Yeah was super cool. Might have even been the first spot I went when I moved back to this area.

Rare Bird is a gem. Sometimes I feel like a broken record hyping it up but I honestly love the beans they source and roasts they do as much as any place I've ever ordered from. They do a really great job and the shop is such a nice local spot.

Report back how you like Cervantes! It's especially great if you enjoy the occasional sweet drink, their rotating sweet lattes are actually usually pretty creative and taste. Also I don't love coldbrew but they have the one of the few cold brews ive ever had and thought was interesting.

Yeah I only stopped in whenever I was in the area, but really appreciated having it there. Just felt cozier that most of the spots in that area.

And lol I've never seen them use them but I dig the desire to serve good coffee so I return occasionally.

I worked somewhere in DC where this was the case too! A guy came out to spray for us and was like "yeah, they breed in those big vents on the ground. Nothing can be done, you just get eaten."

We would just know that every summer we'd be eaten alive.

I've bought beans from them often but never actually made it out there! I'll have to add it as a spot to check out. Thanks for the rec!

Thank you! I've never checked out Three Whistles so I'll add it!

Swings in Del Ray is so nice.

Rare Bird is my favorite. I like the vibe, the coffee is amazing, but also as someone who brews a lot at home they have my favorite selection of beans that are roasted light - medium, with very little in that dark/charred range.

I always shout out Cervantes too because it's kind of funky and tucked away. Nothing near it, so if you go it's because you like coffee.

For traditional coffee house vibes Misha's is also really cool.

Love this rec! I've had kaldis on my list but haven't made it out there. I'll def check it out.

First, would love to hear some of your favorite spots with seating!

Second, yeah I agree there's a lot of great spots that have like just the minimum amount of seating and it's not cozy. But there's certainly plenty I love for their ambience and seating as well! For the most part I won't go if the coffee isn't good too, but here's some of the examples that come to mind:

The Coffee Bar on a nice day is so nice outside. La Colombe in Blagden Alley is lovely. Dolcezza at the Hirshorn lacks real people usually because it's a museum (like it's mostly museum goers, not like the romantic version of a coffee patron) but the setting is cool. I think it's Peregrine at Union Market? But that area has a nice vibe. Sweet Science was pretty cool. Compass Coffees 7th st. Roastery location is great.

One place I desperately miss is this little cafe in Chinatown (might have been called Chinatown cafe?) In a skinny brick building that always felt like what I wanted a downtown cafe to feel like. Rip to that shop.

I spend most of my time in VA these days but I definitely love a lot of DC coffee spots.