REAL. DELICIOUS. FOOD. My boyfriend and I have been coming here since we stumbled upon Zed's a year ago, and it is now our weekend ritual. We wanted to keep this place a secret to ourselves, but it would be a crime to keep the delicious egg sandwiches, banana berry smoothies and caramel coconut white chocolate mochas to ourselves. When it came to deciding where to renew our lease, my only request was that we take Zed's with us. That's how much I love the food and the space. If you appreciate REAL food, a friendly and thoughtful owner, and a clean quiet space to meet with friends or colleagues, then don't cheat yourself -- check it out :-) p.s. if you bring your vinyl records you can play them. how cool is that? read more

Cool, local, Ethiopian coffee shop. Definitely an A+ for atmosphere. The service was prompt and friendly (and even gave me some free popcorn). But the coffee--the whole reason I went there--was nothing spectacular. Even after adding some cream, I found it a little bitter and stale. (Part of the problem might have been going late in the afternoon.) Also, I was disappointed that the menu only includes medium-sized drinks (i.e., 16 oz.). What if I only want a small cup of coffee? I suppose that's how the shop can justify charging $2.25 for a cup of drip-brewed coffee. I hope to come back to try the espresso drinks and get another (ideally small) cup of brewed coffee to judge for consistency. read more

The Carmel Macchiatto is really good. I literally spent about 9 hours in this place on my first visit and have to say that it felt cozy and comfortable every second that I was there. The drinks were hot and delicious and the staff was so nice. I felt like I was hanging out at a friends house all day. The thing that I liked the most was that they did not have that nasty burnt coffee smell stinking up the place that you get from some of the bigger chains like starbucks. The only thing that was kind of bad about the place was that the cake was a little stale other than that the coffee, tea and cocoa were all great. Therefore, in a nutshell I would say this is a great place to stop in, or set up camp. read more

Seriously...best chai latte I ever had. HANDS DOWN. Maybe it was the FRESH spices used? Maybe it was the perfect amount of froth and temperature? Maybe it was the atmosphere? The friendly customer service? I dunno. All I can say is I will be back...probably more than I should. But, At least I won't break my pockets doing so because this place is priced excellently for a broke grad student like me :) I am so happy we have a place like this in Silver Spring! read more

Love, love, love Zed's. The food is delicious and always cooked fresh, the atmosphere is so peaceful and friendly, and the coffee is great. I usually just get a drip coffee, and theirs is good enough to drink black! I am seriously obsessed with the omelette on a croissant. Every week I say I'll try something else, but I always go back to my favorite. Love that it comes with a side salad and some fresh fruit, definitely fills you up. Only suggestion is increasing the signage about busing your own tables. Hate seeing people leave their plates, mugs, and trash on the tables as they leave, so inconsiderate. read more

Presentation is great and food is delicious! Very interesting environment with a variety of vintage pieces and a mixture of art work. read more

Zed's Cafe - We ordered the two egg omelet. It was very filling and the salad was a great pairing. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Zed's is on Georgia avenue between Society and the Big Greek Cafe. You won't be able to miss it, there's usually a big beach umbrella and a few patio tables and chairs in front. Zed's meets all cozy coffee shop criteria: Delicious coffee and a great selection of Teazan teas that change seasonally. A short and sweet menu, omelettes, sandwiches and salads...that are prepared with love. Chairs, tables, recliners, stools, couches of all shapes and sizes....even a rocking chair. Local artists work featured on the wall for sale. Piles of books and games...I got caught up in a coffee table book on Klimt the other day. Free, strong wi-fi. A variety Music overhead...today is classical, last time was 60's folk. And live music and spoken word events on the weekends. Everything stacks up at Zed's...and what is probably the best thing about it is the clientele. This is a true silver spring establishment, with locals, freelancers, seniors, etc who come together to yack and eat and enjoy the vibe here. Not a hipster in sight. Yet. read more

This little living room manages to be both a great place to chill with coffee/tea and your laptop, AND a great place to bring a daytime date. Or get away from work with coworkers. The food is pretty amazing. Great selection of beverages. The interior has a very distinct atmosphere that is appealing. This is the one big living room place that everyone is looking for. Zed hit the mark spot-on. read more

I stumbled upon Zed's with my mother yesterday during an errand run in DTSS in a desperate search for coffee. I was rewarded with a perfect latte. I have coffee every single day, but this one was special. Zed even successfully talked me into using whole milk, so he MUST be very charming! (He then gave us two free cupcakes, so he IS DEFINITELY very charming.) The space is so comfortable, with a bunch of mismatched furniture, red walls and some fun art (and free wifi, of course). It kind of reminds me of Kirsten's Cafe (RIP). My only suggestion would be that Zed track down the recipe for Kirsten's pumpkin chocolate chip muffins! But really this place should be packed with people writing novels, scripts, term papers etc. read more

Zed, not Jed (as in a-story-about-a-man-named-Jed). Went in the middle of the afternoon with my long-time friend Reemberto who moved up here from Atlanta many years ago. He tells me "Ethiopians are just like us [i.e., Cubans]; they work their asses off, hate communists and drink coffee all day." So, off to Zed's! Zed was great and took care of us with the coffees and accompaniments; why not 5 stars? Purely based on the fact that we just had coffee and didn't try the rest of the menu. Artwork is truly unique and memorable! read more

Was extremely dissapointed. Thought from the good reviews I'd have a better experience. It literally feels like they went to Costco bought a lot of stuff and dumped it on your plate. Their salad looks like the spring mix from Costco and their muffins look bought too (maybe they're not? Idk.) I ordered a waffle that took 25 min to get to me. And when it did it was drenched in syrup and might as well have been a pancake because it was soggy, and it was extremely undercooked. My friend got some kind of tuna salad sandwich and he said it was the most depressing tuna salad he'd ever had. 2 stars for the friendly staff and nice atmosphere when the lights are turned down. Will not be returning. Better off spending more money at Madeline 2 blocks away for better food. read more

I wandered in to Zed's just to listen to a Sunday jazz brunch, but left overwhelmingly surprised by the excellent food and coffee. Hidden between a number of storefronts on Georgia Avenue in silver spring, this is a cozy little spot, with a relaxing vibe and friendly staff. It's a great place to hang, too, with a strong stream of locals having their regular brew and nosh. I like that you can have your coffee in any sort of mismatched cup... The eclectic milieu is what I seek out, and if that's your thing, you will love Zed's. read more

The wifi at my place blew out so I came here to use their wifi to meet a project deadline - they get 1 point right off the bat for having free, fast wifi. Feeling a bit thirsty, I decided to order myself a hot chocolate (mind you I'm a bit of a hot cocoa snob). I received the warmest greeting from the Barista/cashier (owner?!) - refreshing since it was a bit nippy (still not used to this winter weather). The hot chocolate arrived quite promptly after I ordered and to my surprise it was presented in a gigantic mug (goblet?!). The hot chocolate was pretty milked down, but good nonetheless. Would give 3 stars for the hot cocoa, but 4 for the overall experience. I'll definitely come back to see if I can get that cocoa extra chocolate-y. TL;DR - Cute, little cafe perfect for: getting work done, a coffee date, wanting to know what it's like to be in a hipster cafe in Silver Lake @ Los Angeles. read more

Zed's is a very successful in providing its "living-room" feel. The slow-mid paced jazz music is just loud enough to be heard, but no where near distracting. The tables and sofas are close enough to feel like you are around others, yet not feeling claustrophobic. The staff serve the food/ drinks, which is an added bonus. The coffee is not "otherworldly", but it is not bad; Tastes just like your avg home-brewed coffee. i would argue that it compliments the homely feel they are going for. Had one experience where the iced coffee tasted a bit burnt/ old, But that is one bad experience compared to many good ones. All in all, i would definitely come regularly to do work/ casually meet up with friends. read more

Cute and cozy with great (but inexpensive!) drinks. I went here just a few days ago to relax and do some reading. I was pleasantly surprised to find this little shop in downtown Silver Spring. It's chairs are comfy, it has great natural lighting, and it's intimate set-up is welcoming and friendly. The drinks are very inexpensive--the latte I ordered was under $2! Usually, lattes in this area range between $3 and $4. I noticed that the latte wasn't made in a traditional way. I've been a barista at a great shop in DC for almost a year and have always put in the espresso first and milk second. Here, the milk is poured first, and the espresso is poured in afterward. I asked the owner (who was making the drinks) about his technique. He was enthusiastic to explain how this method gives the latte a different texture, allowing the espresso to set in the milk better. I'm not sure if I agree, but the latte still tasted great--a very smooth espresso taste with more foam sitting on top. Overall, I love this place for it's uniqueness, coziness, and friendliness. If I lived in Silver Spring, I'd be a regular. read more

Had the southwest quiche and wow! It was stuffed with goodness. It came with salad and fruit which was a perfect healthy portion. Also had their lemongrass chai tea and I was blown away. Everyone else was also please with their choices. read more

The food was good, not great. I had the salmon sandwich and had to modify it to an open face because the bread was too heavy for the salmon flavor. Service was great! read more

So freaking cute and quaint. Stopped by for lunch, and was pleased with my quiche, chips on the side, and latte. Service was a little slow considering lunch hour, but it was friendly and in keeping with the cafe's laid back vibe. Most of the limited seats were occupied by laptops-and-headphones types who looked to have been camped there all morning. read more

I LOVE this place. Comfy couches, music, books. Seriously, "one big living room". Zed is also super nice and can make a fantastic chai latte. He told me they have live music sometimes also - will have to check that out. read more

Food is good. Cute place. Dislike the that's there is always music blasting from some computer speakers, really annoying for a small place. Would be nice not to have to shout over it. Usually an oldies station is on, can be good or bad. I find it really cheap that when you buy a cup of coffee and need a refill you need to pay full price for it again. not the best coffee for it to be worth it. read more

It's been a challenge to find good coffee in DC, since I'm used to fresh coffee and espresso in SF. That being said Zed's is a cozy and as stated in previous posts "living room" cafe. it's welcoming with "lived in" feel and above all good and plentiful coffee. If you get moment talk to Zed the owner a very nice man. read more

Best place ever! I am from Spain, and in my country it is very typical going out for a coffee every day. In Zed's I have found the best coffee I've drunk since I moved to the US. I always go to Zed's with my husband since we tried once, and since then we love it. But not only the coffee is great, the cheesecake is awesome and the croissant with nutella is wonderful! I love love love love Zed's cafe. In the weekends, you can go during the evenings and enjoy the live music. It is so relaxing and entertaining.. I strongly recommend everyone to go there at least once and order a charamel macciato, it is the best! read more

They served smoothies in chipped and cracked mugs (photos attached). Not sure if they'd do this to all customers or it was just us, because this place has some good rates. However the service etiquette is very important. The price at this cafe is as high as other places in the area so a quality service is expected but not rendered. Would never be back and would not recommend to others. read more

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Zed just keeps making his living room better. Now there are AMAZING breakfast and lunch fixings. The omelettes-NOM. The smoked salmon salad-NOM. The tuna apple salad-NOM (though I'd recommend it on bread, not the lettuce). The bagels-NOM. Everything is NOM, NOM, NOM. Go here, often, and enjoy. read more

No complaints on the coffee. It's still better than Starbucks. I am not a fan of their pastries since They are a bit too oily. It's an easy place to just take your book or laptop to study. read more

This is my fourth visit here and I still love it! It's pretty much the place where I take friends to when we want to talk longer and have coffee/ tea or something to eat. This place is really like a one big living room with live music occasionally. During this fourth visit, I found out that you can bring your own vinyl records and play it on the record player found at the back patio. Definitely come check out this place! The owner is very friendly and nice. read more

Had 1.5hrs to kill while waiting for my car to be worked on at the nearby Aamco. "Cute and cozy" is definitely true - also agree that his has a "one big living room" feeling to it and an overall really nice atmosphere. I had a delicious coffee $2 and would have loved to try their apple pie which looked fantastic and was only $3.50 but I had just had lunch. the owner was very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend stoping in and hanging out for a while. read more

Zed has this wonderful smoothie with strawberry and mango with a little bit of coconut it was TO DIE FOR!!! beyond that the atmosphere is great. Small cozy and comfortable. Its the quintessential small business coffee house. Zed was there and he was attentive and friendly and had a rapport with his customers in house that was refreshing. He also has free wi-fi along with three computer stations for use if needed. If I lived in Silver Springs I would absolutely return. Great Job Zed! read more

Awesome little place. The food (I had spinach quiche with a wonderful salad) was pretty good, and the hot chocolate with ooh goo gobs of whipped cream was De-Yummy! The atmosphere is quaint; almost like sitting in someone's comfortable home with sofas and tables and lots of chairs. Zed, the Owner, is very friendly and quick to offer help if you don't quite understand a menu item. Lots and lots of teas to choose from. Highly recommend. read more

I'd go for 5 stars but I've only been here once, so consider this a solid 4.5 stars. I needed a place to park myself for the bulk of the day with free WiFi, good coffee, and decent food. Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I headed up to Zeds, snagged an impossibly good parking space and got situated. Zed is friendly, makes a kick-ass latte, and has created a little spot that is exactly what a small independently run coffee shop should be. The space is eclectic, smattered with art (both local and thrifted), books, a small bulletin board with flyers for local community happenings, and a selection of chairs, tables and a couch/living room area to relax. There are a couple of small tables out on the sidewalk in front of the shop under an umbrella. He also appears to have a couple of computers available to use a la "internet cafe". The WiFi isn't lightning fast but gets the job done so no complaints there. $5 minimum for credit cards. A good variety of food (none of which I have tried yet, but it all smells and looks awesome), an assortment of snacks and coffee condiments (sugar, raw sugar, agave, soy, etc...) and an unpretentious atmosphere. I've been here all morning and I will definitely be back, as this is a great little find and makes me very glad I didn't hit the typical Starbucks. read more

I wandered over to Zed's Cafe by accident while waiting for my car at Satellite Motors right down the street. The owners were incredibly welcoming--made me feel at home. I ordered the veggie quiche and soy latte (perfect foam) for breakfast and the chicken salad and fruity iced tea for lunch. The food is all homemade and very fresh. They also have free wifi, which was perfect for working remotely. I will definitely visit this place again. read more

Zed's Cafe - Zed's Cafe: Veggie quiche with side salad and fruit. Soy latte doctored with cinnamon and honey. YUM! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Nostalgic French music fills my ears, fresh coffee warms my hands. There's a random assortment of furniture that seems antique and the Bhagavad Gita sits on the shelf next to me. It feels like sitting in a cross between your grandmother's living room and a gypsy dwelling. You can't patronize Zed's for long before becoming a local. It's one of those coffee shops from the 90s where people are just hanging out, socializing, working and lounging; The type of place where you get pro bono goodies from time to time without asking. After 5pm they turn out the lights and the warm flicker of Christmas lights and candles fill the space. Need I mention the coffee and pastries (gluten free/vegan available) are good and the staff is great?! Zed's truly is one big living room. read more

These guys really nailed it on the head when they say that they are "one big living room" I am very picky when it comes to coffee shops. I'm not looking for any one particular thing, so when I walk into a coffee shop with mix matched chairs and mugs to follow suit, I'm in heaven. Quite literally, some of the mugs look like I took them out of my parents cabinet. Their coffee is good, they offer both bagged and loose leaf tea, and even their food is appetizing. The free wifi is a plus making this the perfect place to catch up on yelp reviews, attempt at wooing OKCupid prospects, updating some spreadsheets, or just some plain old web surfing. I've been here a few times now. My experience is pleasant enough that sometimes despite it being out of the way, I come in before I head to work just to put myself in a good mood. Nothing fancy about this your not-trying-hard-yet-nailing-it place to go for your morning, afternoon or evening joe. read more

Best omelette I've ever had, hands down! Great flavor, texture and presentation. The omelette was perfectly balanced. Great cappuccinos too! read more

Every neighborhood needs charm like this. After asking for bagels and lox, they recommended "the dave" which was bagel, lox, with an egg-over-easy on top. Fantastic. read more

Such a cool spot, with eclectic furniture and great great food! I spent a few hours here (eating, people watching, avoiding HW) and it was many hours well spent! I will be returning! read more

Zeds got some new furniture, which makes it a much more comfortable place to hang out. Still the best coffee shop open on weeknights in Silver Spring. Update: Now that Kaldi's is open, I have to say it's no longer the best coffee shop open on weeknights. read more

Love this place - cozy place - like going home - but where you don't have to cook or clean! The food ranges from waffles to sandwiches and they have a variety of coffee and desserts. Most notable is that it is February 15 and they still have pumpkin spice latte available (the heavens open - Angels are singing). Life is good. read more

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Here's the thing- I REALLY want to be able to give it 5 stars, because the atmosphere is cozy adorable, the coffee was great, and the staff was warm and welcoming! I really enjoyed it while there. If you're a regular individual without dietary restrictions, it's a lovely place! Great for a casual date night or a nice Saturday morning coffee. Just don't trust the "gluten free" sticker on their muffins!!! I have Celiac, so it's always difficult eating out. When I saw that they had gluten free options, I was thrilled! But the day after I ate there, I found myself extremely ill. I wish I could go back, because I really did love the atmosphere. But alas, I won't be returning for fear of getting sick at the hands of their baked goods. read more

Excellent coffee and food. I am happy they had vegetarian options! Also a great environment for studying. :) read more

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