Misha's   

In the Starbucks Age, there's a coffee shop on every corner of every street in America. With that kind of market saturation, it's hard to distinguish yourself as unique in the caffeine biz. Which is why it's such a pleasant surprise to walk into Misha's, the coffeehouse, hipster destination and all-around cool hangout in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. At Misha's, the focus is on the coffee itself. The beans are roasted on the premises, using 100-percent arabica beans, and there are special house-made blends with funky names like Route 66 and Caravan. The former is a dark, intense, turbo-powered cup of joe; the latter, a mellow, toasty brew that goes perfectly with breakfast treats. Speaking of treats, Misha's has those, too -- cakes, bagels, apple turnovers, chocolate brownies and chunky chocolate chip cookies. Misha's is a see-and-be-seen kind of place. It draws a distinctly different clientele than you'll find at Starbucks. Your average Misha's customer is a little younger, a little less mainstream, a little more artsy -- he's likely to have an unpublished novel stowed in his sock drawer. Smokers find a rare haven at Misha's; there's a whole room dedicated to those with tobacco-ish inclinations. -- Jon Bowen