Sharbat Bakery&Cafe (Adams Morgan)

Absolutely wonderful café and bakery located in the heart of Adams Morgan! This lovely little hole-in-the-wall shop may look unassuming from the outside, but it is home to some of the best baked goodies in DC. I've dropped by several times for dessert, and I've been super impressed by their quality and consistency -- the baklava is definitely the star of the show, and they have a ton of variety. Whether you want to keep it classic with their traditional batu baklava or pistachio baklava, or if you want a sweet fusion twist with their nutella baklava, each dessert is perfectly flaky, nutty, and all-around delicious. Their batu baklava has the perfect level of sweetness and goes wonderfully with a latte or americano; the nutella baklava is a smidge too sweet for my taste, but it's great if you're looking for something with a bit more sugar. Beyond baklava, they have a wide selection of other traditional Azerbaijani desserts, including cakes, cookies, and a bunch of other sweet or savory pastries. The owner is the sweetest woman I've ever met and more than willing to chat through the menu if you have any questions. For their drinks, they serve La Colombe coffee, so you really can't go too wrong with anything. I wasn't the biggest fan of their matcha (it tasted a little more like culinary-grade matcha vs. ceremonial), but it was still tasty and fulfilled my caffeine craving. The shop is super cute and has a good amount of seating, including these really cute benches with an eclectic assortment of colorful pillows. It is super cozy and has a ton of natural light from the large storefront windows, making it perfect for reading, working, or yapping your afternoon away. I also love that they're open pretty late (8 PM on most days).

An amazing Azerbaijani restaurant in Washington DC! The qutabs, dushbere, erishte, plov, dolma, unique pastries, baked goods, breakfast dishes (kuku, scrambled eggs with tomatoes), thyme tea, and homemade döners — everything was absolutely delicious. It truly felt like we traveled back to Azerbaijan. We loved it so much that we came both for breakfast and dinner in the same day. Aunt Natavan’s warmth and kindness make you feel like your own mother cooked for you. For anyone living in Washington, this place is simply irreplaceable!

Amazing taste of Azerbaijan cuisine. The food was very tasty. Service was excellent. Highly recommend

One of the most delightful meals I've ever eaten. My husband and I traveled here on our honeymoon in DC - Sharbat was on my list of places I wanted to visit and I'm glad to say it exceeded my expectations. Before talking about the food itself, it's got a nice atmosphere and kind staff, and there's fresh flowers and pretty art too. We ordered dishes to share, selecting the dushbara and gurza. The dumplings (gurza) came with a yogurt like sour cream and a little crock of sauce that resembled something between sundried tomato and a very mild chili oil. They were beautiful and fantastic - like you hear "dumpling with beef inside" and that seems like it'd be pretty familiar, but the flavor was unique and complex. We also got the most gorgeous soup called dushbara. It was honestly to die for. Beneath the surface are these small dumplings, of a different shape but I think filled with the same beef mixture. I was reading an article about it from natgeo recently and supposedly it's a fine art in Azerbaijan to try to get the dumplings as micro as possible. These fit perfectly one to a spoonful and they filled up with the beef broth which was phenomenally silky with oil. There was a small crock of vinegar which you could pour into your spoonful to cut the fats and also that same sour cream type stuff. Both were delicious with the soup, which was warm and herby and glorious. There was also a flatbread that came with it - my husband dropped chunks in to soak and it made for a decadent bite! We also took back with us a slice of honey cake and pistachio cake. We'd tried something similar at another bakery before (our first exposure to these kinds of desserts) and I think Sharbat's were my favorite. The honey cake has so many layers, and the pistachio cake is coated in extra nuts with plentiful frosting (which I especially like). One recommendation! If you have time in advance and you know you'll want particular dishes, it's worth letting the staff know ahead of time. For example, the dovga soup, creamy manti, and khinkali were dishes I was interested in trying out but they'd need to be requested in advance. I wish I had longer in DC so I could go back and try those out, knowing how good everything else ended up tasting. And there were such beautiful pastries on display which I wish I could have tried. It's a fairly extensive menu with many phenomenal options, so if you live nearby you ought to take advantage of it and sample everything!!

I've been on the hunt for authentic baklava and finally found a spot that hit the mark. The baklava was fresh, flaky, and delicious. I tried the Walnut Pakhlava, Meringue Pakhlava, Kata, and took a Mutaki to go. Each treat was amazing. The service was excellent and the cashier offered me some recommendations for my next visit. Initially, I sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather, but when it got chilly, I moved inside to a cute table by the window with pillows and hanging greenery. There was also space heater nearby to keep the area warm. Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning for more sweet treats and pleasant ambiance. A definite 10/10 experience!

Sharbat is a cozy gem in DC that offers a truly authentic taste of Azerbaijani cuisine. The atmosphere is inviting, and the staff are incredibly kind and attentive. I had the qutab, and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!

I had a Badambura. Warm and fresh out of oven. Less sweet than gujia, I actually did like it very much.

Cafe with a variety of sweet and savory menu items. Ideal place for a brunch, or an afternoon treat with a nice quality coffee. Their traditional baklava, tomato egg, and pies are all very delicious. The portions are generous and the prices are really reasonable. You can definitely share some of the dishes with two people and order other bakery items that you would like to try 😊Everything looks super fresh and they are all hand made from scratch, which I really appreciate. They were super kind and offered us an extra slice of baklava. The atmosphere is very cozy and the staff is extremely friendly. Such a nice cafe to have in the neighborhood.

really delicious baklava, probably the best in all dc. great customer service as well.

You got to love all the cultural representations in the DC dining scene! I've got their pastries a few times for friend gatherings and events, and every time it was a hit. Some of my favorites are goghal, a potato-filled pastry, mutaki (apple-filled shortbread), and, obviously, the pakhalava, which do sell out sometimes in the afternoon so go early if you want. Their honey cake is amazing. The cream-filled layered cakes are lighter and airier. The pistachio cake was good but subtle in pistachio flavor so didn't wow me. They have a few tables as well and free wifi so great to catch up with some work while enjoying the pastries.

Yum! A delicious bakery in Adams Morgan with some pastries that are to die for! Like many reviewers have said before, the honey cake is a thing of beauty. Sweet but not too sweet, light and dense simultaneously... it was outrageous! The pistachio cake, tiramisu, and caramel cake all were packed to the brim with great flavor. The savory pastries rocked too!

To me it felt like this was kind of in the shadow of the Ukrainian restaurant next door, but the spread of cakes and pastries at this Azerbaijani place looked quite worthwhile. So much, in fact, that I was persuaded to not get the chocolate cake but instead to try a caramel icing cake with walnuts, which was quite impressive and very filling. I was a little bit surprised they only had plastic utensils, and the tables weren't really clean, but the food itself would be worth sampling again.

Chill, inviting bakery with incredible baked goods from Azerbaijan. Only tried the pakhlava, but it was so yummy and left me wanting to try other treats! Friendly staff! Don't wait to visit!

Delicious desserts!! We got chocolate cake and this flakey pastry cake that I was SO excited about and crave 24/7 now. It's like a napolean but in cake slice form and honestly way better than any napolean I've ever had. So good. Will definitely be back! (Ok looking at their menu now it was definitely the Napoleon Cake lol )

Had a chocolate craving and had heard good things about Sharbat so I decided to walk to get some chocolate goodies. (If you walk to a bakery you can eat as much as you want, that's the rule). Ok so 5pm was probably a little too late to get there to try everything because the only chocolate item left was a Nutella Baklava. (They had plenty of other cakes and sweets though) But this baklava.... This Lebanese girl is in love. It took all of my willpower not to eat both and to save one for a friend. They also had a bunch of super delicious looking cakes. My goal is to go back early to try more.

There are so many options to pick from so there's definitely something you'll like! The service was really nice and helpful, she recommended getting the apricot. The cake was pretty good, the cake part was a bit stale. However, the apricot and cream were delicious! Plus they give big slices for $7! Definitely worth it!

I've been to Sharbat multiple times for dessert (usually I stop by before or after seeing a comedy show at HotBed next door) and always been impressed with their quality and consistency. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out! The interior and vibe of the place is romantic and whimsical - very bright and light interior with flowers and glitzy lights everywhere. The exterior is similarly flowery which creates a fun aesthetic. From their cakes, I've tried the caramel and chocolate cakes. Both are delicious and the highlight is the light whipped frosting in between the moist cake layers. The chocolate is more of a milk/light chocolate. Both are easy to share. Of the various baklava types I've tried. Nutella is my favorite. Really rich and delicious with a honey soaked bottom and light crispy layers up top to create a perfect balance.

I've been to Sharbat several times and it is a fine although not amazing experience. While their sweet pastries such as pakhlava, shakarbura, and the banana-shaped cookie are excellent, their savory pastries lack flavor and often have too much puff pastry versus the filling. Most recently, my friend and I went for a weekday brunch to Sharbat and ordered the breakfast platter and a latte each. Although there was only one other person in the restaurant, our order took 15 minutes to be brought to our table despite nothing in the spread in the picture taken below needing 15 minutes to be prepped. Additionally, our server could have been a bit more welcoming and helpful when we were choosing what we wanted to order. Aside from the savory pastries, everything else was delicious, especially the beef sausage. I would recommend Sharbat for its sweet pastries and a coffee but nothing more.

First things first, best baklava I've possibly ever had! Their pistachio baklava is so delicious. I ordered one this past weekend and immediately had to go right back to the register to order four more to go! Lol. It's perfectly sweet without being too sweet. Give me their baklava and a nice coffee/latte and I'm good to go! I've also had the cheese (feta) with greens pastry, the sausage pastry, the sharkarbura, and one of their walnut filled cookies. All of which are good. I like that their sweets are not overly sweet, and have subtle nut notes. They do several kinds of lattes with compass coffee too. My go to is hazelnut latte with oat milk. The service is always friendly and the ladies in the front are always willing to answer all my questions and explain all the pastries to me. Definitely stop by here and grab yourself some delicious treats!

Guys, this place has some seriously delicious desserts that I'm willing to come from Alexandria to Adams Morgan just to have more dessert. After a really great meal at Tail Up Goat, we walked around looking for dessert and found Sharbat. We got a caramel cake and phaklava and omg. The caramel cake I think has some kind of nut flour, which cuts down on the sweetness. I could legitimately eat two slices without hesitation. The phaklava was incredible. I really love the simple syrup vs honey - honey can sometimes overwhelm your mouth with flavor, but simple syrup lets the ridiculous delicious nut filling to shine.. I wanna come back and eat more cake.

Great bakery! Had some delivered to Sibley after the birth of our third and it was a lovely treat. The baklava and other pastries particularly stood out!

Some friends and I went on a walking tour of bakeries, and Shabbat was our first stop! I had heard of their famous honey cake, so we got that, but I'd say I enjoyed the strawberry and cream crepe cake just as much if not more than the honey cake. They were also super accommodating for our group and cut our cakes into 4 pieces for easier sharing. Thanks so much - I'll definitely be back to try more of your many treats!

The cake was decent. It was not anything I would go "wow" for. In the neighborhood I guess you can't expect too much. The service was not the best. They were kind of friendly when I was leaving. They were in a rush to close the store even through I made it clear I only want to get a piece of cake to go. We stop by cause there was time to kill before our next commitment for the evening. It's not nice to rush the client when there is still 10 mins to closing time. Ambiance is not existence but what do you expect from the neighbors coffee shop.

Terrible service and very mediocre, below average food. Do NOT waste your money and time in here. They steal sweets and desserts from other culture and call it Azerbaijani bakery. Go to authentic Greek, Lebanese, Armenian, Arabic, Persian, etc places for authentic goodies and not this place where rats are running in the kitchen.

The pistachio cake is incredible. Nice thick slice that is moist and fluffy and not heavy at all with all the nice pistachio flavor. Nice spot !

I've never tried Azerbaijan desserts before, and was intrigued by Sharbat. The honey cake slice that is the most photographed on here, looked good so i got it after a fancy dinner at El Secreto De Rosita. I loved layered cakes, and the honey cake here is delicious. It's not too sweet, just the right amount of cream, and I like the flakiness. I would definitely come back and try their other desserts.

Five stars for the mushroom pastry alone, it was truly incredible! So flavorful and really unlike anything I've had elsewhere. Cute, cozy interior, and the service was helpful -- they offered to heat up our pastries and brought them to our table. Highly recommend checking this out!

This Azerbaijan bakery/cafe has a much better range of cakes and pastries than the D Lite cafe next door. Also, unlike the "Ukranian" cafe, they are all actually authentic desserts from the region. There was a huge range of baklava type desserts, as well as several fancy, layered cakes. They all looked fantastic, but I finally plumped for the badambura with peppermint and cardamon tea. It was a good decision. The badambura was light and pillowy and filled with a delicious mixture of nuts. My only disappointment was that the sharbat tea service was for 4 people. As I was there by myself, I couldn't try it. Next time I'll take 3 friends.

Very delicious Adjarian food. the pastries were hot and flakey. the dushbara tasted like a homemade chicken soup with dill and had these beef dumplings. the bread it was served with was so fluffy and complimented the soup well. the cakes were not too sweet, although wasn't spectacular at ~$7 a slice. really wanted to try the gurza but they were sold out by 1 pm

This is a bakery for people who think they don't like dessert. The kind who troop in behind their friends, trying to humor them. That was me. I am not one to be seduced by the overly sweet promise of baklava. I can, however, be lured by apricot cake. For $7 I was served a hefty slice - definitely shareable by two, possibly three. How can I describe the heaven that enveloped me, I that shun whipped cream? Here was a moist cloud of perfection, the definition of lightness without being insubstantial, a delicate balance of moist vanilla cake, cream, and apricot jam. I ascended. And am still floating up there.

Asian bakery. It seems pretty unique for around here. Sharbat has cakes, cookies, and the usual kind of stuff. Best known for the honey cake. There's coffee and of course pastries. Bakery specializes in goods you can find in Azerbaijan. It probably is a long way there so this is the next best thing. There's a lot to choose from whether savory or sweet treats. People like the honey cake. The other options here include the baklava and cookies, which are a good idea for gatherings and parties. Get a cookie for about $2 each. These are kind of expensive but not outrageous. It seems like a decent bakery. It was too new for me to properly assess it. They have all kinds of interesting things.

We got a bunch of the different cakes here. They were really good and fresh. The pistachio cake was pretty unique and definitely a must try!

Amazing varieties of baklava! The honey cake was also delicious! This was a random find before we planned on going for dinner, but was definitely a good place to make a pit stop and relax! They have long tables and a good corner upstairs for relaxation and conversations. Definitely recommend.

Ordered an 8 inch honey cake for a friend's birthday and it was really good! Looks beautiful too. Ordered ahead on the phone 3 days prior and it was ready at the time I wanted :)

The girl at the counter was nice. The place overall has a clean look and I like the separation from the counter to the tables at the front. I got the Pakhlava and it was so delicious I'd love to get it again. The beef pastry was room temp and we heated it up when we got home but that's preference.

The slice of honey cake for $6 is probably one of the best deals in DC! The slice is massive and you could definitely taste the love that was put into making the cake. This was my first time having a non-Russian honey cake, and it was very interesting. It almost had a graham cracker flavor to the cake. The cream layers weren't super noticeable, although the honey flavor was very strong. It did taste a little dry, which I wasn't as big of a fan of. Definitely worth a stop here and would love to come back and try their other pastries!

I ordered the honey cake and two slices of pistachio cake. The honey cake was unique and almost tasted like a light graham cracker. The pistachio cake slices were okay but a little too dense for me. The shop was cute and had lots of good looking treats.

The honey cake is fantastic!!!! it's really quite lovely inside, makes you want to sit, eat, drink a hot bev and chat the time away Only thin is I wish the staff was a little more engaging, but 5 stars for that cake alone

Went to a dinner where someone got this birthday cake for our dessert. It was amazing. It wasn't sweet and it fed a lot of people. I would like to visit the bakery and try other things now!

Sharbat Cafe gives Washington, D.C. what they didn't know they needed- Central Asian baked goods. After baking for years, this family-owned bakery opened in the heart of Adams Morgan to showcase the cuisine from Azerbaijan and the owner's mother's cooking. The space itself is set up a little oddly, but they didn't have control of the space. You walk in and go up a flight of stairs to get to the actual bakery on the second loft-style floor. There are tables and couches to sit at, but due to COVID-19 you're encouraged to order your food masks on and take it to go. The food is delicious. They sell sweet and savory baked goods. For savory, they have several pies that fill you up. I ordered the baked good with chicken, cummin and carrots and it was amazing. On the sweet side, they have several pastries and baked goods. If you love honey cake, their's is the best I've had- creamy and good! The sweet desserts aren't super sweet, which makes them more refreshing. They also brew La Colombe coffee and make a great iced Nutella latte. The staff are the owners and are very kind people. Ask them their story. It's inspiring!

I was hoping for better but the pastries were just so cloyingly sweet. They look good but either too sweet or the cakes too dry. We tried some the savory items as well but I think we got the leftovers from the previous day. Staff were a bit curt to the women in our group.

Sharbat is my go-to place for fresh baked goods! The moment you enter this cafe, you notice how friendly everyone is. Here people treat you like you're family, not just a customer. This cafe is all WOMEN-run and it deserves huge kudos for the efforts of these strong, resilient and hard working women. I met the owner one day and she was such a nice person to have a conversation with. She treated me to a free pastry and tea in addition to my order. Food here is home made and all family recipe. This is not machine made food, this is hand made with love food! The flavors of their pastries will transport you to Middle East, Asia, Caucasus... I highly highly recommend this place. And try everything!

Upgrading to 5 stars as this is a true gem of a bakery. I've ordered to-go delivery from them several times now. I've learned that you need to make sure you give any refrigerated pastries enough time to reach room temperature before enjoying. This is particularly true of the Honey Cake, and is why I had my mixed reaction the first time. Also, if you're not familiar with flour-based pastries from the Caucuses or Eastern Europe you might be a bit surprised. These are generally more dough-forward and might seem a bit drier than other pastries you might be familiar with. But all very delicious. Honey Cake - consistently impresses. A must-order. Apricot Cake - delicious and well-balanced. I've gone back to this a few times. Badambura - enjoyed this pastry and it looks impressive. Sheker Chorek - simple sugar-like cookie. It's fine. Raisin Cookie - very enjoyable, and I'm not a raisin person. First time I got this it was very large. More of a pastry than a cookie. Second time was smaller and a more cookie-sized cluster. Pakhlava - very, very good and pretty perfect. I only wish it didn't have the rose water syrup (or whatever the fragrant element is). Caramel Cake & Raspberry Cake - both enjoyable but not sure I'd order the caramel again. And I prefer the Honey and Apricot cakes to the Raspberry.

Oh. My word. We walked past this place and decided to go in on a whim. I'm so glad we did. We ordered the goghal, which enticed us with its flakey lamination. Biting into it was a revelation: irresistible, buttery layers that shattered as we bit in, giving way to a cumin laced filling that was utterly delicious (vegetarian friendly too!). Perhaps the best pastry I've eaten in my life. We went back and ordered another one, along with the honey cake (light and smooth) and shekerbura. The man behind the counter was so friendly too and heated up our second goghal and it was even more scrumptious. Where else can you get Azerbaijani pastry?! Go now, seriously. I'm already planning another visit.

Love this place! Can't say enough good things about the savory and sweet pastry. The family that runs this place is also quite nice. For beginners, try the chicken boreki...

Was randomly walking past and couldn't resist the call to step inside. I got three of the savory pastries (cheese xachapuri, borek, and Goghal) and an iced chai latte. Each pastry was tastier than the last and I was really impressed with the different flavors and how light and flaky they were. The densest one was the the borek, which is full of chicken, carrots, and spices. I ate about half of it and then decided to save it for the next morning's breakfast. The iced chai was super mild but perfect for a late spring morning. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Best food I've had in DC. The pastries and kutabs were amazing. The service was so great, and the interior was really clean and cute. I love this place! Can't wait to be back!!

They sold me an old cake. When I called and asked them to have a cake ready for pickup, they said they only had the larger size available (more expensive). Fine. It was dry and basically inedible. They should have at at least told us what to expect when selling old merchandise. I was so exciting to share with friends only to be disappointed.

I love this place! The baked goods are each so delicious and the Qutab is made fresh to order. It comes with a delectable yogurt sauce! I'm so glad this bakery exists. You must stop by and try any one of their Azerbaijani treats

This cute little cafe offer great baking stuff. The strawberry crepe cake is amazing!!! The cake is assembled by strawberry and cream filled crepe rolls. The flavor is light and fresh, and full of texture. Other items taste great as well. Love the subtle sweetness!

Spurred by Tom Sietsema's very friendly review, we walked on down to this new bakery in our neighborhood, and we were favorably impressed, The honey cake was delicious, and a single slice more than sufficient for a single sitting. My wife had the cheese xachapuri, a savory pastry, also delicious. Not cheap, though, We look forward to trying more on their menu

I can finally say I've had Azerbaijani pastries now! I'm a huge fan of savory pastries and this is a good addition to AdMo. We ordered both the chicken and the beef pastries and both were so filling and delicious. The chicken one had come straight from the oven and had that perfect golden brown, flaky crust going on. I would have loved to order more, including their delicious desserts but couldn't because we had somewhere to be. That's okay, it just means we'll have to come back.

I wasn't really sure what to expect since I've never had Azerbaijani food, but the baked good I got was absolutely perfect. The woman behind the counter was helpful in explaining what exactly everything was and after hearing the descriptions, I went with a savory elephant ear type baked good with feta and veggies. It was so flakey, flavorful and the perfect snack. It also reheated very well and was a great pick me up. I can't wait to try their other sweet goodies.

We were so pleasantly surprised by this place! I have been in the DC and Arlington areas for over 6 years and have just accepted the fact that in order to have an authentic ethnic food experience you had to drive deep into NOVA. This place, however, is right on 18th and Columbia and beats any NOVA hole in the wall! The mouthwatering display of pastries makes is slightly overwhelming. Everything looks somewhat similar but had pretty unique ingredients / fillings. The breads all tasted as good as they looked and were super satisfying: fluffy, bready, and buttery. Then comes the breakfast spread. I'll let my pictures speak. But I think this place is now officially my favorite breakfast/ brunch spot in the area. Everyone must try this gem of a spot. Plus is that it's family run! Showing your support never tasted so good

Hooked after the first bite! We ordered just the sweet deserts and they are to die for! Absolutely quality ingredients, excellent flavors, and beautiful. I only wished I had snapped some photos before I snapped them in my mouth! The whole family loved our delivery--chocolate cake for the kids, pakhlava for the partner, Napoleon cake for me with a banan snuck into the order for breakfast. The Napoleon cake was one of the best desserts I have had in a very long time. Light and not too sweet. Can't wait to try their savory items!

All the pastry was really good! And what's surprising was that their baked goods are not overly sugary. The signature honey cake is powdery and creamy - rather than moist and soft which the name could have suggested. But I love it! I would recommend to try their tea set just because it is nice to sit down to enjoy a pot of tea but the tea quality is just what it is - not bitter but very strong. It goes well with lemon, which is the Azerbaijani way to drink their tea,

We wholeheartedly recommend Sharbat Bakery and wish to express our utmost appreciation for the incredible food and warm atmosphere provided by this delightful cafe. From the moment we stepped inside, we were immediately captivated by the inviting aromas and the friendly staff. Sharbat Bakery truly stands out with its delectable pastries, delightful flavors, and impeccable quality. The cozy ambiance and attentive service made our visit a true pleasure. The cafe owners are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, and they went above & beyond with our orders. We will definitely be returning and will enthusiastically recommend 100% this wonderful place to all our friends. Thank you for sharing the flavors of Azerbaijani cuisine with North America!

Incredible selection of cakes, savory and sweet pastries. Delicious, fresh, not too sweet, and just perfect. Over two days, we tried the apricot cake, honey cake, and several cookies and pastries and the heart-and stomach-warming beef dumpling soup in a savory broth. Service was most friendly, setting was comfortable, and for dine-in, they do check vaccine cards carefully. I can't wait to return!