Just the best chai latte I've ever had. I know they're known for their coffee, which is very good too, but this chai tea latte is decadent. Line is long but it moves quickly and staff are always polite. I love the vintage decor too - very cozy. read more

Really good EuroDark brewed coffee and awesome (and cheap) donuts. One down side: at least one of the baristas doesn't know what he/she is doing. Can't make a simple double espresso (beyond small) or a cafe cortado. Stick to brew or latte. And always get a donut! read more

Around the corner and one block down from the White House. Patrons mainly consisted of government employees. Maybe that's why they moved me through so quick with not much interaction? Meh. And the chai tea was nasty. I took 3 sips and dumped it out. read more

It doesn't matter that the coffee is good, the staff are rude and there's no apparent management with whom to share concerns. Staff are wont to roll eyes and heave sighs at customers whose orders invite their disapproval. If you order decaf coffee, for instance, prepare for the snarky staff to be perturbed. Want skim milk or sugar-free flavored syrup? How dare you! Didn't see them put your order on the counter or hear them say what they were putting on the counter? Prepare for them to yell at you and make you feel like an idiot when you do finally realize it's your order they've completed. I avoid this place because their coffee isn't worth the nastiness of the staff. read more

This place is top-notch. ME's old-style decor, kick-ass lattes, and blow-your-hair-back coffee cake are worth a drop-in. Aside from the dude with the shaved head, most of the staff is really friendly too. "You ordered the coffee cake, didn't you?" he snarled, waving the bag in my face. Yeah bruh, I did. But I didn't order a side of as$hole. read more

For god's sakes take a name with my order so that I don't have to stand around the crowd confused about which order is mine. You already wrote on the cup...just mark it with a distinct line if taking my name is too much work. read more

I love this place! The line (if there even is one) moves quickly in the morning and the coffee tastes good. They take Apple Pay which is very useful when you're in the middle of a hurried commute. The staff is always friendly and there are some fun stools and tables if you want to stay awhile. read more

I was lucky enough to get an indie coffee passport for christmas. If you don't have one you should definitely get one especially if you love trying cool new coffee shops. M E Swing was one of the coffee shops on the passport so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a cappuccino and it was fantastic. Really good flavor and perfect ratio of espresso to foam. Plus, I am a sucker for latte art. The baristas were very friendly. Sometimes when I walk into these types of coffee shops I can feel a little intimidated and like I need to buy a few more pairs or Warby parker glasses so I can fit in. I didn't get that vibe here. Plus, the atmosphere is amazing and I could definitely see myself coming to this shop and doing some reading. It had sort of a retro feel but it was also a little industrial as well. I went on a weekday around 11am and it was pretty crowded so it seems like they have a loyal following. read more

Any serious coffee shop, IMO, should know how to pull a good espresso. Here, it just seemed like an afterthought--they're probably trying to push lots of people through, as the line got longer and longer as I disappointingly sipped my bland, cookie-cutter espresso. They do get points for no apparent bitterness, but the drink was definitely nothing that is going to make me go out of my way to come back. :( read more

Swings is located right across from the White House and the new Executive Building, and is a stone's throw from the World Bank and IMF. As such, it manages to attracts A LOT of bureaucrats, technocrats, autocrats, and other rats of all kinds. No mind, though, because their coffee and service are fantastic. On nice days you can sit in their outdoor area and drink a perfect cup of espresso. And although the lines in the morning are long, they move nice and quick. read more

FYI - Swing's has re-opened in the same, modernized space in February 2018. Come back for the same locally roasted coffee that you enjoyed before the building renovation. There still isn't much space in the location to enjoy your coffee, so you should get it to go. The coffee is still good, and it feels better going to a local establishment over the nearby chains like Starbuck's and Peet's. read more

I like this place but I recently had an experience there that left me perplexed. I love the pastries at Swings, but I noticed there were small fruit flies on the pastries. I told the batista and he gave me a look as if to say, "so what, what do you want me to do!" Then asked me if I still want to order. I was ferklempt! So sad I loved their pastries read more

Hands down, best coffee in DC. Written by an avid coffee lover.

I've been going to "Swingers" for the past 3.5 years. Their coffee is consistently the best that I have had in D.C. and their Iced cappuccino is stellar in the summer months. Its a hidden treasure - and a locally owned coffee shop that's been around since the turn of the century (or something like that). read more

It is very, very easy to miss this place when you walk by--it's in a nondescript office building with a black and white block letter sign. Not exactly the kind of place where one would expect to find such delicious caffienated goodness. Inside, it's decorated like a coffee museum of sorts, with vintage coffee roasting and brewing equipment from Swing's 80 years of operation. Neat. More importantly, the lattes and chai are amazing--rich, smooth, fragrant, and hot. They're also consistently good. The baristas are pretty fast, too, and the pastries appear to be quite popular. You can purchase all types of beans by the pound here, and the beans make a great gift for coffee lovers. However, it's more of a grab and go place than a place where you can linger and work on your TPS Report/Dissertation/Manifesto. There really isn't much seating or table space (and what seating there is is kind of uncomfortable), and it isn't open on weekends...bummer. read more

M. E. Swing's is an interesting place. I was very surprised by how low profile this coffee shop is--just across the street from the Renwick Gallery and the old Executive Office Building, and right near the Corcoran, this sits at what would seem to be a great location for doing business with locals and tourists alike, if only tourists noticed it. And yet their limited hours seem geared exclusively to the 9-5 crowd. They sell a wide range of whole bean coffees, from their signature Mesco blend (M. E. Swing COmpany) to Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. You can also get coffee drinks, but that's not why I've come here, so I can't speak for their quality. M. E. Swing's has been in DC in some form for nearly a hundred years. They no longer roast their beans in the District, and have changed locations several times, but you can get a sense of what cafes used to look like back then (whenever, maybe the 1940s or 1950s) because their newer location incorporates a lot of vintage furniture and fittings. All this is information I got from the back of the bag the coffee beans came in, but in any case M. E. Swing's is one reason I try to leave work early, so that I can make it in from Arlington before they close at 6 PM. read more

around lunch time, this place has a cool vibe owing to all the World Bank, IMF, OAS and other dapper international professionals sipping their espressos. i believe Swing's daughter works behind one of the bars, still. the coffee is decent. i like the espressos best. we bought whole beans there too. they were ok, but i will continue to try this place because they do all their own roasting and are local. too bad they are not open on the weekend! read more

Nothing more welcoming on a windy cold day than the tastiest latte ever-- simple, no fuss, and unadulterated with silly syrups. There's always a crowd in here even at 3 in the afternoon, which is understandable despite the wait and staff that are indifferent to your glassy-eyed gratitude. "Bow down, peasants, for we make the best lattes in town." read more

I swooped by here after a visit to the beautiful Renwick gallery. On a warm day walking around DC, the iced latte is a perfect treat, though a bit pricey. It's creamy and smooth with a mild, soft coffee flavor. The shop gets crowded (which is always a good sign!), but the fantastic aromas make the short wait feel like nothing. read more

Perfect spot for a great cup of coffee to start the day. The mocha with whip cream was delicious.

I read a bunch of sparkling reviews and decided to try Swing. I left very, very disappointed. I really wanted to like this place. I needed a "go to" espresso bar close to work but Swing's coffee wasn't good, to put it very nicely. I ordered an espresso, a very simple and sure sign of a quality coffee shop. I had to repeat a couple times that it was "for here." I was served my espresso bro spro in a room temperature latte demitasse. I would have been O.K. with that aside from the fact the espresso was thin, over extracted, and tasted like card stock. I never saw anyone grind beans specifically for my espresso so I assume they were pre ground. Honestly, it was no better than starbucks. I would give them 1 star but the location was unique and clean, which goes a long way for me. I left very disheartened. I tried to like it, but I can't lower my coffee standards just to accommodate a "cool" place. I won't be going back. read more

My girlfriend and I had a small latte and a macchiato on a brisk Tuesday afternoon. My espresso shot was alright, and the latte was OK as well.. nothing very defined. It was pretty generic. It may be due to the high volume of customers that afternoon and the baristas were going as fast as they can, which may have hampered quality. I hear they are closing in two weeks for a 14 month renovation! I wish them the very best and hope to return again to see the changes. read more

Espresso in my latte was too bitter or my taste. Small space inside makes it hard to enjoy coffee when it gets busy.

Open since 1916, Swing's is a longstanding downtown institution. The aroma of roasting beans would waft down from their location on E Street in decades. Their store has since moved to G and the roasting outsourced to Alexandria, but there's still plenty of old-school charm at their 'new' location. As their website explains, their newer place features original mahogany and mirrored fixtures from the old E Street location. The coffee is obviously fresh and taken seriously. Space and backless stools prevent long stays, but they do have ample seating outside. As a general rule, be prepared to deal with a long line of regulars. read more

Cool coffee shop steps from the White House. We popped in to use the restroom and were pleasantly surprised. The coffee aroma was enticing as were the people in there. All types from Suits to Tourists to Students. We ordered a hot chocolate and a latte. They looked at me crazy when I asked for non-fat, I guess in the East Coast you ask for a 'skinny' latte. Anywho both were good and a great place to people watch. read more

Barista was friendly and I wanted to like it but I've had better. I had a cafe latte.

Mmm, caffeine... If only I could have you more often... In recent years I've had to swear off caffeine for various health reasons (it started to interfere with my sleep), but I do let myself have the occasional cup of coffee and this is where I want to have them. Their lattes are so good I didn't put sugar in it (and that's saying something, I love sugar). The only downside is that they're not open on the weekends or at night (when I frequent the coffee shops of the world) and the stools make it difficult (but not impossible) to spend a few hours there. But I highly, highly recommend it. Mmm... read more

Best coffee in DC! I used to work around the corner and got to stop by again on Friday. Their dedication to customer service and the art of coffee roasting is impressive. A guy at the bean counter looked up the ingredients of the High Mountain blend for me. I got two lbs of High Mountain and a lb of Costa Rican. Delicious coffee, dedicated to doing it right. read more

Charming, bustling-historic atmosphere. Like a coffee counter straight out of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". :-) Friendly staff and a solid cappuccino! read more

The best cafe in DC, a block from the White House.

Close to work and phenomenal coffee? Count me in!

Swing's is a favorite neighborhood coffee bar that serves consistently good coffees, espresso drinks, and some baked goods. They also sell freshly roasted coffee, loose tea, and a few gadgets for tea- and coffee-making. Swing's is such a local institution that it is an extension of the workplace and it is busy throughout the day. Don't worry about the queue, - the service is fast. Seating is very limited indoors, but there is more plentiful outdoor (covered) seating. The shortage of seats does not deter people from coming here, again and again. Perhaps this is because their coffee is the right strength, not double strength like some other shops. The staff at Swing's are great, including those who help you select beans. They are friendly and patient. As much as I like the brewed coffee - of which several varieties are available every day - the beans are very good. I particularly recommend the darkest roasts. They sometimes have high quality mocha beans which are not to be missed! The beans here are more expensive than some other shops, but the quality is noticably higher, - dark roast here does not mean charred and bitter. read more

A great coffee spot. Lots of character and space to linger. And the coffee is good & reasonably priced. read more

Knowlegeable staff. Cool antique store. Great coffee. There should be a line out the door. If this were in NYC, people in DC would be raving about it. read more

This ain't "old school" or "retro" - it's the REAL DEAL. Been here for decades & hopefully for many more. This is how coffee is supposed to taste. I sent 2 lbs. of Mocha Java to a Starbucks fan who finally saw the light. He can't wait for a trip to DC to stock up. You should too! read more

I love Swings. They've got a funky atmosphere, friendly employees and the most delicious coffee I've ever tasted. They roast in house and you can even buy from their rather large selection by the pound if you want. They have bagged loose tea as well which I've purchased on more than one occasion. The coffee is strong (just the way I like it!), but not burnt-tasting. Don't worry if the line is long when you go in--the baristas move quickly and efficiently. read more

I usually just drink coffee by the cup or buy Swing's beans for use at home. Right now I am drinking a Swing's iced latte and I am in loooooove with it. Despite quite a bit of ice, the flavor is fudgy and deep. No more being lazy and going to Starbuck's -- I'm walking the extra block on the days I need a treat. read more

James L. took me here once for what I'm pretty convinced is one of the top five cups of coffee in DC. With great people watching and a sheltered outdoor area, it's possible to enjoy a hot cup of coffee even late into the year without getting wet in the winter rains. During the summer, it's bananas. read more

Swing is my 2nd fav coffee spot. The coffee is dark & strong but not burnt tasting like at Starbucks. They have the most delightful chocolate croissants.... read more

Good coffee, but don't expect ambience, or service from the pouty twenty-somethings who work here. Best for a quick espresso on the go or in the summer, when there is outdoor seating. read more