Looking for a great cup of coffee in Georgetown, DC? The best cafes and coffee shops in Georgetown offer a wide variety of charm and caffeine drinks in what is, by all accounts, one of DC’s finest neighborhoods.
Georgetown is known for marrying old-world architecture with eclectic splashes of modernity, and this ethos crosses over into the aesthetic of the neighborhood’s unique coffee shop culture, as well.
Here, you can find everything from erudite coffee houses to fun-loving cat cafes and trend-conscious bakeries that take care to ethically source their beans (and their labor). Ultimately, there’s something for every kind of coffee house dweller in this part of town– as long as you know where to look.
When you aren’t enjoying coffee at any of the best breakfast and brunch spots in Georgetown, these dedicated Georgetown coffee shops are a great place to cozy up for a warm drink or a cold jolt of caffeine. (Choose your own vibe.)
Below is our breakdown of where to find the best coffee and cafe experiences in Georgetown, DC. Bookmark this list for easy reference later.
But first, coffee.
Enjoy!
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Café Georgetown (For Fabulous Speciality Lattes)
The unassuming charm of Café Georgetown makes it a perennial favorite among locals and repeat visitors, alike. This small residential cafe, which initially looks like a hole-in-the-wall discovery, was actually voted Best Cafe in all of DC in 2020 (before the world shut down, of course).
They have great Turkish coffee and specialty American-style lattes, as well as Turkish treats that really exemplify DC’s ethnocultural prowess when it comes to food and hospitality.
When it’s Cherry Blossom Season in Washington, DC, for example, Café Georgetown starts making the most darling cherry blossom latte around. They mix their signature cherry tart flavor with velvety steamed milk to create the pink color, then they add two shots of espresso and pink erica heather flowers on top. The effect– which has a heavy dose of caffeine for coffee lovers– is a darling drink worthy of all the photographs it no doubt inspires.
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Don’t Miss The Custom Printed Lattes
^ Café Georgetown also offers printed lattes, where you can upload a picture, logo, selfie, or other design to an app that will generate the design in steamed milk foam on top of your latte. This is next-level coffee shop futurism at its finest, and it generates no shortage of Chanel- and inside joke-themed lattes.
For a unique treat, try a Gluten-Free spinach-leek turnover (made with sumptuous cream cheese and gruyere) or their house Turkish Delight. (They have a lovely selection of eye-popping Rose Petal, Pomegranate, and Pistachio Cubes behind the glass counter.)
They also sell a few classic American cafe staples like Blueberry Muffins, chocolate cake, lemon poppyseed bread, and banana-Nutella strudel.
This multiculturalism, meanwhile, also crosses over into the drink list. Here, you’ll also find classic Australian Flat Whites (the only respectable version in DC, IMHO) alongside Golden Turmeric Lattes, Espresso Macchicatos, cortados, cold brew, and iced chai lattes.
They even have a blue “daydream” latte that gets its color from butterfly pea flower, a beautiful compliment to the filigreed To-Go cups that reminisce of fine china.
The selection at Café Georgetown, moreover, is excellent. You’d be hard-pressed to find another cafe that combines this much charm with this much variety.
Foxtrot (Trendy & Bustling)
The CBD Latte at Foxtrot is a cool new trendy thing in these parts– and it really exemplifies what sets this popular Georgetown coffee shop apart.
Foxtrot is a trendy and bustling cafe on Wisconson Ave (one of Georgetown’s main thoroughfares) that is a great place for people-watching.
Here, they sell house-brewed locally-roasted Vigilante coffee, as well as wine, beer, spirits, and a seasonal menu of chef-inspired grab n’ go items and sundries.
For example, you can find Cypress Grove goat cheese, vegan/keto BTR Bars, and superfood-enhanced birthday cake cookie dough with added ashwagandha… plus all kinds of superfood-enhanced salads and wraps. The menu for on-site dining– which features items like Barbacoa Breakfast Tacos, Burrata Toast, and Harissa Short Rib Hummus– is surprisingly upscale for a coffee house, as well.
They even sell weird curiosity condiments like “Gin Mayo” (yes, that is a thing) as well as epicurean chips and crackers, plus pre-wrapped charcuterie plates that are great for picnicking on the waterfront or other nearby destinations like the garden behind Old Stone House or Tudor Place. (The chicken bacon cobb salad is great and very portable, for what it’s worth.)
Because they also sell beer and wine– in addition to coffee house drinks like gingerbread lattes and blackberry sencha, depending on the season– it’s a hoppin’ place to hang out.
Locals tend to gather here around happy hour or throughout the day with laptops. It helps that the cafe also sells power smoothies, juices, and elixirs like turmeric and chlorophyll shots, which really keep the party going well past the typical coffee shop hours and into the evening.
Basically, if you want a place to see and be seen, this is the Georgetown coffee shop for you.
Compass Coffee (For Hyper-Local Brews)
Veteran-owned Compass Coffee is “craft-blended and peak-roasted” to achieve their signature “real good coffee, made in DC”.
Ultimately, they are a quintessential DC-based brand with multiple locations throughout the city, and their minimalist Georgetown location is no exception.
Exposed brick walls, concrete floors, and plenty of seating make this a great community gathering spot for coffee shop stalwarts and purists.
Plus, their cherry blossom coffee and selected themed pink drinks, above shown, are particularly charming during DC’s iconic cherry blossom festival, a central part of DC’s annual cultural calendar.
Every year, Compass Coffee makes a unique cherry blossom blend to get people excited for the spring festivities, and it never disappoints. (Typically, you can expect cherry notes and milk chocolate undertones that are subtle and ethereal without being too abstract to taste.)
^ It’s a nice product to look for during the spring months, otherwise, you can’t go wrong with a classic cortado or seasonal pumpkin spice latte. (You have to get one at least once each season, right?)
Crumbs & Whiskers Cafe (Coffee with Cats!)
Crumbs & Whiskers is a kitten & cat cafe that is precisely what it sounds like. At this unique cafe in Georgetown, you can get coffee, tea, and nibbles while hanging out with adoptable kittens and cats from ages 6 months to 2 years (with a few older cats, as well, so there’s a personality to suit everyone).
However, you can’t just waltz in here. You have to make a timed reservation in advance. You can purchase a 30-minute or 70-minute ticket to the cat cafe here. Guests to the cafe must also be at least 7 years old (for the protection of the cats and toddlers, alike!).
^ This is done to protect the cats and the user experience, so that the place is never crowded.
Once inside, you can order from a standard coffee and drink menu (americano, latte, drip, matcha latte, etc) while enjoying nibbles like cinnamon buns and banana bread from their local partner, Dog Tag Bakery. (<–Another charitable Georgetown staple.)
The cats, however, are the real draw here. Animal lovers flocks to the cozy, furry couches where you can play, cuddle, nap, or do photoshoots with the animals. There are all kinds of props, scratching posts, and toys to support the fun.
Ultimately, if you fall in love, the cats are available to adopt! (The cafe partners with local rescues to house homeless cats until they find new families. Being in the cafe, meanwhile, helps socialize the animals and provides them with the unique opportunity to get the love and attention they need in the meantime.)
To date, the cafe has found homes for over 1,800 cats– to say nothing of the thousands that they have saved from euthanasia. If you love coffee and animals, it’s a win-win! Spending an afternoon here with a friend (furry or otherwise) might just melt your heart.
Saxby’s Coffee (Mission-Driven Cafe)
This relaxed, Georgetown University-favored coffee shop makes what are, low-key, the best matcha lattes around. They’re also super-photographable, featuring deep blue and pink ombre hues.
Entrepreneurs, diplomats, and even famous randos like Bradley Cooper (who went to Georgetown) flock to Saxby’s Coffee for hot cuppas and seasonal coffee drinks like dark chocolate peppermint mocha cold brew and white chocolate hazelnut lattes.
Those flavors are more traditional, of course, but the company also offers quirky caffeine stand-ins and snacks like Maté Spritz and mac n’ cheese grilled cheese.
Ultimately, Saxby’s is a regional chain that’s affiliated with college campuses, specifically. And that sense of place and purpose pervades through to the coffee and the mission.
All Saxby’s locations are designed for and run by students, giving students entrepreneurial experience and academic credit through their B Corp-certified Experiential Learning Platform. When you purchase a coffee here, you support that student experience. Cheers!
Janti Cafe (A Quiet, Low-Key Place to Gather)
Janti Cafe is a quaint, popular-among-those0-in-the-know Turkish coffee shop and market not too far from the Georgetown Public Library. We love the Turkish china that all hot coffee is served in, as well as the hole-in-the-wall vibe.
This place is small, further afield from Georgetown’s main bustling intersections, but charming nonetheless. They serve cult-adulated illy coffee and great Turkish simit (the circular, bagel-like bread encrusted with sesame seeds that is a traditional part of Turkish breakfast).
There are no gimmicks here, just delicious, strong, authentic Turkish coffee. It’s a great place for a quiet meeting or a quick coffee without the fanfare of crowds. Plus, when the weather is nice, there is select outdoor seating on the patio.
Other than that, this Turkish bakery and market sells an impressive collection of authentic Turkish baked goods like baklava and pogaca, a savory Turkish cheese bun. You can also shop here for grocery sundries, from yesil erik (green plums) to white cheese in salted brine (the Turkish equivalent of feta, which is another indispensable part of traditional Turkish breakfasts).
Oh, and foodies, don’t miss out: there are some great finds in the fridge!
~ Honorable Mention ~
Some other local gems worth checking out.
Ching Ching Cha Teahouse (For The Best Tea in Georgetown)
Ok, it’s not coffee, but this is a great tea cafe for those seeking an alternate kind of caffeine fix.
Ching Ching Cha Teahouse is so cute for a sit-down Chinese tea room experience in Georgetown! This serene cafe serves hundreds of varieties of herbal, green, white, black, oolong, and tisane-style teas sourced from all over the world.
The food menu includes items like dumplings and authentic Chinese desserts, which pair beautifully with the tea. Go here to sit cross-legged on the floor and enjoy a hot pot of tea with a friend. Or, get an iced tea blended with flowers or fruit (no sugar!) during the warmer months.
The emphasis, here, is on tranquility and simplicity. They also sell a wide variety of tea-adjacent products, from kettles and ceramics to steepers and tea sachets.
They do not do takeaway, however. Ching Ching Cha is all about ~the experience~.
Levain (For Coffee with a Cookie!)
NYC-import Levain Bakery is a reliable spot to grab a quality coffee and a cookie, if that’s the combo you seek. (Levain is a bakery that also serves coffee, not a coffee shop proper.)
We love the iconic chocolate chip cookies at this world-famous bakery, which also happens to serve great coffee. No fancy drinks here, but if you’re looking for a solid caffeine-and-baked-good pairing, this is a great spot for it.
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