Venue Image

Hours

Mon.-Thu. 6:30-2AM
Fri.-Sat.6:30-3AM
Sun. 7-2AM

Parking

Limited street parking

Pricing

No cover

City's Best

Tryst Coffee House Bar & Lng   

2459 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-232-5500
www.trystdc.com

Rating: 3 out of 5  (14 Ratings)   Read Reviews (14)    Rate and Write a Review

Tryst, Adams Morgan's coffeebar/cocktail lounge, is one place that both morning people and night owls can agree on. Open before some alarms ring, Tryst wakes up the neighborhood with bowls of cafe au lait, fresh-baked croissants and chocolate chip waffles. As the morning fades into afternoon, the eatery's bright, cozy space fills with grad students, writers and locals who like to lounge on the mismatched, retro couches and send emails from their laptops courtesy of Tryst's free wireless connection. At lunchtime, you can order up a sandwich or salad, named after Tryst's friends and staff. Or, if you're just rolling out of bed, go for one of those waffles -- breakfast fare is always available. By day, Tryst buzzes to the whirr of the espresso machines and the hum of laptops. But night ushers in a young, creative crowd who prefer its cool, lounge atmosphere, classy cocktails and wine list to the clubby, meat-market environments at neighboring clubs. Get there early to snag a comfy seat.

User Ratings and Reviews Rate and Write a Review

14 Ratings and Reviews

Order by: Oldest | Newest
FntsyCptn
Review rating 5 out of 5
So Fresh and Inviting
By FntsyCptn on 07/02/2008
Definately stands out against the rest of the DC coffee shops. Beware the dangers of making a religion out of the caffeine & rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, Just hanging out there you will find inspiration in the coffeehouse as a way to both build community and escape a dead-end life.
zoezion6
Review rating 5 out of 5
LOVE IT!!!
By zoezion6 on 12/07/2007
If you live in or are visiting dc you have to come enjoy TRYST. It's the only coffee shop i want to be at!!! Great music, great drinks. The atmosphere is warm and inviting to ALL!!
bonninutt
Review rating 5 out of 5
Screw the caribou...
By bonninutt on 11/07/2006
If you honestly think that Caribou Coffee is better than Tryst's then please, please stay at Caribou Coffee. Everyone will thank you.
user image
Review rating 3 out of 5
Quiet Days, Loud Nights
By s3thd on 11/17/2005
It is a great place to read during the day, but when it gets dark, the lights are dimmed and the music is turned up. Usually the live music is pretty good, but there's no ignoring it even if it isn't. Also, you can't stay for long without ordering another item from the menu. I once read so long after ordering a drink, that a menu was shoved in my face so hard it tipped my water over. It seems that at Tryst, the staff like to play a game where they pretend they don't see you. I think there is a lot of turnover there; there is new staff all the time. Also, the staff is pretty seggregated: You order the food from someone who is young and hip, and it's brought to you by harried, older Hispanic. There is free wireless, and a lot of people play on their laptops. You'll probably have to deal with someone else's power cord. The furniture looks cool, but is actually quite beaten up. It can be hard to get a good seat (especially so if you're with friends), and doing so often means waiting nearby as someone is getting ready to leave. You can feel a bit like a vulture doing this. The desserts are just ok. The Washington Carver is slightly different every time I order it. The drinks are served with misshapened animal cookies, which I think is a nice touch. It's a good alternative to the chain places, but it still comes off as image-conscious and arrogant.