If you've got desserts on the brain, you're in luck: we've found the freshest places in Washington to quell your cravings. Here are the newest spots to check out the next time you're in the mood for the sweet stuff.
Kintsugi
1201 K St. NW, Downtown
First up, Kintsugi is a new coffee shop that serves baked goods like croissants, muffins and doughnuts in the Eaton DC Hotel.
Kintsugi (named for a Japanese technique of repairing cracks in pottery with gold) has an in-house bakery that turns out breads like pain au chocolat, cinnamon swirl and Chinese five-spice. Tea, pastries and sweets like cakes and dessert bars are also on offer. Coffee, which comes from Virginia-based Red Rooster, includes espressos, lattes and small-batch brews.
Kintsugi currently holds 4.5 stars out of three reviews on Yelp.
Kimberly S., who reviewed the new shop on Sept. 11, wrote, "There are vegan and gluten-free pastries on display, fair trade chocolate and coffee, and a latte menu that includes tumeric and matcha (most shops in the area cater to just one) as well as a bunch of teas and mushroom drinks. Color this semi-crunchy hippie impressed."
Yelper Austin G. added, “Kintsugi Cafe is hands down the best coffee shop in downtown DC. They brew only the best beans and craft unique drinks like mushroom coffee or caramel lattes. They bake all the pastries in house. The staff are friendly and know coffee. The space is beautiful.”
Kintsugi is open from 6:30 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m.–3 p.m. on weekends.
Nicecream
1787 Columbia Road NW, Adams Morgan
In the mood for housemade ice cream? Then check out the newest Nicecream, which also has locations in Arlington and Alexandria.
The shop makes its ice cream before your eyes using grass-fed cream, local ingredients and liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze the dessert. Flavors are always changing (see the calendar here); recent options have includes s'mores, salted caramel, coconut ash and dark chocolate chunk.
Coffee is from Alexandria-based Swing's Coffee Roasters. Beyond ice cream, other sweets on offer include cookies and brownies.
Yelpers are excited about Nicecream, which currently holds 4.5 stars out of 18 reviews.
Sarah Jackson S., who reviewed the shop on Aug. 29, wrote, "The staff was warm, funny and welcoming, and the ice cream flavors were varied and delicious. I tried the honey lavender and Nutella flavors; both were balanced and so creamy, and were a great pair. The inside of the shop is cute and bright, and the cool mixing bowl/liquid nitrogen setup was a fun bonus."
Yelper Samantha C. wrote, "They offer tastings, as many as you like of the six flavors. I love the way the nitrogen is very visible! Makes for a cool experience."
Nicecream is open from 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Southwest Soda Pop Shop
1142 Maine Ave. SW, Southwest Waterfront
Finally, Southwest Soda Pop Shop is a soda fountain and ice cream shop at the Wharf.
It's family-owned, with the founder's daughters often running the show. It serves up scoops of ice cream in flavors like butter pecan, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip, along with soft-serve flavors like mango and strawberry. There are also old-fashioned shakes, root beer floats and ice cream sandwiches.
With a 4.5-star rating out of 13 reviews on Yelp, Southwest Soda Pop Shop has been getting positive attention.
Yelper Shaneta M., who visited the shop on Aug. 30, wrote, "I ordered the strawberry ice cream. It tasted like it was homemade and it had real and fresh chunks of strawberries in it. The price was reasonable for the location and the customer service was great."
Southwest Soda Pop Shop is open from noon–9 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.–8 p.m. on Sunday.
