In Arlington, there is a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. Coffee shops are all over, with some being more well-known than others. There are ones better for cute pictures with your friends, and others more fit to do work or study in. Each shop, with a unique aesthetic, has a different design and environment for customers. We have picked six of the best shops to try out for whatever characteristics you are looking for.
- Northside Social (Falls Church and Clarendon Locations)
Northside Social is one of the most popular cafes in Arlington. Now expanded to two locations, they serve not only coffee but also breakfast, lunch and dinner. Opened in April 2010, it has been a hit in Arlington for many years, making delicious coffee and food. It is an open, friendly space, with inviting paintings hanging around the shop. It offers many places to sit, either indoor or outdoor. When you walk in you hear vibey music, and it is overall an inviting place to study.
https://www.northsidesocialva.com/
- Rarebird
Recently opened in October 2016, Rarebird is a small coffee shop that is known for roasting coffee in-store. Meant for family and friends to hang out and share quality coffee together, it is favored by many in the Arlington area. They offer a wide variety of beverages and are known for their delicious baked goods as well as their savory sandwiches.
https://www.rarebirdcoffee.com/
- Detour
Detour Coffee Co. is a coffee shop that mixes tradition and innovation to create wonderful coffee and food that leaves customers satisfied. Their coffee is cultured and is full of delicious flavors. The environment is most suited for a social event with friends or family.
- Java Shack
Also known as Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters, Java Shack is a successful shop that started in 2004, and has since expanded around the U.S. Their main focus is to make coffee the best that it can be. Java Shack has nice outdoor seating, good coffee, and it is great to study in on warm days. What makes them unique is that they offer Kegerator Vending Machines with Nitro Brew or Kombucha. A Kegerator vending machine is a pay-by-the-ounce, self-serve kiosk serving craft beverages on-tap. These machines make their coffee more accessible.
https://commonwealthjoe.com/pages/about
- Blue Bottle
Found in Georgetown, Blue Bottle coffee is not quite like other coffee shops. When you walk in, you feel a minimalistic vibe and a quiet scene. The coffee is expensive but very good and flavorful. The environment is a hushed, study-like area. They are environmentally friendly and do not offer plastic, only paper cups. Their straws are also compostable.
(I recommend the iced matcha latte)
- Trade Roots
In Westover there is a small gift shop that also plays host to a cozy coffee shop. The idea behind the gift shop is to support farmers and artisans in developing countries that need a market to sell their products. Like the gift shop, the coffee shop gives stage to the many cultures of the world and brings them to Arlington through their unique drinks. Not only is Trade Roots a great spot for catching up with friends in a unique space, exploring new cultures and coffees and proceeds go to hard-working, impoverished men and women around the globe.
https://www.fairtraderoots.com/
