Tatte Bakery & Cafe, near North St. Asaph Street, and King Street in the Old Town neighborhood of…read moreAlexandria, VA, boasts a signature, stylish, aesthetic, Parisian-inspired ambiance that is inviting and offers plenty of tables to sit, relax, and enjoy coffee with pastries. Situated conveniently in Old Town Alexandria, it's within walking distance of shops and strolling areas. They serve artisanal pastries and specialty coffee drinks such as the Pistachio Latte, Pumpkin Oatmilk Latte, and Honey Halva Latte, along with classic options like iced Americano and latte--perfectly complementing their baked sweet treats. The outdoor seating area is perfect for pleasant days. - Their Iced Americano was excellent--bold espresso that's both refreshing and satisfying for my caffeine craving. - The hot latte is also excellent, warming, smooth, creamy, and well-balanced - Honey Apple Cake, a popular fall favorite, is a moist honey apple cake base layered with a crunchy almond streusel on top, dusted with powdered sugar- a great textural contrast to the soft, fruit-filled center- and pairs well with their espresso drinks.

Delicate Hot Chocolate…read more I have long been an admirer of fine hot chocolate. Traditionally, I would visit Starbucks or a contemporary coffeehouse, only to receive what often felt like mocha syrup blended with steamed milk--pleasant, perhaps, but rarely memorable. This morning marked my first visit to Tatte Bakery & Café in Old Town Alexandria where the hot chocolate proved to be an unexpected delight. The associate explained that it was prepared with semisweet chocolate and warm milk. Intrigued, I ordered a small and chose to enjoy it outdoors. The price was refreshingly reasonable, while the bakery's bright interior and refined ambiance created an inviting first impression. My drink arrived within approximately five minutes, presented elegantly in a cup and saucer. The temperature was perfectly warm--comforting without being excessively hot--and the overall presentation was quietly sophisticated but has room for improvement. Then came the taste.... The texture was exceptionally silky and smooth, with no grainy residue, excessive sweetness, or bitter aftertaste. It was rich without being heavy and indulgent without becoming overwhelming. Even better, it left behind no awkward crown of foam. I have enjoyed hot chocolate in Sicily, where the experience was quite literally a cup of melted chocolate--decadent, dense, and almost dessert-like. Tatte's interpretation was more delicate and restrained, yet equally satisfying in its own way. Tatte has now earned first place in my personal ranking. There is, however, still an opportunity to elevate the service experience. A cloth napkin and small spoon presented alongside the drink would add a more polished touch, while a subtle soupçon of finely shaved chocolate would enhance both the visual presentation and the final sip. Overall, I award Tatte's hot chocolate an A-. I look forward to seeing whether it can achieve an even higher distinction upon my next visit.

- creamy light and a good price for gelato! - they pack it…read moreup - cute seating area inside and outside!

Stopped into Dolci Gelati in Old Town Alexandria and immediately ran into the classic problem:…read more"I'll just try a little something." Famous last words. Went with the Biscoff and pistachio gelato. Both were excellent, but the Biscoff is clearly the crowd favorite--I even asked the staff what people usually order, and they didn't hesitate. So of course I did the responsible thing and ordered it... and then almost didn't share it. Normally I'd pace myself. Not here. Also tried an Americano, which was surprisingly solid. Not an afterthought coffee situation at all--actually good enough that I'd come back just for that alone. What really stood out though was the staff. Super friendly, all smiles, really personable. I think the guy who helped me was named Avery--shoutout to him for making the whole thing feel like a neighborhood spot instead of "just grab dessert and leave." Bottom line: this is one of those places you end up going back to "just to try one more flavor," and suddenly it's a habit. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Old Town... which, realistically, will be sooner than I'm admitting.

Love! My son and I visited 4 nights in a row! Gourmet coffees and hot chocolate were amazing along…read morewith the best sweets. The gentleman crafting our goodies were so kind to us.

We stopped in after dinner at Finn and Fire and were grateful to have a dessert place nearby. I…read moreenjoyed the desserts that I got (fruit lockma and pistachio ricotta cake), but loved my friend's dessert best (pistachio lockma). Ambiance was pleasant and service was friendly.

My middle child watched The Princess and the Frog at camp last week and came home determined to try…read morebeignets. Naturally, Mom had to make it happen. So Sunday morning, I pulled up to Ben'YaYs with the whole crew ready to see what the hype was about. When we walked in, there were already a few people inside, but it wasn't overwhelmingly busy. The young lady working the register was absolutely wonderful. She was patient, attentive, and even let my son take over the ordering process when he started telling her exactly what our family wanted. One thing I really appreciated was her recommendation when I started ordering multiple individual orders of beignets. She suggested that we get a box instead, which was actually the better deal and saved me some money. Listen, I love when somebody helps me spend less money without me having to ask! We went with a box of the original beignets plus two orders of the cinnamon sugar beignets. Since we got the box, we also got three dipping sauces. And if you have kids under 10, you already know that anything they can dip is automatically more exciting. Our order came out pretty quickly, and let me just say... THESE BEIGNETS WERE GOOD. Like, everybody was already talking about coming back before we had even finished eating. Four of the five people with me had never had a beignet before, so they had nothing to compare them to. But I've had beignets in New Orleans AND locally, and I can confidently say these held their own. Light, delicious, covered in that glorious powdered sugar, and the cinnamon sugar ones were a fun addition. The front area is on the smaller side, but thankfully there's a back seating area where you can actually sit down and enjoy your food. That made a big difference with my family. And let's talk parking because this is important! Street parking is pretty sparse, especially on a Sunday during church hours. Thankfully, there's paid parking behind the restaurant. I paid about $3, which was well worth not driving around the block 17 times looking for a spot. Would I come back? Absolutely. The kids are already asking when we're going again, and honestly, I'm not mad about it.

Love, love, LOVE this place!…read more We ordered a dozen Ben yay's and all the sauces: vanilla cream, chocolate, raspberry, and strawberry. My daughter bought them one time and brought them home - and they are not the same as eating them freshly made at the cafe! You have to eat them fresh!!! They're delicious even without any of the sauces. Can't wait to go back when I visit my daughter! 10 out of 10 for me! ENJOY!

Loveeee the coffee and ambiance there . The pastries and set up of the place looks wonderful…read more Gisselle has helped me the 2 times I've gone and honestly I'd recommend she's very sweet and attentive and I look at that whenever I go out to try coffee shops and bakeries .

Great place to eat ,love the ambiance ,French music ,French food ,great staff as well ..read more

Met up with a friend to catch up and thought this would be a great setting. Excellent location to…read moreenjoy a caffeinated drink, croissant or French dip for lunch! Shared parking lot in strip mall setting. Plenty of inside seating and a few tables outside that see covered as well. Service is quick and very friendly. Bathrooms in house to use and free WiFi as well. Large screen TV to keep up with World Cup and some great tunes in the background. Casually quiet even with a large amount of customers in the shop. Would be a good hangout if I lived in this neck of the woods!

We discovered this charming cafe while searching for coffee and desserts after lunch nearby, and we…read moreimmediately loved its eclectic vibe the moment we walked in. The space was decorated with fall and Halloween ornaments that blended effortlessly with a French cafe atmosphere, featuring wall graphics, thoughtfully chosen design objects, displays of pastries and sweet baked treats, books and toys--including mini air balloons hanging from the ceiling--and lush plants, all contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. The coffee was outstanding, and even the hot latte had a distinctive flavor profile that set it apart--rich and full-bodied, with satisfying strength and minimal acidity. The apricot tart was light and delicate, with fruit layers that weren't overly sweet. The recommended chocolate babka was more like a light bread dough with less chocolate filling than expected, rather than the traditional dense, buttery brioche-like yeast bread packed with chocolate. Overall, I was happy to discover this cafe, and I plan to swing by again next time I'm in the area.

We recently visited for the first time, and it definitely won't be our last! From the moment we…read morewalked in, the staff made us feel welcome and took the time to explain the different coffee selections and menu items, making it easy to choose something new to try. I ordered a decaf pistachio coffee paired with the pistachio baklava, and both were absolutely heavenly. The coffee was rich and flavorful, and the baklava was fresh, perfectly sweet, and a wonderful complement to the drink. The atmosphere was just as enjoyable as the food and coffee. It was a beautiful, relaxing space to sit and chat, while others comfortably enjoyed their drinks as they worked on their laptops. We also loved exploring the art gallery on the lower level, which added a unique charm and made the visit feel like more than just a stop for coffee. After seeing the lunch menu, we're already looking forward to returning to try it. If our first visit was any indication, this café is a true hidden gem that offers delicious food, exceptional service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

I stopped in seeking refreshments. The people working there talked about making it a welcoming,…read moresocial space, but at least for me it wasn't. It was quite cramped and chaotic, and I got stuff to go because I couldn't even figure out if there was anywhere to sit. Their vanilla chai was aptly named as the vanilla flavor dominated. A milky chocolate pistachio baklava was indulgent and tasty. The price for these items was a bit much for what I got. The spread had some interesting options and I could imagine coming back on a less busy day and having a better experience.

I know when I order from here, I'm getting my ZEN on. Every time I've had their PB Acai smoothie it…read morehas always been amazing, from the peanut drizzle that makes the cup look picture perfect, to the fresh flavor of the Acai. There's something about their peanut butter that's mildly addicting. I think it's homemade (need to verify this). The other day I decided to also try their "Zen rolls" since I saw this on the Uber Eats menu. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! When I took the first bite, at first I noticed how refreshing it tasted, and how delicious the chili sauce was. As I was eating it the veggies tasted fresh, especially the peppers and the strawberry combined with the chili sauce was so good in the most surprising way. Who knew rice paper rolls could be THIS healthy? Despite being tired that day I ended up with renowned energy after eating those rolls. Like it felt super nourishing. These were definitely the most tasty veggie rolls I've had in a while. The sauce is just divine. I love that they really package their stuff so carefully and the box has such a cute aesthetic. Everything truly feels like it's made with love, and their cups have little fake stickers on them to really give your drink a personal touch, something I don't see at other smoothie or juice bars. Everything just has this niche personal feeling to it. If you want a healthy lunch or drink, this is your spot. It definitely feels like you are getting real good nourishment here and I am all for it. I will be back soon for my ACAI fix! Or maybe I'll try their other smoothies like the blue one with spirulina in it. Such a gem!

This was my first visit to Zen Press for brunch, and I ordered the Blue Moon smoothie as it comes…read moreon the menu. The smoothie was creamy, fruity, and visually one of the most striking drinks I've had in a while. The mango and banana gave it a naturally sweet flavor, while the coconut yogurt added a rich texture. I could still pick up some of the blue spirulina underneath everything, which kept it from tasting one-dimensional. The atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. It felt like a place where you could slow down for a few minutes instead of grabbing something and rushing back out the door. One thing I like about this smoothie is that it's easy to customize. After having it before, I've found that ordering it with light banana and no agave makes it taste lighter and lets the mango come through more. That said, the standard version was still enjoyable and is probably the best starting point if you've never tried it before. I'd definitely come back and try other drinks on the menu.