The birthday cake and ice cream cone combo placed them in my top 5 dessert spots in #1 in DC during…read moremy trip here

We went here for dessert after dinner. We didn't realize it was pretty much in the middle of GW…read more There were a ton of students in line. Immediately after going in, around 10 PM, we noticed that the cashier was asking someone behind us to lock the doors. However, online it said they close at 1. I asked if they're closing soon and she said "Technically we close at 1, but we are running out of cookies and I really need to go home". Not sure what that was about, so we certainly felt pretty rushed and a bit unwanted. I ordered two cookies and milk. Chocolate chip, double chocolate chip and whole milk. The milk came in a little bottle which isn't ideal for dipping of course. But when asked she poured the milk into a cup for me. I also want to note that it was extremely loud in there, especially upstairs. It almost sounded like a nightclub in there. The cookies were pretty good, but not the best I have had. I think I enjoyed the concept of milk and cookies more than anything. The service and ambiance were not the best. There is plenty of seating on the upstairs floors which is nice.

My sister was craving a milkshake, so after hitting up the Lip Lab, we stopped in here to satisfy…read moreher sweet tooth. It's a pretty standard, average setup for grabbing ice cream and shakes, but the actual treat and the service totally blew us away. I got a mix of chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter, and it truly hit the spot. Absolute perfection. To top it off, the service was fantastic. The gentleman working was incredibly nice and took the time to give us some really great suggestions. Honestly, just a genuinely pleasant guy, which is always such a nice bonus. We will definitely be back the next time a craving strikes!

I've visited Van Leeuwen in New York and Los Angeles, so I was excited to check out the DC…read morelocation. The shop itself was clean and offered a great variety of flavors, and the staff was friendly overall. However, the service felt a bit inattentive at times, as staff were engaged in conversation with someone they seemed to know while briefly assisting me. More importantly, I was disappointed with the quality control of the ice cream. When I sampled the Cinnamon Caramel Apple flavor, it appeared to have been left out of the freezer before being put back. By the time I ordered my scoop (along with Espresso Fudge Brownie), the Cinnamon Caramel Apple was already very melted and couldn't hold its shape at all. It was served almost shapeless and melting quickly, which made for a messy and underwhelming experience. For the price, I expected better handling and consistency. I wish the staff had either informed me about the condition or ensured the ice cream was properly maintained.

Its my partners birthday today and I wanted to get him something sweet and delicious that was apart…read morefrom the gift that I got him. He is very much a chocolate conosoir and pretty much any type of chocolate candy would make him happy. I thought about getting the chocolate covered pecans because I know that he purchased those about a month ago and was eating them like they were nothing. They simply weigh those and would serve them in a plastic bag. Instead of that, I decided on an expensive chocolate assortment that came in a beautiful box. That seemed more like a gift than just chocolates in a plastic bag. The person behind the counter was very nice and kind of explained about the various types of chocolates that were included in the assortment. I am looking forward to a special birthday night with him.

The chocolate is delicious but the service sucks and I think I was grossly overcharged. $50 for 10…read morepieces of chocolate. Small, quaint shop.

I have tried many ice cream places in the DC area, and I honestly thought this place was…read moreunderwhelming for the price. This place also did not have a plethora of options. I ended up getting the flight to try, and honestly could've had one scoop to satisfy my cravings. I also was unimpressed with the service even though there was no one else around. I would not be rushing to come back anytime soon.

A cute little stand in Western Market open until 10pm- the perfect stop on these sweltering summer…read morenights. Free samples, friendly service, and delicious flavors. The strawberry lemon swirl was divine. Will absolutely be back- this ice cream is SO GOOD!!

We stopped here after ice skating. My kid is a Cub Scout so he's all into s'mores and campfires. A…read morebit on the pricey side but it's fun and comunal. Worth checking out. Keep in mind they are cashless.

I've wanted to check this out and finally did this evening. Ordered a 4 pack of s'mores ($17) and…read morewas able to use Apple Pay to pay. The fire pit itself is a bit small and I wish it had more logs so it gave off more heat, but perhaps it's a safety thing. You get very long sticks and very large marshmallow. The marshmallows are almost too big because the insides don't get melted and it's difficult to slide it off the stick. It was a bit messy but it was fun and delicious! I would definitely recommend as a fun wintertime activity.

Exceptional ice cream flavors with the option to build your own sundaes! I built a sundae with…read morebrownie peanut butter honeycomb ice cream, served with hot fudge, whipped cream, a cookie and some sprinkles. Absolutely epic! My partner got a double scoop in a waffle cup - one hojicha and one pistachio. Absolutely delicious and so unique, Highly recommend stopping into this adorable and colorful ice cream shop the next time you crave a sweet treat,

I was so excited to dig into my ice cream that I completely forgot to take pictures before…read moreindulging! The gentleman working the counter on the evening of 7/1 was incredibly polite and patient, even while our group of six wanted to sample what felt like every flavor. He never rushed us and made the experience enjoyable. Choosing a flavor was the hardest part because everything we tasted was delicious. All I can say is, do yourself a favor and get yourself to a Van Leeuwen. The ice cream is absolutely worth it! The ambiance was also so welcoming!

Such a positive experience in this location out of all the ones I've been to in NYC. The newest…read morerepresentative (maybe started a week ago) was so helpful, professional and friendly. I got the mango sticky rice and we talked about vegan options and taste profile and he helpfully shared that cookies are not ready yet, as I was debating a cookie sandwich. If I'm back in this station I'll be here again!

I first had Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in NYC. I'm so glad to see they made it down to DC! I'm no vegan,…read morebut it's nice to see that they have a wide selection of vegan ice cream flavors. It's a small shop, typically manned by only one staff member. There's a little counter space if you want to pull-off to the side to enjoy your ice cream, but it's primarily a grab-and-go (take your ice cream and eat it elsewhere) shoppe. The space was bright and clean; staff was friendly. They have fun flavors like mango sticky rice (vegan and regular), strawberry matcha (vegan), and banana bread pudding (vegan). They also have the more traditional flavors like chocolate, pistachio, cookies and cream, mint chip, strawberry, vanilla, etc. I stopped by for a scoop and decided to go with the peanut butter brownie honeycomb. I was a little hesitant about the honeycomb aspect, but it enhances the flavor and texture so much - it's next level! I loved it ~ now I have to go back and try their original honeycomb ice cream. It is pricey ice cream. It's about $8 for a single scoop, $9+ for two scoops, $10+ for three scoops - and that's before tax and tip, so it's closer to $9-$11+ for a cup of ice cream. It's definitely a "treat yo' self" kind of treat... this is the "high-end" part of Union Station, near the Laderach, Chiboo Bakery, and Neuhaus sweet boutique shops. They have waffle cones, add-on toppings, and other fun options like sundaes and floats. Currently they're offering a Shirley Temple Float... that's my drink right there! I will have to try it and report back. Van Leeuwen is the fancier option to the Shake Shack, McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, and Insomnia Cookies ice cream alternatives available at Union Station. The ice cream is delicious - sweet, creamy, rich, and made with premium ingredients. You can taste the quality. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream does not disappoint!

We had dinner planned nearby and I saw this place on the map. There's a $20 reservation charge but…read moreit gets applied to the final bill! Definitely recommend reserving since the space is smaller so walkins seem harder to grab. We were sat at the bar and I loved the space and decor. The lighting was really nice and cozy. The staff were really helpful with recommending items. I gave a flavor profile I was looking for and he recommended lights of night market Light of the night market: if you're a coconut water of pandan fan, this cocktail was so good and so smooth. It was really refreshing and had a nice Smokey flavor as well. The aftertaste was of the pandan and coconut and it was sweet without being sweet at the same time. Totally recommend to anyone looking for a "sweet" drink that isn't also overly sweet or syrupy A travete te te is a great punchy tart cocktail with guava as the main flavor. This one was really summery and paired really well with the shaved ice (also guava) The star for us was the baked Alaska. Initially the photos online is what drew me to this and I was okay if it was gimmicky but omg this has genuinely been one of the best desserts I've had in a really long time. The outside is toasted marshmallows and inside is really delicate shaved iced with guava syrup. At the bottom there's matcha cream with like a chunky strawberry jam and coconut jellies. Literally kept getting better as we ate. I usually find marshmallows too sweet but paired with the rest of the dessert it was all so nicely balanced. Would 10/10 come back just for this.

Dare I say... my favorite cocktail bar I've tried in DC in the past couple of years, and a spot I'd…read moreabsolutely be a regular at if I lived in the area? Providencia has been on my to-try list forever, originally recommended by a bartender friend ages ago, and it wasn't until a recent trip that I finally was able to work it into my schedule to come for pre-dinner drinks and light bites. The spot is tucked away in a back alley off H Street, and honestly I'm not sure I would've found it if my Uber hadn't dropped me at the door. Reservations are required and you have to put down a $10 nonrefundable deposit that goes toward your bill, which makes sense because the space is small. Ideal for 1-3 people, not a group spot. The Salvadoran/Taiwanese flavor combo infused throughout this menu is its calling card. It's such a unique flavor combination and genuinely something I haven't seen before, and the menu does a beautiful job of letting both cuisines shine without one overpowering the other. The drinks are inventive but actually well-balanced, and the food does the same thing in small, snack-y portions perfect for pairing with tasty cocktails. My (kind of indulgent, but well-worth it) pre-dinner drinks order: - Lights of the Night Market (Ford's gin, Mal Bien mezcal, genepy, pandan, coconut). A great intro to how well the Salvadoran/Taiwanese flavors play together. The pandan is so pleasant here without being overpowering. - Run Bing with Nai Nai (Salvadoran white rum, Nardini rabarbaro, Licor 43, mazapán, oolong tea, lemon, milk, served with a little mazapán candy on the side). Nutty, beautifully balanced, sweeter than I normally go for but so unique and well-made that I didn't mind it at all. - The Big Chip and Salsa (tomatillo salsa, matcha chip): So fun and so tasty, a great small bite if you don't want real food. - Roasted eggplant pupusa (eggplant, squash blossom, gruyère, tomatillo). SO delicious. A really lovely mix of salty, tangy, and sweet! I'd come back just for this. - Plantain & hojicha tiramisu. Looked like a work of art, incredibly tasty but not heavy. The hojicha flavor is lovely and light and works so well with the plantain. It doesn't taste overly banana-y, which is always a worry of mine with plantain desserts. Overall, Providencia is doing something genuinely different flavor-wise than any other cocktail bar in DC right now and doing it extremely well. The cocktails are creative without feeling gimmicky, the food is thoughtful and delicious, and the whole experience feels intimate, cozy, laid back, and personable. The staff was so kind and helpful. Absolutely worth seeking out, and one of the first places I'd send someone looking for a great cocktail bar in DC right now.