My best friend recently had her engagement party and surprise wedding here. It was such a great spot and totally the fit the aesthetic she was going for. The staff was helpful and the owner was hands down amazing. Everyone was willing to pitch in to ensure everything went out without a hitch. As someone who dabbles in event planning, these are the types of places you want to look for. If you're a local, definitely consider having your next event here...you won't regret it. Oh, and how I could I forget it's BLACK OWNED! Support them, please ! read more

I love this sweet little cafe- I came here twice while I was staying in the area and had great coffee and pastries both times. The vibe is lovely, the staff are friendly as can be, and it just feels like a great place to hang out. I am so glad I brought my laptop with me on the 2nd day, as it was a great space to work in also. A neighborhood gem! read more

The owner Asata... (hope I spelled that right!) is a beautiful soul. This space is amazing! When you walk in it's like you're home... so cozy and welcoming. The art work, the books, the company.... All before I even ordered coffee. If I lived here this would be my work from home office. We got the lovers latte, soy chai, and everything is delicious!! read more

Nice space! They have a takeout window which is convenient and a patio as well. But - the coffee just missed the mark here. Iced latte was pretty bland/weak, and my partner said his drip coffee was a watered down cup of 711 coffee. Still a cool shop in an area without a ton of options, but we have better closer options to us so I doubt we'll be back often. read more

In sum: Black owned local cafe with great customer service & good eats. They have a whole host of interesting seasonal drinks + the ones you'd typically expect to find at a cafe. Pair your drinks with a croissant or another pastry, bagel, quiche & salad, or sandwich. I tried the lavender honey latter, red pepper & goat cheese quiche, along with the broccoli & cheese quiche. The latte tasted a bit like the description and I'd order it again. The former quiche was a tad sweeter than the latter. The latter was a bit more savory than former, due to the cheddar. Both quiches also had potatoes (shredded like hashbrowns) as a filler. Also, FYI the quiche is either technically a crust-less quiche or actually a frittata (with a bit of milk or cream added to the custard base). I didn't really miss the crust so much since the food was seasoned and prepared well. Also FYI, the salad I was served was arugula only. What saved the salad greens was the serving of lemony vinaigrette it came with. read more

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I went back to Creative Grounds today (9/6/21) for the first time since May. When I visited in May, I was told the lack of indoor seating is temporary but the indoors was closed again today. Most importantly, I asked about gluten free menu pastries - because they say they carry them - and was given a "breakfast cookie" that is clearly marked as NOT gluten free (see picture). Creative Grounds - you are going to get someone very sick. Please read labels, train staff, and either carry a properly gluten free item or remove any claims of such on your menu. There are many vendors who will sell you pre-wrapped certified GF items. There's also several local gluten free bakeries you could partner with. read more

Creative Grounds DC - Marketed as gluten free - it is NOT! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you're ever in the Bloomington DC area and want a cup of coffee stop by creative grounds very nice spot atmosphere is great. Coffee is good. People are friendly hospitable. read more

Ordered an almond milk latte and vegan banana loaf for pickup via GrubHub while walking my pup Yoshi Bean. We went to pick it up and by the time we got there it was ready. The inside is closed to customers, but they have a little window where you can walk up to order or pickup. The barista informed me they were out of the vegan banana loaf so I chose a strawberry jam muffin instead. So glad I did because it was soft, gooey and delicious. There is no picture evidence because Yoshi Bean and I inhaled it on the ride home lol. The almond milk latte was hot and satisfying especially with the temps being in the 20s today. Will definitely make another trip in the future. read more

Creative Grounds DC - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a good place to take yourself on a solo date and read, journal, or do work. The barista was very nice and welcoming. I really liked the warmth of the chocolate croissant. Very cozy. read more

Came here for some breakfast pastries and will certainly come back again. Both the cheese danish and coffee cake were excellent. I'm used to danishes being dry but this one was soft and flavorful throughout. The coffee cake was the best I've ever had. read more

Enjoyed an iced coffee with oat milk, plus a delicious espresso blondie from Happy Valley Baking. Only service is via walk-up window, with socially distanced outdoor seating provided; they're not allowing inside dining at this time. read more

Creative Grounds DC - Seasonal Drinks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent coffee and a lovely neighborhood spot. Hope it stays in business. I'll be a regular!

So glad we found this place! Iced matcha and honey lavender latte are both fantastic! Love the walk up window too, super convienent!

First off: this is a beautiful space. The large windows are wonderful, the seating is great, and the outdoor patio is very pleasant. This is also the neighborhood's only coffee shop with wifi! Here's the thing though: the coffee is bland and weak, and they will close early without warning. I've been several times and ordered the gamut of espresso drinks. They're underpowered, and the roasts are bland. On top of that, every time I've gone to sit down and do work, I've been kicked out an hour and a half before their publicly posted closing time. Customers should be able to trust posted hours, and these experiences make me want to not return. In short: this is a beautiful cafe with the opportunity to be great. A lot of work, particularly in the customer service department, is needed before it will get there though. read more

This spot is such a welcome addition to the neighborhood around Bloomingdale/Eckington/North Cap! Great spot to get coffee, as well as work or study. Lots of art events seem to be planned as well - it's obvious that the owners care about creating lasting relationships in the community. Great coffee and even vegan treats (yes, plural! There are OPTIONS, my veggie friends!). The vegan banana loaf was on point. For those that are looking to get some work done - there's good Wifi and great seating. I personally love the giant communal table - it makes great use of the space, plus, its easy to plug a charger into the wall without bothering anyone/moving chairs. Looks like a really nice patio area is in the works as well - can't wait to work outside when it warms up a bit! read more

The food is good and the atmosphere is quiet and very pleasant to work at. The drinks are well made but lack strong flavors (I like flavored lattes) in both hot and cold drinks. Everytime I go I'm blown away by the food but am underwhelmed by the drinks. I love about a 10min walk so I often will go and add some flavored syrup to my drinks. The hot drinks also don't stay hot for very long so make sure you drink them on the quicker side. Beyond the lack of flavor in their flavored drinks, it's a good place! read more

Cute, Black-Owned cafe with very cute and contemporary minimalistic style, friendly service and a very tasty menu. They are vegan friendly, but i would definitely like to see more vegan friendly foods and more often (the menu seems to change daily). Overall, such a great vibe :) read more

I have been coming to this coffee shop consistently for about a week. It's super clean, something about the atmosphere helps me focus with work on my computer. Also it has all day wifi which is amazing. The baristas are also super nice and kind always:) read more

What a great place with a strong sense of community and commitment to supporting local artists. Needed a quick pick me up and their espresso hit the spot. read more

Creative Grounds DC - Espresso and art - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Little disappointed- tea was way too sweet. The outdoor area was super hot with not enough shading. Also in the middle of nowhere.

Tried this place while we stayed in DC for a few days. It was a great local neighborhood place. Definitely recommend if you're in that part of DC. read more

Amazing space, great coffee and just a comfortable place to vibe! I went to work and relax it was perfect

I liked that he was welcoming and that a simple light roast coffee was made to perfection. I will be back again!

We held our daughter's four-year birthday party at Creative Grounds in December 2019. We are so happy with how it turned out. Asmara helped to organize two age-appropriate art activities, including a paint-brushing activity on canvas where each child created a unique pattern of colors and shapes, thanks to the help of an art teacher whom Asmara hired for the occasion. I was very impressed how the teacher helped the children quickly engage and enjoy the painting! Asmara also helped to decorate the lower-level event space, which was an immense help and made for a festive vibe. She even facilitated pizza delivery from nearby Bacio! read more

Creative Grounds DC - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Creative Grounds is my go-to place for a cold brew to start my day. With so many coffee shops in DC, I'm so happy that Bloomingdale and Eckington have access to this incredible neighborhood gem run by the whole family. My partner like the spiciness of their espresso they use in their lattes. And when you're feeling indulgent, ask about their coffee cake! Can't wait until the community achieves herd immunity, so I can spend some time reading a book or working inside their light-filled and artful indoor space. read more

I love the seasonal options and the overall vibe of the place!! Checkout the turmeric ginger or lavender honey latte if you get the chance.

Delicious! Actually uses spices for the chai latte, and not a sugary premix. Coffee cake was moist, not too sweet. Just the right day for sitting outside and painting in their patio space next to their herb garden. (Note: straw is biodegradable and cup recyclable) read more

Creative Grounds DC - Chai latte (with actual spices) and coffee crumb cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The coffee here is affordable and robust. There are great COVID standards in place and the baristas here are friendly.

This a really great place to visit for coffee. I don't feel that pressure or rush to order coffee as I do when I visit other coffee shops. The employees are always nice and willing to answer questions about their products. read more

This is hands down what this neighborhood needed. A friendly place to get some very very hot espresso, a yummy vegan pastry and enjoy art installation by local artists. The artist talks are so bomb!!! I've learned so much at each one. I've also got my eye on some of the latest works exhibited. I'm in love with the green couch in the window. So is everyone else. So get there early! read more

Best coffee shop! Very neighborhood feel with beautiful art exhibits hung around the shop that rotate. Can't recommend enough!

Absolutely love this cafe! During our time here in DC we went twice. The croissants are so buttery and amazing. The coffee is really good and they don't sweeten it so you could request whatever you want. The outside seating is my favorite! It was so spacious and inviting. It also wasn't too crowded. The servers were also really cool. Would definitely recommend this place! read more

Definitely recommend the seasonal lavender honey latte. It's on the sweeter side, so if you don't like sweet drinks then I'd suggest the sweet potato latte! read more

Just discovered this gorgeous spot in DC! Beautifully decorated space with artwork from local artists. Also, there's a book nook with a variety of amazing authors. I ordered the ginger-turmeric latte and almond danish which were both divine! Will be returning again and again! read more

The coffee is fantastic at this wonderful, Black-owned local business, but I am here today to praise the CAKES. They only have a couple different kinds, but never I have had a better cinnamon coffeecake in my life! And the chocolate cake, mmmmmmmmmm, dense, dreamy, complex. Love Creative Grounds, and so delighted to support an important part of the community that's been hanging on through the pandemic and the rough economy. read more

A hidden gem in Bloomingdale and this will be my go to spot. Iced americano and iced mocha were both very good. For non-coffee lovers, they also have other drinks like sweet tea. Good amount of seating outside for those too! read more

**INCREDIBLE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR KIDS!!** We held our daughter's third birthday party at Creative Ground. It was a total hit! The kids loved the art projects (we did two projects!), the parents loved watching the kids love the art, coordinating the party was a breeze, and there is no clean up:-). The owner, Asmara, set up table cloths, plates, napkins, all included! And, she and the art teacher, Ms Sydney, kept three year olds following directions for the art project for AN HOUR! The price could not be beat. We are so lucky to have this gem of an art studio and coffee shop in our neighborhood. read more

Great coffee, cute and very clean patio and friendly barista. Will definitely be back!

Great patio space. Just what any neighborhood needs during these times. Thanks for being here!!! read more

Creative Grounds DC - Creative grounds!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pastries and iced coffee / lattes were always on point. Walk-up window was convenient and is a hidden gem in this neighborhood. Check them out! read more