.“

“They cashier is nice the ambiance is great with incense that levitates the room. The barista actually knows how to steam the milk and pull wonderful shots. Support small businesses like this. There is wifi and music playing in the background. Try the Fatira with everything (vegetarian friendly)“

“This is a really sweet cafe with delicious pastries and a full menu of Armenian food. The space itself is really inviting and comfortable and the staff are friendly. I highly recommend the Mountain Tea which is made with thyme and is really unique. I always stop in for one when I'm walking by!“

“This is a new bar on U street that caters to the LGBTQ community, though all are welcome. They have very nice bartenders and a very nice decor. I will go again.“

“Delicious tea, scones, chai, and latkas“

“We’ve probably eaten 50 of Pie Shop’s tasty, savory and wholesome ratatouille pies over the past ten years. Consistently delicious pies, and premium quality ingredients.This place is a real gem, and there is nothing like it. Pie shop has a wide variety of delicious flavors to suit every taste.“

“(Review for takeout) WOW! I don't expect much from takeout but the food was so good! I got Cambodian style pho with pork shoulder and it was delicious. The meat wasn't over cooked, the broth was warm and cozy, and all the other accompaniments paired with it so well! I can't wait to actually dine in and order other dishes! I didn't know Somebody Feed Phil was here and now I'm not surprised. Thank you for the food! I felt like I was at someone's house visiting for lunch!“

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

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

“Cozy and cute little cafe in the Noma neighborhood. The bread loaf is full of raisins and nuts and tastes really good. I ordered it with a decaf coffee which pairs very well with it. The wifi is free and it is the strongest in the middle of the cafe, next to the dishes and utensils. section.“

“Such a great visit and such a great decision to come and check out this museum. I do warn you, it is an emotional experience that will transport you to a difficult time in our world's history. We were in town to sight see and were museum hopping. It wasn't hard to make a reservation. We only booked a few days prior and it was simple. Admission is free which is a plus. Location is near the National Mall, just a few blocks down so make sure you have your walking shoes ready. I would give yourself a full day if you want to digest everything that is available to you in the space. There is so much to see. Exhibits, videos, and audio guides that are well put together. You can easily be there at least 2-3 hours, maybe longer if you want to read about everything. It is a really popular spot, so I would suggest getting there early and on peak days, maybe even trying to book in advance to ensure your visit.“

“Recommended Nola, super delicious I have always loved their almond croissant“

“We are so glad to see this cafe do well in our neighborhood. I believe in cafes in every neighborhood. We walk our dog every morning and grab hot chocolate and coffee when we walk by this place. They have recently redid their interiors. Looks much spacious now and very welcoming. With my drinks, I often get their samosa or spinach puffs. It's so good. For lunch, my go to is their Ethiopian combo. They have 5 different veggies and recently added meat as well. Absolutely delicious! Depending on how busy they are, expect to wait for the Ethiopian entree. Worth it.“

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

“I’m glad to have a real soul food place located near me. I enjoyed the food overall but wanted just a tad bit more flavor in the greens and mac and cheese. The wings are great though! The prices are really good, so I plan to come back and try other menu items.“

“?Love this place! Pretty, woody, cozy, and surprisingly have plenty of seats Not a fan of the food, and the special drink (the lemonade on pic 1) is terrible.➡️The only thing I recommend is the weekend special (pic 2 left), and maybe the iced coffee latte“

“Amazing customer service. I used this company for a catering event, and the general manager was excellent and helped me with everything and explained the catering pages when I had questions about quantity. I highly recommend this black company if you want to do a brunch and need catering. This is the place! “

“This is a lovely neighborhood cafe. I find it a great place to put down my cellphone for a while, meet with family or friends, or just do a little people-watching. I see a lot of joy here with people connecting with one another. They have great coffee and yummy food. I especially love their arrugala pizza! There is a lot of covered seating outdoors and there is also a room upstairs if you need some quiet or space for a larger gathering. Sometimes local musicians come and play. Big Bear Cafe has a great vibe!“

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

“Absolutely delicious!!! I wish this was a bigger atmosphere for better choice of seating, but very happy with my dining experience. I imagine this is very close to the Italian way for Pizza.Kid-friendliness: Many children present, seema friendly environment. Good music.“

“Maman is very tasty and I love coming here but.. this happened. Needless to say I was a little disappointed I had to fight my food today in a dangerous way. Unfortunately, my turned my sandwich turned into a salad. The salad was mid, I’m sure it would have been better as a sandwich lol. Please don’t do this anymore Maman.“

“Lunch is my main meal of the day so I got the BBQ Pulled Pork with Collard Greens and Mac and Cheese ($19.45) with Lemonade ($4.80). The food was really good and the portions very generous. The cafe opens at 11:00, so you can avoid lines by having an early lunch. If you're a member of the Smithsonian, show your card for a 10 percent discount.“

“Highly recommended. Great tasting food at just the right price. Great customer service...friendly and professional. Thank you.“

“My husband and I stopped in for a quick bite for breakfast. Such a comfy spot that we actually stayed longer than anticipated. The atmosphere is so beautiful, clean and inviting. My husband had the bacon, egg & cheese biscuit with sweet pepper jelly. He described it as “gratifying and delicious “. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Truly service with a smile!!! Next time we’re in DC, we’ll definitely stop by again“

“Great Ice Cream ((I had chocolate-hazelnut). Great coffee too. And great service too by the Manager, Shaleeda (please excuse spelling)“