50 Best Coffee Shops in Washington

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

“A consistently great spot in the neighborhood no matter what time of day. Excellent coffee drinks and pastry items (especially the Guava Pastry) in the morning, lunch options for a real meal, and cocktails and food for dinner. Food can be a little expensive depending on the dish, but there has never been a bad one! Cocktails are always creative and well balanced as well.“

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

“Had an amazing experience with my aunt in the little blackbird. The food was to die for and had an amazing taste of different small plates. High praise to the gnochi with beetroot, very odd combination but one of the best I have ever had. Would like to thank Sarah for her warm hospitality and amazing wine selection, it was an incredible night to remember.“

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

“This was above average Italian! I had the lemon, spinach and ricotta ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was clearly homemade and cooked well and the sauce had a delicate lemon flavor and was creamy with a great texture. The ricotta was also smooth and there was lots of it!I would love to come back here and try other items on the menu!“

“Super cute cafe vibes. Snag the outdoor seating near the sidewalk when the weather is nice. I got the quiche (ham and cheese) and it fills you up quickly. Make a reservation if you intend to go during the weekend. Take a walk around the wharf after brunch.“

“Recommended by a friend and their food did not disappoint. Very busy atmosphere and a long wait for a table (an hour on a Monday), but able to find a place at the bar (barely). Food came out fast and hot but they did forget my bacon I requested. Made to order and was made perfectly. Food tasted amazing. Everything made by hand which is impressive but you can tell staff was stretched thin (despite being well staffed, they were just that busy).“

“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“

“Delightful, cozy, neighborhood spot. The food is delicious - Ethiopian veggie, yum! The coffee is ? - get the morning chai hot or iced!But the people and atmosphere are so warm and make you feel at home in a city where it is easy to feel like a visitor.Vegetarian options: Veggie sandwich options and Ethiopian veggie, vegan milk optionsDietary restrictions: Veggie options, milk options!“

“Gluten free, gluten free, deliciously gluten free. Ok as a NYer, I’m regularly expecting any deli to be…mid. And then I called my mother to tell her I found it. The best of the best deli that cares with such flavor and appreciation of food.Ok, let’s get to what I orderedThe Jetski - gluten freeHusband ordered the same but with all the gluten.We both stopped talking until we were done eating. Nothing left to say but “when are we going back?”I did a pick up order which I suggested due to limited seating. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.“

“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!“

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

“Great find and the perfect coffee spot for the hard to please, indiscriminant coffee lovers out there in the DMV! I stumbled on this place while riding past the Union Market neighborhood the other day, badly in need of coffee. And, so glad I did. I was completely impressed with the coffee products sold here at Unido. Also, I'd argue this is probably the best place in DC for coffee, if you're into single-source and specialty coffee brews. As a first timer, I was greeted by a Barista named Louis. This guy really knew his coffee and explained the concept of the coffee products in the store. During this time, I learned that the source of the coffee products sold were from Panama in which to be frank, I had no clue that Panama even had a global coffee presence. So out of curiosity, I was interested in trying their coffee to compare my thoughts of what they had to offer to other DC coffee 'Likes' around the city such as Sidamo, Blue Bottle Coffee, Kaldi's, Compass Coffee, La Colombe, Starbucks, and even Dunkin'! Yeah, I know....doesn't take much to outperform the latter....lol. At any rate, this place won me over. I was blown away by the flavor and taste of Unido and their Panamanian coffee. In the store, I tried a Geisha Pourover. The attention to detail, the presentation of the coffee, the ceramic cup all added to a great cup of coffee and ultimately my coffee pleasure. And the coffee itself, was delicious and perfectly brewed with a flavor profile that was nutty and chocolate. I like my coffee black and this one was perfect. I also tried an Iced Americano, at the recommendation of the Barista "to-go." The iced coffee was so rich, smooth, and full of an earthy --lite caramel flavor; which speaks to the care and quality of the beans that goes into making a cup. He added a shot of Ghirardelli dark chocolate that took this cup to the next level. In all, a great find. The vibe and atmosphere is chill and relaxing. Louis, the staff member there was knowledgeable and friendly, offering great suggestions for drinks to try. If you haven't been, I would recommend Unido....it's certainly worth a stop when in the Union Market neighborhood!“

“Nice place if you want cupcakes that aren't overly sweet. I have heard a lot of good things about this place. I'm not quite sure if it's overhyped or just right. It's a nice place if you're in the area but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come back for more. The cupcakes are good but not that special.“

“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. ❤️“

“Delicious and super staff!“

“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.“

“Heard great things about this place, And was blown away by the breakfast sandwiches we got!! Absolute total game changers!. Both were hot fresh and delicious!. And the coffee was great too. It’s a busy place, So don’t be surprised to see a line out the door. But the staff dona great job and the line movies quickly. This location is attached to a hotel, So they have some seating inside and a small patio for outdoor dining.“

“This is such a cute shop. Wish we stopped by sooner.“

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

“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)“

“Great coffee and staff! Highly recommended!“

“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!“

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

“Chocolate pistachio croissant - 5 stars. so good and will be returning for this. Any place that has pistachio pastries is a place for me. Morning bun - very flavorful (cardamom & lemon) but a bit too dry for me. 3 stars Espresso & tonic - I did not like this at all, and will definitely get a safer drink option next time. There was a line at 130pm which I was surprised about, but it moved very quickly and we had no trouble finding a seat. Cute place, will be returning!“

“The menu had too many good options and I wish I could come here all the time to get through the entire menu. During this trip, we tried the ube milk and the mango yuzu black tea. Both with boba of course. The ube milk was made with real ube so it was starchy like a potato, thick like a watered down milk shake, and really delicious. It wasn't sweet to me, it felt like a dessert vs a drink. The real winner was the mango yuzu black tea. It was also made with real mango fruit puree and tasted like a mango fruit leather. Bursting with flavor from the mango and had a zing from the yuzu, it was the perfect drink for the warmer weather outside. The boba was also so soft and chewy. This was a true boba place. And it was literally ran by one guy. If I lived in DC, this would be my go to boba drink place for sure.“

“We had a variety of food including sushi, burgers, poutine and noodles. All the food was good, delivered pretty timely, and in a relaxed manner.“

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

“Wonderful options! Tried a flight of chocolate mint, strawberry, four oranges of the apocalypse ice creams and watermelon sorbet. I think my favorite for this sunny day were strawberry ice cream and watermelon sorbet as they both were refreshing after a looooooong run! I'd "ice cream" for Chocolate mint anytime as it's very chocolatey and minty. A hint of mint chunks are amazing within this scoop! You can't go wrong with this choice really! Four oranges of the apocalypse ice cream is nice and zesty. It'd be elevated with some orange zest! But it's smooth, light acidic and citrusy flavor. I'd come back to try seasonal flavors! Until next time! The service was friendly and quick! Staff were very hospitality and welcoming. Sitting around is nice as it's very chill to people watch from window if you're lucky to grab that seating.“

“really good strawberry cream cheese, paired with cinnamon raisin bagel. bagels are okay but the best that are in dc. we loved the bagel chips and super disappointed they not longer sell them. the cinnamon roll babka and chocolate babka muffins are excellent.“

“The coffee drinks served by this place are reasonably good, albeit a tad bit pricey. In addition, the atmosphere of this coffee shop is seemingly laid-back, mellow, jovial, and ultra low pressure. My only complaint is the lack of variety in regard to the sweetners for the coffee.“

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

“I absolutely adore this coffee shop! It's pricey, about a dollar more than another competitor (which is already expensive mind you), but I don't mind because I think this particular coffee shop has the best coffee out of all of the places I've been both domestic and abroad.So why did I take a star off if they're so good?Simply put I never know if this place is going to be open or not! Nestled just a hop skip and a jump from the White House, I forgo Peet's, Starbucks, and all the other usuals, only to find a note posted on the door that they're not open!Now, mind you, I've already got a bone to pick with how early coffee shops close in DC and the lack of good diners, but the fact that I keep running into a closed sign is frustrating. It already feels like they're behind the curve being open 7am-4pm, but dragging my feet so I get there after 7am only to find them closed is worse considering there aren't any other good options when I keep on my journey to my next destination.This coffee shop really truly is the best, I recommend it to everyone, but if you work early hours make sure you've got a backup plan!“

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

“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.“

“I stop here every morning on my way to work. All the workers know me, and my usual order is often sitting and waiting for me when I walk in. Everyone who works there is friendly and asks about my coming day--like they care! The store is small, cozy, clean, and the perfect place for me to sit and get in the right head space for a day of teaching. Thank you Compass Coffee!“

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

“This place is like a tiny apothecary filled with very beautiful and expensive treats. There were beautiful single source chocolates and packets of pasta that looked like art. The bagel I got was perfectly functional, good for a walk, but I would come back to get a gift or a special treat for someone.“

“Everything, especially the food, is unexpectedly great. Especially the avocado toast with the lot (add Cholula!) Sunshine Burrito and Vanilla, oat iced latte. The blueberry muffin doesn’t have a ton of them in it which is my preference. And the vegan muffin is close (in taste) to a carrot cake. Whew! My favs!! ?“

““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.”“

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

“I was craving Ethiopian food for lunch and wanted to try a new spot in the neighborhood. Maleda was nearby and had excellent reviews and I can attest that everything about this spot is WONDERFUL. I've passed by dozens of times without noticing because it's pretty assuming from the outside. One of the owners, who was super sweet, offered me some delicious bread while I waited for my order. We got two veggie platters that were really excellent - well spiced, fresh, generous portions, and wasn't oily like other spots. I already can't wait to go back. Also, their sambusas were SO GOOD. Hope they thrive and continue to do well in this location!“

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

“One of the best bakeries anywhere in the region. Amazing breads and pastries, decadent desserts, and delicious sandwiches and salads.“

“This cafe is one of those that opened during or after Covid. It's an Eritrean outfit. Their disposable cups were so lovely that I didn't dispose mine and took it home, rinsed it, and am keeping it. :-) It's expensive though. But then again, everything is expensive now in DC. 'Tis inflation time. The décor is Ethiopian/Eritrean, but not oppressively so. It's a wide open space, not cosy / claustrophobic like Harrer (another Ethio coffee shop).“

“Great selections of beers in a fun outdoor space!“

“This cafe has a great vibe, and is the perfect spot to kill an hour between meetings while getting your caffeine fix. Great coffee, pastries, and I can't believe they came out in support of crypto too - totally awesome. Definitely a business I'm a fan of and will come back to every time I'm visiting DC.“

“Great service, amazing coffee! Fantastic atmosphere!“