Entrepreneur: Busboys and Poets #1 best coffee shop to work in across the U.S.

5 Great Coffee Shops to Work In Across the U.S

Entrepreneur Magazine
July 6, 2015

Boasting six locations, Busboys and Poets is a favorite among entrepreneurs in the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland area. The restaurant offers ample seating and complimentary Wi-Fi. Also, many of the menu items are either vegan or gluten-free (the chili comes highly recommended).

Chianti Lomax, a management consultant at a D.C.-technology firm, says when she walks into Busboys and Poets, it feels like she’s “receiving a hug from art and creativity.” She further states, “The ambiance is nostalgic—typically there is an awesome throwback tune playing in the background and you are subject to meeting some of the coolest people at the laptop tables.”

A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets

Sep 2, 2025

We’re proud to announce A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets, the new memoir from our CEO and Founder, which reveals the vision, challenges, and triumphs behind opening Busboys and Poets. Packed with misadventures, unexpected triumphs, and insights on race, business and politics, Andy Shallal’s memoir takes us on a “How I Built … Continued

For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Feb 1, 2024

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals. He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.” … Continued

Palestine Week 2024

Jan 12, 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

1-2-3 ¡vamos! Busboys and Poets Trip To Havana 2024

Oct 20, 2023

Celebrating the 123rd Birthday of Langston Hughes REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS TRIP Join us for the Havana Jazz Festival and the unveiling of the Langston Hughes statue, sculpted by renowned Cuban artist Alberto Lescay and revealed by the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Alice Walker. The program will be filled with cultural encounters, meetings, colloquiums, … Continued

Art All Night – The Drive-Thru Art Gallery in Anacostia

Sep 26, 2020

Created by local artists in partnership with the Anacostia BID and Busboys and Poets, the Art All Night Drive-Thru Art Gallery brings the Anacostia business corridors to life with an eclectic collection of artistic installations and original work. Follow the CURATED MAP of artwork and businesses throughout the streets of Anacostia. The artistic installations will … Continued

Busboys and Poets Books Literary Resolutions for 2018

Dec 31, 2017

Check out how the staff of Busboys and Poets Books anticipate spending 2018 (hint: it involves a lot of reading). Kris, Book Events Manager: “Last year my literary resolution was to read one book a week, for 52 books. I met that goal earlier this month (ending the year with 58!) so for 2018, I’m … Continued

DC VegFest Media Party at Takoma

Sep 6, 2018

We kicked off another year of DC VegFest by hosting the media party in the Guillén Room at Takoma to about 60 local and national influencers. For the last four years we’ve sponsored DC VegFest and have provided an overflowing buffet of various vegan foods from our catering and regular menu, like vegan “beef” sliders, … Continued