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    Big Bear Cafe

    3.4 (777 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Services - Big Bear Cafe

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    Venue rental

    Big Bear Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BIG BEAR CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Big Bear Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lauren B.

    First I am obsessed with the inside outside and all the decor. I think it is the cutest corner cafe. The coffee is consistently delicious, the pastries have always been good, and I was surprised with how good the happy hour pizza was. Give it a try - you may just find your new go to!

    Calamari
    Cynthia C.

    I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu was far more extensive than a typical cafe. Their calamari was fantastic! I loved the addition of the pickles, fried veggies, and dipping sauce. It's quite spacious with 2 floors of indoor seating and a patio area. I'd love to return once all the foliage is back as I can tell by the vines around the building that it must be absolutely covered in plants. Such a great spot for a lot of things like WFH, studying, etc. I can see why this place is such a neighborhood staple!

    Grilled Cheese and breakfast burrito
    Ashley R.

    [More like 3.5 ] Big Bear is regarded by many as a beloved staple in the Bloomingdale neighborhood and I see why - locally owned, variety of seating options, and breakfast/lunch/dinner options. While you can expect a long line on weekend mornings, the service is generally good in my experience. I tried the iced honey latte and I enjoyed it, the size was pretty large. For food options, I heard a lot of great things about the breakfast burrito but I will say it fell a bit short. There was almost too much egg and not enough seasoning (at all) and the salsa didn't taste like much. The tortilla was good though. I tried the grilled cheese as well which was pretty good, it has apples which add a bit of sweetness and the bread tasted really fresh and fluffy. The filling to bread ratio was a bit off (a lot of bread for little cheese) but taste wise, it's great. Overall, I like what this cafe offers in terms of seating, service, and coffee but the food misses the mark in my opinion, especially for the price you pay (~$45 for 2 people and you buss your own dishes).

    Safania R.

    I came to Big Bear Café for a wedding, and it's definitely a charming venue, super cute atmosphere and great for events. The food at the wedding didn't totally win me over, but the drinks were solid and well-made. I get the feeling this spot really shines with its everyday menu, so I'm planning to come back to try their coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. I have a hunch that's where they really stand out!

    Cinnamon Bear Claw
    Kaya A.

    The feeling of discovering an amazing latte in D.C. is quickly becoming one of my favorite feelings on this planet. I felt completely rejuvenated after that first sip. It wasn't bitter at all and tasted so smooth. It reminded me of the espresso from my old cafe job in Tallahassee. I can definitely see this becoming my new comfort latte. The food had great texture, especially the breakfast burrito, but both were missing a bit of flavor. They just needed that extra something. I wanted the bear claw to be more of a doughy pasty rather than flakey. The ambiance of the cafe felt incredibly homey. When I moved up north, I was searching for places that gave off the kind of northern culture I had imagined. Maybe it's the cabin-style vibe they've created here, but whatever it is, it works. I'm really glad a spot like this exists in my neighborhood.

    Upstairs
    Kiara H.

    My favorite neighborhood cafe. So cozy, clean, and witchy. I enjoy coming here to do tarot readings (@earthmamass). There are so many relics, and the staff is so nice (and fashionable). Free refills on their coffee + tea and delicious cinnamon buns. Ooh! And their fried chicken sandwich. Only con -- there are private events upstairs often, but there is space to sit downstairs and outside (not as comfy but still cozy).

    Great coffee
    Eric S.

    Big bear is great. I'm often there for coffee and breakfast. Sometimes lunch or dinner. I love the ferro bowl, with grains, seasonal veggies, a delightful dressing and a lot of flavor and feel good taste. The setting is beautiful. Upstairs is a lovely quiet area. Outside is covered with vines and plants and feels special. Some people telework. They have music, trivia, bands movies, popups etc.

    Katie V.

    I had the breakfast burrito (added bacon, removed arugula). It was very good! I didn't really feel the salsa added anything but the burrito was great so it's all good. They also made me a cafe mocha even though it's not on their menu. My partner had the pastrami brisket bagel and he really enjoyed that - along with an americano. Really enjoyed sitting outside too.

    Cortado
    Orest S.

    This is one of the most atmospheric places in the DC area! Great coffee, chill music and very nice people. I enjoyed visiting this place very much. The line is long, especially on the weekends mornings, but it is worth it! There's a farmer's market on Sundays in front of the restaurant. A number of sits inside, on the patio and the 2nd floor (and this is the gem!). Also, they have a lot of events, like concerts and comedy. Definitely recommend and looking forward to visiting this place again!

    drip & drip w steamed oat milk !
    Brayden V.

    ole reliable. there's not much new i can say about this place but i wanted to add some updated pics. this was the first time I've tried their food, had the farro veggie bowl, which was pretty standard stuff, filling but nothing to write home about. seems to be there only vegan option, but with mods, other dishes could be made vegan as well. Big Bear is a Bloomingdale staple so expect the line to be out the backdoor during peak hours (i.e. weekends).

    Gregory F.

    Homey, gritty, and welcoming. Loved the vibes of this place - the kind I can station up and work on life amin/work with a nice (free refills) cup of coffee and delicious (yet simple) breakfast sandwich all day and feel productive, yet a part of the community. A great meeting space with a roomy downstairs and upstairs that is stunningly rustic - and a spacious outdoor patio space that I'm sure is wonderful in nicer weather. Lesser known than most other DC spots, but should be more popular than it is. One of my favorites in DC.

    Ella M.

    Went in to enjoy a coffee/work from home vibe. Such a cute little shop in a great location! Friendly staff.

    Lox bagel

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    12 days ago

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    13 hours ago

    Great coffee, great service and the ambient is genuinely so nice on this spring kind of weather I want to come back again already .

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    1 year ago

    Pretty good coffee. However for the price I feel like the coffee should have been much larger. Servers were friendly and service was quick.

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Food was good but rats and roaches all over the patio!! They were crawling under and on top of the tables.

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    Ask the Community - Big Bear Cafe

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    Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant  - Lox bagel

    Sylvan Cafe & Restaurant

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    Great place to WFH. They have a few breakfast items and coffee. The neighborhood is walkable and…read morethe 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.

    The food was below subpar; the drinks were made like someone who didn't know the cafe's recipes;…read moreand 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.

    Big Bear Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

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