The Ministry

Food: - Iced Chai: perfect sweetness, and perfect chai flavor. - Breakfast Bun: simple but good. There are two full eggs in the egg puck, which is great for the price, but I would suggest a softer yolk if possible. Service: The employees are great about picking up after customers and cleaning tables as soon as they leave. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way: I went to use the bathroom, came out, and there was a kitchen staff member that said “you see?” and chuckled to the barista in Spanish as I passed by. So she was saying something about me while I was in the bathroom. If you wouldn’t say it in English, then don’t say it in Spanish. You never know who can understand what you’re saying.

☕ The Ministry – Charming Coffee Spot with Great Elixirs and Toast Options I stopped by The Ministry, a colorful and cozy coffee house located just a few blocks from Union Station, one morning on my way to a work event. I didn’t have much time to stay, but I’m already looking forward to going back for a longer visit. The vibe is vibrant and welcoming. Their chalkboard menu features a thoughtful selection of coffee and tea, along with a few creative twists. You’ll find morning elixirs and flavored iced teas and lemonades like hibiscus, rose, and ginger. I ordered a lemon, honey, and ginger morning elixir, which was simple but made with the perfect balance of flavor. Refreshing, soothing, and just what I needed to start the day. In the morning, the food menu includes a variety of baked goods like banana bread, muffins, and energy balls, plus an extensive list of toasts. There are classic options like butter, jam, and Nutella, as well as more elevated choices like avocado, poached pear, and a curious one called Pink Goddess, which I definitely want to try next time. They also offer seasonal soups and salads. The staff was warm and friendly, and there’s plenty of seating if you want to relax, work, or meet up with friends. 📍Hours: Their hours were from 8am-6:30p during the week and Saturday from 8am-12:30p The Ministry is a lovely café worth visiting again soon.

Generally I don’t leave reviews of places unless I have something good to say but I have been consistently disappointed by my take-away experience here on multiple occasions. My experience today was enough to warrant a review. I ordered a lemon-honey-ginger which is already fairly expensive given its simple ingredients (plus I always leave a good tip); the cup that was given to me was not only 1/3 empty space, but the cup itself was dirty. For such a contextually pricey beverage, I am immensely disappointed by my experience and wouldn’t recommend this place for take-away beverages. To counter this, my experiences dining in, or in my case drinking in, have all been fine.

We have brought groups of college students here for a couple of years and the staff is so accommodating, the food is absolutely amazing, and the drinks are always perfect. I love the smoothie bowls, the Avocado Toast (you’re gonna want that poached egg added, and maybe the bacon if that’s your thing), and their lattes are delicious. They work super hard, keep their place immaculate, and are a true local shop in DC. Love them!

Such a cute place. We were in town for a volleyball tournament. The latte was yummy and lovely made. ❤️

Wonderful coffee place close to the US Capitol if you’re visiting! Great tasting coffee and amazing smoothies. Pictures speak for themselves. We’ll be back!

This is a favorite lunch and coffee stop for me. My work has me in meetings all around town. But when it fits my schedule and travel around town, I love to stop in. They are so friendly, the food is all fresh-made in-house, and it’s a cute space. Love it!

This local spot is a must-visit. With beans sourced from Ceremony coffee roasters, pastries made in house and welcoming staff at its helm, The Ministry never disappoints. I ordered a medium vanilla latte and was impressed by both the high-quality espresso shot and homemade vanilla syrup. I can see this being the perfect study spot or place to meet friends/colleagues. I am already excited to return, as I’ve now been twice this week alone.

Came to the place because wanted to work from here for a bit! Saw it had wifi BUT lost a star because what you do you mean two hours of wifi and one hour blackout?! How am I supposed to do four hours of work?! I wish I knew that before I came because then I would've came when I only needed two hours or had my portable wifi to do work. But I digress. Thats my only negative. This place is super cute. The avocado toast here omg, is some of the best avocado toast I've ever had. It's so good! Y'all know bread can make or break avocado toast but this bread is a win. Made perfectly. My vanilla oatmilk matcha was really perfect and my heart and stomach is full! Parking can be a little hassle- 2 hour parking pay for parking and I had to pay on the machine bc there's no zone numbers listed that eased my mind to enter a number and park on the street so yeah that's that. But I'll figure it all out. Next time I'll bring my portable WiFi. It hasn't been two hours yet so maybe it won't kick me off at the two hour mark... Update: fours hour wifi limit confirmed :)

Great, great great! Not only is the coffee great and I had a flat white which I love. But the almond butter toast with bananas, the egg sandwich and oh don't forget a cookie all their baked goods and food products are way above what you would normally expect. Absolutely favorite place for me and I love the fact that it's local .

Came here our first morning in DC, and was really pleasantly surprised. The service was a bit slow; I think their barista must have been on a break, but there was a weird 5-10 minute gap where no one was making any drinks, and there was a group of customers just waiting around. When I did get my cortado though, it was really good. Great balance of flavors, with a strong nutty undertone. Really good balance of creaminess between the milk and espresso. Would highly recommend if you want a solid cup of coffee!

Such a cute spot- with fantastic service! I popped in for breakfast and a bit of work on our last day in town. I wish I had discovered this gem the first day! The baked oatmeal is delicious!

What a cute spot very close to our hotel! The inside is bright and clean with spots to window watch or cozy velvet benches. We opted to people watch while enjoying some cold brews in glassware. It was delicious and smooth, so highly recommend if you're a cold brew fan. The Bun breakfast sandwich was a hit with my husband and I really enjoyed my tropical smoothie bowl. Since we were driving back down to Richmond, we ordered the ginger lemonade and hibiscus lemonade to go. The hibiscus is A+ delicious. Comparatively the ginger is a lot more subtle in flavor and I was at first jealous of my husband's choice, but it really grew on me during the drive! If we stay nearby again we will absolutely be stopping in

I've been on the hunt for different coffee shops with good tables and Wi-Fi for remote work, and The Ministry is a great spot for that! They have good coffee and breakfast foods, with great service and friendly staff. The owner took our order and was very sweet and friendly. Our drinks and food were brought to our table and they have good space to do work with outlets and free Wi-Fi for 2 hours. You're provided a country instead of a table number for your order to come which I thought was unique. I got the iced vanilla latte and the breakfast bun sandwich which is an over-hard egg with cheese and special sauce. Loved my latte and the breakfast sandwich was filling! It was pretty quiet in the morning, we came about 10 minutes after they opened. It got busier around 11am but still had some seating available to grab. This is a great quick stop or a place to sit and get work done as well!

This is a great little coffee shop in the heart of many businesses and hotels, great for working, catching up with friends, quick business meeting, or people watching. The first thing that caught my eye was the bright, cheeriness of the place. Bright colors with a magnificent modern picture of Queen Elizabeth on one of the walls. Their menu is simple and they have some food options as well. It's women-owned. I had my typical vanilla latte and my partner had a mocha. Both were fine, nothing to rave about. I was excited to see that they had a horchata but disappointed it only came iced. You can work or study here with your computer, but there is a 2 hour time limit on the wi-fi followed by a 1 hour blackout period. I understand, especially since it's not too big of a place to have people taking up space for hours on end. Overall, it's a nice little spot.

When it comes to a quick, light lunch, I am happy to know that this place is right around the corner. I'm still new to the area and still exploring. I have been in the area, but since the move, it is nice to find hidden gems in plain sight. And to see that this is a woman owned business is even better. I like to do a little research before showing up to a place so I have an idea of what I am going to eat. I did just that here and had a little bit of a one up that made ordering easy. Walking in, it is bright and welcoming. Enough room on the inside to do a quick sit down lunch if you like or to stand to the side and wait for your order to be ready. I did have a bit of a misstep when I came in. The one thing that I wanted they did not have, but I didn't let that hold me back. I didn't want a heavy lunch as I was going to be having a heavy dinner ahead of me. I ended up ordering the Nutella toast and I was going to get an iced tea. They threw me a curve ball when they said they don't necessarily have iced tea, but they could make anything on the menu an iced drink if I wanted. I didn't want to make anymore hassle than I had to and went over to grab a drink from the cooler. The toast comes in a cute little, lightweight container to go in. I took it back to the office and was able to eat it at my desk and be happy with it. The toast is a sourdough, which is my favorite bread, was crispy enough to hold up against the Nutella. They also put on top of this in one corner a sliced strawberry. Now, you could do this in a way where you took the sliced strawberry and spread it out evenly on top of the toast and have a chocolate covered strawberry toast. Or you could be greedy like I was and just take the slices of strawberry and drag it across the Nutella and eat it all at once. This was the perfect lunch, and quite possibly could be the perfect breakfast on certain days for me. Also I can see myself returning on multiple occasions to try more and more of the menu.

Good quality coffee, nice space to sit for a while and work. They use ceremony coffee roasters which are great, and their espresso is delicious. But it's expensive (they charge +1.50 for oat milk which is more than I've seen anywhere), a 16oz iced latte was almost $8 (which is more than I've paid anywhere in DC). And the paper straws they use fold in literally a minute, I had to chug my latte and still couldn't finish it before I gave up on the straw. Only open on weekdays and not a convenient location unless you work in one of the surrounding buildings. Good, but wouldn't go out of my way when there are better, cheaper and more convenient shops in DC.

Very quaint and cozy. The staff are very friendly. The coffee is amazing. The service is fast.

Really cute place! Food and coffee were great. Instead of numbers they label your table by country, which I love! Cute decor and great vibes to work or study.

I've been coming to this place for a little over a year now. Why did it take me so long to write this review! I love the owner, she is extremely sweet! Yes, to supporting women owned businesses! I came for the coffee, stayed for the Mami Sweet Cake! I always get an oat latte with simple syrup. A pretty basic order but it's always consistent! The sweet cake is a family recipe and reminds me of cheesecake! So darn good! Please heat it up and have it warm! So, I've used the restroom here a few times. But on my most recent visit, I realized juts how beautiful the bathroom is! Gold accents everywhere! My friend Mickey would absolutely love it!

Cute place for breakfast or a coffee. I ordered a cortado and almond butter toast. Both were good and nicely presented, although $7 for a slice of challah with almond butter is a little crazy. I didn't get a chance to try any savory items, but it looked like there were quite a few options there.

The Ministry in Washington, DC, is the perfect place for food, coffee, tea, and wine lovers looking for a cosy and productive space to work remotely or catch up with friends. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with plenty of seating options to choose from, including comfortable chairs, large tables, and booths. The coffee and tea selection is top-notch, with a variety of speciality drinks and blends that cater to all tastes. Whether you prefer a strong espresso or a delicate herbal tea, you'll find something to suit your palate. The food options are equally impressive, with a range of delicious pastries, sandwiches, and salads that are perfect for a midday snack or a quick lunch.

Chai was meh, the loaf I ordered tasted either overdone or day old. Not sure if he was new or just aloof but when I ordered the cashier didn't tell me they only served lattes in 12oz when I asked for a 16oz so that was a nice little surprise too. Over a very underwhelming experience.

Really love this cute cafe located near Union station. I got the avocado toast and a mocha. The avocado toast is so so good and seasoned with black pepper and olive oil. The mocha was also really good. Such a hidden gem and I can't wait to come back!

An interesting little place near the office that was recommended to me. They have breakfast, soups and sandwiches plus beer & wine. They have an afternoon happy hour. A nice place to meet a friend and enjoy a coffee and a chat. Friendly service, cool murals and an international flair. I need to comeback and try the pastries.

Located between the Capitol and Union Station and across the street from Georgetown Law School, The Ministry is really well situated for students or anyone who wants to stretch out a bit and work. Or pick up a great meal for the train. The Ministry is bright and welcoming when you walk in. Literally in front of you is where you order your food and drinks. The staff are super friendly and helpful helping choosing what you might want to eat. The food and drinks are brought to your table pretty quickly. The coffee is excellent. I ordered a cold brew. The flavor was rich with no bitterness. It was very refreshing on a hot summer day. I ordered the soup of the day which was creamy asparagus. It was flavorful-not too salty and not too creamy. Just right. I also enjoyed the mushroom taquitos. My wife had both an iced Chai and then the Chai latte, both of which she enjoyed. She chose a salad that she found very satisfying. The owner sat in the corner of the restaurant but supported the staff when things became busy with clean up. The vibe is friendly, welcoming and relaxed. The Ministry is not a 'fancy' place and that's why I gave it 4*. For what it is, it's absolutely first rate.

It pains me to write this review because I have come here and suggested this place for meetings many times without issue. The tea and coffee are very good. The biggest complaint I had before today is that service is sometimes slow, even when the place is not busy. Today, I had a baffling and offensive experience. To me, it was a dealbreaker. To you, it might not be. I ordered a sandwich. I asked about the sauce because I have dietary restrictions. The clerk (who I assume is also the owner) told me about the ingredients, and I decided that I would prefer it off the sandwich, so I asked for it on the side. She asked, "Are you going to eat it? Because some people ask for it on the side, and then they don't eat it." I confessed that I wasn't going to eat it. I felt the question was a little rude, but I understand that the sauce might cost money, take time, whatever. They're running a business. I get it. I got my meal, which included potato chips. I ate the sandwich. It was not very good. The onions were too wet, the bun and meat tasted old, and the whole thing was overly sweet for a savory sandwich. Perhaps it was missing the sauce. Who knows. I brought my plates back to the place I got them (I don't think they have a bus bin) and the same person said, "Next time, tell me you're not going to eat the chips." This offended me. The sandwich was not cheap. (I think it was $12-14.) I don't object to being asked if I will actually eat the sauce. I don't like to waste. But to be lectured in such a condescending way at the end of my meal was insulting. If it's a conservation thing, there are more courteous ways to communicate that. If it's a money thing, it's misguided because my experience has convinced me to steer business elsewhere. You may read this review and think me oversensitive. What the person said may not have offended you the way it offended me. If so, please ignore this review and patronize this business. The coffee and tea are good. Offense is personal, and experience is subjective. I have my pride, though: I will not patronize a business operated by someone I feel has insulted me.

Love the vibe in this cute, well-located cafe. The hot pink and emerald green decor is modern yet cozy and staff seemed sweet and very hard working. Food and drink were good and priced as usual for a nice coffee shop, a lil expensive, but to be expected. Breakfast and drinks for two with tip was $35/40ish. My complaint is that they boot you off the wifi after an hour and a half or so. You can log back on after an hour, but come on man, I just spent $40 and you're going to basically kick me out that fast? This place was almost a perfect place to work. Plenty of outlets, good seating, but this spoiled it for me. One other bright spot worth noting though - they take covid seriously. Made me feel safe. I took my mask off for a sec and was promptly reminded to put it back on since I was done eating. I liked this touch.

We came here with the intent to grab a cup of coffee and head out for our sightseeing adventure. Upon entering the shop, we were immediately greeted, and the shop smelled delicious so we decided to stay and order breakfast. I ordered a latte with oat milk, avocado toast with egg, and beef sandwich. My husband had a coffee and breakfast bun. The barista made it clear that we were only allowed to take off our masks if we were actively eating or drinking. This was completely fine by me. It's not my business, and if I have a problem with the rules as a customer I could go somewhere else. My husband and I both enjoyed our breakfast and coffee so much, we came back a second time during our short trip in DC. Definitely a great find, and enjoyed both of our visits.

I came here the last two mornings of my DC visit. I had the best coffee i had in DC and the most satisfying breakfast sandwich I've ever had. I'll make a point of com back. Do yourself a favor and try the baked oatmeal. my wife had it and loved it. not like regular oatmeal; looks like an elegant desert. Kevin M

Great service, good coffee, reasonable prices, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating

Awesome service, I ordered a small mocha, the owner did a custom order that was the best 8 oz cup of coffee I have ever had, equal to the ones I get at my favorite coffee house in West Seattle . Very friendly, personable staff and a nice relaxing atmosphere for recovering from a long, busy, exhausting day. Definitely will make this a regular stop on my quarterly trips to D.C. Convenient to the Capitol Mall.

This is a really cute coffee shop that has a good variety of coffee, tea, and light menu items. I go here often because it's so close to campus, but it's always an enjoyable experience. The cafe is a bit small with limited seating, so the only thing is that it can get quite crowded/noisy. Their coffee is always delicious. I have not tried their hot menu, but I have gotten the occasional pastry. They weren't the best baked goods I've ever had, but they were still decent. Overall, this is a great spot to grab coffee and a quick bite if you need a nice space to sit for a while or meet someone or get some work done. I will say the place is always spotless, and you can tell they really care to make the place nice and neat and pleasant for their customers, something I am seeing less and less of these days.

Pretty good coffee and pastries at decent prices. The space is comfortable and welcoming. Service is usually great. A solid choice and there's not much else in the area, but it will likely not blow you away in any regard.

Great food, coffee, and service. The proprietor is wonderful and I enjoyed talking with her.

Coffees, other drinks, some food items, and wine. And wine! It's an incredibly adorable spot. Small tables and a wine bar. A great spot for doing a little work or just relaxing. And the owner is the absolute best! Such incredibly nice staff. Just an absolutely wonderful experience. I'm sensing I have a new little go-to spot when I'm in DC.

Subjective service by the lady taking orders. Favor for certain customers was obvious.

Great coffee an awesome avocado toast. Like everyone has reviewed, the interior is super cute and the staff are very efficient and welcoming.

I tried the banana bread muffin (basically just banana bread) and the affogato. The banana bread was fresh from the oven and had a nice crunch to it. It wasn't unique, but it was fresh and pretty good The affogato is pretty overwhelming if you're not into expresso. I had never tried it before. It's a small shot of expresso with a scoop of gelato. I think I would intentionally come back here to try their gelato. Even though the expresso was overwhelming, I could tell the quality of the gelato. It was actually very fun to watch the gelato dissolve, kind of creating a coffee milkshake. The ministry is a little pricy in my opinion, but the service is prompt and the location is great. I think the perfect rating for this place for me would be 3.5 stars, definitely above average, but more of a place of convenience rather than intentionality.

The space is bright and pleasant and the staff were nice. However, the coffee was bland and flavorless. The muffins were possibly the worst I've ever had at a coffee shop, like cheap grocery store muffins. Two coffees and two muffins were about $20.

I was at their building a few months ago, and noticed the coming soon sign, so I was pleased to see them open. The space is nice, new, and clean. They serve Ceremony Coffee from Annapolis which was pretty good. The service was very pleasant. and they didn't seem all that busy in the middle of the afternoon. There were funky bathrooms that have a lot of gold/brass. And strangely no grout between the tiles. I notice weird things sometimes. The Honduran Alfajores was like someone somehow made flour stick together until you bite it. Then all bets are off. It absolutely melts in your mouth. This seems like a nice place that you can get a cup of coffee in the morning and throughout the day for a little pick me up, and then head to the same place for some wine for a happy hour. It's a neat little spot!

The cortado I had here was great. The coffee was excellent and it had exactly the right proportion of milk. The barista was friendly and helpful. The room is modern, spacious, and pleasant.

If you are reading my review, stop now and just go there! I appreciate an owner-operated cafe, and this one does not disappoint. Always friendly and welcoming, and tasty unexpected foods. Today I stopped in and said I wanted not a full lunch? Cj but a quick smaller item. She suggested a beef bun, which I ordered without hesitation. And I'm glad I did. It was so tasty and lovely. I will absolutely be getting this item again.

The food is OK, but the customer service is very poor. The cashier rang up my coffee order incorrectly (I ordered a mocha, and he gave me a latte), and when I asked him to remake it, he said it would cost extra - however, it was his error, not mine. There was tension in the room as he discussed it with his manager (or store owner), who came over to me shortly to discuss the matter. I told her that is the only kind of coffee I drink, and her response was "Evidently you only drink mochas". She was extremely rude, and the situation quickly became awkward. She repeated the entire order to my partner and I to ensure they didn't "mishear" anything else - the food order was correct. For $45 (incl. tip) for 2 food items and 2 drinks, it was NOT worth the visit.

Such a great little place in DC. Coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and a great selection of wine. The owner and staff are wonderful. Great seating. Highly recommend.

It's a beautiful, quaint little place nestled in the heart of the city. Loved their breakfast nenu. We grabbed some avo toast, mushroom toast and the carrot pesto pasta and they were delightful . Highly recommend the cold brew!

wow - came in to get gift card for my doctor in the same building, and the Fuego loose-leaf tea caught my eye... she explained the components of the tea and so I thought what the heck its drizzly and a little chilly- well HELLO TASTY TEA!! What a mouthful of flavor and comfort ! The color of their cups are also beautiful - and the person at the counter was LOVELY ! I'll always stop in now when im in the area !

Enjoyed our visit to this nice little place. As of late January 2021 you've gotta look past the plywood to find the entrance, but they have a sign and so it is not too hard. Once inside enjoy the vibe, warm and friendly, with limited seating available. Comfortable and welcoming, we found the barista engaging and knowledgeable. She made our drinks, a latte and an Americano, quickly and proficiently. Coffee is good! Service 5 Location 4 Quality 4 Taste 4 Value 4 Solid 4, we will be back!

We are visiting DC and are so happy to find this place just around the corner from our hotel. . The coffee and food is great. The hospitality warm. Stop in for a coffee, food or a glass of wine and relax! While we all wish this pandemic was over, we appreciated their ongoing safety protocols to keep their staff and customers safe. We will be back!

The Ministry is a coffee shop/wine bar on New Jersey Ave NW near Union Station and in a place that is hoping to develop in the coming months. It's also a business that seems to be banking on their Instagram game. If you scroll through their feed, you'll get the impression that they value beautiful design, speciality coffee, and fine wine. It's clear they want you to come and post on Instagram for your friends to see. With that expectation, you may be a little caught off guard when you actually visit. It's in the bottom floor of an office building and half of the space looks it. It's plain and sterile feeling. Then you notice the pink espresso machine and the beautiful cushion seating in the other half. In the mornings they serve coffee and muffins. I ordered an ice latte and it was good. However, they did not have simple syrup at the bar, just packets of sugar. The muffins are delicious. Small, but tasty. I did go for wine, but their list is impressive and I'd go back with my wife for a date night.

My husband and I are big coffee lovers (maybe coffee snobs) and spend our free time in DC searching for the best coffee. Ministry is our absolute favorite coffee - love the taste, strength, everything. I appreciate the consistency, it is always great. The staff is wonderful and friendly, and really seem to put love and care into all their products and service. Only wish they were open on weekends! Thanks for being our local favorite!

Ate here for the second time, through Doordash again. They have been added to my "Swear By" list of places to eat. The banana bread was better! and I will get to Mami's Sweet Cake, They were sold out

Is it possible to give 6 stars? This place has it all - vibe, excellent service, cute decor, delicious nibbles and a great soundtrack in the background. Met a friend here for happy hour and oh indeed it was happy! They have a three 1/2 glass option of rose (including bubbles) for $14. Um. Yes. And the bocaditos were all delicious - we tried three of them. The owner came and chatted with us about her jade plants and seasonal jams so that was a sign. We will be back. Oh and they have cute bathrooms with a good changing table option. Yes!

The Ministry gets points for just being a place that sells food in an area that lacks options. The atmosphere is a little bit pretentious, but it's called "The Ministry," they seem to be okay with that. Other than them trying to be too hip, their menu leaves something to be desired. There have a handful of options, that doesn't get more involved than Avocado Toast. What they do offer, they do really well though. I had coffee, which was strong and flavorful. And the Avocado Toast was pretty simple, but was crispy, and had a light garnish​ with a little bit of salt and pepper. Really well done, definitely would get it again.

I love their drinks and their avocado toast. The best part is the people there -- very kind and attentive.

3.5 stars. Brand new coffee shop in downtown DC. It's located in the corner of an apartment building, and has tons of seating available. My friend got a latte with oat milk and really liked it. My chai was fine - not too sweet but not particularly flavorful either? I also got a small chocolate chip muffin, which was a bit over baked and therefore dry on the bottom. They didn't have many bakery options in the morning, although they do have some made to order food items. Overall, not a bad place to go if it's nearby, but not worth a trip out of the way.

The Ministry is wonderful local women owned business located perfectly when working on the Hill or going to school at GT Law School. Wonderful coffee, treats to get you through you day. When your finishing your day stop by for glass of wine and evening treat. Please visit this amazing business needing the support more than ever during the pandemic!

There are places you eat, get your drink, and keep coming year after year without hesitation because you get always the best food, service, and personal touch and this is exactly what this place is, a place where you feel special and get always great food and drinks! My friends joke with me that I should be a sponsor for this place as I come here on a daily basis! I told them, I am a loyal customer once I found a little gem and The Ministry is exactly that to me, a little Gem in the vast jungle of Washington, D.C.! Oh yes, if you are looking for that perfect Instagram picture, this is your place as you will encounter the big poster of Queen Elizabeth! Cheers!