I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this great article on Mid-City Caffe while I was reading the newspaper on the Metro.

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A NEW CAFE HAS been brewing on 14th Street NW, in the space above Miss Pixie's furniture shop. Dubbed Mid City Caffe, the shop — the brainchild of graphic designer Fernando Acha and Mick Mier, owner and designer of D.C.'s 1905 restaurant — has a wholly retro vibe.

The space hasn't strayed far from its auto-shop roots, with "Strut" and "Shocks" signs visible on the windows. Vinyl banquettes mimic a vintage car interior, while Pop-style art on the walls adds to the postwar vibe.

For eats, the cafe keeps it simple with pastries, muffins and New York-style bagels from local bakeries; yogurt and granola; and cakes, including sweet potato with cream cheese frosting, displayed on old-fashioned glass plates.

The coffee options are a far cry from your standard Starbucks fare. "We don't want it to be that assembly-line coffee shop," says Mier. So each serving of Counter Culture coffee (or espresso or cappuccino) will be ground on its own and made to order — by French press or pour-over method — to ensure the freshest cup of joe.

» Mid City Caffe, 1626 14th St. NW; 202-234-1515.

Written by Express contributor Danielle O'Steen