SOVA Espresso & Wine

Cool atmosphere. You choose kind of wine you want not brand. Fun dj playing some songs from when I was in Jr high. There’s a small dance area where people were having a mini-​dance party, but the whole place was not a club. Not super loud, we could still have a conversation. I loved the old furniture, but some chairs were more comfortable than others. I almost fell through one of the couches!
It was also easy to find parking nearby.

I know I’m late to the party, but RIP SOVA, one of the coolest spaces on H street combining two of my great loves (wine and coffee!) I shall miss your narrow staircases and comfy places to lounge. I shall miss your friendly staff and always local display (eg. veteran’s art for sale). Please reopen soon and keep the spirit of awesomeness.
Best of luck to the new owners and the former owners.
In case you missed it, here was the goodbye notice:
Dear customers, friends & neighbors,
After 5 plus years in business, SOVA will cease operations after close of business next Sunday, the 17^th. There will be an ownership change, and I’m certain other changes with be forthcoming. Between me and the new ownership, we’ll try to make the transition as seamless as possible. Customers will still see the same faces behind the coffee bar, and the bar upstairs will be closed for a short time while licensing issues get resolved.
We had some great times, but there were also some very difficult times over the last 6 plus years since I moved into the space. In a nutshell, we opened when H St wasn’t hip at all. Running a business 7 days a week, morning, noon, and night took its toll financially and otherwise until we could grow a sustainable customer base, and it’s still developing. I wish the new ownership well, and I hope the neighborhood gets what they want. I was very proud to be one of the first newer businesses to open on H St, but I paid the price for getting here early. Especially having to deal with the 3 plus years of construction on the street.
Most importantly, I’m going to miss all the great people that became good friends. Thank you for your support over the years.
You stay classy, H St. I’m out!
Happy trails,
Frank Hankins

Sova closed its doors on February 17, 2013
Here’s the official word from the owner:
«Dear customers, friends & neighbors,
After 5 plus years in business, SOVA will cease operations after close of business next Sunday, the 17^th. There will be an ownership change, and I’m certain other changes with be forthcoming. Between me and the new ownership, we’ll try to make the transition as seamless as possible. Customers will still see the same faces behind the coffee bar, and the bar upstairs will be closed for a short time while licensing issues get resolved.
We had some great times, but there were also some very difficult times over the last 6 plus years since I moved into the space. In a nutshell, we opened when H St wasn’t hip at all. Running a business 7 days a week, morning, noon, and night took its toll financially and otherwise until we could grow a sustainable customer base, and it’s still developing. I wish the new ownership well, and I hope the neighborhood gets what they want. I was very proud to be one of the first newer businesses to open on H St, but I paid the price for getting here early. Especially having to deal with the 3 plus years of construction on the street.
Most importantly, I’m going to miss all the great people that became good friends. Thank you for your support over the years.
You stay classy, H St. I’m out!
Happy trails,
Frank Hankins»

This is the type of local coffee shop I look for. Great interior space that’s good to have a conversation in or just people watch, friendly service, and last but not least, great coffee. I can see how this place would get busy and agree with all the other reviews for a try.

Nice little café on H Street Corridor. We enjoyed their chai latte and some pastries.

This is a very relaxing space on H street on the second floor of 2 town houses. I love the couches and that every time I visit, I stumble upon live bluegrass or a discussion group or some other activity I didn’t know about. A great place to curl up and chat with a friend.

The perfect place for a weekday meeting! Plenty of seating, others rolling in for some quiet conversation and/​or meetings, and oh-​so-​delicious chai lattes!
I’ll definitely be back if I need a place to get work done. It’s quiet enough to hear yourself think, but still has enough hustle and bustle to feel energized.

My favorite coffee shop in DC after Pound only because there is always enough seating and you can choose between a table or a couch to sit at. I have never found their coffee or food very good, but the fact that they turn into a wine bar at night and have live music every Thursday is awesome. The owner is a super nice guy and lets people use it for private parties (we’ve done that a few times!).

I attended an art opening at SOVA last month; and, the following weekend I stopped by with some friends for coffee.
I like the atmosphere at SOVA. Everything about it lacks showiness which, I like, from the price of wine to the rotating art exhibits. They have some amazing specials (in terms of cost) on wine.
They’re coffee selection and price is average for the District.
I would recommend this place as before and/​or after date night spot.
Each time I visited, I noticed the business tends to draw on people from the neighborhood. I bumped into someone from the art show the weekend before when I stopped to grab a coffee. If you’re interested in learning more about the Atlas District (or H St NE neighborhood) this would be a great place to do some people watching.
I have three (3) things this business could improve on.
As some of the other Unilocalers mentioned the upstairs can get very hot. SOVA does not have central a/​c.
SOVA could spend more time cleaning their establishment. I was surprised how dirty the floor and counters were when I grabbed coffee with my friends on a Saturday.
Although, I love the fact that SOVA does not appear to spend a lot of money trying to make this place look trendy; some of their furniture could be replaced. I have sat in more than one chair and/​or piece of furniture that is a little wobbly.

Great wine list and atmosphere. Good place to relax.

Saturday afternoon, around 5pm. Americano hit the spot and friends were happy with the iced coffee.
Downstairs was empty but ventured upstairs to sit down, relax and chat with friends. Felt a little strange when we got to the top because it was fairly full but everyone was studying/​really quiet. I shouldn’t have expected differently for a coffee shop but regardless, I was surprised and felt a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t want to disturb the other patrons as my friends and I tend to struggle with inside voices. We whispered for the first couple minutes but then we gave up and were just fine. Nobody appeared bothered (outwardly, at least). I liked the ample seating for computer use and also the couches/​chairs for the social visitors.
I would definitely go back with my computer or a book someday as well as feel comfortable catching up with friends there again.

Kelly so nicely rescued me from the absolutely horrific nightlife scene at Bar Dupont (I love Bar Dupont. Just not after 10pm on Friday or Saturday), by inviting me to SOVA to meet up with her and friend. I am super, super grateful and really happy I got to check it out. Previously, I had only been here (downstairs) to use the restroom during the H Street Festival.
So, I walk upstairs a little after 11 on a Saturday night, and the place is fairly empty. Maybe 8 – 10 people? But the DJ is killing it. I mean, he played the house version of «Sound of Violence», which is one of my favorite songs ever. I’m in love with this DJ.
Anyway, the Bombay Sapphire (no Tanqueray) and tonics are strong and bartenders friendly. Though the place looks like your grandmother’s untouched living room from the 1940’s, it’s super chill. Great place to sit and chat. Patrons are friendly; later in the evening Kelly, her friend, & I get into one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with a bartender. We shut the place down. I can’t wait to get back. Oh, and I want to try the lattes too!

I love the coffee and bar combination. At street level, it’s a small but bright and inviting coffeeshop, with free wi-​fi, sandwiches, baked goods, and coffee. Upstairs, the bar is dimly lit, cozy, and quiet enough for conversation with friends or a date. It’s also the kind of place where you could hang out by yourself without attracting creepers or being treated like an outcast. The barstaff are friendly and personable, and poured good drinks, including cocktails, and a well-​selected variety of beer and wines. The one thing missing from this place is that they don’t offer food upstairs to accompany the drinks (even bar snacks such as olives, nuts, cheese and crackers, would be great).

You can get a divine hot chocolate the size of a small child’s head here.
The crowd could be having a very boisterous intense argument about middle eastern politics right next to you and you wouldn’t hear a thing because the whole conversation is in American Sign Language.
There’s a copper-​topped bar, and booze.
There’s free wifi.
Why are you still reading this? Get up and go to SOVA.
Still reading this? Ok — here’s more to read in case Wikipedia throws another temper tantrum:
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC. The majority of the Mesoamerican people made chocolate beverages, including the Aztecs, who made it into a beverage known as xocoltl, a Nahuatl word meaning «bitter water». The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the flavor.
After fermentation, the beans are dried, then cleaned, and then roasted, and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground to cocoa mass, pure chocolate in rough form. Because this cocoa mass usually is liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients, it is called chocolate liquor. The liquor also may be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Unsweetened baking chocolate (bitter chocolate) contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat, and sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids.
Cocoa solids contain alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body. It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Some research found that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure. The presence of theobromine renders chocolate toxic to some animals, especially dogs and cats.

3.25 stars. Is it creepy that the last time I went here was for the birthday party of the younger sister of a girl I briefly dated who is a solid decade younger than me? Don’t answer that. Plus, I’ve already been partially outed by Brian B’s Ba Bay review anyhow. Thanks a lot, Brian! We’ll see how many Balkan stories I share with you from here on out (probably all of them).
In any event, none of this is wholly relevant to SOVA, a haven that offers a panoply of experiences for those comfortable enough to eschew the popular watering holes and pseudo-​dance parties on H Street NE for the proverbial road less traveled.
One particular night, we were waiting for a table at Toki Underground and decided to break tradition and head to SOVA. Instead of alcoholic beverages, we were treated to delightful coffees and teas. I direct everyone to Hyunoo P.‘s excellent review for an interesting take on the rather approachable coffee beans chosen at SOVA. They are worth your time.
Of course, given my rather nocturnal nature, I generally head upstairs, find myself a seat, and allow the bartenders here to attempt Uri Geller tricks on my brain cells with their potent alcoholic offerings. If cocktails aren’t your poison of choice, SOVA generally sports a passable beer list. Look for a basic introduction to decent American microbrews among the selections.
While SOVA isn’t necessarily one of my favorites places in DC, it’s certainly a good spot for those of us who enjoy less clamor while enjoying our alcoholic beverages of choice.

Yes, I braved H Street traffic. Found a parking space. And navigated those mean, smoker-​clogged sidewalks until I got to the doorway of SOVA and ascended the stairs.
I met Caldy T. at SOVA. She was having a Torrontes (Niento, Argentina). I threw my purse haphazardly on the barstool next to mine and ordered up the «new pinot grigio» too. The Torrontes was light and flowery; not too sweet. It needed additional chilling IMHO. So our keen BT Kat set the bottle in the freezer for the possible next pour. Caldy T. and I sipped and caught up while we watched Kat shake and make other tasty libations such as the Val Collins, a lightly purple number with gin consumed by a group of giggly girlfriends out for the evening. I didn’t order one due to the gin but maybe someday. When additional hunger struck, Kat gave me her chips and salsa from Mexican earlier that evening. Delish! Yum! Thank you!
Ah, SOVA, I still love your wine and ways. You know I’ll be back!

Given my love of coffeehouses, wine and a particular neighborhood in DC, I trusted the Unilocal reviews on this place and had to check it out myself.
Upon entering, you have the coffee house downstairs. It’s bright and warm. Feel free to grab a table, take out your books and get your geek on here. Even the air in here feels a little smart.
The real comfort zone is upstairs. That’s when you approach the living room-​esque bar and lounge. I wish this was how my living room looked. Velvet coaches, chandeliers and the works of local artists on the walls. Actually if this was my living room, I would get all fancy and call this my «parlor» or «salon». I would invite guests in for a glass of port, we’d sit on our velveteen couches, and they would point to the art and say «what a marvelous collage of breast photos, you have on the wall». And I would say that’s been in the family for years, the top two are my great great grandmothers, darling. And then we’d go back to discussing Voltaire.
I was happy to see Sova carried Founders beers and started the night with a good pint of Red’s Rye. Later indulgences included a cheese plate, chorizo slices, dates and a Mendoza Malbec, selected from a comprehensive wine by the glass menu.
Great company, great atmosphere, friendly staff and a great menu. What more could you ask for? I’ll be back in my glasses carrying test prep books, just you wait and see.

I arrived for a friend’s going away party but wasn’t really up for alcohol. Lucky for me they serve espresso downstairs! The most beautiful ice cubes kept my iced latte chilly and delicious. The Barista was really nice and even re-​poured my friend’s coffee when we realized it was not the right milk without any scoff.
If I lived closer, this place would certainly be my daily jam!

Call me over-​expectant but when items are on the menu, I generally anticipate that the required ingredients will be in stock. But, I’d be wrong.
Call me over-​expectant but when items are on the menu, I generally anticipate that the bartenders will know how to make the items without having to reference how to craft them. Again, I’d be wrong.
On one hand, I love the space at the wine bar and the coffee shop during the day. On the other hand, I was pretty nonplussed by the cocktail crafting… which is bizarre because I was pretty fascinated by the ingredients listed out in the drinks on the menu.
SOVA’s wine bar bears a lot of promise. I’d love to see it bear fruit.

Well excuuuse me! SOVA has a more soul than I thought.
Warm, cozy, hip, and unpretentious, this place picks up in the evening. When I walked in around 11pm on a Friday night, the DJ was spinning some old school hip hop as the calm and cool crowd mingled and chilled out. The vibe reminded me a bit of 18^th Street Lounge, but more private and a bit less mainstream.
Some delicious looking mixed drinks were being consumed around me and I was saddened that I could not stay long enough to enjoy one.
I also didn’t realize that all of the local art displayed on the walls are for purchase at extremely reasonable price points.
I’m keeping the rating the same, but one more visit here and I may just have to throw them one more star. I look forward to coming back again soon!