Tryst

I went to Tryst last Saturday night with a group of friends. It was a great place for hanging out, as the drinkers and non-drinkers were all satisfied with their options. The couches made for a comfy evening, although perhaps they prevented us from exploring more of Adams Morgan! The service was a little spotty, as sometimes it took our waiter a while to get back to us. I'm willing to blame that on the busy night, and go back there another day. more

This coffee house is overhyped. There are a bunch of post-college 20 somethings sitting around drinking over-priced coffee on uncomfortable seats. Most of the time you won't even have a table in the near proximity to put your beverage down on. There is also a full service bar which is actually more comfortable to sit at than the comfy couches. Basic food is available but it's not good. Service is VERY bad and SLOW. Some nights they have free music but it's so crowded and loud that it's almost not enjoyable. One good thing about this place is that the entire front of the shop opens up when there is nice weather and you can people watch if you get a seat close enough. Plus the coffee isn't that great and by the time it arrives it's cold. more

Don't get me wrong...Starbucks is great for grabbing coffee and running. But when I want to sit and write papers or stay and hang out with friends, Tryst is much more my style. The food is tops - the variety of sandwiches and salads is impossible to beat - and you can even have a two martini lunch if it's that kind of day. For coffee, try the chaipuchino - a cross between chai and a cappuchino that you'll never be able to duplicate or stop drinking. Tryst even has its own website personals section (similar to the missed connections site on craigslist) where customers can shoot their "I saw you at Tryst" notes into cyberspace across the room on the cafe's free wireless network. Aside from the occasional smoker who decides to invade the non-smoking space when the back is full and the occasional lack of seating, Tryst deserves to win any coffeehouse contest, hands down. more

Tryst is the best place in DC for a strong espresso drink and an extremely laid back vibe. The place is outfitted with old couches and free wifi! BUT they've also got a lot of heavy smokers. So either sit by an open window, or plan not to stay very long. more