Good news for Shaw residents looking for a post-Labor Day caffeine boost: Monday marked the opening of Kafe Bohem (now apparently spelled with a K), a Viennese-style coffeehouse adjoining Jarek Mika’s Eastern European eatery, Bistro Bohem. While the latter is one of the few places in DC to chase chicken schnitzel with an absinthe cocktail, the new 40-seat cafe features European cafe specialties such as einspanner—black coffee topped with fresh whipped cream—and other sips from Vienna-based coffee producer Julius Meinl.
While the brick-walled eatery has the same relaxed vibe as its next-door neighbor, there’s a healthy dose of java nerdery on the menu. Coffee manager Lenora Yerkes comes from Big Bear nearby, and you’ll find lingo like “microfoam mélange” (two shots of Cafe Del Moro espresso with steamed milk and a creamy foam that results from small air bubbles, plus “latte art”). There are also basic favorites to get you started, such as a chai latte and a red eye.
Right now, you can grab a fresh croissant or pastry from the glass-walled display case and either settle in or take your breakfast to go. In the coming weeks, look for the launch of lunch service, with an afternoon menu of light salads, soups, and tartines. Another future addition: a walk-up coffee window for a quick grab on the way to work.
Lovers of Bistro Bohem, take note: The cafe will be used as a second dining room for dinner, doubling your chances of nabbing a table.
Kafe Boheme. 600 Florida Ave., NW. Open Monday through Friday from 6 to 5 and Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 5.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
