Coffee is a lot more than lattes. New cafés are bringing Yemeni and Nepali traditions, Parisian flair, Vietnamese influences, specialty roasts, book selections and even a little cosmic inspiration to the local caffeine scene. From neighborhood coffee trucks to all-day cafés, here are the new spots brewing up something different.
Coffee Libations
Pick up a cup of Nepalese coffee from this new coffee truck outside the Liberty Gas Station in Cherrydale. Since it opened over the summer, it’s been serving chiya, which the website calls “an authentic alternative to the typical…chai latte.” Other beverages include iced coffee, cortados and americanos. The menu includes Nepalese foods, too, such as momo (chicken dumplings) and kalo chana, black chickpeas in tomato and potato gravy. 4019 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Cherrydale)
Constellation
This new astronomy-themed all-day café opened May 2 in National Landing. Among the more intriguing pours: the Okinawa Black Sugar Latte, featuring house-made Okinawa black sugar syrup, espresso and your choice of milk. Teetotalers can sip loose leaf teas from Rare Tea Cellar in flavors ranging from classic Earl Grey to Wild Thai Banana and Italian Green Almondine. And there’s plenty to eat alongside your drink, including sandwiches, soups and frittatas. 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Cup of Bliss
For the first time since Starbucks left Arlington’s Lee Harrison Shopping Center in 2019, coffee will flow here again. This caffeine purveyor will take cues from Vietnamese culture and cuisine when it starts filling mugs. 2439 N. Harrison St., Arlington (Yorktown)
Daydrift Books & Café
Part indie bookstore, part café, this National Landing newcomer has been serving literary flair and caffeine since its opening in October 2025. Try specialty drinks such as the Toasted Coconut Shaken Espresso (made with toasted coconut syrup) or opt for a good old cold brew, cappuccino or drip coffee. If all that book browsing works up an appetite, satisfy that craving with avocado toast on grilled sourdough or a tuna poke bowl. And don’t just check the shelves: Keep an eye on the calendar for events like Mahjong Thursdays and a Craft & Coffee series where participants learn to make tote bags, candles, custom scents and more. 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Good Trouble Roasters
Mike Greiner’s soon-to-open spot on Langston Boulevard will put a modern spin on the neighborhood coffee shop. He uses an all-electric Air Motion Roaster that “significantly reduces the environmental impact of roasting coffee beans by eliminating the use of fuel sources like propane or natural gas.” The menu is unfussy: coffee, espresso, cappuccino, cold brew, wine and beer, plus pastries provided by Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe. 3800 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Habibi House Café
“Habibi” is an Arabic term meaning “my beloved,” and for the two friends who opened this Little City cafe on Aug. 29, making guests feel at home is the goal. House favorites include a Biscoff Latte, as well as the Habibi House, made with sweetened espresso and cheese cold foam. Other creative concoctions include a Fig Latte made with fig-infused espresso, and a Blended Protein Latte, which mixes a Fairlife protein shake with espresso. Traditional unfiltered Turkish coffee and classic espressos round out the menu, which also features sweet and savory Mediterranean fare such as baklava and sfeeha, an open-face meat flatbread. 3400 Washington Drive, Falls Church
Karak House
Originating in California in 2023, this chai house owned by three brothers has expanded to other locales and is preparing to open its first NoVa spot in Falls Church. Among the eight specialty lattes are a Date Cardamom Latte and a Karak Latte, a chai-like beverage made with cardamom and other spices. Spring for a sweet treat such as a slice of milk cake or a pistachio knafeh cookie. 3000 Annandale Road, Falls Church (Seven Corners)
Karaz Lounge
Coffee, sweets and hookah are the draw at this Yemeni-style spot that opened in July. Choose from a menu of Turkish, Mufawaar, Sadi and Qishr hot coffees, plus regular lattes and specialty drinks. Creations in the latter category include a Banana, Coconut or Kinder Bueno latte, available hot or iced. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a piece of cheesecake or tiramisu. 6315 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
Maman
Want to feel as though you’ve transported to a Parisian café? The NYC transplant opened its first NoVa location in the Mosaic District in June 2025 and now has additional locations in Courthouse, Ballston and National Landing. The coffee program includes seasonal sips like a Maple French Toast Latte (blended with butter-infused New England dark maple syrup) and a Salted Tahini Honeycomb Latte with salty sesame crumbs. Prefer the classics? Americanos, macchiatos and flat whites are available, too. Just try not to get distracted by the French-inspired food menu. 4121 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston); 2055 15th St., N., Arlington (Courthouse); 1450 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing); and 2920 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Rashfa Café
Find traditional Yemeni beverages including Bitahani (a medium roast coffee with spices and sesame) and Mofawar 9a blend of coffee, cardamom and cream) at this Little City newcomer, opened in September 2026. The options also include filtered coffee and signature sips such as Spiced Pumpkin. Not a coffee person? Various teas and hot chocolate round out the drink list, and the tempting bites include kunafa, a Middle Eastern sweet cheese dessert, and savory za’atar labneh (yogurt). 310 S. Washington St., Falls Church
Shotted Specialty Coffee
The Saudi-inspired concept that debuted a kiosk in Tysons Corner Center in 2020 now has six DMV locations. Its first drive-thru opened in Falls Church on Aug. 8, making it a particularly convenient spot for coffee on the go. The menu is lengthy, with 11 iced lattes, 12 hot ones, three iced coffees and three hot cups of joe. If you’re prepared to hang out, order a pot of Saudi coffee, which has hints of cardamom, cloves and saffron. Hungry? Try the pistachio or hummus toast or date cake. 7393 U.S. 29, Falls Church; 2001 International Drive, Tysons (Tysons Galleria); and 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons (Tysons Corner Center)
The Roasted Vine
Local hospitality veterans Mackenzie Ryan and Jody Hessler are working on an all-day café that will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and grab-and-go items, plus coffee, wine and cocktails. The goal: Make it an all-day hangout, not just a morning coffee run. Aiming to open by the end of the year in the Village at Shirlington, TRV, as they call it, will roast its coffee beans in-house. The menu will have all the usual suspects, such as signature cold brews, drip coffee and espresso-based drinks. 4150 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Underdog Coffee and Bread
About a year after opening in Annandale, this popular coffee shop opened a second location near Baileys Crossroads in June. The new location comes with a big, dog-friendly patio and eats such as breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast. 3511 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church
