maman — Restaurant in Washington

If you are in Washington, DC, Maman is an absolute MUST. As a self-proclaimed café addict who travels the world in search of the best coffee experiences, I can confidently say that this is hands-down the best café I’ve ever been to.

From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere is warm, inviting, and effortlessly chic—the kind of place that makes you want to stay for hours. The vibe is pure magic, a perfect blend of cozy and stylish, with an attention to detail that makes every visit special.

But let’s talk about the coffee—because WOW. I’m incredibly picky, and Maria, the superstar barista, absolutely nailed my coffee every single time. She is an artist, a perfectionist, and truly made my experience unforgettable. The quality of the coffee is unmatched, smooth, rich, and brewed to perfection.

And the pastries? So unique, so delicious, and absolutely irresistible. The fact that they offer unsweetened almond milk (which is nearly impossible to find!) just proves how much thought they put into their menu.

I was only in DC for the weekend, and I visited five times. Yes, five. I just couldn’t stay away. If you love great coffee, impeccable service, and a café experience that feels like a little slice of heaven, Maman is the place to be.

Ask for Maria—she’s amazing, and she’ll make sure your coffee is absolute perfection. I can’t wait...

I visited Maman for the first time on a Sunday with a friend, and it was such a charming and cozy café and bakery. The space is super cute, and the menu offers a nice variety, from comforting classics to soups, salads, and sandwiches. Whether you’re in the mood for coffee, tea, or something stronger like sips and cocktails, they’ve got you covered.

I tried one of their spring beverage specials—the Salted Tahini Honeycomb Latte (hot)—and it was absolutely delicious. Not too sweet, and all the flavors blended beautifully. My friend ordered the Quiche Sarah, which has a flavorful mix of baby kale, goat cheese, roasted eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, yellow peppers, red onions, and Za’atar. The first one came out overcooked and a bit burnt, but the staff was very gracious and quickly replaced it. The second was much better, though it needed to be reheated once more to get the center warm. After that, she was happy with it and said the flavor combo really worked.

Bonus points for having vegan pastry options, which is a nice touch for those with dietary preferences. Overall, despite a small hiccup, we had a lovely experience and would definitely come back...

I was expecting “stellar” in terms of experience based on the reviews and I was kind of surprised by how (unfortunately) mid everything I tried was - especially with how much they charge. The run down:

I ordered a breakfast bowl, asked to swap the bacon for the flank steak. I don’t eat pork and was happy to find out that would be no problem. A few bites in, I realized I’ve had teeny bacon bites mixed into the potatoes hidden under the steak and eggs. They did correct it after I brought it to their attention and they brought me a new bowl but there was little acknowledgment about how problematic that was. Before leaving I got two lattes and a chicken Caesar salad to go. While the chicken itself was well seasoned, the salad was extremely salty. And the oat milk lattes were totally underwhelming.

All for $80. And the music wasn’t even a vibe 😕

Pros: friendly and quick service, well run (with the exception of messing up my order); decor is lovely, and it’s super spacious with tons of seating. Their menu is really well done in terms of offerings. I would’ve tried a pastry but I wasn’t too eager, so maybe I missed out. Otherwise,...