Seven Cafes in DC for Quality Coffee — and Quality Time by Yourself
After visiting over a hundred cafes, here are the ones that stood out for flying solo — and getting to know the city in the process
There’s one version of coffeeshop that’s a place for a rushed order on the way to work — a jolt towards productivity.
But there are as many different meanings to a coffeeshop as there are varieties on the latte, and some of them are contradictory. Because another way to enjoy coffee shops is to dawdle, to spend time by yourself among others, leaving the grind (pun intended) behind.
As Tricia Hersey notes in Rest Is Resistance, “resting isn’t an afterthought, but a basic part of being human.” Caffeine gets us up in the morning — but a coffee shop can be a place for this kind of rest, which is a method of care for ourselves and those around us. It is a place to slow down, to daydream, to read something new or familiar, to talk with yourself or those with whom you are sharing this space.
When I first moved to DC, I didn’t know too many people in the city, and I sought ways to spend meaningful time with myself while getting to see more of the city. Several years and over 100 coffee shops later, they continue to be a favorite place to spend time solo. All hundred cafes offer something unique: some offer boutique coffee, others have big spaces for groups, and others claim the delight of being your neighborhood cafe.
But what I learned is that not all coffee shops are strongly suited for spending time with yourself. They may lack seating or feel loud and echoey; there’s a time and place for such spots. Blank Street Coffee is designed to have limited staff and seating, encouraging short visits to their cafes. Something that ultimately caused them to “edit” their growth in DC, because the “market likes lingering over lattes more than grabbing them to-go.”
But what about Blank Street’s opposite? If that space is so obviously designed for selling you a coffee and getting you to leave in less than a minute, what about the kind of space that encourages you to stay and sit awhile? Several things contribute to a great cafe for spending time alone:
- Access to comfortable seating options. If it’s indoor and outdoor seating, even better.
- Natural light, whether outside, with windows, or soft lighting.
- Nice acoustics, not necessarily show-quality, but for ease on your ears.
- Personality, expressed through thoughtful, personalized drinks or other quirks. (For example, now-closed Calabash Tea & Tonic even wrote caring messages on their to-go lids.)
Seven spots in DC capture these good-for-spending-time-alone features nicely:
La Coop Coffee
Cooperative Coffee
Of course, getting the coffee right is a first step. La Coop offers fair sourced, farm direct coffee from Guatemala. In their words, “we’re building community with every La Coop cup of coffee,” where each bag of beans for purchase has a personal signature. Take stock of the delicious bean options as you wait in line to order (mine? a dirty horchata), grabbing a card at the register that shares more on their cooperative coffee process. Enjoy slowing down and taking a seat on their front porch on First Street or stay inside on their inviting couch. Note that after recurring landlord troubles, La Coop has found a new home just down the street from their current DC location. It may be a few months before they move into this new space that’s double their current size.
Location: 5505 1st St NW, plus 4807 1st St N, Arlington, VA, 22203
Sankofa Video, Books & Café
Amazing books
While you could certainly bring your own book to read while sipping a coffee at Sankofa, their exceptional book collection is not one to miss. Here you have the opportunity to order your beverage of choice with plenty of vegan (and not vegan) options and pick out your next favorite book. While there won’t be a shortage of choices, if you are looking for inspiration, consider trying one of rapper and poet Noname’s Book Selections. Order from a menu filled with dishes named in tribute to visionary film directors, and enjoy a seat at their patio along Georgia Ave. Or, cozy up inside to remain surrounded by the shop’s books that “carr[y] with it an expectation of quality and discovery.”
Location: 2714 Georgia Ave NW
Big Bear Cafe
Outdoor seating
Big Bear Cafe’s outdoor seating is prone to catch your eye before you walk in to order. With greenery spilling out from their planters and vines traipsing overhead, it’s no wonder this is a frequented venue for weddings. Though, you don’t need to wait for a wedding, find yourself seated within this oasis any day of the week. Visit for solitude, or join community events that include activities such as evening trivia where you’re invited to join on your own. And don’t let the cold deter you: winters past have featured fire pits or heaters to go with your seasonal latte.
Location: 1700 First St NW
Emissary
Natural lighting
If you are a follower of the “no-big-light” practice, prepare to relish in Emissary’s lower level brick ambiance that has a range of spots to nest away for coffee or happy hour. Consider the front corner by the window with light pouring in during the morning, or tucked in the back by the bar where it may be a bit dimmer; there’s a space to suit how you’re feeling during this alone time. Though, it does get busy, so grab a drink (with their house made hummus?) and find your space to enjoy sitting with yourself in the often sun-produced lighting.
Location: 2032 P St NW, plus 1726 20th St NW
Sidamo Coffee & Tea
Great coffee
Greeted by the big kettle on H Street, Sidamo offers an amazing fair trade, single source cup of coffee that, after visiting 100+ shops, is a consistent favorite. Entering Sidamo, you can smell how lovely the coffee will taste as they roast their coffee beans on-site. Find a nestled seat inside to continue savoring the smells and have easy access to a second cup, or make your way to the back garden where you can enjoy yourself in solitude in the midst of H Street. For those in Maryland, try their Fulton location with an abundance of homey seating.
Location: 417 H St NE, plus 8180 Maple Lawn Blvd # F, Fulton, MD 20759
Wine & Butter Cafe & Market
Good food (croissants!)
Wine & Butter welcomingly juts out on the sidewalk along East Capitol, inviting passersby to order at the window surrounded by flowers and outdoor seating. As you decide what to order, know that a Google reviewer said that while in line, someone shared that the French Embassy (allegedly) gets their croissants from here. With croissant and coffee ready, enjoy some people-watching as folks pass through Lincoln Park. Maybe then take some time to peruse and pick something up from their shop… or maybe just another croissant!
Location: 1023 E Capitol St SE
Zeke’s Coffee at the SW Farmers Market
Welcoming crowd
Heading to the Southwest Farmers Market on a Saturday morning, you may pass by the building where the most expensive condo in DC sold, or the Blank Street Coffee that never was. The market welcomes visitors with often live on-stage music or DJs and the Zero Waste DC team who won’t judge you for composting a previously unopened bag of broccoli, as you find your way to the line for Zeke’s coffee. Perhaps while you wait, you’ll strike up a conversation about the neighboring produce, admiring what’s in season, or find your way to the nearby duck pond for rocking chairs and company, if you choose. If you are outside of Southwest DC, consider finding them at another farmers market throughout DC, MD, and VA, or at one of their three brick-and-mortars in the city. The more welcoming crowds, the merrier.
Location: 425 M St SW, plus 2300 Rhode Island Ave NE, 731 15th Street NW, 4602 14th Street NW, and many farmers markets
