This place carried me through my college years, so I'll always have a soft spot for it. But here is my non-bias review - Their double espresso is genuinely the best I've had in the DMV. The atmosphere is just as good -- whoever designed the interior knew exactly what they were doing. It's warm, cozy, and a great place to sit down with a coffee and get some work done. The staff have always been incredibly friendly too, which just adds to the vibe. I love this place. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Great little coffee shop in Traville shopping strip. When I went around lunchtime (12-1) during the week the people inside were doing office work (like me) so I liked that it was not too loud inside and there is definitely enough space between everybody. The shop is very cute and it has a lot of stuff on the walls to look at, it even has a vintage coffee grinder in the back near the back entrance. Definitely a nice coffee shop to go to if you're looking for a place to work that isn't busy like Starbucks. read more

Such a cozy and cute coffee shop. You walk in and you feel like you're a home. The deco is so warm and inviting. Perfect to spend the afternoon on a cold Saturday. My former supervisor wouid spoil her staff with delicious Ethiopian coffee. Its just about the only type of coffee I can drink straight up plain! The roast beef panini is my favorite. Very crispy and delicious. The service is impeccable. Love the staff. Ill definitely bring my friends and family. read more

A go-to coffee shop! Always kind, good pastries and coffee, and quick service. Nice inside too. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Pistachio chocolate croissant and iced mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Thank you for the consistently phenomenal and best drip coffee in the DMV! I sometimes get a dirty chai latte with you, sometimes a regular latte, and most often just the drip coffee, which I recommend to anyone who values a truly good cup of coffee. No creamer or sugar needed with this much flavor. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee at Black Lion Cafe, Rockville, MD - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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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. read more

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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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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! read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Black Lion became one of my favorite little coffee shops when it first opened. Unfortunately, I had not visited in quite a while, especially after moving to the other side of I-270. Recently, I was visiting a friend who lives near Black Lion, and I suggested that we stop by. In hindsight, that turned out to be a mistake, as my opinion of the place changed completely. When we arrived, I ordered a café latte, but I was told that because the shop was closing in an hour, my order could not be accommodated. They offered me an Americano instead, which was fine for my friend, who usually orders that drink. I am not a fan of Americanos, so I settled for an espresso. My friend commented that it was the worst Americano he had ever had. My espresso was acceptable, but for the first time in my life I was served an espresso in a paper cup. After sitting outside for about twenty minutes, my friend wanted to use the restroom. Although the shop had not yet closed, the exterior door on our side of the building was already locked. We had to wait for a staff member to let us in, only to discover that the restroom had already been closed because the shop was preparing to shut down. I was very disappointed by the experience, especially given the fond memories I had of this place. Perhaps things would have been different if we had arrived earlier in the day. Still, being close to closing time is not an excuse for substandard service from a business that wants to retain its customers. The fond memories and the additional outdoor seating earn it one extra star. read more

As a maniac with espresso quality and taste, I'm telling you that there is no other place around that has even close the quality and taste of coffee that this place has! If you are a coffee enthusiast go try it out and enjoy read more

Friendly service. The frappe was excellent and the apple turnover was tasty. There were seats with plenty of outlets to allow my colleague and I to work. I just wish they had more food options than pastries. We would have stayed longer and spent more. We were to another restaurant in the area for lunch. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Small but cozy coffee shop with a small selection of both coffee & food I came here with my GF and some friends on a Saturday morning and the place was pretty busy! We were able to find some seats for all of us, but there weren't a ton available. Only have a few pastries for food I got an iced vanilla latte and a "pistachio-raspberry croissant" and they were both very tasty. The coffee was prepared very quickly, but they did forget our friend's pastries until our friends had to ask them for it read more

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!! read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

This is one of my favorite places to work and write. It has super cozy vibes, great service, and really nice people. I haven't had a chance to explore the menu much, but their chai latte is SO good, and the prices are super reasonable. Other cafes would charged $7-8 for a mediocre drink I could make at home. This place gets super loud and busy during the weekend, so if you need to focus, I recommend coming early or investing in noise-canceling headphones. read more

My friend recently moved to the area so we met up here for coffee. I had a difficult time ordering, it felt as if the barista couldn't understand me. I was given iced coffee with no milk but then I asked for some on the side and she gave it to me. I think the most disappointing part of the cafe is the lack of food options. They only had beignets and croissants. I had asked for a plain beignet just to try it and I received a raspberry filled one. It was a small cafe with not too many options for seating but my friend and I were able to find a table. Overall I'd say it was a pretty mediocre experience but I don't think I'd go back. read more

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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Cute little spot. Service was a bit slow with one person taking orders and preparing coffee on a quiet Friday afternoon, but it was fine. My hot pistachio latte was great! And the ambience was peaceful, quiet, did some work for a few hours while waiting on a friend to get home. I also had the beignet-like pastries which were good, but would recommend them earlier in the morning when more fresh. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Drip coffee w/ almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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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! read more

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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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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! read more

Black Lion Cafe - Iced Vanilla Latte w Oat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

The coffee here is STRONG and delicious. I have had a variety of drinks and they have all been solid. They also play some great music. The staff is indifferent. Not rude or anything like that but not conversational either. The price is fair for what you get. Recommended for sure. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

It was my first time there and I even mentioned it to the staff. She was cold and unfriendly. We wanted to sit outside since the weather was nice. The couple of table and chair they had outside were VERY dirty, so we had to sit at the seating area next door who had their tables and chairs cleaned. Drinks were ok. Took my clients there and I was very disappointed. read more

Black Lion Cafe has the best coffee. Their bean comes from Ethiopia and are roasted right there in the café. They're ample seating to relax and enjoy your coffee, lattes with your choice of sandwiches. The staff is very friendly and the service is quick and good. I recommend this place and their coffee. It's worth the price. read more

Black Lion Cafe - This is the front section of the larger seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Wonderful coffee, they roast their own coffee beans on site. Parking is available but gets busy VERY friendly service and good baked goods, also! read more

Poor service. The employees don't greet customers, even when making eye contact. You can stand at the register without being acknowledged. The coffee is decent, but not amazing. The other day, I asked for 2% milk and was told they only had whole. Instead of offering a refund, they told me to come back another day. I also ordered an iced drink but was given a hot one--and instead of admitting the mistake, the staff tried to deflect blame. On top of that, all the pastries and bars they offer are Kirkland branded, yet you're paying premium prices for them. Unfortunately, every employee I've encountered has been equally rude and unprofessional. read more

I wish there was a zero-star option. This was the worst experience we've had so far. I can't believe how rude the manager was. My gym is very close to this location, and I usually go with my friend to grab a coffee or pastry. The café does not provide any paper plates, so you must take your pastry in a paper bag. The coffee was decent, but the service was appalling. The other day, I went with my daughter. She grabbed an iced coffee, and I was sitting with her. I walked out and then back in. The lady started yelling at me. You have to buy something!! I was explaining to her, My daughter already bought something, and we were sitting together. She kept yelling at me in the middle of the store, "What do you get? I showed her the item, but she insisted that I needed to buy something as well. I went back to grab my stuff and then left. I told the lady this was unprofessional and not how you should deal with customers. She started clapping her hands for me. I will never going back there , and make sure to tell all my gym frind don't go there!!!! read more

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

The coffee here is good. Pretty decent flavor. No complaints when it comes to the drinks. Unfortunately, the customer service completely ruins the experience. The baristas and cashiers were shockingly rude and unprofessional. When I tried to ask a question, they just stared at me with blank expressions, like I was bothering them. Later, I was waiting to check out, and no one was at the counter,they were all in the back laughing and ignoring customers. I had to call out "hello" several times before finally raising my voice, and when someone came out, they responded with a nasty attitude, as if I was the problem. It's really disappointing because the coffee deserves five stars, but the service drags it down to two. This place could be amazing if they trained their staff to actually care about customers and treat people with basic respect. read more

I really loved coming here! I came here after a short work day and wanted to be inspired. And I just love how low key but amazing this place is. It's not flashy but it's beautifully decorated inside. They don't have a plethora or fancy coffee flavors but what they do have is really good coffee! I just got a simple caramel latte and it was delicious! I also purchased a pistachio raspberry croissant and it was yummm! The baristas are nice and cordial and I appreciate that. Definitely will be frequenting this place a lot! read more

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This coffee place is absolutely awesome ! I got an ice coffee and it was so delicious you can tell it's quality. Can't wait to be back ! The ladies working there were also very nice. read more

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Delicious coffee in a beautiful relaxing space. Black Lion is filled with warm decor and posters showing their coffee and roast process. In fact, their roasting machine is in the back of the store. The baristas were friendly, knowledgeable and quick. The iced coffee was flavorful and complex. My dad's cappuccino was creamy with a strong espresso. Other patrons told us about how nice the pastries are and we look forward to trying them soon. read more

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The BEST coffee in the area period. They import the best coffee from Ethiopia and roast it in house. Coffee is excellent. My wife loves the lattes and they make a great Cortado. read more

Coffee was good and the music was very vibey! I didn't have problem finding seating and parking was easy as well. The store has nice deco! (3/28/25) read more

I was in town for a few days and searched for a nearby place to get my coffee fix. After surveying around and trying different coffees from several shops, I couldn't get Black Lion out of my mind. This place hits all the marks. Wonderfully cozy atmosphere, amicable service, and top-notch coffee. Yes, prices may seem higher than what you'd expect, but in my opinion it's worth it. read more

Black Lion Cafe - Interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Ordered a regular drip coffee. They service was fast but the coffee is roasted to ashes. It's so dark you might as well just drink Folgers and you be better off without paying the premium price for garbage coffee. Avoid this place if you like specialty coffee. If you will drink the liquid out of the bottom of a garbage can, this is the place for you. read more

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