Best of D.C. 2009

Missing Murky Coffee at Eastern Market? We didn’t think so. Its successor, Peregrine Espresso, has clearly won over the neighborhood with its single-cup pour-over system and menu of exotic coffees. The shop caters to everyone from laptop-lugging students to true coffee connoisseurs. Also good: Sova Espresso & Wine, where Frank Hankins is expanding the concept of the neighborhood coffeehouse with, you guessed it, wine, served by the glass at his upstairs bar. Downstairs, Intelligentsia Direct Trade coffees and a selection of Rishi loose-leaf teas demonstrate Sova’s expansion hasn’t overshadowed its commitment to its core beverages. Sova’s three rooms full of comfy couches, tables, and chairs offer an ideal space for neighbors to gather or curl up with a good book. Live music and open mic night—as well as the walls themselves—provide a venue for local artists, too.