Best Coffee Shops in Arlington, Virginia

Best Coffee Shops in Arlington, Virginia

HandiHuman's Marketing Adventures

As a small business, getting your name out in the local community is vital. One of our marketing strategies for August was to visit local coffee shops and promote our handyman and house cleaning service in Northern Virginia.

This worked out conveniently for me, as breakfast is my favorite part of the day. Trying out all the local cafes has been a fun morning ritual for me, and a great way to discover local hidden gems. It’s two birds with one stone: delicious breakfast and great marketing opportunities!

On our hunt for the best coffee shop in Arlington, Virginia, we visited 17 total coffee shops in the local area, including Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia. Each had its own strengths, but here are our top 5 cafes in the local area. I should note that I only ever order egg & cheese sandwiches (croissants if available) and lattes—yes, I know, boring! The list is in no particular order, as all of them stood out for different reasons:

1.  Kaldi’s Social House – Arlington, VA

Kaldi’s is in the heart of Clarendon, right by the Trader Joe’s. It has a welcoming and modern atmosphere, usually filled with young professionals working on their laptops or friends hanging out. I’ve found myself here on several occasions and loved it every time. The barista was very accommodating in helping me help the local community find a reliable handyman in Arlington, Virginia.

Menu Highlight: Their hot tomato soup and grilled cheese have been a 10/10 every time. I highly recommend it. They serve great coffee as well, of course.

Also featured in an ApartmentGuide article. Check out the featured article:   Unique Things To Do in Arlington, VA | ApartmentGuide.com

2.  Northside Social Falls Church – Falls Church, VA

Northside Social has two locations, one in Falls Church and another in Arlington. Both are great, but I personally prefer the Falls Church location. They have multiple levels, each with indoor and outdoor seating. The upstairs section also offers full service with a server. The atmosphere is bustling at all times of the day, perfect for marketing our house cleaning service in Falls Church, Virginia. One of our clients who needed an apartment cleaning service in Arlington, Virginia found us here!

This is truly an all-in-one gem. It slightly reminds me of one of my favorite restaurants in Northern Virginia: The Secret Garden Cafe in the Occoquan Historic District, just outside Woodbridge, Virginia. Northside Social is much more lively, social, and far less... secret.

Menu Highlight: I highly recommend trying their signature poached egg sandwich, available in multiple variations. They also offer several flavors of chai tea, including turmeric & ginger, which is a great immune system booster! They also serve beer & wine and have a full-service lunch and dinner menu.

3.  Simona Cafe – Arlington, VA

Simona Cafe is located just outside the residential neighborhoods of Clarendon. Although it's in Clarendon, it has a homier and calmer aura. They have a beautiful outdoor patio with string lights. The owner and staff are very friendly and happy to offer recommendations and answer questions. I accidentally ordered an iced vanilla latte with four shots of espresso once, but the barista was happy to remake it with two shots once we cleared up the miscommunication.

When I stepped into Simona Cafe, I was immediately drawn to the warm ambiance, but what really caught my eye were the colors that matched our HandiHuman branding. It felt like a sign when I met Jad, the owner and we bonded over the coincidence of our similar names and matching brand aesthetics. It was one of those moments where you realize that some connections are just meant to be. Simona’s kindness and our shared appreciation for good design made my visit even more memorable.

Menu Highlight: They have great egg and cheese sandwiches and offer decaf options that taste like real coffee!

4.  Mumu Cafe – Arlington, VA

Mumu Cafe is located just outside of Rosslyn and was opened three years ago by Jermaine, the owner. It’s a fairly new business but quickly became one of my favorites. Jermaine has traveled all over Europe and has been especially inspired by Spain. It’s not necessarily Spanish food, but I definitely picked up on some Spanish cafe-like elements, such as the music playing, the extremely relaxed nature of the place, and the friendly welcome from Jermaine. The owner was kind enough to showcase our house cleaning service in Arlington, Virginia, at the top of their decoration shelf.

Menu Highlights: Mumu serves a great egg & cheese sandwich that you can customize however you want. I, of course, opted for a croissant and added tomato. I also ordered the egg toast with avocado. They offer delicious decaf options for coffee and specialty drinks like the Cookie Butter Oatmilk Latte.

5.  Detour Coffee – Arlington, VA

Detour Coffee needs no introduction. It is one of the fanciest coffee shops I’ve visited, with beautiful floral decor. It’s located right below the popular late-night spot Darna Lounge. The fancy decor and environment come at a price tag, as this was one of the more expensive options in town.

Menu Highlights: I ordered one of their specialty lattes with pistachio flavoring, and it was delicious. They also have a mouthwatering breakfast burrito.

Best Coffee Shops in Arlington, VA (Honorable Mentions)

Borek G Cafe – Falls Church, VA

The only reason Borek G Cafe didn’t make the top 5 list is that it doesn’t specifically fit the category of the rest of the list. This is a family-owned eatery marketed as "Turkish Mom’s Cookin’," and sure enough, Mom is in fact the cook, and she made me one of the best egg and cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had, in the form of a panini. Dad made me an incredible iced latte bursting with a strong coffee flavor that is rare to find at most shops. While my breakfast was being cooked, the son and I connected over common interests and stories of growing up as immigrants in the United States and entrepreneurship.

Borek G Cafe felt like home and was the most welcoming and delicious cafe I visited over the month of August. I will be back, especially for the sweet treats—Baklava.

Idido’s Coffee Shop – Arlington, VA

Idido’s is a neighborhood favorite in Arlington, Virginia. Located near Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Dr, I consider this the best cafe on this side of town. If it wasn’t for the personal connections I made with some of the owners of the cafes on the list above, Idido’s would definitely be in the top 5.

Idido’s has all the quintessential elements of a stereotypical coffee shop: cozy indoor seating, outdoor seating, great coffee, delicious sweet treats, good music, and a bulletin board for the community to post announcements, messages, or flyers for a “house cleaning service near me.” Hint, hint.

Cafe of Kitchen Purpose – Arlington, VA

The best way to describe Cafe of Kitchen Purpose is—Inspirational. The food and the coffee are well and good, but their real value lies behind closed doors in the kitchen. This is a non-profit organization providing job and growth opportunities to empower diversity groups and immigrants. The mission is noble, as they aim to be agents of social and economic change by using food as a tool to transform lives.

Three Whistles – Arlington, VA

Three Whistles isn’t your typical coffee shop and, quite honestly, not my personal taste. BUT, if you want a work-focused, very clean, and modern environment with good coffee, this is the place to go. The average customer is a working professional who is locked in. They also have phone booths and conference rooms to take meetings. This is a great spot to work, network, and eat—a true coworking cafe.

Chill Zone Cafe – Falls Church, VA

Chill Zone Cafe is not your traditional cafe. It has a unique environment that is very refreshing and welcoming, capturing its name well. It features specialty coffees as well as authentic and fusion Vietnamese cuisine, such as Pho & Banh Mi. Their coffee and food are both great, of course, but I find myself wanting to return simply for the ambiance alone.

Ending Remarks

Exploring Arlington’s coffee scene turned out to be more than just a marketing adventure for HandiHuman’s handyman and house cleaning service in Northern Virginia—it was a journey of community and connection. From friendly conversations with cafe owners to discovering new favorite breakfast spots, these experiences have become a part of HandiHuman’s story. The relationships we’ve built in these local spots reflect our commitment to being a part of the Arlington community, and we’re grateful for every conversation, every cup of coffee, and every connection.

As we continue to serve the Arlington area, we hope you’ll stop by these incredible coffee shops and experience them for yourself. They’re more than just places to grab a coffee—they’re the heart of our community, just like HandiHuman aims to be. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to many more shared experiences in the future. Let us know of any local cafes we should visit next in the comments below!