Stopped by for some coffee. They have a nice variety of flavoured lattes. I ordered the Mocha Mexicana (with Chocolate & Cinnamon). It was a little too sweet for my taste and the cinnamon flavour was barely discernible. Rather go to Cafein for a caffeine fix. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Gathering Grounds is a great place to study and catch up with friends. The front section of the store where the registers are is very homey with soft, squishy seating and a cozy vibe. There is more seating in the back, but no soft chairs for reading :/ I had the iced peach tea which was great. I will say it was pricey for tea, but I figure that the extra cost is going towards keeping little non-Starbucks coffee chains like this alive. The guy who took my order was incredibly gregarious and friendly. I never got his name, but he was skinny and tall with an interesting looking hat. Hope he sticks around, because he's great! I personally found that parking was annoying, but was able to park on the other side of the complex and walk. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Peach ice tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I've been a frequent visitor for the last 18 months. The drinks are delicious and it's a great local coffee shop. We also like buying bags of the beans that are fair trade. It's worth the drive and a great spot for happy hour (which I've also enjoyed) easy parking lot. Why go anywhere else? read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Frozen Blended drinks are the BEST! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I came back on 4/26 and ordered the exact same thing. Drinks were much better this time. Staff was pleasant and helpful.

Good selection of tea and coffee in a cozy environment. Fast service. The breakfast options and desserts are delicious as well, better than running to Starbucks next door. read more

3.5 stars I really liked the variety in their smoothies and latte selections-- I had the milky way latte which tasted straight up sugar and caramel (but isn't that what a milky way tastes like?). The service was good-- nothing to complain about but nothing to rave about either. The place is kept pretty clean since I saw the worker clean like 3 times while I was there with my friend chatting away for 2 hours. The place is in the middle of the university plaza and easily found. I find it ironic how close it is to Dunkin' Donuts but this place is more of a "get your coffee/tea, stay here for a while to do homework" type of place. But it definitely doesn't have the "quiet" vibe since it's open and very well-lit. There's a lot of open seating outside. There are only three comfy chairs/loveseat looking things in the way back behind the bathrooms that look like they've been used and beat up quite a bit. This place doesn't have the homey-cafe vibe but it's still a great place to hang out. There's free wi-fi so, hey at least you can get that too! read more

It's still coming together but the atmosphere is warm, modern, and comfy! Drinks are good, especially their flavored iced teas! Peach tea is a must :) Got to meet the owners and they are incredibly sweet and cool. Definitely coming back here read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Awesome iced americano and peach tea! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

"Slytherin Latte" is part of a seasonal Harry Potter thing from what I understand. It's an Irish Coffee with with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. It's awesome! The macha latte leaves something to be desired, but that's the only thing I've had that wasn't awesome there. I like the people that work there, too. They're polite and efficient. I'd definitely rather be here than Dunkin right next door. read more

Stopped by while waiting for my son at nearby Robinson Secondary school. This is a nice local coffee shop with great coffee! The atmosphere is what you'd expect near a university and quite comfortable; my only remark is that it would be even more comfortable with several tables removed (they are close together). I like good ole' black coffee, and my "bold" roast is excellent. They also have a great variety of all day breakfast options that are well priced. The staff, at least this morning, are pleasant and efficient. I'm not in the area often, but I'd definitely come back for a coffee and bite to eat the next time I'm nearby. read more

I really liked this place. Very cute interior with enough seating for students from the nearby George Mason University. Wish they had this cafe when I was attending Mason, it would've saved me a lot of time walking around JC in search of a table hahaha It's clean, well lit and has a great variety of coffee drinks. I had Jolly Almond and it was yum, I could really taste the almond :) the girls working there were very friendly. I read on here that their Apple Buzz (apple cider with a shot of espresso) is a must - that is on my list for my next visit :) read more

Went there one day as soon as it opened. Got coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The coffee was OK. The sandwich was just microwaved. It was only a small step up from a fast food restaurant and cost more. I did not think it was worth the money. read more

If you love red eyes like me, then this is the best place to get it. Starbucks is so watery but this place is so perfect.

Gathering Grounds have a lot of unique and interesting lattes, like White Rabbit (white chcolate and hazlenut) and Jolly Almond (almond/coconut and chocolate). They also have their own Seasonal Offerings, this time they have The Leprechaun (peppermint and white chocolate) and the Iris(Irish cream and chocolate). I got the Leprechaun and it tastes amazing! The peppermint wasn't too overpowering, so I could definitely taste the white chocolate with hint of espresso. I would have come here a lot sooner if I knew! Their small is $4 each which is normal for a latte. I didn't get a chance to go into the store deeper, but they seem to have more room in the back and there is enough seating in the front. Good customer service. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - The Leprechaun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Amazing atmosphere with friendly service! They had quick service on a relatively lively Sunday morning and the breakfast sandwiches hit the spot! We got the Winter Specials, Firelight and Into the Woods. The Firelight was delicious but the Into the Woods I got was not my personal favorite. Will be going again! read more

This is a local coffee spot, especially for Mason students since it's very convenient to get to. I got the white rabbit latte and it's not overly sweet, which is perfect. The coffee is still prevalent and tastes pretty good. The service is impeccable. The girl that took my order today was very nice and had a great attitude. I would recommend if you were looking for a local coffee shop. read more

Good coffee and a really nice relaxing atmosphere. Even though there were quite a few people there, it still felt very quiet and private.

Staff is polite and knowledgeable, food is great, drinks are perfect. Better than any Starbucks or dunkin you could step foot in. Lots of GMU students but this shop is very quiet and productive. Very comfortable. Great list of specialty lattes, large selection of tea, they do both French press and pour overs. Good selection of beans. Very pleased with every drink I have had from this shop. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the beverage. Not sure who the owner is but they're doing a great job. read more

So so cute! The perfect image for that quaint local coffee spot! The iced coffee was delicious and affordable, and I will definitely be coming back! So excited to have found something new! read more

Perfect spot for a coffee date. Expansive menu, nice outdoor seating for a strip mall and gives you a more local feel rather than a chain. Great breakfast sandwiches! read more

Breakfast burrito was uneventful. Yes, I expect my burrito to be an event: maybe some hot action via jalapeños or tanginess thru tomatos. This was as bland as Panera. I expect more from a coffee shop. Now, the coffee was very good but they need a new cook. read more

I wanted something healthy and without "unhappy" animal meat for my breakfast, I thus ordered a smoothie! I now have a milkshake made with, from what I have seen, non organic milk. It was 4.5 $ for a medium. And it is super sweet. Not at all what I wanted. Frustrated in the morning... Employees are nice but the menu was made by someone who does not really know how to dissociate a milk shake from a smoothie. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Super milky "Smoothie" - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Thought I walked in to a Starbuck at first. Their breakfast menu claims that all items are made with two fresh scrambled eggs; but I watched the server pull the breakfast sandwich from a mini fridge and toss it in a convection microwave. The portion was large and so was the total price. Average atmosphere, expensive price, good service, decent coffee. read more

Great coffee. Simple as that. Would highly suggest trying some of their specialty lattes- I had the creamy caramel iced and it was delicious. Service can be a little iffy with wait times but I would rather wait a little longer for a great coffee than have no wait for a subpar one. read more

My sister and I stopped at Luray Caverns on our road trip from NJ to FL. We each have different dietary needs and we researched places to eat for lunch. She is paleo and I'm vegetarian. We decided on Gathering Grounds Café and boy we couldn't have picked a better place! Between the atmosphere, the outstanding customer service from our waitress Natane and the delicious menu, our trip to Virginia was complete. If I lived in Virginia I would stop by Gathering Grounds weekly. Can't say enough about this place! read more

Yes! Love! The cute young ladies who work here most weekday mornings are so kind and always remember my order. I come here to write or to chat with my friends. I'll often stay for several hours, which doesn't seem to bother anyone a bit. A lot of younger college kids come here and study because of the outlets, but on the other end there are really comfy chairs. read more

Gathering Grounds has gotten me all appppple buzzzzzz'ed! Never in a million years would I have thought to mix apple cider and espresso together but my gooooooodness it's ..... geniuuuuus!!! As long as this drink is in my life (please don't let it be seasonal), I feel confident enough to bid farewell to my good ole binge-drinking-redbulls-and-feeling-like-I-might-have-self-induced-a-heart-attack days. For now, at least. Gathering Grounds is conveniently located right across from GMU, and smack dead center on the newly renovated University Mall complex. I'd recommend skipping the long hike to campus & fighting for a study area in the overcrowded JC because this place makes for a great study spot! + high ceiling--- makes you feel less claustrophobic & adds to the open space! + ample lighting---- just look up, there's probably 6-7 light fixtures on top of your table! + tons of tables & seating options--- perfect table height to accommodate my asian short genes! + realllllllly good eclectic music playlist--- i must have had 3-4 ear orgasms while studying & listening to their psychedelic pop/ indie folk/ acid jazz music selections + music is played at the perfect volume--- not too loud that distracts you from studying & not too soft where you can't hear the words! + a wide array of unique drink options for your daily caffeine fix! + free chocolate chip cookies (don't have to tell me twice!) + some other great study snacks/foods--- i enjoyed their chicken salad w/ cranberry on toasted wheat croissant! + clean bathroom--- absolute necessary as caffeine is a diuretic and you will be frequenting here often if you're doing a study marathon! The not so great aspects: - they close early (and yes, 10pm/8pm/7pm are very early closing hours especially since 99% of the GMU populations are night walkers ... even extending the hours during midterms and finals week would be extremely helpful) - slow service when there's not many people in line - the baristas here don't label coffee cups. things get confusing when multiple people are waiting for their drinks. - food selections are healthy but limited. i also noticed an egg theme in all their food choices--- egg white burrito, egg & cheese muffin, quiche with egg, egg combo, etc. (the owners must really like eggs!) - their spinach & tomato quiche is very plain! i recommend skipping over this item! Overall, I believe this place is promising and a much better option than Starbucks!I P.S.--- I heard through the grapevines that they're planning on adding juicing options! I hope that's true! Yessssssss pleeeeeeeeeease. Nothing like a caffeine high follow by a sugar high ;) read more

I've only been here once, but my iced caramel latte was well made and not too sweet. The quiche I got for lunch was perfectly adequate. Not a huge amount of flavor, but equal to anything you might find at Starbucks. The staff was extra friendly and it wasn't too busy on a Sunday day afternoon. Probably when GMU is in session it gets a little busier. I was pleasantly surprised to find a competent local coffee shop practically in my neighborhood. I love that they have a huge patio too. I will probably still drive to Vienna to hit Caffe Amouri when I want a serious hit of serious coffee, (plus my barre & cycle studios are there so it's convenient) but this is a very nice place. A definite improvement over the Saxby's that used to be in this space, which I went to once and never went to again. By the way, I'm not a student. If you're worried that it will be too student-y, it isn't. read more

Never leaving. Definitely coming back. It's your normal coffee shop, resembling those that have espresso drinks. But the inside is so cute, and the employee today was on point. The muffins look amazing and there are breakfast sandwiches available as well. I came here to study and I don't regret it. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Best latte I've had, great service, and inventive drinks! Would definitely come again

The hot drinks Delish but the breakfast food is totally mediocre. It's prices are a bit high too. Must say, it is a good place to study or catch up w friends. read more

Great local coffee shop with very tasty specialty drinks and freshly baked pastries. Get the chocolate croissant! Lots of seating and good place to hang out. Parking lot in front is always crowded so suggest parking in the larger lot in the back. read more

The nicest thing just happened: In a terrible mood (hangry), I wanted some coffee, carbs, and protein, so I tried ordering a fried egg to be dipped into by one of the delicious and fresh croissants in the window. But they don't do eggs like that normally, so I stayed pissed. But after a few minutes, the owner (I think?) walked out and gave me an egg. The coffee is exactly what you want, you'll get barista coffee and a place to sit and relax and enjoy, chill, or do your work, but the random act of kindness compelled me to write. 10/10 will be back, even without a free egg read more

We were leaving a swim meet at George Mason and stopped in for a pastry and hot chocolate for one of my girls. We decided to order a slice of Lemon Loaf cake and a blondie brownie. We ate inside and it was cute and cozy. The barista was very sweet and patient. No complaints there. But man, their pastries were awful. The cake was hard and had a very strong taste. Just not good. And the brownie crumpled into a million pieces when you touched it. I don't know if they were super old, because it was a Sunday afternoon, but what a waste of a snack. The hot chocolate, according to my daughter was great, so that's good. read more

Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissant was inedible. Croissant was heated with the egg, cheese, and meat, making it inedible due to the bread double-cooking and hardening. Bacon was like rubber. Tried for a quick stop, should've gone to Dunkin' next door. read more

I absolutely love this coffee shop! It's my new favorite! So many delicious and fun flavors to try! My personal favorites are the Campfire Latte and the Blended Nutty Irishmen! read more

Came here for the first time last night to meet a friend for a short visit. When you walk into the store, it has nice comfortable seating. The coffee car they have is nice, its a little cluttered but that not necessarily a bad thing. They have a lot to offer. Being 9:30 at night, I did not want to drink anything with too much caffeine, I was mainly there to visit my friend, so I ordered a large green jasmine iced tea. My friend got a Machatta. We ordered our drinks and standing there talking. I noticed the person working on my tea comes out with a coffee mug with hot water and places a teabag in it and lets it sit and steep and then start working on my friends drink. My friends drink since it was a hot coffee drink, hers was done before mine. I was at first a little nervous that I was misunderstood and they were making me hot tea instead of iced tea but I saw them put a large plastic cup next to my tea. After a few minutes they put ice in the cup and poured my tea into the cup with ice. The tea was good. It had a good strength to it. was not weak and not overpowering either. It was a perfectly nice cup of tea. I am giving this place 3.5 stars since what I got was just iced tea instead of a coffee or specialty drink. It would be 4 stars but, the two people working there, they were nice enough but didn't go out of their way to be helpful and did not seem to be enthusiastic about being there. Sure it was close to closing time and I know they wanted to leave, but still, they could have smiled and been more outgoing. Would I come back here again, sure would love to, next time I will try a specialty drink and see how they are. But its a nice small coffee shop next to GMU. The one real odd/interesting thing is. This is a coffee shop and they serve alcohol. Which is not the normal for coffee shops but being next to a college campus, its another revenue stream for them. With saying this, At least when I was there last night, we did not see anyone drinking alcohol which was nice. Because a coffee shop should be calm, relaxing, a place to do some work, talk to friends or just relax, not to have someone sitting next to you possibly being loud and obnoxious because they are drinking beer. read more

The coffee is really good, atmosphere is relaxed and the music selection is great. But the wifi is awful!

There are many reasons I like this coffee shop. Location, ambience, abundant seating and I really like their coffee. I've had their drip and speciality lattes and I've really enjoyed each one of them. I love supporting local and would much rather go local than a large chain. It would be a solid five stars except for one consistent issue. The problem? Service. I find the employees I have had experience with to be quite unwelcoming and unfriendly. It might not be all of them, I'm not sure, but it is true for one or two I've dealt with consistently. Service is seriously lacking in the smile and courtesy department, which significantly decreases the quality of the experience. I've observed the same lackluster interactions with other customers too. I find the cost of the coffees confusing and my total varies depending on the person that takes my order. Employees spend too much time playing on their phones. They don't always make sure the customers know their coffee is up. They can get quite impatient when asked questions. Does service matter that much? When you are spending that much for something you can make for a fraction of the price at home, it does to me. If this problem is fixed I will happily revise my review to five stars. This place is so well put together and it's obvious that the owners put a lot of time, money and thought into it. I want to love everything about this place. read more

I'm always on the lookout for a good go to coffee spot within reasonable driving distance, and was hoping to find it in Gathering Grounds. Coffee wasn't bad, but the food left a lot to be desired. I'll give it another try and update if my experience changes read more

Cute place, friendly service. Prices are pretty reasonable over all. I just had a small cup of regular coffee, but the menu of specialty drinks looked intriguing. When it got busy at one point the noise level was pretty high, but this is to be expected anywhere really. read more