Coffee here is so good and it's a cozy place to hang out.

Coffee drinks are good. Food mediocre. Got some quiche and a butter croissant both kind of dry. Love the atmosphere though. Friendly staff as well. read more

Gathering Grounds is a cute coffee shop with fantastic quality coffee and great service. The baristas are attentive and friendly and provide a relaxed atmosphere - the perfect place to get work done or meet up with a friend. The coffee they serve, Cafe Kreyol, is a direct trade company that helps create sustainable jobs in Haiti and other countries....in addition to being delicious :) I'll definitely come back! read more

I promised the guys this morning a YELP review because they perfect the PERFECT amount of ice in an iced coffee. Seriously who wants their cup to be 90% ice when ordering a coffee? These guys know how to make an iced coffee that is both cold AND still coffee flavored and not iced down. read more

Very cute spot, love their outside area. They keep the place clean, no table tops are sticky. Friendly cashiers, extremely accommodating. Lots of fun latte flavors, I had the Mocha Mexicana, and a delicious and burrito, exceeded expectations for sure. Overall great experience! Thanks guys. read more

I was very disappointed this evening while sitting in your coffee shop. I saw (who I guess was the manager) treating a customer very poorly. I normally like going to this coffee shop as it's nice and relaxed, however tonight was a different story. According to the manager it was offensive that this customer was not purchasing food...however it's a coffee shop! I don't buy food here, I normally get my Large Iced Latte and do work. I was surprised by her tone and how rude she was to this customer! (Fyi--I also noticed there were other customers that had no food/drink at their tables but they weren't be spoken to in the same tone) read more

I found this place a few weeks ago and was hesitant to go because I assumed it would be over crowded with college students-- but I was wrong and I love it here! The coffee is amazing, the baristas are always friendly and fast, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want for a coffee shop. There is plenty of space if you need to get work done and comfy chairs if you are there to relax. AND they serve wine and beer as well! read more

Great little cafe tucked into a shopping mall next to GMU. Stopped in for a quick breakfast and tea. Egg and bacon croissant was delicious and quite large. Tea was perfect. Great start to the day! read more

Very relaxing atmosphere, in a strip mall close to George Mason (walking distance from my dorm which is awesome cuz I have no car). A tiny bit overpriced with the food but the coffee is delicious and it was worth the $. read more

If you're in the Fairfax area and are looking for something besides the light of the sun to wake you up in the morning, Gathering Grounds Cafe has a seat for you. For me, it's a place to study in the area that isn't a library or GMU. On the weekdays, they close at 10PM giving plenty of time to get work done (sorry night owls). The music they play is great to jam to if you're about that Top 40 life, but if you're like me you'd rather bring your own headphones to get in the zone. The staff is friendly, there's plenty of seats with outlet availability, and they have a wide range of quick pick-me-up drinks to choose from. In the end, the best way to know is to give it a shot...of double espresso. read more

Coffee tends to be a little too sweet and weak for me and the pastries are mediocre, but they have good service and its a pretty decent place to grab coffee overall. Good prices. They have a really varied, interesting coffee selection too. I really like the Milky Way coffee. read more

Stopped in for a cup of coffee the afternoon of 3/31/16. Ordered our drinks and waited for her to make them for 20 minutes. There was no one ahead of us, she just couldn't be persuaded to move with a sense of purpose. If you want a place that is trying for the apathetic hipster vibe where you can spend most of your afternoon and drink sub-par coffee this is where you want to be. If you just want a an espresso and to move on with your life, go somewhere else. The coffee isn't great either, it has an acidic/floral quality that is not enjoyable at all. They will be serving beer soon, so you have that to look forward to if you ever make the mistake of walking through the door. read more

Cool coffee shop--has a lot of potential. It reminds me of the bar from HIMYM!

I've found this cafe a fun place to meet friends and visit. I'm not an avid coffee drinker, so I can't really rate that. But I go here for the atmosphere. I've found Starbucks very noisy to talk in, but the Gathering Grounds Cafe tends to be quieter, lending itself more to conversations. There are also a variety of seating arrangements, from tables to stools to soft chairs. And if the weather's nice, there is outdoor seating. read more

The coffee was fine but the indian lady was not really friendly. she did not serve coffee with hospitality. If I do not come here again it is because of the service not what i expect normally. read more

Good. Comfortable. Friendly. Great breakfast sandwich choices. Much better than any chain. Great selection. Do not feed the corporate monster!! Stop and enjoy a unique coffee house. read more

I am very picky about the places I go but this place is now one of my top few favorite coffee shops. What is amazing are the variety of drinks they offer! I try something different every time I go in and I have an amazing experience every time! The coffee is delicious, the teas are tasty and talking with the staff is incredibly enjoyable. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in the area! Lots of delicious coffee drinks (hot or iced) that can be easily customized as well as a nice tea selection. I always have wonderful interactions with the staff, and it's great place to come for GMU students who need a cozy place to study. Sure it's a bit more expensive than Dunkin next door, but the quality is sooo much better and totally worth it! read more

One of my favorite coffee places hands down. Great selection of drinks, and the staff is very helpful and friendly. Ambience is lovely, and there is plenty of seating room. read more

Outstanding! The pumpkin spice latte puts Starbucks to shame! Great prices. Great seating.

Apart from the superb coffee and tasty pastries, I enjoy the casual, comfy atmosphere. Considering this place my new study spot.

Went here this morning and the line was out of the door! I was tempted to go to Starbucks but I saw that the line here was inching up pretty quickly because the guy behind the counter was a machine! I was in and out the door within 5 minutes...which is usually faster than Starbucks anyway. Well deserved tip and 4 stars for the man bun guy! read more

Beverages and breakfast, what's not to love? The atomosphere is comfy and casual but not dumpy.

I love this place. Great drinks, great breakfast food, decent prices, great atmosphere and people. Free wifi. And now they have beer and wine. Doesn't get any better than that. read more

Love this place, staff is always friendly, coffee is always great, their food is good. Fast service when I need it to go, and a much warmer and inviting atmosphere than a lot of chains. read more

It was very disappointing to see the nasty comment from Mayra A below. As a regular, I saw her family's actions that day and it was beyond inappropriate to not only the customer whos stuff they were messing with, but to the manager Ashley as well. Ashley kept her cool while Mayra and her family were causing issues and being rude. Ashley is an outstanding manager and always knows the regular's orders by heart. She did not deserve to be berated and disrespected. Gathering Grounds has the best coffee in the Fairfax area and a great atmosphere to sit down and get work done. I recommend this shop to everyone I know! read more

Great coffee shop. The employees are very friendly, the coffee is great, and the pastries are fresh.

I enjoyed my experience. The lattes are very good. Casual and fun atmosphere. Good meeting place or work space.

Came in around noon on a Monday and it was packed! Not sure if it was because of President's Day so a lot of people were off work but it's definitely a go-to for Mason students/staff as it is just across the street from the school. They have a great selection of sugar-free syrups (more than Sbux/McD has to offer), including your standard sf vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel. I had a sf hazelnut latte and it was delish! Drinkable temperature and perfect amount of foam. Didn't get a chance to order any food but I overheard the barista raving about the apple fritter to a customer and she almost sold me! My only concern about the coffee shop is its crowded space. Not the best for those with wheelchairs or require a lot of space to move around and get comfortable. There's barely any room to walk around as most of the chairs were being used. I kept feeling people's backpacks brushing off my shoulders as they try to maneuver to an open table. Overall good experience and I definitely see myself coming back! read more

Had brunch here with some out-of-town friends today. It was very good ... I had the ham, egg & cheese on the croissant. I could only eat half but brought the other half home. I had the medium strength coffee which was good. Everyone else seems to like their food too. I will come back again! They do not microwave the sandwiches, it is a convection oven that they use and it worked out great! read more

I like to support non-big chain shops, so I choose Gathering Grounds instead of SB when I can. I keep my orders simple -- brewed coffee -- and they deliver a good cup with courtesy. Wifi is a bit iffy, but with nextdoor DnD's also available.... The baked goods are not as good as when the locale was a Saxby's. It's a good place to rest for a few or meet with someone. read more

Great little place, especially for a student like myself. I am looking for D.C. internships and my interviewer told me to meet him here, and I walked in probably 10 minutes before him. As soon as I walked in, it seemed like a nice little quiet coffee shop, nothing too fancy but definitely cozy. It was a nice place to go for the interview for sure, and I actually stayed afterwards and did a little bit of extra schoolwork. While I was studying I decided to get myself a Strawberry Banana smoothie as well which tasted excellent. Definitely a great little cafe to get some work done and go to relax! read more

The baristas were unnecessarily loud and overly chatty. The music is played way too loud - my stepmother jumped in her seat because of a particularly loud advertisement playing overhead. Coffee was okay. I've never been to a cafe with music playing this loudly. Kind of disappointed to say the least. Don't come here if wishing to spend a quiet afternoon studying. Trust me, it's a waste of your time. Wouldn't come here again over my dead body. read more

So lets just say that my day does not begin without coffee. I am the type that likes his coffee earthy and strong. I am not the guy that goes to a coffee shop for the "ambiance" . I go for coffee. I buy it by the pound usually and brew it at home. If you are like me then let me say...this is not the place for you. It may be the perfect place for the college crowd next door at GMU but that is about it. I went in for the first time out of necessity. I was out of coffee at home. I explained that I usually drank Sumatra. To which I got a blank stare and a "I don't know what that is" response. I asked about their bags of coffee. They did not have a clue about their products. I then decided that I couldn't go wrong with espresso and grabbed a bag. I was taken a back at the 17.95 price for 12 ounces, since this is what I pay for a pound at my regular place. Well long story short... I was woefully disappointed when I had my first cup the next day. If I had to use one word it would be bitter. I am used to a full bodied, rich flavor with a smooth finish. Not what I got. Just plain bitter. I have had hotel coffee better than this. I am sorry that this is the case because they are right on my way to work. I guess I will just have to make sure I do not forget to buy my coffee at my regular place before I run out. read more

Good coffee, good food (spinach pastry), and good selection. I have always been a fan of this place and will continue to come back, however, there are definitely some issues that the new management needs to sort out. 1. Music- The music is WAY too loud, especially in the back and has gotten progressively weirder. It went from typical popular hits to this weird music that can only be described as loud, annoying sounds. 2. Back door- I understand that on a nice day people might enjoy having the door open (even with bad allergies) but when it is 40 degrees and windy? No. 3. Milk- I don't know if the baristas steam the milk to touch or temperature but it is always over steamed. It leaves that over steamed Starbucks taste in your mouth and takes literally 20 minutes or more to cool down (even with 40 degree temperatures and wind). 4. Ordering- Everyone there is really nice but there is one guy that ALWAYS gets my order wrong. I am not always persistent in correcting him but I could say small iced Mocha and get a medium hot Mocha. read more

As a local, passionate GMU Patriot, I can say that I have seen this place transition from Saxby's coffee to Gathering Grounds. I love the upgraded new decor - so colorful and inviting! The menu is beautifully hand-written on the wall. Nice, chill staff. I've never tried their food but am forever a fan of the Almond Joy latte. read more

If you like paying more for muffins and coffee while having young adults sulk and frown throughout the entire order and payment exchange, this is the place for you! read more

Excellent customer service with delicious coffee :) Great location to chill around GMU. read more

I love this place- I have been coming here since it opened as Gathering Grounds, and it is friendly, fun, and it is obvious that everyone cares. The food and coffee are great and everyone has a smile - this is what it should be like. It has a family touch that makes you feel at home. Stop in here and it may become a habit! read more

I love their coffee. You can find all sorts of varieties, including the very exotic south american and arabic ones. But guys, people don't just come here for your coffee. They want to hang out too. So please improve your place. read more