Georgetown is a district of Washington DC that just oozes with historic charm. It’s full of locally owned restaurants, small boutique shops, buildings that are centuries old, and many places that hold historical significance. And for those of us with an enlarged sweet tooth, we are lucky enough that many of DC’s best sweets are located within this one area. If you’re looking to indulge in some of the best desserts in Georgetown, look no further!
The Best Desserts in Georgetown
Georgetown Cupcake
Georgetown Cupcake is probably the most well-known spot to get the best desserts in Georgetown. It is the base for the reality TV show, DC Cupcakes, which first aired in 2010. The show since gained worldwide fame for this small bakery and its co-owners. Due to their popularity and success, there will most likely be a line to get in. I waited for about 5-10 minutes before I got into the shop. Inside, the bakery is tidy and cute, though small for the number of customers they have. There are only 4 small tables inside, and if you want a box to take your cupcake to go, there is an extra fee.
There are multiple cupcake flavors to choose from, from the classic chocolate or vanilla, to fun seasonal flavors like banana split. I had their seasonal strawberry lemonade cupcake. The lemon cake has bits of strawberry inside, and the strawberry frosting was very flavorful and sweet. Cupcakes are $3.25 each, with a slight discount for purchasing in larger quantities.
Budget Friendly Tip: Check out their Facebook page every day to find out how you can get a FREE cupcake!
3301 M Street NW
Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-8pm
Laduree
With its beginnings in Paris back in 1862, you know this place is the real deal. If you want some serious fancy dessert, this is the place to go. Laduree has a very upscale feel, with its waiters in white collared shirts and pressed black pants. Its pristine white and pale blue decor and the big glass chandeliers make the place shine with sophistication. Here, you can sit and have tea and pastries or order a decadent goodie to go. They have lots of sweet treats to choose from, like eclairs and cakes, but Laduree is most well known for its French macarons. If you can stomach the prices, Laduree has some of the best desserts in Georgetown when you want to feel like a Parisian princess (or prince. No judgment. You go, Glen Coco).
3060 M Street NW
Sun-Sat 8am-7pm
Dog Tag Bakery
I really loved stopping by Dog Tag Bakery. Just off the main street through Georgetown is this quaint, homey bakery that serves up more than just delicious sweets! With its clean red, white, and blue decor it’s easy to tell this place is all about the US love. Its unique #BakingADifference mission to provide disabled veterans with work experience in their bakery, alongside an education at nearby Georgetown University shows this business’ dedication to the community and its veterans. When you buy goodies from Dog Tag, not only are you supporting this business but the veterans it supports as well.
Who doesn’t want a little extra warm fuzzy like that when plowing into a slice of cake?
There are lots of different treats to choose from at Dog Tag Bakery, buy my eye was caught by their chocolate cinnamon rice pudding. Served in a cute little jar with little chocolate stick, this baby was just the right amount of cool, creamy, chocolatey goodness I was looking for. And at only $3, let’s just say my waistline is glad I don’t live near Georgetown!
Budget Friendly Tip: Stop by between 4pm and 6pm for happy hour, with select bakery goods half off!
3206 Grace Street NW
Mon-Fri 7am-6pm; Sat & Sun 8am-6pm
Baked & Wired
Don’t want to wait in line for Georgetown Cupcake? Looking for more unique flavors? Then Baked & Wired will have the best desserts in Georgetown for you. Their storefront is a hipster dreamland with handcrafted espresso, community seating areas set up like small living rooms, and funky desserts displayed in glass jars. Here, you can find brownies, cookies, and other baked goods along with their array of giant, delicious cupcakes. With catchy names like Dirty Chai, Razmanian Devil, and the Chocolate Cupcake of Doom, you’ll have a hard time choosing just one to try!
I enjoyed one of their most popular flavors: The Smurfette. This a lemon cake with blueberries, topped with a lemon buttercream. I probably could have eaten a gallon of that lemon buttercream on its own…
Each cupcake is $3.90, but they are much bigger than your standard cupcake size. Plus, oh my yum.
1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW
Mon-Fri 7am-8pm; Sat & Sun 8am-9pm
Olivia Macaron
Every time I eat a French macaron, I just feel so fancy- Like I have to savor it in teeny bites and gossip with ladies in a garden. Anyone else? No? Alright then.
Olivia Macaron is a place that knows macarons and macarons only. Their giant macaron mural on the wall solidifies just what you are there to experience. They have so many different flavors to choose from that it’s hard not to just empty your pockets as soon as you walk in. I tried the fruity pebbles flavor and the honey lavender (by recommendation of the cashier. I thought it tasted like soap, but I also have the palette of a 6 year old). Pricing depends on the quantity you purchase.
3222 M Street NW
Mon-Thurs 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 11am-7pm
Pie Sisters
This was the kind of place I could see myself coming to hang out, write on my blog, and of course- eat pie. It is cute and quiet, located towards the end of the main street in Georgetown. Perhaps the best thing about Pie Sisters is that they serve perfectly sized pie cuppies. These are essentially cupcake-sized pies and in my humble opinion, they’re genius. They come in so many different flavors, you’ll want to choose multiple cuppies to try!
I tried their Jumbleberry cuppie. Inside was a mixture of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, topped with a mound of that delicious crumbly pie topping. Is that not the best part of pie? It was everything I wanted with the tart berries combined with the sweet crunchy topping. I was also very tempted by the Key Lime Cuppie, the Banana Cream Cuppie, and the Cherry Cuppie. Someone go try them and tell me how good they are! Cuppies are $3.75 each, but you can also get a full slice for $5.
3222 M Street NW
Mon-Thurs 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 11am-7pm
District Doughnut
I am so, so sad to report that I did not make it to District Doughnut in time. They close a bit early on the weekdays (3pm) and I didn’t get there until closer to 4. But their Instagram has got me determined to stop by next time I’m hunting down the best desserts in Georgetown! (Because, hello Key Lime Doughnut and S’mores Doughnut…and Fluffernutter Doughnut…and Lemon Meringue Doughnut…)
3327 Cady’s Alley NW
Tues-Fri 8am-3pm; Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Looking for more to do in Washington DC? Check out How to do Washington DC in One Day and these 20 Free Things to do in Washington DC.
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28 Comments
It’s been 5 years since I’ve been to Georgetown, but I’m proud to say that I did hit up ONE of the places you’ve listed, lol. Georgetown Cupcake! Next time I go back, I will have to refer to your yummy desert list, because I’m always on a hunt for a good desert place no matter where I am in the world!
Haha! That Georgetown Cupcake is a popular place to go!
I’ve lived in DC for nearly six years and have still never been to Georgetown Cupcake. I head straight to Baked and Wired every time I’m in the neighborhood. Didn’t realize there was a macaron shop over there now, though. That looks worth the trip!
The puppies sound absolutely delicious! I’ve never heard of the concept and can’t wait to try it. I also liked how you have added budget friendly tips, great idea 🙂
And obviously I meant cuppies and not puppies (shakes head in embarrassment)
Hahaha! That’s a different kind of blog 😛
I don’t have a sweet tooth but if I see sweet desserts presented that way, as if it was in a patisserie in north France, then I really get weak legs and I start craving the different baked goods. Can you send me some over please? =D
Wow this all looks delicious!!! I would honestly book a flight to Washington now just to eat all these cupcakes. Seems like really cool places and you took some stunning photos!
No idea which one I would start off with ! I guess the cupcakes ! 😛 looks so yummy…
I’m trying to have a good day and not touch anything sweet haha! Damn it! Now I want cake! Great post and I think a unique thing to do for the day! Feed the sweet tooth!
Yummy! Love this post. Haven’t been to Georgetown in awhile but what a great reason to go back. 🙂
As someone who lives in DC, I can say that all these places are delicious! Georgetown is such an awesome place for food and dessert. Great list.
Thanks! It’s great to have my suggestions approved by a local! 🙂
Oh yum! Haven’t been to DC yet but this list will be very useful for when I finally make it there!
I loved reading this! I was actually thinking the other day that it’s embarassing that I’ve been living in Boston for 1yr and STILL haven’t visited Washington DC. I love desserts too, so your post was a great combination for me! I’ll be bookmarking this for when I eventually visit! P.S. Your photos are drool worthy, I had to wipe some drool off my keyboard 😉
Now that is my kind of neighborhood! I love those charming historic areas with the small shops. And i especially love a shop that hasn’t let success cause it to change it’s ways! They all look amazing, but I think Laduree would be my first stop!
That strawberry cake at Laduree looks so yummy…and the Jumbleberry cuppie, too! Isn’t it obvious that I love strawberry? 🙂
These deserts look amazing. I wish I had known about them when I was in DC. I would certainly be popping into Georgetown Cupcake, they look amazing and Dog Tag Bakery looks great too. Am craving a good desert now!!!
Yes, I’ll take one of everything from each place, please! (Still no judgment right? I’ll be a fat Parisian princess lol).
On a realistic note, I totally agree with you–the mini pies from Pie Sisters IS genius. Who doesn’t love mini things! Plus they’re pretty too! I had a rose macaron at a local shop by me a few weeks ago and LOVED it, so I’m sure I’d like the lavender one too. (My 6 year old palette is more for dinner meals, considering I’ll almost always order any type of mac & cheese where ever I go haha).
Duuude! Mac and cheese is the bomb!
Yum! I’ve got to get to Georgetown, I’ve such a sweet tooth! The strawberry lemonade cupcake sounds delicious. That’s so funny there was a reality show about that cupcake store. Laudree macaroons are one of my favourite things!
We visited DC a few years ago during the Cherry Blossom bloom and LOVED Georgetown. BUT we totally missed out on all these goodies! Guess it’s time to plan another trip. LOL
Yum! This is a great post with beautiful visuals. I’ll take the macaron and pie shop any day of the week! Georgetown used to have a bakery (Italian) that made the very best cannoli (even better than NYC) but I’m not sure if it is still there. 😉
They have Georgetown Cupcakes in Los Angeles now which I love! Pie Sisters sounds AMAZING, I’d love to go 🙂
I love the idea behind Dog Tag Bakery!
I need to visit D.C. soon! I can’t believe I haven’t been yet. I’ve heard so many good things about Georgetown Cupcakes and you can’t go wrong with Laduree macaroons! To die for!
Wow! Now I know where to go! I am a fan of desserts!
I have heard amazing things about Georgetown cupcake, but apparently, the line isn’t worth it ;X I will save your list for our trip tho! Thanks! xo