Stopped here for brunch before leaving DC & it exceeded my expectations!! this place was small but cute, the pastries looked delicious! the cashier was super nice, i had a small iced gingerbread coffee, a macaroon & a caprese panini & omgggg it was amazing! the only thing that would've been better was cold foam, or whipped cream on the coffee but they didn't have either :( read more

My friends and I stopped by on a weekend afternoon. The space feels homey and a chill place to work or grab a drink. There are a few different types of seating, which is always a plus. Many of the pastries were already sold by Sunday afternoon, but there was definitely still something to choose from. Don't forget to checkout the fridge in the back for other beverage options. read more

The wait to order is a bit slow but food is prepared efficiently. Didn't like the tea I ordered because it was too sour. The ambiance is friendly and nice if you need a place to study or catch up with friends. read more

Rue Cafe - Couscous Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very nice cafe, loved the patio. The coffee isn't too sweet so if you like extra sweet I'm giving you a heads up! I'll be back to try the pastries. read more

Rue Cafe - Iced Coffee mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This cafe is the best! I'm not a coffee drinker but they get 5 stars for the pastries, sandwiches and other drinks from me. Food service is always super quick. I tried the italian sammy last time I went and it was so delicious. I wish they had a website for to go orders! Great place to enjoy the patio or get some work done. I haven't gone to the Rue Garden bar yet but that's next! read more

Rue Cafe - Italian sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I originally came for their Yelp Elite event & I fell in love with their seasonal muffin & latte (both Pumpkin Spice). I decided to return & I was not disappointed! Last time, I ordered the Chicken Salad Sandwich. This time, I decided to order either their Turkey & Swiss or the Avo Turkey & added bacon. it was really good! The staff was friendly about giving me condiments so I greatly appreciate that. The cream cheese icing on the Pumpkin Spice muffin is so delightful & a nice touch to it in combination to the latte. For my latte, I added more Pumpkin Spice flavor & sweetness to it. I will say I think they should update their online menu to reflect their in-store menu. Additionally, seating can be tough because it is a small cozy shop. Whenever I am in the area, I make it a point to visit to get my fix. read more

See all

Rue Cafe is a super cute coffee shop on 14th Street and has really nice vibes--a perfect place to get work done and enjoy a drink, pastry, or sandwich. They have free wifi too which is awesome (especially as a college student who can't work anywhere BUT coffee shops). The Italian sandwich was insane. It is very unassuming, but when I say that I could eat ten of these, I mean it. I was sad when I finished eating it and had none left. I would go back for this hands down. The latte was fine. I didn't get any of the biscoff flavor which was kinda sad--it was quite bitter. I added Splenda and it was better, but I wish I could taste more biscoff. They do have alternative milks too which is great considering I prefer oat milk! The staff are all very sweet and everything came out quickly! Definitely would say you should come try their food and if you need somewhere to study, this is a good spot to go to. read more

See all

I really enjoy my time every time that I visit Rue Cafe. Parking is very easy since there's 2 hour parking in the neighborhood right across the street. Their dirty chai is delicious and reasonably priced. I'm glad that when you dine in with them they provide you with a mug opposed to a disposable cup. I also ordered an egg croissant which was filling and seasoned well. The barista was very helpful with getting me set up on the wifi. I was there for a couple of hours and throughout the time there was a nice steady flow of customers with a seating option always available. There was also a plug right next to the seat that I was working at so that was a plus. Highly recommend this coffee shop if you're in the Columbia heights area. read more

Rue Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Iced coffee always-even when it's 40 degrees outside. Rue cafe is a gem. Everything about it is so cozy. It is perfect to study or read a book or meet up with a friend. The coffee was great. Super sweet and creamy. The hazlenut latte is my new favorite. Also had a veggie bagel that was delicious. And not outrageously priced. Baristas are friendly and the whole vibe is really nice. I'll be back soon for sure. read more

See all

Have loved Rue from the beginning but want to especially plug their beautiful cocktail / beer garden. One of the nicest outdoor space for a drink in the area, and the cocktails are both delicious and reasonable. Edit: adding hours! read more

Rue Cafe - Hours and details - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my favorite local and non-chain coffee shops in DC! The folks at Rue run a top notch cafe that is great to chill/work/grab and go from. Plus they just opened a new cocktail bar with a wonderful outside patio that is open on the weekend and into the evenings. Plus the service is just always pleasant. read more

Rue Cafe - An Espresso Martini with their cocktail menu. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My first time trying Ethiopian coffee and it did not disappoint! On top of that trying Rue Cafes fall drinks was even more intriguing. First thoughts are clean, cozy and friendly vibes. Most tables inside were taken by people working on their laptops and the outside patio area was nicely shaded and more laid back. I went with their iced pumpkin spice latte. The one thing that stood out to me is this truly tasted like a mix of pumpkin and fall spices. The balance was perfect! I usually prefer sweeter drinks and asked the baristas which was the sweetest one. They mentioned all their fall drinks are on the sweeter side and any drink can be made sweeter by request. Mine was perfectly sweet without any alterations, but the employees were nice enough to let me try it first and they'd adjust it accordingly. I grabbed a table inside because I also ordered a lemon bar which is one of my favorite bakery items. It was delicious! I love all the little pumpkins and fall decor at each table too. It's a bit of a walk from the metro but not terrible. Overall this was a super cute cafe! read more

Rue Cafe - Iced pumpkin spice latte and lemon bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's always a good time when I visit. Lots of seating for those WFH days. Food options and drink options a plenty. Service is always great. read more

Rue Cafe - Almond danish & bacon, egg & cheese bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love this coffee shop service is super nice and friendly and has great stuff. Great place to sit and do work has a chill vibe. Got some lemon bars, tres laches, and a macha. Macha was super flavorful and well balanced. Not too sweet and has a nice matcha flavor and some sweetness from the strawberry. Food was excellent had read more

Sitting in Rue cafe is like being transported to Brooklyn ,NY. The coffee is excellent . The chairs are comfy. The tea selection is superb. There is no music. People bring their laptops and spend the morning quietly and respectfully. Their baked goods are mediocre. The croissants are better. We ave been back 6 times in the last two weeks . We will be back ....again and again . read more

I recently stumbled upon Rue Cafe when the wifi in my apartment stopped working and I needed to find a coffee shop near me. I was pleasantly surprised! Rue Cafe is a quaint coffee shop in NW DC near Columbia Heights and Petworth. I've been a few times since my initial visit, each time I'm met with warm and friendly customer service. I have tried a few of the fall drinks including hot maple brown sugar latte and cookie butter latte, as well as the iced version of the cookie butter latte. My favorite so far is the iced cookie butter latte. I also tried the egg and cheese croissant which was delicious and larger than I expected! They have an awesome assortment of pastries that I plan to try next. The space itself is small and filled with folks working so it is hard to grab one of the 5-6 indoor tables, but there is a nice outdoor patio as well. read more

Okay this spot is stellar. The interior has gorgeous hanging pants and lots of natural light, and the menu is quite large - serving both coffee/tea, smoothies, pastries and some lunch food! When I visited, I ordered an iced green tea at first, then started at the pastry box and just HAD to order the tres leches, too. It just looked so good (and it was). Prices are slightly cheaper than the dc average. I'll definitely be coming back :) read more

See all

Wished that I lived closer to this cosy cafe. The barista was super nice and helpful. I opted to try the chai cream cold brew and a breakfast panini. The beverage was delicious and refreshing. The chai cream was not overly sweet and I would definitely have it again. The breakfast panini had a little kick with the mitmita (Ethiopian spice blend containing chili pepper, black cardamom, white pepper, rosemary, and other spices) that I loved, however it was a little pricy for bacon, egg, mitmita spread on sourdough bread. read more

Rue Cafe - Chai cream cold brew and breakfast panini - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Very nice coffee, great space inside and outside to enjoy your beverage. Friendly and quick service

Opened the last Saturday of February 2022, Rue Cafe is an Ethiopian-owned coffee shop and cafe along 14th Street NW in Petworth. It's open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except for Sundays when it opens at 8 a.m.). Here's my experience: 1) Coffee: They have a full coffee menu and brochures and information painted on the wall about the beans they source from the highlands of Ethiopian. I opted for a latte and it was creamy, smooth and well-brewed. 2) Food: They sell a variety of pastries, sandwiches, bowls and even avocado toast. 3) Space: It's small, but very warm. There's window seating and small tables with plenty of outlets. They have strong wifi, making it a great place to work from. read more

See all

I enjoy popping in for a quick coffee, sitting on the couch to chat with a friend, or working remotely during the week! During my typical work hours the shop is very quiet. The baristas are helpful and friendly and the service is typically very quick. Cute and cozy, but not a lot of seating if you go during peak hours. 10am during the work week is a great option for quiet time. read more

See all

Went with my partner and it was SO CUTE! I got the berry banana smoothie and it was cool and creamy and delicious. My partner got an iced green tea and a tres leche slice and they were also both amazing and delicious. The staff was incredibly kind and gave very good recommendations. They have to go cups/containers, as well as ceramic plate ware for those staying and more environmental. The aesthetic and vibe is very nice. I went at noon on a Saturday so it was fairly busy, but not full. Everyone was quiet and respectful. There were a couple people there quietly talking over coffee and a few individuals there reading. They have outside seating that is covered and shaded, but it's 95 degrees in DC today, so everyone opted for it to-go or to sit inside. There a little expensive, but pretty classic for the cost of coffee in the area. Their shop is covered in plants and has a really pretty mural. They also have a cute sign that says "coffee is like a hug in a mug" that I noticed because it's so cute. They have a community board too and it seems like a lot of people in the area recognize them for being a community space because it was quite full. They also have free WIFI with the login public, making them accessible. Highly recommend and I'm glad I discovered them. I plan to visit them frequently now. read more

See all

New find for my husband and me! We came and had the best breakfast and coffee there this morning. That staff was friendly and there was plenty of space and good WiFi to hangout! I had the breakfast panini, which had a nice kick to it, and my husband had the breakfast bagel, which had a ton of bacon on it. Lovely experience and will def be back! read more

Rue Cafe - Cute order counter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Was looking for a good coffee shop and saw good reviews for this Ethiopian owned business. I was not disappointed at all, the coffee was amazing. read more

Rue Cafe - Coffee Facts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cute & cozy cafe! Feels very much like your neighborhood spot. I love all the pumpkins on the tables - right on theme with the current season. The staff is kind and greets you with a smile. I tried the cookie butter latte. Not overly sweet & just the right amount of cinnamon. read more

See all

Maple Brown Sugar Latte (with oat milk) was pretty good. Texture was very smooth. Cute small well-lit interior.

I don't know what they did to that coffee I had today, but it was damn good. And they have a very pleasant patio out front. Recommend!

What a great spot to pull off the Rock Creek Parkway and take a breather from biking through all the fall foliage to warm up or cool down with a coffee. For us, it was more of a cooldown from the unseasonably hot day, even though I still went with the hot maple brown sugar latte. It packed so much toasted flavor and had the perfect amount of sweetness. My wife opted for an iced chai latte which was not quite as sweet but very creamy. This Ethiopian coffee gave us a nice second wind to explore more of this beautiful area. read more

Fast and great service in a nice neighborhood cafe! They had a bunch of pastries and the spinach and feta croissant had come right out of the oven fresh! Will definitely be back read more

Rue Cafe - Avocado toast with egg on the side - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I love this cafe - their food, coffee, and tea are all solid and fairly priced. The service is quick and friendly as well. My fav thing is their breakfast panini which they sprinkle mitmita spice on which my toddler loves to share with me. There was a period we'd come weekly and the cashier recognized her as the kid who only liked the grapes in the fruit cup so he made her a grape-only cup. Their iced teas, especially lychee oolong, are not sweet at all (a plus in my book) and refreshing. It's a nice chill place to get food, meet up with friends or even telework as there's always 1-2 people out with laptops on zoom calls. read more

I love Rue Cafe!! I've been here a couple of times now and they always have a yummy pastry to catch my eye. So far I've cried their caramel tres leches, bagel and one other pastry that escapes me but they were all fantastic. I've had their rose latte for Valentine's Day but wasn't the biggest fan, BUT! You can never go wrong with the chai! The staff is always friendly and for a small shop, there is a decent amount of seating and I love the style they have as an homage to their roots. Definitely a great place to study, wfh, or enjoy catching up with a friend. They also have a small outdoor patio where you can sit. read more

The ambiance is perfect for working remotely, the environment is cozy and quiet. Two items that are not to be missed are the tiramisu and the chicken salad sandwich! read more

Such a good little coffee shop! Had great smoothies, coffees, & the lox bagel was to die for Menu wasn't up to date online when I checked before going. So heads up, they have more options when you get there!:) read more

See all

Great location, service, and iced chai. The owners are people that you can feel really good about supporting and the baristas are all friendly and patient. Love this place! read more

The place is nice for this city area. Coffee is great, also there are Basque cheesecake. Not bad at all.

Such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood!! Great space to sit and do some work or read or just hang out. They've got a great variety of food and drinks. I will say their chai is a little sweet for my taste--more gingerbread-y than chai in my opinion--but that's just my preference! read more

See all

I got a hot hazelnut latte and an iced chai latte, and those were some of the best of the kinds I had ever tasted. So good! Super friendly staff. I would definitely visit again. read more

Great place to sip coffee, chill, and work. Their Breakfast Panini is delish. Chocolate Croissant also yummy. read more

Rue Cafe - Great vibe! Everyone here are seated with great coffee and their laptops. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome little cafe run by the owners of the minimart next door. Tasty food and drinks, and incredibly warm and inviting service. A fabulous addition to the neighborhood. Give it a try! read more

See all

Great coffee, lots of seating, super friendly baristas. Vanilla custard shell is delicious read more