Northside Social Coffee & Wine Affluent / After Work / All Ages / All Types / Alternative / Anything goes / Art / Artists / Artsy / Artsy Dresses / Average Joes / Beer / Breakfast / Brunch / Business Casual / Business Types / Button-downs / Casual / Chic / Chill / Conversational / Creative / Art / Music Types / Date Place / Dessert / Dinner / Diverse / Down-to-earth / Drink Specials / Easygoing / Eclectic / European / Family / Fashion Forward / Finger Food / Flannel Shirts / Food Specials / Friendly / Games / Good for Groups / Groups / Happy Hour / Hip / Hippies / Hipster / Hipster / In crowd / Intellectuals / Intimate / Laid back / Liberal / Locals / Low key / Lunch / Media Types / Moderate / No Fuss / No Smoking / Outdoor Area / Patio / People Watching / Pretentious / Professional Types / Regulars / Sandwiches / Slacks / Small Plates / Snack Food / Socialites / Sophisticated / Specialty Beer / Street Parking / Students / Stylish / Teenagers / Terrace / Trendy Casual / Trendy Vibe / Vegetarian Food / Vintage / Wi-Fi / Wine / Wine Lovers / Writers / Young Professionals / Café / Wine Bar

My Take: Northside Social is in the heart of a popular restaurant district, making it one of the most attractive coffee shops in Arlington, Virginia. It occupies the corner of a busy block, crowded with both pedestrian and road traffic and is within walking distance of the Clarendon Metro stop. The distinct barn-red exterior and the warm, welcoming, and trendy vibe inside attract coffee and wine enthusiasts of all ages. The Scene: A well-known coffee and wine bar, Northside Social attracts a wide variety of guests at all times of the day. The late morning and early afternoon crowd is full of college students and young professions reading and working, while later in the day a generally older crowd comes to enjoy wine and drinks. Customers quickly feel welcomed by the custom “latte art” and individual French press or tea strainers, given out as ordered. Cocktails & Cuisine: Northside Social offers a traditional coffee, espresso, and tea menu, accompanied by a few breakfast options (served until 3PM) and lunch soups, salads, and sandwiches. This coffee shop in Arlington is a local favorite for its pastry selection, with unique cookie flavors like lemon-lavender or salt, pepper, butterscotch, and pecan topping the menu. Wine and beer are available throughout the day, with a special wine bar on the upper level attracting many guests after 5PM Monday through Saturday. Prices: Prices are typical of similar venues in the Washington, D.C. area, with coffee running from $2.00 to $4.00 and food options from $6.00 to $10.00. Alcoholic beverages are priced slightly above average; wine ranges from $8.00 to $15.00 a glass. What to Wear: A truly informal and laidback scene, Northside Social guests come dressed to relax or work during the day. Later in the evening, those found catching an after-work drink at the popular wine bar are often still dressed in professional attire; however, casual wear is always appropriate. Insider Info/When to go: Northside Social is most popular during the wine bar happy hour from 5 to 7 PM Monday – Saturday. Tables are also filled during the middle of the afternoon, especially on weekends, by those looking for a place to work on their laptops or meet with a friend.