Via Volcan has the best cup of black coffee in all DMV. I drive from Fairfax to Old Town and…read morealways stop for coffee. It should be served at the next Peace treaty.... The taste will make us all recognize we are all human...... and appreciate a great cup of coffee!! The barista is kind and friendly.

We were looking forward to our visit to Via Volcán to get a caffeine fix after having lunch in the…read morearea, and we decided to stop by. Unfortunately, whoever the individual was on shift today was just a total piss poor person - she seemed to have an issue with our party, as she automatically assumed we just came there to 'squat' without ordering anything (if you have been to this place before, there isn't much seating and this isn't where you'd want to sit for a bit anyway); when I called her out and stated that I already knew our party's orders, she backtracked. She then continued to make a snide comment on the number of drinks we were ordering - what's with the passive aggressiveness? I didn't know that there was some rule that each person was required to order something. Like, are you okay? I just had a bad feeling about all of this, and we should have just walked out instead of giving our money to support this business - to add to it all, the coffees that we did receive (latte with soy milk, and the mocha) were just poorly made and not strong at all; they were both watered down and bitter at the same time... come on! UGH, the regret, but it was a choice. Shame on you, Via Volcán! You might want to heavily reconsider who you employ and train them better - this individual is really hurting your business! What a miserable person. Street parking can be found in the area. +NASTY employee +watered down/bitter coffee +street parking in the area

Friend and I went here for brunch and really enjoyed it…read more Between the two of us, we ordered: - a pumpkin pie latte - a veggie lover omelet - eggs florentine - coffee cake Everything we got was quite good, and the service/atmosphere was wonderful too. Not to mention, it felt so fairly-priced compared to most places in Old Town! We spent about $50 between the two of us, which included a 20% tip on our bill. Hard to beat in this area honestly, especially given the quality of the food and service. I look forward to coming back and am so glad to finally have an answer to "where do you recommend going for brunch in Old Town?" -- a question that I've historically struggled with when people asked!

We stopped into HomeGrown on King Street for breakfast while visiting Alexandria. First impressions…read morewere very positive--the restaurant is clean, modern, and has a welcoming atmosphere. The staff was friendly, and the menu had several items that sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the experience didn't quite live up to the setting. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, which came with eggs and breakfast potatoes. The meal itself was good, and I liked that the eggs were included since that's not always the case with biscuits and gravy. I also ordered a Bloody Mary that was advertised on the menu as being garnished with bacon. When it arrived, there was no bacon, and I was told they were out. Not a huge deal, but it would have been nice to know before ordering. The biggest issue was service timing. There were four of us dining together, and three meals arrived while the fourth entrée didn't show up for about ten more minutes. Since nobody wanted to eat while one person sat without food, our meals cooled off while we waited. Ironically, the delayed meal was a BLT--which did have bacon on it. I finished my first Bloody Mary and ordered a second. After waiting 15-20 minutes with no drink arriving, our check was brought to the table and I ended up canceling it. My wife's meal was the biggest disappointment. It was served with corn chips that were extremely stale, which really hurt the overall dish. HomeGrown has a lot of potential. The atmosphere is great, the staff was pleasant, and parts of the meal were enjoyable. However, between the service delays, missing menu items, stale chips, and drink issues, there is definitely room for improvement.

One of the best espressos I have ever had! Also, also one of the most expensive espressos I've ever…read morehad at over five dollars. It seems unnecessarily expensive even accounting for its location.

Tried the cold decaf latte and it's delicious. I really like the ambience, it's clean and there's…read moreample seating around on a Sunday afternoon. Love that this NYC import is springing up around DMV area.

I visited Sharbat for the honey cake, but I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and the Nutella…read morelatte. The Nutella latte is as good as the original Killer ESP Nutella latte. The savory pastries are also very good, and their blueberry latte comes recommended (I couldn't stray from the Nutella latte though!) There are ample plugs for working while you enjoy your treats and the seats are pretty comfortable.

Cute spot serving delicious pastries and drinks!…read more I got the honey cake, mixed greens pastry, chicken borek, and a hot vanilla matcha drink. There was only one slice of honey cake left when I went, so it's definitely one of the more popular options. Would recommend going earlier if that's what you wanna try. It was my first time trying honey cake and I really enjoyed it! Loved all the layers. They heated up the chicken borek and mixed greens pastry for me, which I really appreciated. Both were amazing. Staff was so sweet and accommodating. There was a good amount of seating here. Gave cozy vibes. Would definitely recommend this spot!!

I LOVE KILLER ESP! This has been a go to place since I started working in Old Town Alexandria back…read more2017! I cant believe I'm just doing my first review. To begin, this place is super cute; everyone is beyond friendly; from drinks to food, I haven't had anything that I dont like there; a great place to come in to do some work and enjoy your crafted beverage. If you haven't ate, their beef paddy's are my goto! Before becoming pescatarian I used to get their beef patty with my nutella latte. (I need to try the veggie now) Today, I got an Iced Pistachio Matcha drink off their Spring Menu. It was amazing! If you are in the Old Town Alexandria area, make sure you stop by x grab a drink x grab a snack baked freshly everyday!

I came the Friday before Valentine's Day and stopped by for coffee. Loved the vibes here; I got a…read moretable with markers that people draw with. I got a Cupid's bow latte that was special for Valentine's - the drink was so good with white chocolate and raspberry! I enjoyed my drink while relaxing there for a bit. The staff were fast and nice with my drink too. I'd like to stop by this place more often.

It was so good! I will definitely be back. I ordered an iced caramel coffee and also the pb toast…read more Both items were better than expected.

A restaurant devoted to gourmet breakfast toasts? Hell yeah! But who are we kidding. Toast isn't…read morejust for breakfast anymore. Which is why I was more than happy to pop in for lunch toast while on a recent biz trip to the area. This is a tiny little spot, and parking is all but impossible to find. But my efforts were richly rewarded with a hearty portion of their tasty tuna toast (served upon a custom wood board of course). It was fresh and tasty, and worth the long wait during the early afternoon rush. I also ordered a latte... which was just meh. But that's probably just the Seattle in me talking.

Delicious coffee, very friendly service, and cool industrial-chic vibes! We came here at 10 am on a…read moreSunday morning, and there was plenty of empty tables and chairs... By 10:30 am though, there were many more customers and all tables were taken. So come here by 10 am if you want to nab a table. The drinks I had here so far are: - Bluebell espresso soda - brisk, fruity, and refreshing. It has an intriguing complex blend of flavors (jasmine, blamango, coconut). Really unique! - Rose cardy latte (iced with little ice, oat milk) - delightfully sweet and refreshing. It was not too sweet and has light floral tones. Service was very friendly and quick. All the workers looked fairly young and hipster-cool and always had a smile for me!

I absolutely love this coffee shop for its unique lattes. As someone who embarks on coffee…read moreadventures weekly, this café stands out with its creative options, charming interior, and amazing baristas. However, I'm considering making this a less frequent stop because they no longer allow customization of their seasonal selections. I used to enjoy tailoring my drinks to explore new flavors and enhance my experience. While I understand their logic--similar to not altering a prix fixe menu--the ability to customize is something I value in a coffee shop, especially since I savor one select cup each day. The ambience is delightful, with a rustic modern vibe that makes it a decent spot to work if you can snag a table, though the wobbly chairs can be a bit distracting. They also offer a coworking space, which is nice if you need a rentable area, but it does feel somewhat corporate, reminiscent of a WeWork environment. Despite these positives, I can't give the shop a full five-star rating due to their policy against customizing specialty drinks. While I appreciate their desire to maintain the integrity of their unique creations, this decision takes away from the personal coffee experience I cherish. The joy of customizing a drink to my exact taste is something I miss dearly. In summary, while the coffee and atmosphere are top-notch, the lack of personalization and the slightly corporate/snobby feel of the coworking space are drawbacks. It's still a great place to visit for the flavors and the vibe, but I hope they reconsider allowing customization to enhance the overall experience.

Walking into Turkish Coffee Lady feels like stepping into another world entirely. Gizem White…read morepoured her love into every single detail of the Golden Horn High Tea -- gold-plated cups, homemade pistachio baklava, rose Turkish delight, and a hand-painted copper kettle that anchors the whole experience. This isn't just high tea. It's a cultural journey that unfolds in courses -- tea first, then Turkish delights, then sandwiches, and finally Turkish coffee to close it all out. The sweets are made with intention, the presentation is stunning, and the warmth Gizem brings to everything she does makes you feel like you're sitting at a friend's table rather than a coffee shop. Old Town Alexandria is lucky to have her. If you haven't been to Turkish Coffee Lady yet, that needs to change -- and the Golden Horn High Tea is exactly where you start.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 10/10

Stopped by for an afternoon coffee…read more The store is small inside, but decorated well and has smaller tables for seating. Warm, bright, welcoming. Server was friendly. We each ordered a traditional Turkish coffee and an assortment of baklava to share. Grabbed a table near the windows and our coffee was brought to us quickly. I ordered the Mandin and was a bit nervous to see how small the coffee cup was. I expected a strong bitter taste, but was surprised at how smooth and flavorful the coffee was. The coffee is presented on a beautiful platter and with complimentary Turkish delights. They were soft, chewy, and a bit perfume-y. Felt like a tea party but in Turkey! The baklava was flavorful and sweet, perfectly paired with the coffee. We took some cute photos inside. Was a great time! Would definitely come again to try out the rest of their menu. Great place to bring coffee-lovers and people visiting from out of town.

I'm giving it four stars for their service. They are so nice and they take your order, make your…read morecoffee and then you pay which I like. Their coffee was good, but nothing beyond belief. There's plenty of seating and low lighting which makes for a great study spot.

Misha's Coffee is a charming café with a cozy, welcoming vibe. I liked that they grind their own…read morecoffee beans, which really adds to the freshness of the drinks. The pastries were decent, though nothing particularly memorable, and prices were a bit on the higher side. Service was good but not particularly great. One of the highlights is the atmosphere; there's plenty of space to sit, work on a laptop, or even enjoy a board game, which makes it a great spot to spend some time. The café itself was very clean, including the bathrooms, which I always appreciate. Overall, it's a pleasant place to relax or get some work done, especially if you don't mind paying a little extra for the experience.

Rating only as a coffee shop, I was quite pleased with my cup of Joe, where it was full-bodied,…read moresmooth and with no harsh notes. Service was quick where I enjoyed my cup outside on one of their tables adjoining the business. Besides coffee, they would appear to serve the full assortment of drinks you would expect to see in a barista type operation as well as sandwiches where they serve breakfast and lunch during the course of the day. Nice! Overall, if you're looking for a quick cup of coffee that is not a chain coffee then this is an excellent option for you especially if you are in the area. The other key thing to note is this shop opens at 6 AM Monday through Friday so if you're an early riser like I am, keep that in mind.

AMBIANCE: I came here to meet up with a new friend for a…read morequick morning bite. It was the perfect spot to do just that. you walk in and can feel the spot is a neighborhood gem. that being said, i felt like a slight outsider being new there--not a them thing, just a me thing :). They deff have regulars. It's smal and cozy; the furniture is mismatched and i LOVE that. Now, if you have customer-anxiety, i like to call it, i would deff look at the menu beforehand so you know what to order. I walked in and there was a couple sitting closest to the cash register and i was like "oup!! can't take too long. everyone knows i'm here and i need to make a quick decision" so i just ordered quickly without really the taking time to look at the menu (whenever i go to new coffee spots i like i choose a fun, unique drink if they have it and i just derped). SERVICE: The owners were running the cash register on a saturday morning. I love me some business owners! So it made me happy to support this business. they were quick, kind, and efficient. The drink was made QUICKLY! I was in and out in under 8 mins. So saturday morning around 10:30am/11am -- i got quick service. FOOD: The iced coffee was so yum. I got a small iced vanilla latte. It was honestly perfectly. I like my iced coffees sweet but not too sweet. I didn't have to add anything but i could still taste the coffee profile. it was a joy to drink. for a bite to eat, i had the corn muffin (pretending to make myself feel better about eating something "healthy"). It was AMAZING. Totaled around 11 bucks. Definitely crumbled easy while eating it, as I was breaking pieces off with my hands while I chatted. All in all, i'd come again for sure.