Top Five Wednesday: Places to Stay Warm (DC)
Fab Five Wednesday!! So we are under the weather about the weather: why should it ever be this cold?! We love all the seasons of the year but as we progress in age, we realize the winter is becoming our least favorite of the four. With temperatures peaking at 30 degrees F, it’s no wonder all the smiles of summer and spring have slowly faded. One of our West Coast friends used to always say “cold weather puts people in a bad mood” and they attributed this chilling weather to some of the icy attitudes of the East Coast. Their theory could be true.
In our efforts to dispel these stereotypes of East Coast folks, we are offering up five places on this weeks “Top Five Wednesday” that will bring a smile or at least some warmth to these icy expressions. The District is full of places to dip into and stay warm while enjoying a latte or two and browse on your laptops. Amazingly enough, these places don’t stay as packed as they do in our old stomping grounds of NYC. This is a good day to be a Washingtonian. The lack of crowds but the pleasure of a good warm beverage made and served by someone else:-):
1. Tryst– This is a DC staple. Tryst is as familiar to the DC cafe world as The Diner and Jumbo Slice are to drunken party goers in Adams Morgan. Wireless, plenty of couches/tables/chairs for you to go solo or with a group and a menu that ranges anywhere from bruschetta to nachos with the works. Ciders, hot chocolate and tisanes (*not tea but flowers, herbs, spices and fruits that are naturally caffeine free) are included in the long list of warm drink options.
2. Chinatown Coffee– Modest and cute. That’s what we thought the first time we took a walk over to Chinatown Coffee. The newest member to the coffee family in Chinatown, CC has a simple menu that offers breakfast options such as yogurt and granola (*trying to stay healthy in the New Year, eh?). They take a little bit more care in making their coffee than the average cafe in the District…if you’re a serious coffee drinker, you might want to give it a try (*keyword: serious.).
3. Williams-Sonoma Sweet Ground Hot Chocolate– This hot chocolate is delicious! We discovered it when the big snowstorm hit a few weeks ago…we fished our cabinets for anything that would keep us warm and aha! a diamond in the rough! Try when you just can’t brave the cold…it’s the cheaper and warmer option of the pack.
4. Teaism– What’s in a name?? Tea. Teaism is a cool place to grab a quick bite with a friend or to just enjoy an array of unique tea options. What’s your flavor?? Yunnan Gold or Dragon Well?? With over 50 tea choices, you are bound to find something you like.
5. Mocha Hut– We feel super cool everytime we go to Mocha Hut. It’s like the hip, urban socialite’s first stop on a busy schedule and we embrace the vibe everytime we visit. It’s the cool, chill spot where you can find men in blazers and pointy hard bottoms alongside the hippie culture. We usually pop in for breakfast and like trying one of their assorted muffins with a latte.
Stay warm!
In our efforts to dispel these stereotypes of East Coast folks, we are offering up five places on this weeks “Top Five Wednesday” that will bring a smile or at least some warmth to these icy expressions. The District is full of places to dip into and stay warm while enjoying a latte or two and browse on your laptops. Amazingly enough, these places don’t stay as packed as they do in our old stomping grounds of NYC. This is a good day to be a Washingtonian. The lack of crowds but the pleasure of a good warm beverage made and served by someone else:-):
1. Tryst– This is a DC staple. Tryst is as familiar to the DC cafe world as The Diner and Jumbo Slice are to drunken party goers in Adams Morgan. Wireless, plenty of couches/tables/chairs for you to go solo or with a group and a menu that ranges anywhere from bruschetta to nachos with the works. Ciders, hot chocolate and tisanes (*not tea but flowers, herbs, spices and fruits that are naturally caffeine free) are included in the long list of warm drink options.
2. Chinatown Coffee– Modest and cute. That’s what we thought the first time we took a walk over to Chinatown Coffee. The newest member to the coffee family in Chinatown, CC has a simple menu that offers breakfast options such as yogurt and granola (*trying to stay healthy in the New Year, eh?). They take a little bit more care in making their coffee than the average cafe in the District…if you’re a serious coffee drinker, you might want to give it a try (*keyword: serious.).
3. Williams-Sonoma Sweet Ground Hot Chocolate– This hot chocolate is delicious! We discovered it when the big snowstorm hit a few weeks ago…we fished our cabinets for anything that would keep us warm and aha! a diamond in the rough! Try when you just can’t brave the cold…it’s the cheaper and warmer option of the pack.
4. Teaism– What’s in a name?? Tea. Teaism is a cool place to grab a quick bite with a friend or to just enjoy an array of unique tea options. What’s your flavor?? Yunnan Gold or Dragon Well?? With over 50 tea choices, you are bound to find something you like.
5. Mocha Hut– We feel super cool everytime we go to Mocha Hut. It’s like the hip, urban socialite’s first stop on a busy schedule and we embrace the vibe everytime we visit. It’s the cool, chill spot where you can find men in blazers and pointy hard bottoms alongside the hippie culture. We usually pop in for breakfast and like trying one of their assorted muffins with a latte.
Stay warm!
Category: Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Same here! Had great time, see you @ the next one;-)
Same here! Had great time, see you @ the next one;-)
Same here! Had great time, see you @ the next one;-)