Life Alive Organic Cafe West End

Seven D.C. Restaurant Openings to Know, January 2025 | Eater DC

"After 20 years in Massachusetts, this is the brand's first location outside the Bay State, situated below Kaiser Permanente offices on M Street with seating for 75, free Wi‑Fi, and lots of outlets. The West End cafe leans on seasonal ingredients and homemade sauces to build warm grain and acai bowls, salads, and noodle dishes, and it partnered with Oyster Oyster’s James Beard Award-winning chef Rob Rubba to unleash a limited-time ramen bowl packed with umami flavors. The beverage program includes smoothies, wellness shots, cold-press juices, and a coffee program fueled by Intelligentsia with options like vanilla tahini lattes and banana oat cold brew. The growing chain (10 locations) is backed in part by Panera founder Ron Shaich, and to mark opening day the spot will hand out branded tote bags to the first 100 guests in line." - Tierney Plumb