Best Donut Places in D.C.
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Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE sweets. Over the past 5 years or so, my love of all things sweet has focused most specifically on one of the best treats in the universe, the donut. There are just so many different variations and flavors and I want to eat them all. Cake, yeast, gluten-free (shout-out to my sister), stuffed, topped. Classic flavors, crazy combos, make your own, boozy, mini!
I literally could go on and on. But I’ll limit myself to the best donut places in D.C. Next time you’re visiting the Capital, make time to check one, or all of them, out.
1. District Doughnut
Locations: Georgetown, Eastern Market, The Wharf, Union Market, Ballston Quarter
Price: $2.75-$3.50
Favorite Flavors: Baklava, Strawberry, Apple Pie
My #1 favorite donut place in D.C. is District Doughnut. This is due to two reasons, the flavors and the locations. District changes their specialty flavors every season, as well as a few delicious staples, like Funfetti and Brown Butter. And if you order a Creme Brulee doughnut, they will brulee it to order right in front of you. They have stores in a variety of locations, making it easy to get my fix. They also have cinnamon rolls and doughnut holes if you don’t want a regular doughnut.
2. Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
Locations: Metro Center area, Falls Church, VA, and a food truck
Price: $2.60-$3.60
Favorite Flavors: Key Lime Pie, Creme Brulee, Mudslide
Another amazing donut spot in D.C. is Astro Doughnuts, mainly because it has delicious donuts as well as fried chicken. As a southerner, it’s hard to find good fried chicken up here. Let me tell you, Astro has got it. Their biscuits are particularly delicious, and you can even get a breakfast sandwich with donuts replacing the biscuit! If you like variety in your donut flavors, Astro is perfect, since they change their featured donuts every month.
3. Donut Run
Location: Takoma
Price: $3-4 per donut
Favorite Flavors: Strawberry, Cookies and Cream
The newest donut shop in D.C., Donut Run easily makes my top 5 list, despite all the donuts being vegan! I am not vegan, but I honestly could not tell the difference. This place is so popular that they regularly run out of everything before noon, so get up early for these! But trust me, it’ll be worth it.
4. Good Company Doughnuts and Cafe
Locations: Arlington, VA
Price: $15 for a half dozen
Favorite Flavors: Nutella & Toffee, anything Blueberry flavored, mini doughnuts
Good Company is only located in Arlington, VA, but I’m including it on my list since there are delivery options and the doughnuts are just that good. The thing that sets them apart is that they have a full menu as well as doughnuts and coffee. So if you’re looking for breakfast dishes, savory meals, or beer and wine with your doughnuts, this is the place. Plus, their doughnut and pastry selection is extensive compared to the others.
5. Tabard Inn
Location: Dupont Circle
Price: $2
Flavor: cinnamon and sugar, with vanilla whipped cream
Although not a donut place, Tabard Inn’s ‘famous Tabard donut’ is the best classic donut I’ve had in the city. It is perfectly fluffy with a cinnamon-sugar coating. Go for these donuts and stay for the rest of the brunch menu, including shrimp and grits!
6. Duck Donuts
Locations: Arlington, Alexandria
Price: $1.85
Favorite Flavors: Maple Bacon, Cinnamon Sugar, Orange Creamsicle
Duck Donuts began in North Carolina and has quickly spread. Although there aren’t any locations in D.C., there are 2 in Northern Virginia. Since this is in my neck of the woods still, I’m including them. Plus, Duck has the best maple bacon donut I’ve ever had. And since bacon is my favorite food, trust me, I’ve tried A LOT of bacon donuts. The other unique thing about this place is that you can customize your donut flavors, which is always a bonus, and they’re a bit cheaper than the other options.
Honorable Mention: Farmers and Distillers
Location: Chinatown
Price: $1-3
Favorite Flavors: Cinnamon Roll, Strawberries and Cream croissant donut
I can’t mention donuts in D.C. without talking about Farmers and Distillers. Although not a donut place per se, this restaurant has a bakery counter in the middle of the dining room that provides donuts, pastries and coffee. You can even order certain dishes that come with a donut as a side. If you want a nice dinner and a donut to go, this is your place.
Are there any donut places you go back to again and again? I’d love to hear about your favorites! And I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the best donut places in D.C. While you’re visiting, don’t forget to check out my other Best of DC posts.
42 Comments
Julie Gazdecki
Love a good donut!! I think I just saw there is a Sugar Shack just outside of Disney!! Going to check it out!!
Jordan
Hi Julie,
Oooh you’ll have to try them and let me know what you think! They do have a lot of locations in different areas.
Courtney
Yum! This is making me hungry!
heather jandrue
Donuts and chicken seem to be a thing. We had it while visiting Disney Springs. The two really go well together, surprisingly so.
Jordan
Hi Heather,
Yes, it really has blown up lately. These were pretty good, since the donut was actually savory instead of sweet.
Taci- Life Beyond Zebra
Yum! I love me a quality donut. We have a duck donuts here and it’s really good!
Cynthia
I bet this was a fun post to research for! I love donuts. I wish I would have seen this article before our visit a couple of months ago. I would love to try all of them 🙂 Will keep for a future visit!
Jordan
Hi Cynthia,
It definitely was! I hope you had a good time when you visited a few months ago. What was your favorite part of DC?
Shirley
I love donuts and will try them out every place I visit. If I ever get back to DC, I’m going to check this place out!
Jordan
Hi Shirley,
Nice to meet another dounut-lover! I feel the same way. I hope you do, and let me know what you think.
kmf
Sweet! These look amazing! Will definitely check out the next time I’m in DC. We discovered a fun and delicious donut place in Minneapolis called Glam Dolls. The donuts are definitely glammed out – one even had Fruity Pebbles as sprinkles. So good!
Jordan
Hi,
I love a Fruity Pebbles donut! I feel like a kid again eating those. Glam Dolls sounds amazing!
Stacey Billingsley
These all look good, but I’d really like to try the donut with the fried chicken. That looks so yummy! I’ll keep it in mind for my next trip!
Jordan
Hi Stacey,
It was pretty tasty. Different than I was expecting though, since it’s a savory donut.
Lisa Manderino
I have a lot of friends in DC because I lived there a year! I will pass this on!
Jordan
Hi Lisa,
Please let me know if they’ve heard of these or tried them. Did you enjoy living in D.C.?
Tricia Snow
I would love to try the donuts and chicken!