Sylvan Cafe

Sylvan got a fabulous makeover! This has been my neighborhood coffee spot for breakfast and lunch sandwiches for years. I always thought it had the potential and space to be a proper cafe where you could meet up or work, but the layout wasn’t conducive. Well, their complete renovation turned out amazing! Looks like they also expanded the sandwiches and Ethiopian menu also, and extended hours from 2pm to 4pm ❤️ Now, if they only brought back the fresh baguettes and bread loaves it would be perfect.

Cosy vibes and a lovely place to sit quietly and work. An ideal spot for writing too with some great coffee and croissants to go along with it.

We are lunch here and loved it! Great food and service! The staff was so friendly and even fended off a very unreasonable customer in a polite way, with a smile. Would highly recommend!

They have a gluten free bagel that was pretty good! Not a big fluffy bagel but thr flavor was good. I asked if it was toasted on the same spot as the normal bagels and she told me it's toasted in a bag. The chai was alright, a little sweet for my taste.

I love this place! It's a small business with a calm, pleasant atmosphere, a big menu, and a kind + quick staff. The space itself is fantastic as well - there's a nice seating area with big tables and window seats, a piano by the counter that anyone is allowed to play, and a cool marquee sign out front! I love working in this cozy cafe on cold and rainy mornings. I spent a few months living in DC, and while I was there, I made it my mission to find the best lox bagel. I've visited a LOT of DC bagelries in my day (including CYM), and Sylvan Cafe was my favorite of all of them. (You can trust my judgement; I'm Jewish.) The bagels are toasty and well-seasoned - I always get an everything bagel, and they don't skimp on the seeds. The fish is fresh, the fixins are neatly-stacked, and the ratio of lox:vegetables:cream cheese was just right for me. I've been back a few times, and the quality is consistently high. If lox bagels aren't your thing, there's a wide variety of sandwiches, paninis, pastries, and Ethiopian veggies for you to try instead! This place has something for everyone. It's perfect for all of your breakfast/brunch/lunch/snack needs, and is a wonderful local business to support!

Great cafe! The egg bacon sandwich was delicious, and the atmosphere was cozy. The staff were super friendly and provided excellent service. Definitely coming back!

amazing coffee and bagels, I didn’t catch her name but she was so sweet and accommodating. My partner is celiac and she ensured of no cross contamination. def recommend this spot! make sure you try the chai latte :)

Good place, the coffee it's tasty. Free piano if you want to play it. It's a small place with good looking, and a guess some expensive. So many options to eat or take out.

I had a great experience at Sylvan Cafe. The staff were friendly, helpful, and made me feel welcome. They were quick to assist and always had a smile on their faces. Overall, the service was excellent and made my visit enjoyable.

We are so glad to see this cafe do well in our neighborhood. I believe in cafes in every neighborhood. We walk our dog every morning and grab hot chocolate and coffee when we walk by this place. They have recently redid their interiors. Looks much spacious now and very welcoming. With my drinks, I often get their samosa or spinach puffs. It's so good. For lunch, my go to is their Ethiopian combo. They have 5 different veggies and recently added meat as well. Absolutely delicious! Depending on how busy they are, expect to wait for the Ethiopian entree. Worth it.

Great spot for working as there are many power outlets in the cafe. We came here on a Saturday afternoon and it is relatively quiet with only a few customers in the store. We ordered the ice americano decaf option and tapped on the free wifi to telework. The wifi is slightly wonky but gets better as some customers left. Overall, a very cozy place in the lovely Bloomingdale neighborhood.

I'm a fan of Sylvan Cafe & Bakery! This place offers various hot and cold beverages, NJ bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries (such as muffins, croissants, cookies, and cakes), and even vegan Ethiopian eats! We came here for round 2 for breakfast, and we ordered: +a Veggie sambusa - filled with lentils, this was a nice sized sambusa, and the exterior was so flaky and crispy! +Egg, Bacon, and Cheese with Avocado - on an everything bagel, this came out piping hot! The egg was fried perfectly, and this was a very filling bagel breakfast sandwich! +an Egg, Turkey Sausage, and Cheese - on an everything bagel, this came out piping hot! The egg was fried perfectly, and this was a very filling bagel breakfast sandwich! +an Orange Muffin - great orange flavor, and perfect for those who like citrus-y pastries Service was super kind, friendly, and welcoming! There is seating in the back; the place is well-decorated and very clean. I can't wait to return to try some of their lunch sandwiches and their vegan Ethiopian eats! Street parking available. +tasty hot bagel breakfast sandwiches +sambusas! +friendly & kind staff! +street parking available

Great local spot that can easily be missed if you aren't looking right. Give this place a try on your next visit around Rhode Island & Capitol. The space is open and laid back, very community based. Everyone is so nice and the coffee had me wired for a solid chunk of time! The breakfast was great. Cannot complain here, just go try it now!!!!

Great place for coffee and delicious pastries. Great friendly and fast service. Will come again.

This cafe is super cute and chic. Reminds me of a mom and pop shop with lots of style. There are lots of coffee and tea options to choose from as well as bakery and lunch options. I got an americano with a splash of almond milk and some caramel syrup. The coffee was okay, but given the snowy weather it made me feel nice and cozy. I was excited to try a coffee shop that is new to me in the The register clerk was very nice. I will 100% go back to try more things.

Stopped in here for a quick breakfast and some coffee. It is a nice little place to grab some breakfast. It can be hard to find seating here as it isn't very big. They have a piano in the front that you can play if you feel the need to. Service was good we sat outside and they brought our food outside. We got their iced coffee and a lox bagel. Everything was delicious and I would recommend them if you are looking for a good breakfast spot.

Sylvan Cafe is a neighborhood coffee shop that cannot be missed. Great coffees, Pastries, lunch sandwiches!

The everything bagel was very good! Coffee was serviceable but not great. I would eat the food again but I'd prefer to make my own coffee over this.

I live right around the corner from this place, it's very cute on the inside! It's a nice spot to sit for a bit with a laptop or book too. The staff is also very friendly! I recommend this place more for coffee and pastries, personally. I got a bagel sandwich which was just alright; if you're in a hurry it's a good place to grab breakfast though. I paid about $10 for a bacon, egg, and cheese, which is pretty steep but not really for the city. Overall cute place but not my favorite bagel in the area.

Good/simple spot for breakfast sandwiches. A little pricey but nothing unusual for DC.

Clean spot for this neighborhood. Quick service, tasty lattes and healthy breakfast options.

Walked to this cafe from our Airbnb and ordered bagel breakfast sandwiches to go. Our order was ready quickly and we could all taste the freshness of the bagels. Staff was friendly. There were stools in front to sit while we waited. There was a larger back room for folks dining in. There is also a piano with an invitation to play near the front door.

This cafe was the sweetest pocket of sunshine. It was exactly what I needed on a chilly DC morning. Me and my gal pals got breakfast there. We bought breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and cookies. Oh my gosh, their orange muffin was so friggin good. It had the perfect fragrance and taste. I had a stacked bacon, egg, cheddar cheese and avocado sammie on a sesame seed bagel. Yo! Mouth watering. Don't say mouth watering when it's in from of you cause you might dribble a bit. It's a pandemic, you're not allowed to dribble. But what you are allowed to do is order All the Things and wear a mask as you do it. Dogs are not allowed inside the cafe but you can leave your pup safely outside in close view. They'll be jealous for a short moment but will be fine! And you'll be full. It works!

Great little cafe and bakery. When our AirBnB didn't have any decent coffee selection we wandered and found this little gem!

Great neighborhood spot. Sometimes I find their bagels a bit dry, but all in all a really nice spot to grab some breakfast or lunch. I really like their veggie cream cheese. Their menu is pretty large for a small cafe. Their espresso drinks are awesome, and they offer all the standard non dairy options. They have an order ahead option via square which is super convenient.

Moldy Lemon Ricotta muffin I received in my grubhub order. Bagel sandwich was good but really disappointed in quality control of the muffins. How old is it if it has mold?? Safe to say I will not be ordering from here again

The service is incredibly slow don't waste your time. They kept telling me that my food was coming next thing I know 50min have passed and it still wasn't ready. Can't tell you if it's good or not but I'm sure it's not worth the wait.

If I start my day with an egg and cheese bagel + large coffee from Sylvan, I know it's gonna be a good day regardless of how not good my condition was walking into this shop. The breakfast bagels are thick and reliable, much like DC's summer humidity, and the muffins are fluffy, much like my hair in DC's summer humidity. The bagels aren't crazy and complicated, which is refreshing in a city where bagels tend to be trying to do a little too much. They're simply tasty, which is all I need from my morning bagel.

Do not eat here, took a sip of my iced coffee and felt something strange hit my tongue I spit out a cockroach. I almost threw up. By far the absolute worst experience at a restaurant in my life.

Cute bagel shop with a little more seating in the back on the corner of Rhode Island and First. Sylvan offers a variety of breakfast/lunch sandwiches and pastries with an Ethiopian flavor. Sandwiches range from $6-$9. Fall in line, make your order, grab a number, and your bagel should come out in 5-10minutes. I got the egg, avocado, turkey bacon, and pepper jack cheese sandwich in a multigrain bagel. Bagel was crispy on the outside and thick and doughy on the inside. The cheese pull in my bagel made the sandwich even better! The egg was like a McMuffin egg, which held up very nicely. I was v full after one sandwich. Coffee was okay, but will be coming more often for the sandwiches!

Amazing bagels, amazing Ethiopian food, super nice people - what else could you ask for??

Thank you ladies for blessing Bloomingdale with an awesome breakfast bagel spot and DELICIOUS coffee! If you hang out to eat here you will also get to enjoy an awesome playlist lol

I have an addiction- chocolate croissants. Believe me when I tell you I've probably had almost every single chocolate croissant in the city. Heck, probably in the entire DMV area. There's something about the perfectly baked dough filled with warm, oozing chocolate inside. Wow. I can taste it now. That being said, there are two chocolate croissants I've had in the DMV area that I crave. The first is at Maketto on H Street NE early in the morning the moment they come out of the oven. The other is at Sylvan Cafe and Bakery in Bloomingdale. If you arrive by 9AM, they are still warm. Bits of chocolate are baked into the dough so even before you get to the center, you're tasting chocolate. Not sure if there's lemon in it, but I tasted a slight hint of it. I am not a fan of lemon in my pastry, but it was so slight it brought out the flavor of the chocolate more. If you're like me, you MUST stop by for a chocolate croissant. If you're not like me, still stop by for a latte and/or a breakfast bagel sandwich. It comes out warm and have a variety of flavors and options. The space itself is small with two window tables with five stools total. However, it's usually empty so if you need a place to work, there are outlets and free, strong wifi with no network password required. Just moments being here, you can tell it's locals who stop in, which is a good sign. There's also a piano inside for anyone to play. So quirky and so great!

Perfect. Bagel. Sandwich. Ordered the bacon, egg, avocado and cheese on everything and it was soooo good It had TWO eggs, crispy bacon and perfectly ripe avocado on a huugeee yummy bagel. Just what the doctor ordered also inside has a nice place to sit and they are always playing the jams!

Great neighborhood spot to grab a quick bite for breakfast. I had an everything bagel with sausage egg cheese and avocado, which hit the spot. Bagels are chewy and delicious. Also tried a spinach and cheese croissant which was small, but super good. They have spots to tie your dog out front, I'll definitely be back.

The wonderful owners of Bacio around the corner recently opened this cafe. The super chocolate cake with chocolate butter créme is a work of art. The spring cupcakes (with pretty green, yellow or orange icing! It's like rainbow brite in here. Pure visual poetry. ) and are perfect to bring to a party. Other favorites are key lime pie and the s'mores cupcakes. (S'MORES CUPCAKES?!!) It also has great coffee plus croissants, muffins, bagels and other grab-and-go food perfect for the morning. Sure there are always some hiccups in the beginning but Sylvan Café has a great selection plus amazing folks working there who love the community. This place is the bomb. Keep supporting local businesses!

I go to Sylvan all the time and it doesn't disappoint. I get the bagel sandwich with egg, cheese, sausage and avocado and a coffee. Good selection. They also have pastries, although their bagels (from New Jersey) are much better.

Dropped into this coffee shop one morning for coffee. This shop offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and had a vast selection of coffee and breakfast sandwiches. The coffee was strong, but good. This was an average coffee shop in my opinion. The cafe was quite busy when we arrived; however, the order line moved quickly. The time to actually get your order unfortunately took longer. I think that was mainly in part to only having one barista making drinks, which did not seem appropriate for the amount of coffee orders that were coming through. Our coffee orders were good; however, the friends we were with had to wait a very long time for there coffee orders as they were originally missed. However, once the barista was informed of the mix up she quickly made their orders. Nice location and good coffee, overall.

Always D-licious!!!! Most of the staples have been tried and 2 thumbs up! But I really love their specials ....great opportunity to try new stuff!

Best egg cheese and bacon bagel. Seriously the best bagel ever. Everything was handmade including the bagel! And they were so nice. Really cute cafe

Perfect stop for delicious bagels along Rhode Island, en route to the Shaw-Howard University Metro Station ... or wherever your morning commute takes you. They bring their bagels in from New Jersey, which makes them interesting to try. They're tasty -- and huge!

I had really high hopes for this place. Looked like a super find, hole in the wall and I was pretty disappointed. I mean, it was fine. I'd eat it again if I was forced to, but I'll probably try as many others as I can before going back. It took a long time. I think there were only two people working, but the system they had going didn't really seem to be working. The coffee was meh. The bagel was better but not one of the best I've had. Went based on walking convenience and yelp reviews. I'd probably walk a few blocks further if it meant better bagels.

Bagels are pretty good - though never quite toasted enough even when you ask for "double toasted." A bit overpriced for the flavor too. Coffee is excellent!!

Stopped in for the first time today and was pleased to see it had a solid menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches and assorted baked goods. The people who worked there seemed very nice, and the space was cute and clean. I ordered a bagel sandwich with egg, turkey bacon, avocado, and cheddar cheese, and it was pretty darn delicious. Knocked off one star because the prices seemed a tad high. Overall, though, this seems like a great addition to the neighborhood!

I was so incredibly excited for this new spot to open on RI Ave, but have to say that my first trip there was a little disappointing. I write this review with constructive criticism because I so desperately want them to be successful. I can only imagine how much work goes into a new venture like this, so I give them and lot of respect and wish them success. That being said -- this is my first impression: Pros: -The staff was very kind and friendly -The decor is cute love that they kept the old vintage Sylvan sign out front -Coffee and latte were both very good, not bitter at all -Egg on the breakfast sandwich was actually fried (not one of those weird microwaveable egg circles) Cons: -Everything was a bit overpriced ($4.99 for a baguette?) -We ordered a bagel with butter and a breakfast sandwich on a bagel -- both bagels were clearly day old (which is a cardinal sin in my book) -I went over to check the baguettes which also felt old and hard -The bacon on the breakfast sandwich was not cooked...like at all - it was cold and raw. We enjoyed our coffee, and my boyfriend ate his bagel out of hunger. I threw away the breakfast sandwich after a few bites. It was not worth it. I would like to go back and try their croissants and other pastries, but have to say so far this is definitely a work in progress.

Wow tremendous breakfast sandwich! They have bacon avocado I'm going to try next time. Sando board looked solid too.

I came here to grab a quick bite for breakfast on Sunday. I ordered the avocado, bacon, egg and cheese bagel. They forgot the avocado on my sandwich....

Sylvan cafe is a real treat. They serve great coffee (enormous portions for the cost) and offer a mix of bagel sandwiches and Ethiopian breakfast. I recently had the injera with spicy lentils and veg for $10 which I highly recommend.

First and foremost, welcome to the neighborhood. I'm so excited to have a cafe/bakery! My finance and I went to check out the newest addition to Bloomingdale last night and it was a great decision! The bakery is quaint, cozy and full of sweets! Though they're new, I can already tell this will be a hit! The staff was ready to take the extra step to get to know us and give us an extra slice of cake because we waited "so long". I'm really excited for the future of Sylvan Cafe! Staff: super friendly. Everyone made an effort to make sure we were being helped and to go above on beyond their call of duty. Eats: yummm! With our first being on Valentine's Day, we figured we'd get a Raspberry Cheesecake slice and a slice of Red Velvet cake. Both were awesome and reasonably priced. If you are looking for something to curb your sweet tooth then make a pit stop here. Of the two, the Raspberry Cheesecake was my favorite and it tasted like they added a dash of lemon to the mix! This was fresh and beautifully made. The Red Velvet cake was on the dense side. Heavy and huge, this would be a shareable treat! Decor/ambiance- super cute! When you walk in, you'll be greater by a staff member and immediately feel like you're in a homey country chic kitchen. From the piano that says: feel free to play to the high wooden tables, it felt warm and welcoming. They offer different coffee/espresso beverages and also hot/cold sandwiches, too! Though we didn't order any of these items, I already know this will be a weekend go-to for a cup of Joe.

Always satisfying. It's my morning breakfast/coffee and lunch order go to. Love the bagel sandwich options and Ethiopian dish options.

Pretty average coffee shop. The coffee is strong and Ethiopian which is a good thing. Prices are normal and they have a good selection to choose from. Kind of a weird vibe and slow service which is the reason for 3 stars. The coffee was good tho!

Wow, Sylvan Cafe & Bakery was simply impressive. Positive vibes and ambience. Most of the food items are incredible, their menu is fantastic, I really like their Turkey Bacon. The place was popping but the service was outstanding. Strongly recommended Sylvan Cafe & Bakery.

I absolutely love this place! I stumbled upon it one random weekend and I've been in love with their breakfast bagels ever since. I get the egg bacon avocado cheese bagel and it is beyond delicious! The customer service is great and the staff is very friendly. Highly recommend!

Delicious! Frequented this place when we stayed at an Airbnb around the corner. Good food & good service. Good music, too! Thank you for nourishing us! The bagels are delicious & chewy like I've never tasted before! Must be that New Jersey water (they're NJ bagels lol). I also enjoyed their tea selections. Thank you. Thank you. They also have turkey bacon!

I heard about this place from a co-Worker and decided to go for myself. The bacon egg and cheese on a cinnamon raisin bagel was delicious!

Amazing food and amazing service. This morning, I had to run across the street to catch my bus before my breakfast sandwich was ready. They not only prepared the sandwich in record time, the chef was able to bring me the sandwich right as I was getting on the bus. Thank you!

I like to patronize Sylvan's because it's in my neighborhood and there aren't a lot of local coffee shops that are so close to my house. That being said, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. There are a variety of pastries, and I've had my fair share. None of them blow me away, but they aren't bad by any means. The coffee and lattes are fine--my mom liked her latte because she got it with syrup, but I prefer an unsweetened latte, so the quality matters more to me. Their best option is a bagel sandwich. They are New Jersey bagels, and there are a handful of topping options (eggs, cheese, bacon, Turkey, avocado). I usually take mine to go (very little standing room inside and out front) and it still tastes great once I've gotten home and unwrapped it. I'm not a bagel snob, and I'm not from NJ, but it tastes good to me. The other drawback is the pace of service. It is SLOW. They are friendly enough, but these aren't professional baristas, and if you come and it's busy, you better not be in a rush. For a slow morning stroll and stop in, it's fine.

Awful customer service. Stopped going for a year because FOH was so rude. I come back and not only do they screw up my order but they take 10 minutes to correct it...my order was a medium Americano. Never coming back to this joke of a store or patronizing these jerks in any other way.