Politics and Prose
Politics and Prose is a DC classic. What began in 1984 as a two-person operation has expanded into a large bookstore and coffee shop and wine bar, adding life to the stretch of Connecticut Avenue between Metro stations.
In 1988, four years after it opened, Politics and Prose moved across the street to its current location, gaining retail space and employees. When one of the original owners died in 2010, the business was purchased by Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine, both of whom had careers in journalism; Graham was a longtime reporter with the Washington Post, and Muscatine went from working at the Post to writing speeches for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
From 2015-2017, Politics and Prose joined with local restaurant chain Busboys and Poets to sell books in the restaurants. Since the partnership ended, Politics and Prose has opened stand-alone shops in DC, with one at the new Wharf development.
Politics and Prose does more than sell books. It also hosts 18 in-house book clubs and sponsors week-like trips, both abroad and local. Its coffee shop, the Den, serves some of the best coffee in the city.
Out-of-the-way of tourists, Politics and Prose is a staple in a largely residential part of Northwest DC, along a strip of great restaurants and bakeries (including Comet Ping Pong of Pizzagate fame). It has managed to retain its small-town feel despite its popularity, making it a special place in such a transient city.
The coffeeshop entrance around the back via
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 364-1919
Monday to Saturday: 9 am to 10 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 8 pm
