Logan Circle
Establishment
neighborhood
Columbia Room
124 Blagden Alley NW, Logan Circle
Though à la carte drinking is an option at this reservation-only cocktail den, the meticulously-crafted cocktail tasting menu is the real reason to come. Each party gets their own personal mixologist—they're all extremely knowledgeable and take their craft very seriously (they chop their own ice, for example). Expect to spend two hours in this artful drinking experience, with a small plate in between.
Compass
1535 7th St. NW, Logan Circle
The founders behind this Shaw café are former marines who have a refreshingly straightforward approach to coffee—seasonal, single origin roasts in straightforward drip coffee and cold brew (the nitrogen cold brew is definitely the order of choice). They roast the beans in-house, and the industrial space is set up with the gleaming roaster prominently displayed in the back. Plenty of table space for spreading out makes it a great pick for studying, too.