We are outside so this is a review on food , drinks and service only. Service was friendly and attentive- she was great! We ordered Espresso Martini's and they were strong and delicious! We ordered the deviled eggs- perfection. You only get 4 halves which is my only complaint since I had to share. I think at that price point... 6 halves (3 eggs) would be right on target. We tried something unique to this place- a potato and rosemary pizza and it was really tasty. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Kramers - Potato Rosemary and Bacon Pizza - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Kramers always hits, and it's a comfy local spot. I sometimes bunker down with a friend in Dupont for days in work mode, and we would take joyful breaks to bop down to Kramers for brunch. She always gets the avo toast and French soda and it's cute to have a lil routine. We came here on Inauguration Day 2025, a spooky day, and it felt very DC. Thankful for this friendship and fond memories here together. read more

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Friends that live in the area recommended this place due to it being a restaurant counter and book store all in one. It's conveniently located off Dupont Circle and across the street from a metro entrance. It was busy, filled with people checking out books. The restaurant part is at the back on the left; they have tables in the back or bar stools along the side. The menu is extensive with traditional breakfast and brunch items, plus lunch and drinks. I had the classic breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and bacon, plus a nitro cold brew coffee. Staff was mostly attentive, and service with the food was fast so it's a great place if you're in a hurry to start your day. I thought prices were reasonable for the quality and portion sizes of the food; everything was flavorful and it was filling. They also have a clean restroom, you need to ask for the code. If you love books and are also hungry, this is the perfect place to check out. read more

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What a cool concept and fun place to visit! We came for breakfast but managed to spend an hour just looking at the books to buy! The prices are good and the fresh toast was fantastic! Our server was super nice and on the ball for everything we needed. This was such a treat! read more

I think I found my favorite bookshop in the city. In the heart of DuPont circle kramers is the cutest local bookshop. With a bar and restaurant attached to the bookshop you can have your whole day planned for you and never want to leave. I stopped in and picked up a few books and truly had to stop myself from adding too many books to my ongoing reading pile. read more

Kramers - Book - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I suggest you make a reservation if you're going for brunch. The food was delicious! I loved this little place! I went their for brunch on a rainy day. It was packed and cozy. They have a book store in there, so in case you do t have a reservation, time passes by quick when you're waiting around. I had crab cakes benedict, and omelet and some French toast. All was so good. I will definitely be back! read more

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My sister-in-law was raving about this place and said the chicken and waffles were the best here. I already had this dish the other day, so I opted for the smoked pork hash. Hubby got the Cubano and she got the chicken and waffles. I also got a pot of tea! Others got cram of crab soup, eggs and potato, and a chili dog. Food came out quick and service was prompt and friendly. The lighting was weird- lots of red, so my photos didn't do the food justice. I enjoyed my hash and the seasoned fries from other plates were so flavorful. This place is also a bookstore, with a pretty patio out back. We should've dined outside instead! Overall, a cool spot to visit if you're in town. read more

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We just encountered a very rude encounter with the hostess by the patio. She said her name was Ava/Eva. My friend and I were questioning a 45 minute wait when there were multiple tables open on the patio and the Kramer's inside staff from the front directed us to open tables in the back. There were loads of available inside and we would have gladly be redirected back inside. Ava/Eva got involved in a conversation we were having with the waitress and asked us to be polite to her. We were in no way rude and she did not have to interject herself into the conversation. She was brusque and unreasonably off putting. Shame on her. read more

Kramers is such a reliable go to. I love the concept of having an all day brunch and a bookstore (and their events are so fun). Most recently I ordered a Bellini (with grapefruit) and my boyfriend ordered the chicken + waffles. He really enjoyed it, but wished there was more chicken. The Bellini tasted great and could've been stronger. The French soda is also pretty cool. I like the amount of outdoor seating, but my favorite place to sit is in the greenhouse-type room. read more

Kramers - Chicken Waffles - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is a bit nostalgic for me after discovering it 15 years ago while working in DC for a summer. Fast forward to now and I'm now back living in this part of the country. Was happy to see it's still around. It's become a bit of a tradition for my family to visit whenever we find ourselves in the DMV. I love the bookstore, always a great selection and well organized. But the food is good too! We had breakfast this morning and the blueberry lemon waffles and eggs in purgatory were both 10/10...I'd just suggest an extra bit of toast for the eggs. Special shout out to our wonderful server - Alli (spelling?!) A kindred spirit and we weren't joking when we said we hoped to see him again on our next visit! read more

I was recommended this place by a friend. I would definitely make a reservation to make sure you have a spot and then get there early to walk around the book store. I spent around an hour going around the bookstore. Bought some books. It's a pretty good city book store but it's not huge. The good was so good. I got the deviled eggs as an app and then got the salad because I got two more eggs. I got the mousse and my friend got the pie. We both loved it. I'm gluten free and not a huge fan of salads as an option but will say these were pretty good salads and a large portion. Emily was our server and was attentive to us. We chilled for a while after paying and had some wine. read more

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Haven't been to Kramer's in a while and decided to come support local. Just like I remember the store was easy to navigate, and there were many books in stock that I had on my "to buy" list. The employees are always so helpful when trying to find a book. I still highly recommended shopping local for books when you can. read more

Great food! Good service! Good atmosphere! We had a great time and got to shop for books after. read more

Kramers - Buttermilk Waffle and the Cali Omelette - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fresh. Generous portions. Extraordinary selection especially breakfast. Have yet to experience disappointment which is rare these days. Top wait staff and kitchen too. read more

My favorite DC bookstore (but not my favorite restaurant)! I love that the bookstore has never changed. A great selection of carefully chosen books in a bright, bustling space with friendly staff who love to read. read more

BLUF: Very pricey and very small portions. Unremarkable. Flavors ordinary falling into two categories: bland and salty. Table service was top notch. Hosting 50/50; one was attentive and kind, the other uninterested and unfriendly. Worth going? Not so much. If I had included photos of our food, you, the reader, probably would deduct a star. That's how underwhelming the food was. Sloppily tossed together salad and sandwich and fries. For the prices, there wasn't much to either, and the taste of both seemed equivalent to something you could have spent about half the amount at a fast food venue. In fact, after seeing and eating what we chose, I would have felt much better about meals I would have purchased at a favorite fast food joint. The meat in the sandwich was bland, dry, and salty. The salad was a $15 small pile of greens you could have gotten at a grocery store for $6...and you probably would have gotten at least twice the amount. The dressing was not tasty at all. Bland. Boring. The other ingredients in the salad didn't add any flavor either. Pass. It was a horrible looking salad. The chef should be embarrassed that something like that came out of the kitchen. How one can kill a sandwich is a head-scratcher, and how food that's supposed to be served hot can come out of the kitchen cold is another feat. Pass. Pass. Pass. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Do not waste your money here for eats. read more

We might be out of the loop on knowing about Kramer's but it was so good! We ate here the night before thanksgiving with our toddler. I had the French toast, which was undoubtedly the best I've ever had. Huge pieces of cinnamon brioche drizzled with cookie butter and topped with whipped cream and strawberries. My husband had the chicken Caesar wrap which he also raved about. My toddler liked her grilled cheese. Overall a really solid spot with a great menu. We can't wait to go back! read more

I was SO VERY DISAPPOINTED going to Kramer Books & Afterwards Cafe for dessert & coffee with a friend after having dinner in the neighborhood. I remember years ago when the desserts were fabulous, great apple pie and the amazing Kahlúa walnut Moose pie and others. Tonight when I went many of the lightbulbs were out, an obvious sign that The Cafe is not being taken care of. And the dessert choices were awful. The chocolate cake offering had strawberries in the middle of it! The chocolate mousse was more like chocolate sludge, thick, and gummy. No wonder it was so empty on a Saturday night . This is such a shame, knowing how good it used to be. I hope someone starts paying attention and gets it together! This really is an institution in DUPONT CIRCLE well worth putting in the effort to make it great again. read more

I am a big reader and I love to shop local. So naturally, I went on the hunt to find a book store that wasn't your average Barnes and Noble. I was in DuPont and that's when I found Kramers! What is cooler than a book store that also is a food joint and bar?! The food isn't bad, it's classic diner style food. But what's spectacular is the book store part of the business. There is a great variety of books and they're all catalogued and it's quite easy to find all genres. It also feels quite cozy inside and it is warm and welcoming. Whenever a new book comes out, the first place I go is Kramers! read more

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I love the Kramers environment, any place I can get a good meal, a good drink, AND a book is a 10/10 in my book. I've brought many locals and out of towners here and everyone always speaks very highly of it. I've been at varying times of days and the staff always has a spot for me or there's minimal wait. While the staff is attentive, I appreciate that they leave me and my friends to gab or for me to read my book.Definitely a DC classic. PS. Please bring back the campfire martini this winter. read more

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Someone recommended that I check out this book store and I absolutely loved it there! It's a medium sized bookstore with everything you need. Due to its size, the in-store catalogue is limited but based on what they chose to put out, you can tell they are quite diverse and inclusive. They also have a children's corner, games, cards, socks (lol) and random dorky items for purchase which I absolutely love. At the back, there's a cafe when you can get something to eat or drink while reading. I'll certainly go back and recommend checking it out. It is also right by DuPont Circle so the location is easy to get to. read more

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Great ambiance. There is a bit of a wait if you don't have reservations, but I ended up sitting at the bar. The food was flavorful but came out fast read more

Kramers - Chicken and waffle - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The atmosphere and the food was decent the lemon ginger tea was delicious. I sat and told the waitress to leave the menu because I had a sweet tooth and possibly would get a dessert. When I got my meal after taking about 1 or 2 bites she approached me with the credit card machine asking was I ready to pay or not. I was shooked, so I asked her to get me a straw and when she got back, I was getting my card out and I guess i was taking to long she walked away. I put the card on the table and she came back and swiped it. After her approaching me I chose not to get that dessert. I watched the tables around me, to see if that was their normal procedure, but noticed that all the other tables the servers waited until the customers completed their meal. So I asked another server what their protocol was and she informed me that they waited until the customer asked for the bill or it appeared like they were finished. I called after I left and spoke to a manager the server informed the manager so he knew about the incident, however the waitress who took my order lied and said she only approached me because I had my card out. Which to me doesnt make sense for the manager to believe, because why would I make this up. I paid for my meal and left so it wouldnt be any issues of me trying to get something for free. He offered me a free meal the next time I came, but I will not be returning. The incident and how it was handled rubbed me the wrong way. read more

I've been coming here for years, and each time the place is more whimsical than the last. Truly a gem in DuPont, no better place to browse books and get caffeinated. Love supporting this business and so happy it's so close to the metro. Very much a staple place in my DC living. Cannot recommend it enough. read more

I was in town to visit my daughter. She was still at work, so I decided to take a walk to Dupont Circle. Kramers bookstore is located there. I walked around a little but nothing jumped out at me. Then I saw To Kill a Mockingbird. It was perfect timing because I had just finished reading a biography of Harper Lee, and had told several people that I wanted to read this novel next. I bought the book and received a free bookmark from the store. Great little neighborhood bookstore. read more

Kramers - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We popped in here for lunch. My husband frequented this place back when he was in college, and it's a chic little restaurant in the back of a bookstore. I was a little leery at first due to the long wait and small indoor space - particularly with two kids in tow (it didn't seem family friendly to me at a first glance) but I'm pleased to report my first impression was completely wrong. A friendly hostess seated us outside immediately as there was no wait. It was warm outside but there was a nice breeze and the umbrellas provided us ample shade. We were attended by the AMAZING Enrique who walked out with four waters, and two kids menus. He took the kids' orders and my drink order immediately. We were served within five minutes and my kiddos happily tucked in to their waffle plate with fruit side. they also offered kids hamburgers, chicken fingers, and Pb&J sandwich. We also got them a side of bacon (which was a little pricy at $10 a plate for six pieces). My husband got the cheese steak sandwich and I ordered a Bloody Mary and the burger. Everything was absolutely delicious! We practically inhaled our meal! read more

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The staff was amazing at kramers. My server was nice and quick. I also really enjoyed the margarita pizza. It's a personal sized 4 slice thin crusted pizza. It was so yummy! I need to come back for brunch. read more

Kramers - Margarita pizza - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This iconic restaurant was what I needed for breakfast. The French toast had a unique taste that I had never had anywhere else. The cinnamon in the butter was rich yet flattering to my taste buds. It was fulfilling. I ordered a side sausage to go with the French toast. My friend had salmon and eggs, and she said they were good. The restaurant is in the center of downtown DC, within walking distance to many of the sites within DC and across the street from the metro. The service was initially quick. However, our waitress forgot about us and did not check on us often once we got our meals, which someone else served us. Since it was a lovely, cool morning, we could sit outside on the porch, dine peacefully, and talk. read more

Kramers - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ehh ok spot if you're in the area. Service was slow for a not so busy night. Forgot stuff on sandwiches, pasta lacked a little luster. The concept of a book store/restaurant/bar is cool. read more

I have been trying to get into reading more, but when it comes to me with books, I really need to justify buying that book and keeping it forever. Bookstores intimidate me, and I just don't know how to act when I am in one. I feel like I am in more of a library than a place to purchase books. When I came here I didn't have anything in mind to read. I'm not one that seems to think that it is a passion of mine. However, with me riding metro a lot more I need to find something to help me pass the time while I am in transit. I thought I would give books a try. This place is busy, and just like I though, intimidating. I came in here with hopes to just browse the shelves to see if I could find a book that would hold my interest. But I should have done my research beforehand. This just doesn't feel like a place where you can go to browse. Unless you come here really early in the day or right before they close. Browsing here, you just feel like you are in the way of someone that knows what they are looking for. I still have no idea what genre will hold my interests, but I am sure once I figure that out, this can be my go to to pick up a book. On this visit, I did find a few books that could hold my interest, but most of them were more of the coffee table books than novels. I think with some time, and my anxiety not so out there, I will come back here and spend a day to browse the titles. read more

If you know me, you know I love my books. So when I knew we were planning a DC trip, I had to research the most famous book shops in the city. Upon searching Google and, of course, Yelp, I came across this book shop. The reviews made me excited and I couldn't wait to visit. The bookstore is located in a busy area right outside of Georgetown in Dupont Circle. The book store itself is a little small but they have so many selections. They also have a great variety of souvenirs and Kramer's swag. I came up on a hoodie that I wear almost everyday. The cool thing about this spot is there is also a restaurant/coffee shop/bar. Unfortunately, since we were on a tight schedule, I quickly made my purchases and we had to leave to go to the next stop. If you are ever in town, I really recommend stopping here to experience what Kramer's has to offer. Also, maybe stop for some happy hour while reading your favorite book and sipping on some whiskey. read more

My wife and I came back a year ago for brunch and we at more impressed. Looking forward to returning to see if it improves more.

Third time back but this time not just for coffee, but also food. This spot is a DC classic and a must go if you're in DuPont circle area. Tried the New Haven style white clam pizza and it hits the spot. Shared it with my partner as we darted off to another resto for dinner. This was very filling and tastes really good. read more

Kramers - Apizza - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid food and good service. Sat here with friends for 2 hours at the big table and didn't have to ask for water refills. Staff was also understanding that friends were late, so we ordered in a staggered manner. Only complaint is that the bathroom exhaust or some kind of bathroom-like odor made its way into our space and ruined my appetite. read more

Kramers - French Toast and Steak & Eggs - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great bookstore. I always find some g new that I didn't know existed. Helpful staff, good staff recommendations and a cage/bat attached w solid food. One of my favorite places in DC! read more

You definitely get the bang for your buck here. I was worried you will get not a lot of food for a lot of money but that wasn't the case here. The food was fine. The kale salad with the bagel was weird and I ordered a fruit cup that was like 6 slices of strawberries and 3 blackberries... so save your money on that. The servers were fine and attentive so no complaints there. The half bookstore half restaurant vibe is cool. Made it really unique. The reason I was giving it a 4 star is the was soooo much cream cheese on that bagel. You can see it's busting out the top in my photo. With everything else on it, I would like it to not dominate the sandwich. It was like 2 scoops too much. Other than that, it was good. read more

Kramers - Bagel sandwich - last item on the breakfast menu - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food/coffee this morning was relatively good. Nothing bad to say about it, but the hostess was absolutely the rudest hostess I have ever encountered at a restaurant, horrible attitude to not only my party, but everyone who walked in the door. read more

Decided to walk over to have brunch with my two friends. The ambiance was nice and food was cool. However, after I drunk from my glass of water SEVERAL times I notice a pink lipstick stain on the glass! YUCK! I told my the server Erika F about it and she was sooo nonchalant about it! No real apologies or anything. Then my friend notice the same on her glass! Just truly unacceptable! I'm sure there were several times where the glasses should've been checked to ensure that they were clean! Please do better! read more

Kramer's has a lovely, cozy and friendly ambiance. The servers and staff are all warm and helpful, full of smiles. The bookstore, though small, has a nice selection of titles and genres. Moving through the various rooms and eating areas is a mini adventure. Despite the high ratings for the restaurant, I found the food to be basic and the flavors were dull. The salmon and broccolini were very overcooked, and not seasoned sufficiently. Kramer's is worth the stop but don't expect a great meal. read more

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Service staff and bar were all perfect! Of course/ there was an Amazing selection of books too! read more