I was walking down 14th Street, just thinking to myself: I'd like to be able to find a good croissant here in DC, like I had when I went to Genéve or Paris. I then noticed the claim "Best croissant in DC," on this sign on the way to Thai Tanic II. I remember when this place was still under construction the year before, but hadn't been in the neighborhood recently. Best croissant in DC? Let's see about that. I made it a point yesterday to come out here and try them out. For just $2, I was pleased. The croissants were sweet and flaky like you would get over in Europe. They really do a real job at it. Definitely not like most places where you leave disappointed. I will plan to try more stuff out here in the future to check out. read more

A great neighborhood spot. The croissants are delicious, and the guy at the counter is always so friendly and helpful that I look forward to seeing him when I pop in to curb my croissant cravings. For a caffeine fix, stick with the regular drip coffee. It's surprisingly good/strong and the espresso drinks are ridiculously priced and not particularly well made. I bought a small espresso drink the other day without thinking about it, and realized I paid over $3.00 for a small single shot Americano. (For comparison's sake, it's $1.95 for a Tall at Starbucks.) Le Caprice is the ideal place to go alone to read or just enjoy an afternoon snack. I noticed the owners are usually there taking up a prime table by the window, so I don't even feel bad about spending $5.00 on a snack and sitting around for an hour or two. read more

Come here for breakfast and coffee all the time, their plain croissants are the best I've had in DC! Baguettes are also excellent.

We went because we heard that there would be great croissants. They were good, but not wow. The hunt for croissants continue... The sandwiches at Le Caprice were good, but not memorable. Prices were fair. Service was slow and seats were tight (this was a Sunday afternoon). But this is one of the few deli options in the neighborhoods. read more

So we got here maybe 15 minute before closing on a Friday evening. The person who got us our pastries and rung us up told us no rush since we were eating our dessert there, which was really nice of him. It turns out that he said they'll close half an hour later than usual. For close to closing time, they had so much pastries!!!! I was amazed at how much they had. I had the mango mousse slice and the pistachio macaron. The mango mousse was delicious. The mango flavor was subtle and actually, I probably would have thought it was lemon or strawberry if it wasn't yellow. It was a big portion for $5. The pistachio macaron was so delicious! Lots of filling and crunchy yet chewy. It was $1.50 and worth it. I've never had a macaron from France so I can't compare but I thought it was really scrumptious. Hubby had the strawberry cheesecake. He said he was expecting it to be the best ever but it wasn't. It was still good. They had cronuts!!!! I was intrigued but did not purchase. Wished they had samples of some of the items. One of the ladies (possibly an owner?) stepped out to say goodbye as we were leaving. She seemed very nice too. And guess what, one of their windows has a view of all of their fancy baking equipment. I didn't get to see them bake but I was fascinated. read more

I loved the friendliness and patience of the staff. I took a while to decide and asked for a specialty Chai Tea (a Jenni original lol). The prices are moderate, similar to Starbucks. I love the atmosphere of the place, so cozy, and they have FREE WiFi. Nice cafe overall. read more

Le Caprice DC - Chai tea latte and a chocolate croissant ..yummy - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Croissants and pain au chocolat as good as Paris! read more

Le Caprice DC - Pain au chocolat, croissant, and maple pecan Danish. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here a couple of times when I wanted something sweet and so far the best thing I've tasted was an oatmeal raisin cookie which was very good. Everything else was either okay(cupcakes) or not that good(some mango filling cake and some kind of Boston cream cake). I'll probably be back either for another cookie or something else I haven't tried but so far I've gotten mixed results. read more

Le Caprice DC - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I want these guys to succeed. Super nice people, a family owned and operated business. A small business owner myself, I try to support local businesses! So far, I've been in a handful of times (maybe 3-5 different experiences), and I've tried espresso drinks, muffins, and cupcakes, as well as ordering a birthday cake for my sister. Everything was fine. But just fine- nothing swayed me either way strongly enough to write a review. Until the cake. First of all, the ordering process isn't really in place yet so that was kind of awkward, but they let me sample a cupcake (something fancy with buttercream and caramel ganache inside) which they promised to make the full-size cake version of. I ordered only a small cake (maybe 6"?) with three days notice. When I arrived to pick up my cake (which I had paid for in advance), I was left waiting for a solid 15-20 minutes even though the cake was sitting in the pastry case ready to go. Completely not what I ordered. A 9" cake with the wrong colors and flavors- but still, had it been really good, I could have looked the other way on that since they did not charge more even though the cake was larger than ordered. The kicker though, it had clearly been frozen- this, combined with the fact that it was the wrong size/colors/flavors, leads me to believe that they simply gave me an old cake they had on hand already. Bummer. But the real last straw? They didn't have a cake box. Seriously? So they put it in a plastic snap-together tray thing that wasn't tall enough to accommodate the icing flowers on top, and when I arrived at my sister's birthday, the whole thing was a smooshed mess. Big disappointment. I really wish they had just told me they don't do cakes. Because, really, they don't. All in all, a nice place to drop in for a snack if you're passing by. But not if you're in a hurry. Or have something specific in mind. I'd definitely suggest Sticky Fingers instead. (I was a skeptic since they're a vegan bakery and chose Le Caprice instead, for that reason only, when shopping for a cake... but my boyfriend just got a birthday cake for ME at Sticky Fingers and it was AMAZING and comparably priced.) read more

I last went to this bakery just after they opened and had a pretty bad experience (basically, lack of quality control). I went by this morning and thought I'd see if/how they'd changed since then. Visually, quite a bit. There's a lot more products to choose from. Yet what struck me as odd was how little bread was on sale. No baguettes on the counter and maybe 3 or 4 loaves on the rack. Isn't this a bakery? I asked and was told they had whole grain baguettes, so I bought one. Suffice it to say, I could've baked one better myself. In somewhat layman's terms, it wasn't properly proofed and the dough was not given time to develop any flavor. It's tasteless and lumpy with little gluten development. The sandwich I got had an off "burnt-grease" taste to it, like they toasted the bread in an oven that had just had a grease fire in it. It was handed to me by someone who, no lie, *grunted* at me. I'll just pass by from now on, thanks. read more

Hands down: the BEST croissants in town. I used to loved at the allegro (the building where the bakery is), and it was very hard for me to resist the temptation of eating a croissant a day. My best advise: go for the macaroons. They are freshly made almost daily. The pistachio one is the best, followed closely by the caramel and passion fruit. read more

Fresh baked goods beat out Starbucks by a mile. Make that a million miles. Very tasty drinks made to your liking. Not as good drinks as Flying Fish Coffee & Tea, but the food here is better. Great breakfast nook. I would have never guessed the quality of this place was so high because it's part of a strip mall of stores on the block and lacks individual or unique style. Pleasantly surprised! read more

Le Caprice DC - Bacon egg and cheese on a fresh, fluffy croissant. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a great Brie and Apple Sandwich. Neat place good breads and the sweets are good to. Cute small eating area.

There is nothing special at all about this bakery, their food, or their coffee. I would rather walk 3 blocks to pick up a bagel at the Giant than spend $7 on a weak breakfast sandwich or $4 for a small iced coffee. read more

Open during COVID! Perfect spot to grab a quick bite. Bagels aren't the best, but they have other good options to make up for it. Great juice/sparkling water selection and nice to sit and get work done during non-pandemic times. read more

I came here after a meal at Thip Khao for a coffee. This is not a coffee place. This is very much a bakery/sweet shop. This place is very much a hole in the wall, but it seems almost like a convenience store in certain ways, an unoriginal one. As I only had coffee (a cappuccino), I cannot speak toward the taste of pastries, but in the afternoon, they did look old and less appetizing. Regarding the cappuccino, not well crafter, and very much a generic foamy mess. I cannot recommend you to visit this place unless you are desperate for a glycemic load. read more

The service is very slow, and there's rarely a place to sit down. The breakfasts are meh. The only exception is the chocolate and pistachio croissants, they're very good. But the platters and sandwiches are pretty average, and the stuff in the cooler all seems to be overpriced. Also, the wifi is very sketchy and rarely works. read more

Le Caprice is billed as a French patisserie in the heart of Columbia Heights, which can't be easy to pull off! Their patio seating is wonderful and they have a surprisingly broad menu - not just baked goods for miles, but sandwiches, soup, prepackaged snacks to go. Lots of good stuff. I've visited twice and both times have gone to the substantial foods: first a quiche (good!) then a chicken salad croissant sandwich and a salad (not so good, and left me with the tummy rumbles ). Next time I go, I'll stick to what Le Caprice seems to do best: the baked goods. read more

This place used to be much better. However it's still a nice place for pastries. The espresso drinks are not the best around, but at least you can sit outside. read more

This nice and stylish small bakery is my favorite croissant stop in DC! The store is really nice and the staff incredibly friendly- A great start for the day if you go in the the morning and start the day with fresh croissant and mango juice :) read more

We go for breakfast almost every week. Their chocolate croissants are simply the best. But everything is good here, including sandwiches, coffee, desserts and pastries. read more

I've visited several times since they opened and have never been dissatisfied. Along with their croissants and baguettes, they have a great selection of cookies and sandwiches. I can only describe their chocolate macaroons as dangerously good. I got a goat cheese and proscruitto sandwich, and it was literally one of the best sandwiches I've ever had, and I keep track. read more

I adore this place. It's right around the corner from my house, and I walk by every morning to the intoxicating smell of delicious bread being baked. The breakfast sandwiches are incredible, the croissants are soft and flakey, and their "french hat" cookies are some of my favorites. What I like most is the authenticity of the place. The owners are an old couple that immigrated from France and brought their skills and spirit from the boulangeries that we Americans fantasize about. They are wonderful, accessible people who are happy to talk about their art (baking). I love that they have made a point to employ many French-speaking African immigrants and also teach French to their non-speaking employees that want to learn the language. They also serve the best chai I've ever had amongst a large array of specialty coffees and teas. Come in for a sample of their pastries! They always have them out! read more

Our breakfast started off bad when we waited 30 minutes to have our order taken and we never got any water. But once 5 of my friends received their food the waitress had completely forgotten what me and my other two friends orders. Then after waiting another 30 minutes all my friends were done eating and the still had not received our food. At this point we were ready to leave and so deciders to ask if we could just cancel our order. However, once going to Cancel the order we were completely ignored by the waitress. Finally, the waitress came to confirm our order was oblivious that 3 of us had never received our order. This is probably the worst restaurant experience have ever had, it was not necessarily that the restaurant made a mistake but that they didn't have the human decency to fix their problem. read more

This family owned and run local bakery is a great addition to the neighborhood. They serve really quality baked goods, as well as quite tasty salads, soups and sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. Ambience-wise it is pretty welcoming indoors and there is also really wonderful and plentiful sidewalk cafe seating great for people watching on 14th Street. read more

I used to scoff at the idea of paying a premium for fresh, locally-baked bread instead of the the grocery store brands, until Le Caprice came to my neighborhood. The difference between bread, desserts, pastries, etc. at Le Caprice compared to the mass-produced stuff is huge. Great patio that gets a lot of sun during mid-morning - early afternoon. It is, though, right next to a firehouse, so you'll get the occasional sirens blaring. Coffee's pretty good. You can also get beer and wine. Recommend: Chocolate croissant, almond squares, pistachio croissant, baguette (always guaranteed to have been baked within the last 8 hours at most), and challah. read more

I don't know how to describe my obsession with the croissant they baked here. The chocolate croissant is so smooth and tasty that I have to buy tons of those. And the chocolate muffin sample is also delicious. Wish I could eat there all day long read more

Good place to grab a cup of iced coffee. The pastries looked decent but are expensive. A piece of tiny ruggelach for $1 is outrageous.

This was my first time ordering from Le Caprice. The reviews looked decent so I gave it a try. This is not a critique of the food because I did not get to try it. My order was incorrect hence the two stars. Accuracy is important, especially where food allergies are concerned. read more

Working at the firehouse in the morning, I wandered over to this little coffee shop/bakery next door and ordered a Vanilla Chai and a Butter Croissant. The latte was great and the croissant was flaky and delicious. Best I've ever had. Highly recommend stopping by this place if you are in the area. read more

Very good bakery cafe, probably one of the best places to eat in Columbia Heights. Good croissants and other French-inflected treats.

Great bread, baked goods, pastries etc. 50 cent bottles of water and coffee refills. Fast/always working internet, plenty of chairs and outlets for use. Friendly staff and ownership who are residents/active members of the neighborhood Overall a really good addition to the area that I hope becomes a great success. read more

I have just returned from yet another visit to DC, and as usual, one of the highlights was the proximity of Le Caprice to my host's home. I love this bakery, and its so-hospitable owners and staff. I must have had at least a bite of everything, and it was all delicious. Favorites included the olive bread, the coconut-chocolate macaroons, the almond croissants, the little tarts of many kinds, the quiches, the cheesecakes... All good, some truly outstanding. The place has always been spotlessly clean, the decor pleasant, and the service excellent. It seems the very epitome of The American Dream, and I have the deepest admiration for its hardworking owners. Hurray! I can't wait to return. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop ever. It's a quaint family owned place with great service. Aside from both breakfast and lunch menus (with plenty of healthy, hearty options) they serve pastries and baked goods too. I love their butter croissants and latte so much. A great place for any day of the wk to catch up with friends or do work by yourself. They have free wifi and great outdoor seating. I really love the atmosphere here! read more

Oh no no no. What a disappointment. Came here for afternoon coffee and pastry. Coffee was hot and decent. We ordered a few different Croissants and tarts. All items were stale and dried out. Days old. Very bad. The products are simply not good and not fresh. Seriously, don't waste your time. read more

Def. one of the best croissants in DC. This is down the block from work and home, so I end up going here a lot for breakfast meetings. We also like to grab breakfast before a long car ride or right before driving to Shenandoah for a hike (gotta work off those calories!). The coffee is fine, but the croissants and breakfast sandwiches are where this place shines. We've catered some sandwiches from there once, and while they were good, they are on the small side for the price. Haven't had many desserts, so I'll let other reviewers speak to that. The reason they're only getting 3 stars is that their service is getting worse by the week and it's really a shame. It takes them an unreasonably long time to throw together a breakfast sandwich (I expect some time when they're making it from scratch, but Uptowner down the street is about half they time and they also have a mean croissant and egg sandwich, also made to order). What also makes things worse is that they consistently mess up the order. They've forgotten the cheese on a breakfast sandwich, which we didn't realize until we'd left and it was too late to go back, and messed up coffee orders multiple times, but after you've waited 15-20 minutes for your order, you're almost terrified to correct the mistake. If they could speed up service and be more consistent with their quality, I'd be a much happier customer. But those croissants - they keep me coming back. There's also cute outdoor seating (once the polar vortex goes away for good). read more

I ordered from Le Caprice through Uber Eats since I was dying for coffee and didn't want to drink the stuff in the office kitchen. The latte I got was kinda bland--but I'm sure that's not their fault (I always order hazelnut lattes, which they didn't have, so it's only bland because it wasn't hazelnutty) I also got a french macaron (strawberry) which did not survive the drive intact, but nonetheless it was delicious. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel for a coworker and she was not impressed when it showed up on a croissant. Also, another coworker ordered creme brulee (for breakfast?) and it spilled all over everything. Maybe don't offer your foods through ubereats if you cant handle online orders or package things properly. I will not be ordering from them again, unless its to get a million more squished macarons (cuz it was still yummy, even if it was ugly). read more

I love this place. It is run by the nicest family and they make awesome pastries and croissants. The coffee is good even though I prefer some darker roasts. The breakfast and lunch options are tasty too. I haven't tried the cakes, but they look amazing. I'm a big fan of the chocolate coconut rugelach. In the spring and summer, the patio is one of the premier outside seating areas in the city. Great for people watching and sitting in the sun with some ice coffee. A couple things I would suggest to improve upon: Get bigger coffee options. I am usually ok with a large that is 16 oz, but I know people want giant coffees and it's nice to have that option when you're having one of those days. The price for coffee seems a little high. A large coffee, which is really a medium seems more expensive by 20 cents or so than other places around. Play more french music. Every time I go in there and have some french music playing its like I'm transfixed into another place and time. I recall speaking with someone about the possibility that there would be some nights where speakers/poets come in. That'd be awesome if that could happen. read more

Very good croissants and tartes. Thoroughly recommend. Very courteous staff. Having lived in the south of France the pastries are authentic.

Lovely cafe and nice owners but watch out for America- the lady at the register -- she has the worst customer service ever -