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    Black Lion Cafe

    4.5 (385 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:30 pm

    Black Lion Cafe Photos

    BLACK LION CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Black Lion Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Frank R.

    Super cute and cozy coffee shop. Great place to read or get some work done. Coffee is delicious. Easy parking and good WiFi. Friendly service and many loyal regulars here. Will definitely return.

    Cool info chart
    Andrew P.

    I had some business in the area and it would've been way too much effort to go home and then come back. So I decided to stop in this cafe that I heard about, but never actually went into. It's an Ethiopian coffee shop... doesn't get much better than that! It was pretty early, and I saw some pastries... but they took up very little space in the big display area. Since I'm not really a coffee drinker, I opted for tea, and got the Hot Simba Tea. The wifi and password were also clearly visible on the register, so I connected on my phone as I paid and memorized the information. That's not a looooot of seating... maybe 20-25 max can be comfortably seated, and I found a little cozy nook next to an outlet in the corner. I got settled there, connected my laptop to the wifi, and got to work. The tea was good... I didn't add anything to it, just drank it straight. Despite the growing amount of people coming in, the wifi connection held strong and I was able to get quite a bit of work done. The bathroom is right near the entrance, so I had to walk a bit to get there, but it was clean -- but also cold haha. It was hot outside, but sheesh the AC was blasting in there haha. When in the area I would definitely come back to Black Lion to work. And how can I not try their pastries? I'll be back.

    Ann C.

    Was in the vicinity, which I typically am not and was very excited to try out a local coffee/tea establishment. Black Lion Cafe got such great reviews here on Yelp that it won the sample lottery! So why only three stars? That's probably partially my fault because I got a hot chai latte even though the reviews were all based on Black Lion Cafe's coffee. Unfortunately, the chai latte was *super* sweet and tasted like it was made from some kind of concentrate with artificial sugar versus fresh tea and spices. I ended up throwing most of it out when I got home. :( Another reason for the three stars is that when I walked in, it was not busy at all. There was a total of three people sitting in the shop, two engaged and quiet conversation, and the third in the back working on a computer. There were two people behind the counter who were engaged in a conversation. Despite seeing me walk in and stand in front of the register, they did not acknowledge me in any way, but continue their conversation for another four or five minutes. I wouldn't have expected them to drop their chat immediately, but would've thought a simple nod and "We'll be with you in a minute" would've gone a long way. Last, I had been hoping to to grab a small pastry to have with my tea. Alas, the case had a total of three sad croissants, and nothing else. Unexpected scarcity just a little after noon. All that aside, I'm just as much a chai latte snob as I am a coffee snob so the three stars is primarily based on the chai latte. If it had been good, the rest of it would have been a blip that quickly receded in my memory. I should've tried the coffee, which the majority of reviews seem to be based upon. So, in short, I have no qualms about returning, but next time it will be to try the coffee. Stay away from the chai latte!

    Coffee
    Jamie P.

    Great Ethiopian coffee that is tucked away and cozy. This is a great place to meet or study with lots of seating options inside and parking close by. Beans are roasted on-site. Always a strong cup, but not ever burnt or bitter. Not a lot of food options, so just plan on sticking to the coffee.

    Coffee at Black Lion Cafe, Rockville, MD
    Jeanine L.

    Always consistently good coffee, and excellent service. The regulars at this place keep the mood open, familiar, friendly and more open than other places in this County!

    Amy B.

    This is a fabulous little Ethiopian coffee shop. The coffee is delicious, and the baked goods are tasty too. Service is friendly and knowledgeable. Support your local coffee shops!!

    Ramone S.

    Spent exactly what you would expect on coffee and they wouldn't let me use the bathroom because it had just been cleaned. Lazy Business practices. By law any place that serves food has to provide a bathroom and this place is so lazy that they refused. I will never support this business ever again. One star because no stars isn't an option.

    View from the back table.
    Nikki G.

    This is a cute little coffee shop in Rockville...very clean with nice decor. The coffee is delicious and very authentic. I love Ethiopian coffee and the caramel macchiato tastes absolutely yummy, just like the one at the Silver Spring location. Service is fine. Parking is decent as well.

    Drip coffee w/ almond milk
    Paris G.

    Black Lion Café has a warm, inviting vibe that makes it a great place to relax over a meal or coffee. The food was flavorful and nicely presented, and everything tasted fresh. Our waiter was very friendly and full of energy--definitely on the talkative side, which added a personal touch and kept the atmosphere lively. At moments, the conversation ran a bit long when we were trying to eat, but it came from a place of genuine hospitality, and we appreciated the attentiveness. Overall, the combination of tasty food, cozy atmosphere, and personable service makes this café worth visiting, and I'd be happy to return.

    Katie W.

    Charming coffee shop with delicious drinks! It wasn't too busy when we went but there seemed to be a good amount of seating even if it got busier. I ordered a chai latte which was fantastic! One of the best chai lattes I've had! They focus on coffee and drinks so the food selection is minimal, just a few croissants and donut holes. My partner and I both ordered an almond croissant since we were a little hungry and it wasn't great--not a ton of almond flavor and not particularly flaky. I would very happily go back again and just do coffee/drinks next time!

    Menu
    Hayward L.

    Relaxing and spacious cafe with pretty good coffee. Decent spot to get some work done. They didn't have much in the way of food at all, almost all the baked goods were out when I came in around 11am. Prices are pretty steep, it was almost $6 for a cappuccino.

    Iced Vanilla Latte w Oat
    LoiLoi F.

    First time having coffee from MD and wow, this coffee was so defiant! The place felt a bit squished even with barely any ppl inside (idk why) with low lighting and tables to sit down. The barista was super nice and after trying my coffee (iced vanilla latte) I knew it lacked some vanilla. After adding some vanilla, the coffee was amazing! It was strong in coffee yet the added sweetness made both flavors meet in such an even level! I will say the price and quantity was a major shock but overall worth for a first-time thing! A solid 4/5!

    Stephanie G.

    Stopped in for hot drink on a cold day. It's cute on the inside, but not super comfy coffee shop seating. The music is a little too loud for my taste, too. I ordered a chai with oat milk, but as they were preparing the drinks, I noticed only dairy milk on the counter. When the drink was handed to me, I confirmed that it was made with oat milk, but it wasn't. They made a new drink, no problem, but service was not with a smile. It was with an eyeroll and a grunt. It's a .90 upcharge for nondairy, by the way. Will I be back? Probably not, but we tried.

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    Business owner information

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    Black Lion C.

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    1 year ago

    Perfect space to get some grad work done. The majority of patrons were also quietly working on something. Seems like a good study spot.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Found this little gem while middle of driving. Three of us loved their chai. Very good! Friendly worker as well!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Garbage coffee. Ordered a cappuccino and it's burnt beans and burnt milk- a boiling mess in a thin paper cup. Starbucks is better

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Black Lion Cafe

    Do they brew any specialty drinks in a decaf version?

    Yes. Immanuel, the owner, just got the decaf beans from Ethiopia.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Tous Les Jours

    Tous Les Jours

    4.3
    (91 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I love this place. I've come here serval times especially for their tiramisu matcha latte…read more Unfortunately, every staff member makes its differently. Out of all the times I had it, I can say 2 times it was made the best. The best ratio of cream, matcha, sweetness, etc. They always have a variety of pastries to pick from. & though the line can be a little long sometimes, they move fast. I've sat in the restaurant a couple times, usually there is a lot of people, but it a really nice establishment.

    We got the pinkfong cake for my daughter's birthday since it looked so cute. However the taste was…read morethe issue as it did not taste good at all. The frosting used on the outside and the cream used on the inside was not the fluffy and soft kind we liked and was not similar to the other cakes from this bakery that we liked. It tasted like hard butter and unfortunately we had to throw out the entire cake since everyone refused to eat more than the first bite. My husband asked the employee if this was a vanilla sponge cake and they said yes since he cannot eat chocolate cake. Unfortunately once we cut it, it was chocolate. It was a waste of $50+ and would not recommend unless you're just purchasing for pictures and not to eat. The mango and strawberry croissants were good with sweet whipped cream. I liked how the cream also tasted like mango in the mango croissant. The sweet pretzel was also good and crunchy. The inside of the store is nice with plenty of tables. I also liked how there were a lot of outlet spaces.

    Photos
    Tous Les Jours
    Tous Les Jours
    Tous Les Jours

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    Paris Baguette

    Paris Baguette

    4.5
    (186 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Bonjour, Mon Ami! ( Hello, my friend...) It is good to visit and enjoy your delicious pastries!…read moreEven though I arrived late in the day, the pastry cases were full of enticing baked goods. There was every kind of croissant you can imagine. I bought my favorite almond croissant. There were fruit and cream filled pastries. I bought a fruit and cream filled pastry too. There were a lot of chocolate delicacies. I am going to buy some on my next trip. The ambiance is lovely. There are tables and chairs to sit and enjoy your sweets. There are cases filled with pastries. Service was great. I was waited on right away and they packed my box in a bag with a handle, to make it easier to carry. Au revoir, for now! But, I will be back for more delicious sweets.

    When you walk in, the counters are filled with pastries and breads that look fresh and delicious…read more I had one and it was very fresh, buttery and very good. There's seating inside, but the seating area is pretty small and some people were at tables looking like they weren't going anywhere anytime soon. It was a nice morning, so we were able to grab an outside picnic table. The service was decent. One disappointment was when the counter person asked me if I wanted room for cream in my coffee, I said yes and asked if they had nondairy products. She said they had almond and soy. I asked for soy and she returned with my drink. When I went to pay, I saw they charged 79 cents for almond, soy and oatmilk. Ok. Here's the thing. I assume it's on the board and I should have looked, but she also could have mentioned it. Also, charging for these items when they put a little in your coffee leaves me feeling like I'm being abused for not being a dairy person. I get it - it's a pastry shop and the items are buttery and rich from cream. But please - 79 cents for a little soy milk? (I know this isn't uncommon for coffee shops, but it doesn't make it right.). And the coffee ($4.25) was decent - not great. I expected better (richer, more flavorful) coffee from a nice pastry shop like this. Anyway, it's a nice neighborhood place and there's a lot of treats there.

    Photos
    Cream Supreme Croissant filled with fruit.
    Cream Supreme Croissant filled with fruit.
    Chocolate Croissant and chocolate decadent pastry.
    Chocolate Croissant and chocolate decadent pastry.
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    Black Lion Cafe - coffee - Updated June 2026

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