Great place to WFH. They have a few breakfast items and coffee. The neighborhood is walkable and the staff member who took my order was nice. I was only in town for the weekend, so I didn't spend much time here, but I could see why the locals like it. I believe the owners are Ethiopian so the menu items reflect that. I would gladly visit again. read more

The food was below subpar; the drinks were made like someone who didn't know the cafe's recipes; and more important, the server was rude. To say, I am disappointed in my experience here is an understatement. I don't normally write review, however, I want to warn others before they waste their money. I went with a friend to support local businesses. We were excited because the reviews were pretty solid. However, once we ordered, we were greatly disappointed. I ordered a Matcha Latte and the servers simply poured milk into a dirty worn out cafeteria plastic cup and dumped matcha powder in it without stirring or blending or adding any flavor. The picture shown below is after I mixed the powder into the milk more. My friend ordered a caramel frappe (not pictured) and the drink lacked caramel. It was simply blended milk and ice. The making of our drinks did not reflect a "cafe" style nor experience. Moreover, the food was below lackluster. The Northern Capital sandwich looked amazing in theory; however, I received one small piece of chicken on a large hoagie roll drenched in mayo with 3 pieces of spinach and a slice of avocado. In my opinion, the portions definitely did not match the price of the sandwich. Furthermore, my friend ordered the Steak & Cheese which came without cheese. After this, my friend and I did not drink the Latte and Frappe. We ate a small portion of the sandwiches to give the restaurant a fair chance, but we were beyond disgusted with the drinks. Therefore, we asked for a refund or the server to re-make them. To which the server laughed in our face with a nasty attitude replying, "Absolutely not!" I absolutely hate to leave a 1-star review on a local restaurant, but I could not go on without warning others to avoid the "cafe" portion of this place if you value your money. Fortunately, we went to a local restaurant nearby afterward to cleanse our palette and thoroughly enjoyed the service and food. More importantly, the prices were comparable to this place but they provided much larger portions and great service. read more

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I've been going here for years. The coffee and bagels are fine. The last couple of years their lunch and breakfast sandwiches seem to have fallen on hard times. There is always something missing. When you get home and there is no egg or no tomato, it's a real disappointment. They have expanded to serve Ethiopian food. I've found.the portions to be smaller and less interesting that my usual Ethiopian restaurant. I have not yet tried their dinner Ethiopian - And I will do so. They stay open until 10 PM and that's new and exciting. So I'll be back, but I'd love to see them try harder. read more

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Food was perfect! I tried the Ethio Smash Burger and it was an explosion of flavor. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Ethio smash burger - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a wonderful experience here! Food was absolutely delicious, reasonably priced, and with huge portions. Atmosphere was great, with plenty of seating, and service was fantastic! Beza shared her recommendations on what to order, and her service was attentive, kind, & fast--make sure to check out the Ethiopian menu when visiting. The yebeg wot was the highlight of our meal! read more

Cute place. Coffee is fine. They struggle with managing normal business levels and get overwhelmed on weekends with long wait times. Needs to hire more staff or figure something out. Waiting 30 minutes for a coffee is unacceptable. read more

COFFEE IS AMAZING!!! I couldn't stop drinking it when it got it. their muffins are good too they are big and moist. i got a turkey bacon egg and cheese which was good but nothing special but happy they have turkey bacon since many places don't. the service was good the women was nice and friendly. read more

We are so glad to see this cafe do well in our neighborhood. I believe in cafes in every neighborhood. We walk our dog every morning and grab hot chocolate and coffee when we walk by this place. They have recently redid their interiors. Looks much spacious now and very welcoming. With my drinks, I often get their samosa or spinach puffs. It's so good. For lunch, my go to is their Ethiopian combo. They have 5 different veggies and recently added meat as well. Absolutely delicious! Depending on how busy they are, expect to wait for the Ethiopian entree. Worth it. read more

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Love having a coffee shop in Bloomingdale! They used to have WiFi and don't now, and there's only outdoor seating for part of the day (e.g., at least not in the morning), but it's a small business and I'm interested in coming to try the lunch options sometime. I usually just come in for coffee, the occasional samosa, and a bagel once or twice. read more

I'm a fan of Sylvan Cafe & Bakery! This place offers various hot and cold beverages, NJ bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries (such as muffins, croissants, cookies, and cakes), and even vegan Ethiopian eats! We came here for round 2 for breakfast, and we ordered: +a Veggie sambusa - filled with lentils, this was a nice sized sambusa, and the exterior was so flaky and crispy! +Egg, Bacon, and Cheese with Avocado - on an everything bagel, this came out piping hot! The egg was fried perfectly, and this was a very filling bagel breakfast sandwich! +an Egg, Turkey Sausage, and Cheese - on an everything bagel, this came out piping hot! The egg was fried perfectly, and this was a very filling bagel breakfast sandwich! +an Orange Muffin - great orange flavor, and perfect for those who like citrus-y pastries Service was super kind, friendly, and welcoming! There is seating in the back; the place is well-decorated and very clean. I can't wait to return to try some of their lunch sandwiches and their vegan Ethiopian eats! Street parking available. +tasty hot bagel breakfast sandwiches +sambusas! +friendly & kind staff! +street parking available read more

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Sylvan gets the job done, and I mean that in the best way. In our modern cities, too many breakfast places have tried to get cute and really overthought what this is supposed to be. Sylvan makes good espresso, and they make good breakfast sandwiches, and the staff is nice, and the ~20 seat table area is pleasant. Nobody is going to say that Sylvan revolutionized cafés and that's a good thing because cafés are in no need of a revolution - just good execution, which this place nails read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I live nearby and usually come to Sylvan Café for their fresh, delicious bagels. I recently tried their Ethiopian food after 3 PM, and it was amazing! The kitfo was tender and full of flavor, and the honey wine (tej) was smooth and perfectly sweet. I ate inside, but they also have a nice patio for anyone who wants to sit outside. Great spot for both breakfast and authentic Ethiopian dishes! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Sylvan kitfo!!!! Comes with kocho!!! Must try!!! - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great spot for working as there are many power outlets in the cafe. We came here on a Saturday afternoon and it is relatively quiet with only a few customers in the store. We ordered the ice americano decaf option and tapped on the free wifi to telework. The wifi is slightly wonky but gets better as some customers left. Overall, a very cozy place in the lovely Bloomingdale neighborhood. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have had some not great experiences with staff here in the past, and there is still one person who doesn't make very good frappucinos. However, I keep coming back because their bagels are the best I've ever had and there's ONE barista who makes my caramel frapp SO perfectly. It took a few tries to get there but now she knows how I prefer it and knocks it out of the park. They've also gotten to the point that they know my order as soon as I walk in, down to the hot sauce/ketchup mix on the side . I highly suggest giving this place a chance, even if maybe you have a mediocre experience one time. Give them feedback and they will exceed your expectations! 10/10 read more

Delicious food and welcoming atmosphere- try out the Ethiopian menu! Definitely worth a visit :)

This cafe is super cute and chic. Reminds me of a mom and pop shop with lots of style. There are lots of coffee and tea options to choose from as well as bakery and lunch options. I got an americano with a splash of almond milk and some caramel syrup. The coffee was okay, but given the snowy weather it made me feel nice and cozy. I was excited to try a coffee shop that is new to me in the The register clerk was very nice. I will 100% go back to try more things. read more

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Stopped in here for a quick breakfast and some coffee. It is a nice little place to grab some breakfast. It can be hard to find seating here as it isn't very big. They have a piano in the front that you can play if you feel the need to. Service was good we sat outside and they brought our food outside. We got their iced coffee and a lox bagel. Everything was delicious and I would recommend them if you are looking for a good breakfast spot. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Lox bagel - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

For a quick stop for breakfast, this is the place. Coffee and breakfast sandwiches were great and hot, perfect for on the go. The ambiance was relaxed and welcoming, with a piano open for anyone to play if they wished. Very cute spot! read more

This cafe was the sweetest pocket of sunshine. It was exactly what I needed on a chilly DC morning. Me and my gal pals got breakfast there. We bought breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and cookies. Oh my gosh, their orange muffin was so friggin good. It had the perfect fragrance and taste. I had a stacked bacon, egg, cheddar cheese and avocado sammie on a sesame seed bagel. Yo! Mouth watering. Don't say mouth watering when it's in from of you cause you might dribble a bit. It's a pandemic, you're not allowed to dribble. But what you are allowed to do is order All the Things and wear a mask as you do it. Dogs are not allowed inside the cafe but you can leave your pup safely outside in close view. They'll be jealous for a short moment but will be fine! And you'll be full. It works! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - a man standing in front of the counter - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Most of the times that I order from or come here, it has been a great experience. They're bagels are some of the best I have ever had and they tend to be nice and speedy with orders. However, my most recent interactions have left me fulling less than satisfied. There was a new person behind the counter, and she has a very different demeanor and attitude than the other lady I've seen there more frequently. She seemed genuinely annoyed that I was even there. I approached the counter and she didn't say anything to me for a full 5 minutes, while making a drink and talking on the phone (it seemed like a personal conversation). When she finally did acknowledge my presence, it was a very curt "one moment." There was no one else in the store but me. I continued waiting. Finally she takes me order, seeing that I have selected a water and a banana, says "that's it?" No hello, no how are you, no sorry for the wait. Just that. I say that I would like to order a bagel sandwich. It's 2:30pm. The store closes at 4. She says they are no longer making bagel sandwiches. This has literally never been a problem for me before. I say ok, and order a bagel with cream cheese. She goes to the back and has someone else bring me the bagel. It was all very weird and rude and strange and very different from every other experience I've had there. Also, recently, I've noticed that if I place an order via doordash after 2pm, they will cancel the order, even though they are stated open until 4pm. Idk what has changed but it's been a steep and speedy decline in service which is unfortunate because otherwise this place has been great. read more

Great local spot that can easily be missed if you aren't looking right. Give this place a try on your next visit around Rhode Island & Capitol. The space is open and laid back, very community based. Everyone is so nice and the coffee had me wired for a solid chunk of time! The breakfast was great. Cannot complain here, just go try it now!!!! read more

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Clean spot for this neighborhood. Quick service, tasty lattes and healthy breakfast options. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Bagel with Turkey sausage and provolone - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I live right around the corner from this place, it's very cute on the inside! It's a nice spot to sit for a bit with a laptop or book too. The staff is also very friendly! I recommend this place more for coffee and pastries, personally. I got a bagel sandwich which was just alright; if you're in a hurry it's a good place to grab breakfast though. I paid about $10 for a bacon, egg, and cheese, which is pretty steep but not really for the city. Overall cute place but not my favorite bagel in the area. read more

Great place for coffee and delicious pastries. Great friendly and fast service. Will come again.

Cute bagel shop with a little more seating in the back on the corner of Rhode Island and First. Sylvan offers a variety of breakfast/lunch sandwiches and pastries with an Ethiopian flavor. Sandwiches range from $6-$9. Fall in line, make your order, grab a number, and your bagel should come out in 5-10minutes. I got the egg, avocado, turkey bacon, and pepper jack cheese sandwich in a multigrain bagel. Bagel was crispy on the outside and thick and doughy on the inside. The cheese pull in my bagel made the sandwich even better! The egg was like a McMuffin egg, which held up very nicely. I was v full after one sandwich. Coffee was okay, but will be coming more often for the sandwiches! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Egg, turkey bacon, avocado, pepper jack cheese on multigrain bagel - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

this place has the best bagels in the area! always a really nice vibe inside too. staff are very kind. i like the ethiopian tea they serve too, it's delicious. read more

Walked to this cafe from our Airbnb and ordered bagel breakfast sandwiches to go. Our order was ready quickly and we could all taste the freshness of the bagels. Staff was friendly. There were stools in front to sit while we waited. There was a larger back room for folks dining in. There is also a piano with an invitation to play near the front door. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Sylvan Cafe is a neighborhood coffee shop that cannot be missed. Great coffees, Pastries, lunch sandwiches!

I have an addiction- chocolate croissants. Believe me when I tell you I've probably had almost every single chocolate croissant in the city. Heck, probably in the entire DMV area. There's something about the perfectly baked dough filled with warm, oozing chocolate inside. Wow. I can taste it now. That being said, there are two chocolate croissants I've had in the DMV area that I crave. The first is at Maketto on H Street NE early in the morning the moment they come out of the oven. The other is at Sylvan Cafe and Bakery in Bloomingdale. If you arrive by 9AM, they are still warm. Bits of chocolate are baked into the dough so even before you get to the center, you're tasting chocolate. Not sure if there's lemon in it, but I tasted a slight hint of it. I am not a fan of lemon in my pastry, but it was so slight it brought out the flavor of the chocolate more. If you're like me, you MUST stop by for a chocolate croissant. If you're not like me, still stop by for a latte and/or a breakfast bagel sandwich. It comes out warm and have a variety of flavors and options. The space itself is small with two window tables with five stools total. However, it's usually empty so if you need a place to work, there are outlets and free, strong wifi with no network password required. Just moments being here, you can tell it's locals who stop in, which is a good sign. There's also a piano inside for anyone to play. So quirky and so great! read more

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I go to Sylvan all the time and it doesn't disappoint. I get the bagel sandwich with egg, cheese, sausage and avocado and a coffee. Good selection. They also have pastries, although their bagels (from New Jersey) are much better. read more

Great neighborhood spot to grab a quick bite for breakfast. I had an everything bagel with sausage egg cheese and avocado, which hit the spot. Bagels are chewy and delicious. Also tried a spinach and cheese croissant which was small, but super good. They have spots to tie your dog out front, I'll definitely be back. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Spinach and cheese croissant - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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If I start my day with an egg and cheese bagel + large coffee from Sylvan, I know it's gonna be a good day regardless of how not good my condition was walking into this shop. The breakfast bagels are thick and reliable, much like DC's summer humidity, and the muffins are fluffy, much like my hair in DC's summer humidity. The bagels aren't crazy and complicated, which is refreshing in a city where bagels tend to be trying to do a little too much. They're simply tasty, which is all I need from my morning bagel. read more

The wonderful owners of Bacio around the corner recently opened this cafe. The super chocolate cake with chocolate butter créme is a work of art. The spring cupcakes (with pretty green, yellow or orange icing! It's like rainbow brite in here. Pure visual poetry. ) and are perfect to bring to a party. Other favorites are key lime pie and the s'mores cupcakes. (S'MORES CUPCAKES?!!) It also has great coffee plus croissants, muffins, bagels and other grab-and-go food perfect for the morning. Sure there are always some hiccups in the beginning but Sylvan Café has a great selection plus amazing folks working there who love the community. This place is the bomb. Keep supporting local businesses! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Rainbow Brite Cupcakes! - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great neighborhood spot. Sometimes I find their bagels a bit dry, but all in all a really nice spot to grab some breakfast or lunch. I really like their veggie cream cheese. Their menu is pretty large for a small cafe. Their espresso drinks are awesome, and they offer all the standard non dairy options. They have an order ahead option via square which is super convenient. read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Everything Egg and Cheese Breakfast Bagel - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The everything bagel was very good! Coffee was serviceable but not great. I would eat the food again but I'd prefer to make my own coffee over this. read more

Thank you ladies for blessing Bloomingdale with an awesome breakfast bagel spot and DELICIOUS coffee! If you hang out to eat here you will also get to enjoy an awesome playlist lol read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - #7 breakfast sandwich and large coffee - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Moldy Lemon Ricotta muffin I received in my grubhub order. Bagel sandwich was good but really disappointed in quality control of the muffins. How old is it if it has mold?? Safe to say I will not be ordering from here again read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Moldy Lemon Ricotta Muffin - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good/simple spot for breakfast sandwiches. A little pricey but nothing unusual for DC.

Perfect. Bagel. Sandwich. Ordered the bacon, egg, avocado and cheese on everything and it was soooo good It had TWO eggs, crispy bacon and perfectly ripe avocado on a huugeee yummy bagel. Just what the doctor ordered also inside has a nice place to sit and they are always playing the jams! read more

Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant - Avocado egg bacon and cheese bagel - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bagels are pretty good - though never quite toasted enough even when you ask for "double toasted." A bit overpriced for the flavor too. Coffee is excellent!! read more