If you’re craving something new, we’ve got three more specialty coffee houses to add to your list.
It’s great when you can find a place that’s equally suitable for sitting around and people-watching, as well as getting some work done on your laptop. All three of these coffee houses make a quality cup of coffee, have that homey yet Instagram-able vibe, and offer so much more than just coffee.
The Emissary
2032 P St .NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 [caption id="attachment_5964" align="aligncenter" width="258"]
Image courtesy of Yelp[/caption]
Located right off of Dupont Circle on P Street, The Emissary features aspects like exposed brick, cute tables and booths, boards with collages of flyers for local events, businesses, and happenings, and a counter culture vibe. Though it is famous for its coffeehouse, it’s so much more that that.
The Emissary serves coffee, lunch, and dinner, and even has a bar in the back nook. They host private events and pop-ups and strive to be an influencing voice in the Dupont Circle neighborhood and surrounding community. You’ll love it for that "small town in a big city" feel, as well as how trendy the décor will show up on your Instagram feed.
You can’t go wrong with the seasonal coffee option or the various types of espressos, but if you’re in to try something a little sweeter, get the matcha. You can get hot or iced, and the baristas make it with almond milk. The full coffee menu can be found here, and the lunch and dinner menus, here and here.
Slipstream
1333 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 [caption id="attachment_5965" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Image courtesy of flikr[/caption]
Besides its incredibly cool name, Slipstream is a must because of its premium coffee, chic décor, and breakfast menu. This coffee house features clean white lines with tables lined against the window, so patrons may look out and people-watch the bustling 14th Street. Slipstream also has a bar, as well as lunch, dinner, and brunch menus.
If you really care about quality coffee (and you probably do if you’re reading this article), you have to taste one of the specialty roasts offered. In Slipstream’s words, “We source our beans from Madcap Coffee and offer a rotating selection of quality blends and single origin coffees. Each coffee selected goes through an intense evaluation from our team to make sure only the best reach our menu.” The coffee house/restaurant also serves an extensive selection of teas.
Meet a friend here before work or for a casual weekend brunch date, and sit at the marble bar. Order a coffee from one of their oversized mugs, and enjoy a breakfast of avocado toast (the smoked salmon toast is excellent as well), or one of the tasty breakfast sandwiches. And if you really want to do brunch right, get one of Slipstream’s unique libations. The cocktail menu rotates frequently, offering you the freshest and trendiest in drinks. You can access all the menus here.
Blind Dog Café
944 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 [caption id="attachment_5963" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Courtesy of commongoodcityfarm.org[/caption]
What started as a pop-up within a bar, has now become a neighborhood coffee and breakfast staple. Blind Dog Café has a homey, diner-esque feel, which creates the perfect setting for breakfast on cold winter mornings. Go to this coffeehouse for a no-nonsense menu that still features fresh ingredients posted up on the mirrored wall above the tables, and a cup of their house coffee.
As with Emissary and Slipstream, Bling Dog Café also serves alcohol and food all day. The restaurant does not actually have a website, so you’ll have to physically go there to check out their most current offerings. It’s all part of that local neighborhood charm. As a bonus, (as you could probably guess from its name), the place is dog-friendly and even offers homemade dog treats.
Have you checked out these specialty coffee houses either for breakfast or lunch/dinner? Let us know in the comments below!
