There’s a sprawling basement coffee shop below Adams Morgan’s Afghan restaurant Lapis. 

The owners refer to the space as a “cultural salon” and it’s hard to argue with them given the stacks of books and board games, piano, ample corners for private conversation, free Wi-Fi, and yoga studio in the back.

The space was formerly known as Sweet Science when it was operated in partnership with mega barista Sandra Wolter, but now it’s in the sole hands of The Popal Group (Lapis, Malmaison, Cafe Bonaparte). They call it Lapop. 

At Lapop, you’ll drink standard espresso drinks, plus a few surprises like a spicy hot chocolate spiked with rum. They’re currently brewing Ceremony Coffee. Baked goods span from pineapple coconut scones and cinnamon pecan coffee cake to spinach, tomato, and feta biscuits. You can even pick up a mason jar of fruit jam to take home. 

The real draw is the space, which is borderline Bohemian. Some people prefer their coffee shop to look like an Apple store. Lapop looks more like Friends’ Central Perk. Take a photo tour below.

Lapop is open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Lapop, 1847 Columbia Road NW; lapopdc.com