Whether you’re looking for a caffeine jolt to go, a cozy spot to camp out and get some work done, or a vibey place for a first date or a meet-up with a friend, these local cafes deliver. Here’s what all the buzz is about.
Bakeshop
The homegrown bakery known for its rainbow of macarons, whipped-cream cakes and vegan sweets also has caffeinated beverages on the menu. Try the Vietnamese iced coffee or the mocha and, if you’re in Falls Church, take it out to the patio. If you come in the morning, snag a breakfast sandwich on a croissant or biscuit with house-made pimiento cheese. // 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington (Clarendon); 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Ballstonian by Isa
Swing by Isa Seyran’s mobile 3-wheeler for Turkish coffee, brewed black tea, masala chai, baklava and other treats. A former waiter at some of the D.C. area’s best restaurants (read about his adventures and brushes with fame in this book excerpt), Seyran was born in the Turkish city of Sivas and has called Ballston home for more than 20 years. He launched the Ballstonian in June. // 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Beignets, anyone? David Guas’ Big Easy-style cafe brews drip coffee and pours the usual espresso-based drinks to go with those sugar-dusted pillows of heaven. And then there are “the others.” Those would be special concoctions such as the Cajun Latte (cayenne, cinnamon, bourbon) and Iced NOLA (chicory, simple syrup, half and half). In honor of National Honey Month, Bayou is serving a Buzzin’ Beehive Latte (espresso, honey, vanilla, orange) and a Honey Lavender Latte (local honey, lavender, vanilla beans). With all that caffeine pumping through your veins, the news of Guas’ next venture, the forthcoming Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen in McLean, is even more exciting. // 1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington (Courthouse)
Caboose Commons
Across from the hubbub of the Mosaic District sits Caboose Commons, a two-story brewpub (as in coffee and beer) with a big patio, where you can kick back with coffee sourced from Lone Oak Coffee Co. in nearby Winchester. Current seasonal sips include the Pumpkin Chai Latte (sweetened chai concentrate, house-made pumpkin pie sauce and milk). Other specialties: the Quadtado, with four shots (!) of espresso, 4 ounces of steamed milk, vanilla, honey and maple; and the Mexican Mocha featuring two shots of espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce, cayenne pepper and cinnamon powder. // 2918 Eskridge Road, Fairfax (Mosaic)
Café Kindred
This alt-rock-themed café at the edge of The Little City serves locally roasted Vigilante Coffee with style. Espresso drinks are presented on a pretty board with a shot of seltzer (a palate cleanser) and a petit biscuit. In addition to the standard lineup of Americanos, cappuccinos and cortados, the eatery also serves seasonal drinks and a full menu of cooked-to-order eggs, baked goods, sandwiches and salads. Just be warned, no laptops on weekends—the owners want their patrons to relax, or at least try. // 450 N. Washington St., Arlington (East Falls Church)
Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters
For a cool kick, you can’t beat Commonwealth Joe’s nitro—a cold, steeped coffee that’s finished off in a keg and infused with nitrogen bubbles. The resulting elixir, resembling a glass of Guinness, is one of several welcome jolts at CWJ’s flagship store in National Landing. (CWJ also sells its nitro cold brew by the keg to local offices and businesses, and offers at-home coffee subscriptions.) You’ll also find oat milk lattes, kombucha, teas and the green chili breakfast burrito: scrambled eggs, home fries, Monterey jack and cheddar on a flour tortilla. Expect to do some people-watching—this place is a bit of a thoroughfare for office workers on weekdays. //Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters, 520 12th St. S., Arlington (National Landing)
Compass Coffee
This D.C.-based roaster opened its first Virginia location in Rosslyn in 2018 and has since added spots in Ballston and a drive-thru in Waverly Hills. Founded in 2014 by two Marines, the shops are now serving seasonal specials such as the Maple Latte, Pumpkin Freeze and Pumpkin Spice Latte, in addition to perennial drinks like espresso and drip coffees. Not sure which to choose? Take the Compass Coffee quiz to discover your preferred flavor profile. //1201 Wilson Blvd. (Rosslyn); 4100 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston); 4710 Langston Blvd. (Waverly Hills), Arlington
Detour Coffee
This Virginia Square haunt feels like a bohemian coffee shop in a college town—and it sort of is, considering it’s right across the street from George Mason University’s Arlington campus. Operating on the ground floor of nightclub Darna (same ownership), it’s a comfy hideaway for banging out your next paper or work proposal over a cup of Vigilante Coffee. If you’re planning to stay a while, you can keep a tab open and get some substantial nourishment in the form of a breakfast burrito, avocado toast or the Magician, an arepa stuffed with scrambled egg, avocado, corn, onion, queso fresco and tabasco cream. So go ahead—order another dirty chai or nitro, and settle in. // 946 N. Jackson St., Arlington (Virginia Square)
East West
There’s a decidedly upscale vibe at this Clarendon coffee and wine bar, which features a charming outdoor patio. As you meet up with a date or an old friend, sip pour-over coffee or a matcha latte, or go straight for the red and white stuff; they’ve got roughly two dozen wines by the bottle or glass. You’ll also have plenty of food options, from a Turkish breakfast for two to tapas (including patatas bravas, hanger steak and shrimp tempura). // 3101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
For Five Coffee Roasters
Founded in 2011 by two besties in Queens, N.Y., this micro-roaster now has a sprinkling of coffee shops in New York, Chicago and the DMV. Using green rather than brown beans from small coffee farms worldwide, For Five Coffee Roasters has three best-sellers: Sable Blend, Grand Ave Roast and Corsa Espresso. Pop in the Courthouse Plaza for a cortado, café au lait, macchiato or cold brew and one of the cafe’s famous For Five “stuffed” cookies. // 2311 Wilson Blvd, Arlington (Courthouse)
Good Company Doughnuts
Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly, bread and butter, coffee and doughnuts. Good Company makes it easy to get your fill of that last one, with three area locations where you can pair a seasonal salted caramel cider cake doughnut (or any of 40 other flavors) with your choice of Intelligentsia coffee drinks. The house special Illumination Blend features single-origin beans from Ethiopia. For those fall days when temperatures hit summer highs, try a Coffee Spritzer made with iced coffee, fresh-squeezed lime juice and a splash of Topo Chico mineral water. // 672 N. Glebe Road (Ballston); 510 14th St. S. and 1350 South Eads St., Suite 80 (National Landing)
Idido Coffee & Social House
Named after a region of Ethiopia known for its coffee, this busy cafe just off Columbia Pike serves the usual suspects (lattes, cappuccinos, café au lait and drip) as well as the pulse-revving doppio (a double espresso) and red eye (a cup of regular coffee with a shot of espresso). // 1107 S. Walter Reed Drive, Suite 102, Arlington
Kaldi’s Social House
This spacious Clarendon gathering place, which brands itself as “the favorite spot of the civilized world,” offers a robust menu of eats and some of the best latte art around. The shop (Tsega Hailemariam’s second location, after Silver Spring) serves Counter Culture coffee and has an oat nitro latte and affogato on its drink list. Arrive with an appetite—Kaldi’s food options include smoothies, bowls, toasts, waffles, sliders and flatbreads. And while you’re there, take a few moments to unwind as the flurry of passersby move past the building’s large glass windows // 3100 10th Street N., Arlington (Clarendon)
La Coop Coffee
Founder Juan Luis Salazar Cano set up shop in the Arlington Forest neighborhood in February. Already known from its stand at the Lubber Run Farmers Market and a brick-and-mortar location in D.C., the family-owned-and-operated roastery has roots in the Guatemalan coffee industry. The Arlington cafe sells drip coffee, espresso, cortados and a dirty horchata—a creamy rice drink with a shot of coffee—plus eats like empanadas and coconut-chia oatmeal. // 4807 First St. N., Arlington (Arlington Forest)
Northside Social
This perpetually bustling hub in Clarendon occupies a quirky red house and former train station. Its sister location in Falls Church is just as historic (a retrofit of one of the oldest buildings in town) and just as packed. It helps that both eateries have spacious outdoor seating areas, featuring umbrellas for sunny days and heaters for frosty ones. Both also sport upstairs seating—and upstairs wine bars—and they switch over to table service at 5 p.m. Find seasonal coffees and food items on the menu, which also includes poached-egg breakfast sandwiches, quiches, salads, muffins, pastries and shareable plates. // 3211 Wilson Blvd, Arlington (Clarendon); 205 Park Ave., Falls Church City
Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen
Occupying a space that used to be a Starbucks, this boutique coffee shop in Westpost (Pentagon Row) serves steaming specialty drinks like the Cinnamon Spiced Latte (double espresso with textured and condensed milk and cinnamon powder) and the Turmeric Latte (double espresso, textured milk, turmeric powder and vanilla syrup) in addition to simpler brewed coffees and teas. // 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington (National Landing)
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
What started out as a home-roasting venture is now a thriving wholesale business selling beans to area restaurants and retailers like Acme Pie Co. Rare Bird also has a cute storefront and roasting operation in Falls Church City, where you’ll find rotating works by local artists on the walls. Seasonal specials include house-made baked goods such as zucchini-walnut morning bread and a decadent kouign-amann, a puff pastry-like cake. // 230 West Broad Street, Falls Church
Roots Kitchen & Bar
Situated in McLean Village, this neighborhood spot specializes in healthful gourmet fare made with seasonal ingredients. Stop in for a drip coffee, cold brew, espresso, cappuccino, mocha, latte or americano, and check the events calendar to see what’s coming. On Friday Sept. 29, you can sip your coffee while listening to live music from 6-9 p.m. by Matt Williams, a McLean musician who plays acoustic covers. // 8100 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Simona Café
Formerly known as Sweet Science Coffee, Simona Café in Courthouse (on the edge of Lyon Village) has more food and drink choices than its predecessor, but you can still just grab a cup of house coffee, a seasonal specialty drink or something stronger, like espresso, made with beans from Rare Bird Coffee Roasters in Falls Church. Current specialty beverages include a Ginger Matcha, Brown Sugar Pumpkin Latte, and “Chai-der.”// 2507 Franklin Road, Arlington
StarNut Gourmet
A McLean staple since 2002, this international café and specialty foods gift store has an extensive drink menu, including frappes and specialty drinks such as Mexican Mayan Caramel, Pistachio and Coconut. Stop in early and try one of the Greek, Scandinavian, French, Swiss or Persian breakfast options, or treat yourself to an order of crepes. For National Coffee Day, patrons can get a free sample of the shop’s newest seasonal drink: a sweet, fruity blend of full-bodied arabica beans with tropical fruit, lime zest and jasmine. // 1445 Laughlin Ave., McLean
Swing’s Coffee Roasters
Situated in Swing’s Del Ray roasting facility, this bar’s drip and espresso coffees are about as fresh as they can get. The menu includes a White Mocha (latte with white chocolate sauce), Nitro Cold Brew (cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen) and a Flat White (espresso, milk and a thin layer of foam). In celebration of National Coffee Day, Swing’s is offering 15% off online coffee orders through Sept. 29 with the code “coffeeday” at checkout. In the café, patrons get 15% off retail coffee bags and coffee or espresso-based beverages. // 501 E. Monroe Ave., Alexandria
Tatte Bakery & Café
Discover a magical array of pretty pastries, tartines and brunchy plates at this Clarendon newcomer, along with cafe au lait, a Red Eye (drip coffee with a double shot of espresso) and lattes in flavors such as pistachio and honey-halva. The name Tatte (rhymes with latte) is a Hebrew nickname for “grandmother” and an homage to Israeli founder Tzurit Or’s mother. // 2805 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Trade Roots
At Lisa Ostroff’s fair-trade gift shop, café and wine bar in Westover, you can pick up some jewelry, housewares or clothing while you wait for your order to brew, or cozy up in the colorful banquette by the window with a comfy pillow behind your back. On the menu, find coffee from around the world: Turkey, Cuba, Vietnam and Mayan (spicy) mochas. Seasonal flavors include pumpkin lattes, scones and muffins. // 5852 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover)
The Waterhouse Coffee & Juice Bar
Choose from hot coffee drinks such as lattes (regular, chai, matcha and nutty), cappuccino (hot or cold cream iced), macchiato and americano. Situated inside the lobby of an office building, Waterhouse is accessible via Wilson Boulevard or North Garfield Street. // 3033 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)