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    Daydrift Books & Cafe

    4.6 (39 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Peaches & Cream Latte
    Vikki Y.

    Love the vibes here! Great area to read/bring a laptop to work at. They have couches and tables around the cafe with a wall of books for sale. I visited Daydrift twice during my visit to Crystal City area for work. For lunch, I was able to get a cozy single table by myself. I ordered their turkey club and a vanilla bean latte. The sandwich wasn't the best I've ever had as it was pretty dry (didn't have much spread, if any). The vanilla bean latte was a tad sweet for me. The second time I visited was during morning rush hour around 7:30AM. It was super busy and there were only two ladies working behind the counter: one was taking orders and helping out whenever she can and the other was preparing the drink. It was a bit disorganized because it seems like the cashier girl was a bit overwhelmed. She forgot to place my drink order in the queue (after waiting for about 15 minutes) and it appears that another customer's order was also forgotten. I think they need another person behind the counter during the early hours. In any case, I ordered the Peaches and Cream Latte and it was the most delicious drink I got from this weeklong trip. Overall, I hope this place sticks around - would definitely visit again if I'm in the area for work.

    Tuna Poke Rice Bowl
    Erica W.

    Came across this little hideaway while leaving a Navy Federal. It's cute, small but open space with comfy decor I ordered a Tuna Poke Rice Bowl which was delicious! So flavorful and fresh - the perfect portion. I tried one of their seasonal drinks to wash it down. The Cherry Blossom chai latte was good with a hint of cherry blossom - not much difference but still tasty. I'd come by early to get a good space. There's not much seating - a high top communal bar near the window, communal table in the middle with a number of small tables and plush sofa seats throughout. I chose the communal table for the outlets - the perfect spot to settle down and lock in for a few hours. I didn't get to browse the book collection but plenty of options for an avid reader. I will definitely return if I'm in the area

    Interior
    Kathy M.

    We visited on a Friday afternoon and there was a steady stream of customers but didn't keep the place crowded. We got a table to hang out for a bit and read books. Love this vibe where you are actually encouraged to stay and read! Great selections from fiction-non fiction, spicy books, self help books. Etc, new releases and classics as well. Seating and interior is airy, staff is friendly, ample seating. Drinks are great as well! I had the berry vanilla blossom latte and an iced americano. Street parking and garages nearby. Would recommend!

    Breakfast Burrito
    Manal C.

    Loved this place!!! The service was amazing and everyone was lovely. I got the honey pistachio latte and the breakfast burrito, both of which were delicious! I plan on going back and trying more things on their menu because everything looked appetizing. The space is really nice and clean. It's a great spot to get work done but I suggest going earlier in the day since it may be crowded. Taking the metro or walking is probably ideal since parking can be a bit tricky in the crystal city area. Highly recommend!!

    French vanilla latte and open faced ricotta toast
    Quinncee P.

    This is a bright little cafe with a focus on books: you can bring books for donation or come and read what's on the shelf. It would be a comfortable place to get some work done. I had a latte and a ricotta/butternut squash toast with mushrooms on top. They were both delicious. I will say the toast was messy to eat due to the sheer amount of spread compared to bread. All in all it's a nice cafe with good offerings.

    matcha latte and pistachio latte
    Khoa P.

    Daydrift Cafe tl;dr: A cute and cozy cafe that combines a delicious food and drink offerings with a bookstore. Daydrift Cafe is a newer cafe in Arlington that is really two stores in one: it's a bookstore and a cafe! It's like having a combination Taco Bell and Pizza Hut--you have two of your favorites in one convenient spot. When you step into this combo bookstore/cafe, you'll see all of the book decor and shelves of books to purchase. I stopped by to try a few of their drinks and food. What I ordered: -Matcha Latte -- Well mixed! They had soy as a non-dairy milk. -Pistachio Honey Latte -- Pistachio wasn't overwhelming and it was just the right amount of sweetness -Silky Egg Breakfast Sandwich -- The fluffiest egg I've ever had on a breakfast sandwich! You can also add bacon Vibes: Lots of natural light, and enough places to sit and meet up with friends. Parking: There is a nearby garage next to Whole Foods. The Whole Foods will also validate even without a purchase for up to 60 minutes.

    Hannah H.

    Welcome to Crystal City, Daydrift! This now bookstore and cafe took over the long emptied space of Mah-Ze-Dahr, and their menu offers andwiches, bowls, soups, open-faced sandwiches, pastries, and coffee/smoothies! Try their coffee and eats, while you peruse their great selection of books. The Silky Egg Sandwich (prepared with egg custard, cheddar, and dijonnaise in a sesame-poppy seed potato bun) and the Soba Noodle bowl (prepared with chilled soba, edamame, shiitake, mango, radish, carrot, cashew, carrot, cilantro & soy egg, dressed in a rice wine tahini dressing and topped with sesame seed sprinkles) are good go-to orders! The Lavender and the Chai Latte were well-made! Staff and service were very friendly! They have great seating options, and there were also many who were doing some studying/remote work. The place does get a bit loud, though. I loved their little gift section, specifically the greeting cards and the basket full of strawberries magnet! Easily accessible from the Metro as well as garage parking is available in the area. +pastries +decent lattes +friendly staff and service

    Ashley G.

    I was so sad when Mah Ze Dar closed, but I think this little book shop/coffee shop has been a great job filling the space. It's often crowded so maybe not a great place to sit and do work, but it is very bright and spacious and pleasant feeling to sit in, a great place for a coffee and conversation.

    Turkey club
    Sydney G.

    Ok how did I miss the memo that this was here?! I'm at this Alamo all the time and I completely missed it. I'm so glad my friend suggested that we meet here to coworker for a bit so that I could check it out. I got one of their specialty lattes around Valentine's Day, the chocolate covered strawberry iced latte and it was amazing. Definitely the best one that I've had of that kind. For lunch, I got the turkey club at the recommendation of an employee who was very helpful since I was very indecisive. It was very tasty although a bit messy. The Wi-Fi works great. The vibes are immaculate and the staff is super friendly so I can definitely come back to you again.

    Mercelis B.

    Absolutely love the space and ambiance. A bookshop + cafe is one of my happy places and they curated this so well. The drinks are reasonably priced though I feel the food is overpriced, but everything was good so at least it is quality. The coffee cake muffin was probably the best thing we tasted. Will definitely come back here repeatedly.

    Pastries and drinks
    Maya B.

    I really liked this cafe! Friendly staff, the iced latte was good and so was the quiche. There's a lot of seating but it does get busy. It was completely full while I was there. Nice place to get some work done for a few hours. And of course you can browse the books! It's a small selection but saw some books I'd be interested in. Parking is a little bit difficult but I managed to find street parking nearby but there's also a paid deck close.

    raspberry white chocolate matcha muffin
    Daniel Y.

    I went to Daydrift a couple times. The vibes were honestly great. It's one of those places where you feel super comfortable whether you're catching up with a friend or just sitting alone. The space feels open, relaxed, and easy to spend time in. The drinks and food, though, were pretty mediocre. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out either. It's not somewhere I'd go specifically for the menu. That said, the ambience really carries itself really well, I'd still recommend checking it out if you're in the area.

    Matthew F.

    This quaint little book café on Crystal Drive has been a wonderful community third space since it opened. Solid coffee drinks, fresh baked goods, books for sale and a delightful reading/dining room. The staff has been very amiable and cordial every visit. Some reviewers keep saying it's little pricey, but it's comparable compared to the rest of the area, which is quite pricey as a whole, so not a demerit for me. Overall, a wonderful small business to support; would spend my time and money here anyday over Starbucks.

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    Mary F.

    Thank you, Erica! Glad you enjoyed the Tuna Poke bowl.

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    4 months ago

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    Mary F.

    Thank you, Kathy! Love to hear this.

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    7 months ago

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    Mary F.

    Thanks, Ashley! We sent you a message to your inbox.

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    Mary F.

    We appreciate the review, Tori!

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    Mary F.

    Thanks, Aleena! We sent you a private message, so check your inbox.

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    Mary F.

    Thanks for the 5 stars, Siddhe!

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    10 months ago

    Excellent atmosphere, a curated book selection, and the best flat whites I've ever had -- we're lucky to have Daydrift in the neighborhood!

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    Review Highlights - Daydrift Books & Cafe

    “In any case, I ordered the Peaches and Cream Latte and it was the most delicious drink I got from this weeklong trip.”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Al-Hikma Bookstore

    Al-Hikma Bookstore

    5.0(8 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    •$$

    After wandering in and hearing the owner telling a story to another women in the shop, he sat us…read moredown for 2 hours to talk about philosophy. He gave us tea and cookies and a free pen, and great recommendations for books. Although ramblely, his kindness was truly touching. He explained that he has the first Arabic book store in dc, and he is incredibly passionate about free will and the right to literature. The store felt magical and peaceful , and I will cherish the few hours I spent there

    We found this bookstore after encountering the scarcity of Arabic books available online. Stepping…read moreinside feels like being transported to the Middle East. After discovering it was our first time in, the owner gleefully offered us a tour. His knowledge was outstanding, and he left no shelf unaddressed. I would guarantee that Al-Hikma has a book for any need one has of an Arabic book or any interest one has in the Arab world. There are books for learning Arabic (or for Arabs learning English), English books about Arab topics (pictured), Arabic books for every Arab country, beautiful religious books, specialized dictionaries, photo journal books, cook books, and much more. After more than an hour of our searching, the owner offered us tea and Arab sweets (probably not a guaranteed part of a visit, but we were lucky!). He distilled more knowledge to us before sending us on our way. We felt notably enriched for having stepped inside.

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    Al-Hikma Bookstore - L

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    Al-Hikma Bookstore
    Al-Hikma Bookstore

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    Daydrift Books & Cafe - cafes - Updated September 2026

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