There’s Fontaine Caffe and Creperie in Old Town Alexandria by Market Square.

https://fontainebistro.com/

Isn't there a cafe at Glenstone in Potomac?

Zinnia's cafe juuuuuust opened. I don't think they have pastries, but they have the outdoor spot covered well. They probably wouldn't care if you brought a pastry to eat as long as you ordered coffee.

https://eatzinnia.com/


https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/dine/zinnia-restaurant-to-open-cafe-expansion-on-wednesday/

Jacques in Great Falls has a great patio. You can just go for a dessert (I asked last time I ate there).

Or Cafe Leopold in Georgetown, although the view isn't great.

Anonymous wrote:The almond croissants at Point Chaud on Wisconsin Ave are amazing. They often sell out by early afternoon though. Nice outside terrace and the inside looks more or less like a typical european cafe.

The pastries at Boulangerie Christophe in Georgetown are a little meh, but lovely back courtyard that feels very French countryside-y.

Okay pasteries at Patisserie Poupon and it's nice to sit on the sidewalk café in Georgetown. Fresh Baguette on Wisconsin, also okay pastries, but they're all a little...industrial European pastries if you know what I mean. Like you'd be happy to eat them in a train station in Lyon. But you're probably interested in more quality.

The Sculpture Garden's Metropolitan Cafe is sort of nice bc they're trying to be parisian. Food is meh. I would have recommended getting a pastry and coffee at Bakers and Baristas up the street in Penn Quarter (they has the very best pastries) but RIP Bakers and Baristas.

Some are a little meh but I find their almond croissants delightful.

Anonymous wrote:Bread Furst!

And sit next to car wash fumes?! No thank you…good for takeout only, or sit indoors!!

Bread Furst!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dessert First Kent Island.

It’s not French themed…it’s a coffee shop in a dock that serves yummy desserts. Over bay bridge and a neat spot if you can miss bridge traffic.

That can’t be possibly less than 30 minutes from NoVA.

They asked for something within 90 mins. If you aren’t trying to go during peak times it’s about an hour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dessert First Kent Island.

It’s not French themed…it’s a coffee shop in a dock that serves yummy desserts. Over bay bridge and a neat spot if you can miss bridge traffic.

That can’t be possibly less than 30 minutes from NoVA.

Anonymous wrote:Dessert First Kent Island.

It’s not French themed…it’s a coffee shop in a dock that serves yummy desserts. Over bay bridge and a neat spot if you can miss bridge traffic.

Dessert First Kent Island.

Red Truck Bakery

The almond croissants at Point Chaud on Wisconsin Ave are amazing. They often sell out by early afternoon though. Nice outside terrace and the inside looks more or less like a typical european cafe.

The pastries at Boulangerie Christophe in Georgetown are a little meh, but lovely back courtyard that feels very French countryside-y.

Okay pasteries at Patisserie Poupon and it's nice to sit on the sidewalk café in Georgetown. Fresh Baguette on Wisconsin, also okay pastries, but they're all a little...industrial European pastries if you know what I mean. Like you'd be happy to eat them in a train station in Lyon. But you're probably interested in more quality.

The Sculpture Garden's Metropolitan Cafe is sort of nice bc they're trying to be parisian. Food is meh. I would have recommended getting a pastry and coffee at Bakers and Baristas up the street in Penn Quarter (they has the very best pastries) but RIP Bakers and Baristas.

I don’t know if this fits the bill, but Kafe Leopold in Georgetown is in a lovely courtyard near C and O canal, and you could stroll the waterfront after

I have a rare kid-free weekend coming up and have fantasies of eating a fabulous worth-the-calories pastry and drinking coffee in a beautiful, outdoor setting. Ideally this would be happening somewhere in the French countryside, but in reality somewhere within 90 minutes of Northern Virginia will need to do. Any recommendations?