12 Best Cafes and Bakeries in Washington, D.C.
Very specific vibe recommendations…
I moved to DC from New York City, which you all may know by its reputation as the city of thousands of tiny coffee shops with free WiFi. Since I’ve always had cafes at my fingertips, you can imagine how upset I was to realize upon my arrival in Washington that the nearest cafe to my apartment was Starbucks — by a long shot. It took me about three days to decide that this was simply not how I was meant to live my life, and my quest began. I had to know: where can you find good coffee in DC? And more importantly, where can you sit down with a good book and a pastry?
After months of research for the sake of the greater good, I have compiled the only 100% accurate list of best coffeeshops in DC. Read on to figure out the best fit for you.
1. Best bang for your buck: Three Fifty Bakery
This tiny bakery is nestled on 17th St NW right off of U St, so you just might miss it if you’re not looking. The sugary scents and the goofy font on the signs combine to create a quaint, sweet ambiance in the middle of this busy city. The best thing about this bakery, though, is the prices: you can get a pain au chocolat (or, as they corrected me the first time I walked in, a “chocolate croissant”) for only $3, or a 16 oz chai latte, which could easily cost at least $7 in New York, for $3.45.
2. Best pastries: Tatte
Tatte is the big guy on the bakery scene in DC: with two luxe locations right off Dupont Circle, it’s on every “Best of” list out there. I won’t lie, I think their reputation is well-earned — their pastries are magnificent, and I would strongly recommend their perfectly-crisped kouign amann. However, a warning: the hype has made it impossible to grab a seat at Tatte on the weekend, and you’ll have to wait in a considerable line for your latte.
3. Best people-watching: The Courtyard Cafe at the National Portrait Gallery
If you haven’t yet checked out the National Portrait Gallery, take this as your sign to make it happen. After viewing the exhibits, head to the atrium in the middle of the Gallery. This courtyard is lively, filled with quiet masses swarming around to check out art, smell the flowers, play in the fountains, and grab a coffee. With beautiful light and a wonderful mixture of wide-eyed tourists and would-be art critics milling around, the Gallery’s courtyard is a perfect place to come to people-watch while you get some work done, especially if you work well with some white noise.
4. Best ambiance (and merch): Ellē
Mt. Pleasant’s Ellē has such an incredible aesthetic, it’s hard to resist the urge to snag a crewneck decorated with some stylized cat butts stalking off as you walk into the store. You’ll want to stay for the lighting, the soundtrack, and the Parisian-style seating. Order a breakfast sandwich if you get hungry, they’re great.
5. Best outdoor seating: No Goodbyes at The Line DC
This café is linked to the somewhat-controversial No Goodbyes restaurant and operates out of the lobby of The Line hotel. It’s very DC, in that it’s grander than it needs to be and feels a bit corporate, but the outdoor seating is divine: situated up a mini flight of stairs at the top of AdMo’s 18th St, this patio is relaxed, shaded, and it comes with a view. (Plus, free WiFi…)
6. Best cafe for working from home: Yerevan
Yerevan is a little Armenian cafe on 18th St NW that serves powerful coffee and delectable baklava. It’s highly reminiscent of the cramped-yet-airy bakeries that I love so much back home in Brooklyn. It’s also the perfect spot for a change of scenery in the middle of a work-from-home day—plus, you can order meals as you work, and just switch from drinking coffee to wine when it hits 5pm.
7. Best bagels: Cafe U
I know, I know: you’re sitting there scratching your head. Yes, you read that right: I am from NYC and I think this U St cafe has the best bagels in DC. (Lucky for them, since they don’t have anything else on the menu.) The bagels are thinner and less fluffy than your classic New York bagel, but they have a great crunch and a depth of flavor. There is just one table in this teeny tiny cafe, so if you risk going with your laptop, you might be disappointed — it’s a much better call to go on a Saturday morning for one of their monthly outdoor DJ sets instead.
8. Best light: Colada Shop
If you’re located near the Wharf, you need to check out this Cuban sandwich shop for breakfast. With high ceilings and beautiful jewel toned accents, the light in this restaurant is captivatingly bright, which makes the food look (and maybe even taste) that much better. One thing: be wary when ordering a large coffee, because they are not kidding around with the size at Colada Shop.
9. Classiest: Café Riggs
Café Riggs, which operates out of the lobby of the Riggs Hotel, is an ultimate flex. It’s all marble and chandeliers and feels very classy, but you can still get a latte for $5. If you’re looking to grab a coffee with someone you’d like to impress, look no further for the perfect location.
10: Best desserts: D-Light
This Ukrainian coffeeshop in AdMo has had quite a year — it opened less than half a year ago, shut down in January because of a fire, and then reopened in February right before Russia invaded Ukraine. Ever since, it’s seen a massive outpouring of love from the DC community— now, there’s a line out the door. It’s worth braving the line for the patisserie, a group of highly curated and delightful desserts that are both fancy and flavorful.
11. Best coffeeshop to cry in: Atrium Cafe
Vacant, gaudy, and overpriced, this deli is located in Southwest right near the Mall, and is just plain ridiculous. The breakfast is great, though, and the perfunctory nature of the wait staff makes it feel that much easier to experience catharsis. It’s also so filled with nooks and crannies that there are at least three spots that are entirely invisible to other customers where you can get a good cry in.
12. Best coffeeshop for early risers: The Wydown
I was hesitant to put 14th St’s Wydown Cafe on this list, because the pastries are too pretentious for my taste (all their scones are infused with scents!) and there’s an insane rush at any reasonable hour of the day. However, I’ve recently discovered that this bakery opens up at 6:30am every morning, which puts it in a class of its own. At 6:30, the music is calming, the drinks come quickly, and the pastries are all hot and fresh out the oven. It’s well worth an early wakeup.
Read more of Hannah’s musings at Do Not Disturb, Hannah is Eating, or subscribe to get the newsletter delivered to your inbox here.
