Sankofa Bookstore and Cafe

Wonderful location! Moderately priced and tasty food (plus pretty great parts). The folks that work there are extremely friendly, plus there is outside seating if its a fine day and you need to love the weather. The book shops is extremely cute too and has extremely useful publications for Black people (but you do not have to be Black to go of course!)

What a pleasant surprise! On our wait to do our nails, found this little gem. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Staff and even customers were friendly. The food… fresh and made to order. Even though it’s a bit out of the way, I will definitely be back for my Spicy Lentil Samoosa and my Camerounian Beer!

This is an excellent bookstore that’s located in a historic neighborhood. The book store regularly hosts Black scholars and lectures that are are of great importance to the Black community. The employees are very knowledgable and helpful!

Sankofa is a treasure trove of great food and great books. Every time I go in to order a sandwich, I end up lost in the great selection at the bookstore for an hour. This isn’t a place to go if you’re in a hurry, but it’s very welcoming and it’s easy to feel comfortable there because you will find all types of people of many age ranges at Sankofa. This business also deserves credit for being unapologetically African in a rapidly changing neighborhood. People who have been coming here for many years would probably say it still maintains its original vision.

I wanted this place to be a little more welcoming when I first walked in but *shurgs* I guess it’s just me. The book selection was great, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to get myself, my King and our children! I decided on a Haitian cookbook for myself and books for him and our children. I love their selection of children’s books, majority of which I already had but there was this selection of «classic» story books like «Little Red Riding Hood» and «Sleeping Beauty» but with little brown girls that I got for our daughter; she’s only 6 weeks old but one must start the love of our children of themselves EARLY!
Afterwards I went over to the café area and ordered a Green smoothie and banana bread which was YUMMMM YUMMMM! I was invited back Sunday for an event by the Owners son? Owner? Family member? but I’ll be back in BK by then but it was the most interaction I got out of the place.
Thinking of making one more trip for that smoothie and banana bread before I go back…

Prepare to be intellectually stimulated. This place is great.

Does the community no justice. Experience– 15 dollars bought: an inedible sandwich made inedibly and poorly twice, and a couple of very rude remarks made toward me, ton of regret and still lingering hunger, one ultimately overpriced smoothie.
Really disappointed. I know it’s common here, but not gonna endorse it financially again.

This is a better and healthier alternative than Starbucks. You can sit down and eat or learn from a plethora of historical books displayed. I approve this message.

A Black/​African bookstore and café! Wow. So glad I moved to DC. This would never exist in the South where I’m from.
So grateful to not have to sit in typical café like Starbucks listening to that terrible awful soulless music. They play African music here… Nice rhythm and upbeat. It helps me study/​write. Smoothies are pretty good (a bit too much fruit juice for my liking. But that’s just me). An array of books!
Definitely my new go-​to spot.

Great work spot with excellent service and food. Sandwiches take awhile to make even when they’re empty so don’t expect a fast bite if that’s what you want.

Saturday, 2:00 PM.
Quickie:
— Coffee quality
+ Service
– Cleanliness
– Slow turnaround
— Lagging wi-​fi
And then???
Sankofa aims to be an intellectual hub. I appreciate that it’s owners try to create a place to gather, discuss, and challenge ideas. This makes me think I caught SBC on an off-​day.
**********
Stuffed my face in:
1. Iced latte
— Over-​diluted? Drink lacked flavor.
Constructive comments:
*Source ingredients
*Option for compost and recycling (more clear).

I visited Sankofa for the first (and last) time this morning, September 30^th with a companion. We literally could not get what we had ordered.
First, I ordered a «caramel latte with skimmed milk.» The female employee informed me that they didn’t carry skimmed milk. Unacceptable for a «café.» Wanting to be a sport, however, I accepted the additional calories. I subsequently received an iced (instead of hot), sugary latte.
My companion ordered an «iced Americano.» He received a hot beverage with cream, sugar and foam on the top. He informed the employee of the error. She made him another «Americano.» This time iced but again with cream and sugar.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the word «AMERICANO» is a term of art. It means «[a]n espresso coffee diluted with hot water and containing no milk.’» Allerton, David J. (2010). I Only Have a Kitchen Because It Came with the House. The Foodies Handbook. p. 26. As a term of art, one should be able to visit any café, request an Americano and receive the same thing. Such has been the case at Tryst, Starbucks, Potter’s House and any number of DC cafes offering «Americanos.» This is not just a matter of taste; pricing for caffeinated drinks depends on such distinctions.
At this point my companion had resigned himself to not having coffee. He is lactose intolerant and could not just force it down. In disbelief, I went inside to speak with the employee. She was irritated, unapologetic and stubborn. When I told her exactly what was in an «Americano» (espresso, water, no milk), even Googling the term to show her how to make it, she informed me that «everyone knows» that at Sankofa you get cream and sugar and that we’d have to tell her if we didn’t want those ingredients. She didn’t care what an «Americano» actually was. It was whatever she chose to dish out. By her logic, the next time you order that tofu wrap, enjoy your pork, because «at Sankofa, that’s just how we make our tofu and everyone knows that.»
If the owner bothers to read this, here’s how to make an Americano:
. Train your employees better or at least teach them to be apologetic and refund customers when their orders can’t be filled. We spent $ 30 for two melts and our jacked up coffee orders and left feeling displeased and robbed. Sankofa has great Unilocal reviews; that’s why we tried it out and wanted to like it. Maybe it’s heading downhill.
P. S. My salmon melt came with a «salad» that fit into something slightly bigger than the plastic condiment cups you get at fast food restaurants. They really shouldn’t list it as a choice. Just include it as ornamental lettuce not worth mentioning.

I’ve had this business bookmarked for many months. Yesterday I finally had the chance to dine here.
Food: I ordered the croissant salmon melt. It came with original chips. It was delicious! The flaky roll, and hard chips satisfied my lunch carving. The only downside of my meal was not being able to indulge in Tej wine… it wasn’t in stock.
Atmosphere: From the exterior to interior of this café –it’s laid back. The inviting outdoor space is filled with nice, wooden tables that are perfect for group meeting. The inside was all occupied when I went, but there was still room to browse the book collection quite comfortably. Patrons of this café seem to be well minded and mannered folks!
:I will be back again and ready to try something else !

Yep, going with one star, because during today’s visit I was not acknowledged or listened to and charged extra for using my debit card. The woman at the counter was preoccupied with a bunch of nothing and truly ruined my desire to ever patronize Sankofa again. Having recently moved here from California, I was delighted to find this spot; however, after the less than hospitable customer service (and consistent product), I’m good. If I want to be treated less than, I can visit the gentrified establishments.

I have driven many times up and down Georgia Avenue and I was curious to go in for years. I’m so glad I finally did. It is a bookstore and a café And it has an amazing vibe. Tons of books for children and adults.
Regarding the food, it was excellent. We went for two wraps one of them vegan the other one with smoked salmon. They were fresh and delicious. They also came really fast accompanied by a salad.
But that’s not all! We accompanied them with two delicious smoothies, my favorite and they want to recommend is that mean green smoothie.

Oh, Sankofa, I’m hip. You’re trying to woo me with your tasty smoothies, and I end up staying to discover your coves of books, and then get lost in conversation with the person I meet in line. Funny enough, that’s exactly what happened the last time I went there.
I love this eccentric coffee shop/​bookstore vibe that is uniquely Sankofa. Although it’s already well known to many Howard students and members of African diaspora in the DC area, I would encourage anyone that is looking for an alternative spot to Tryst, Busboys & Poets, or even the Coupe, to try this spot on for size. You won’t be disappointed.

The Raspberry Rose Scone is… delicious.
Everything on the menu is more than fairly priced, Mike at the counter was amiable and down to put up with me trying to steal the recipe, and the ambiance was cool baby, real cool.
It’s a trendy, BETTER alternative to the mainstream cafés that will save you money and fill you with delicious baked goods. DO IT ;)

Support Black Businesses! Great food and people. Everything you need to recharge– events, books, jewelry, food, people. Healthy food and plenty of gluten free and vegan options.

This place has such a high rating due to how good the food and coffee is, and absolutely NOT because of the service. The service here is painfully slow and plan on waiting 10+minutes for coffee. They have gotten my order wrong at times and just taken way too long to make a simple wrap (20 minutes minimum). I have given this place so many chances because I love their food and I want to support black business, but I just cant do it anymore. I will NEVER patron here again.
Today was the last chance. I ordered a spicy tofu melt in a wrap and they gave me turkey, which I did not realize until 3 bites in! I am a vegetarian so I was really upset and angry when they screwed up my order, even after clarifying it with them like 3 times beforehand. Unacceptable. (In case you’re thinking, ‘well, youre a vegetarian so u should have noticed it was turkey from the first bite… well, i was busy catching up on Walking Dead’s Season 5 finale from last night, so I didnt immediately realize I was eating meat.) Im mad I gave this café so many chances n it took them getting my order wrong n me accidentally eating meat after 6 yrs being meat-​free to finally decide to stop giving them my business.
DO NOT come here unless u have sectioned off at least 25 minutes to wait for ur meal. I wont ever step foot in here again, at least not until they speed up the time it takes to fulfill orders, which they must do once other restaurants start being established in this rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. If they keep w their sluggish pace, customers will just go elsewhere – where it wont take them forever to get their food. Also, $ 3 for tea is OD and not even Starbucks charges that much.
Lastly, you’re better off walking 5 minutes down the street to Woodlands Vegan Bistro if you want good food and to support black biz. Way better customer service there and they never get your order wrong.

This is an adorable coffeeshop.
Seriously. The baristas are friendly, the customers are polite and keep to themselves, and nobody tries to bother you into purchasing additional food or beverage items.
The wi-​fi is also incredibly fast, even at 4:30 in the afternoon. Some coffeeshops experience lagging around this time due to the high amount of traffic. Not here!
The coffee is delicious. $ 5.28 for a large chai latte and aranciata rossa (blood orange) san pellegrino. Not too shabby! There aren’t very many tables, but the ones they do have are large enough for two laptops. It seems like the type of place you would grab a coffee and go, not sit around.
I also want to talk about the floors. They have a really interesting tile pattern that brightens up the place. There’s also books that line the walls.
A future trip is definitely in order :)