What is the average survivability for Cafe across Washington DC's ranked neighborhoods?

Across the 129 ranked neighborhoods in Washington DC, the average projected chance that a Cafe lasts two or more years is 75.2% at a typical address. Bethesda Center, ranked #1, is at 83.8% at a typical address.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Cafe in Washington DC?

The most challenging neighborhoods in Washington DC for Cafe include Woodlands (ranked last, at 67.1% at a good address and 61.6% at a typical address), Barry Farm, and North Potomac Yard. The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point.

What should I consider when opening a Cafe in Washington DC?

When evaluating a potential location, Revenue Capture Score should be the first number you look at. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

Survivability Rankings for Cafe in Washington DC

Q: What is the best neighborhood in Washington DC to open a Cafe?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in Washington DC to open a Cafe is Bethesda Center, ranked #1 at 84.0% at a good address and 83.8% at a typical address (32 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure). 104 of the 129 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Q: Where in Washington DC would a Cafe make the most money?

It depends on the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. Check it in the live tool for each Washington DC address you are weighing.

Q: Can a Cafe succeed in lower-ranked neighborhoods in Washington DC?

Yes, neighborhood rankings are averages that mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, housing vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Washington DC neighborhoods to open a Cafe, at a good address, from Bethesda Center (84.0% survival) to Woodlands (67.1%).

September 22, 2026•13 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

#1 Neighborhood: Bethesda Center: 84.0% at a good address, 83.8% at a typical address for Cafe (32 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure)

Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 104 of 129 ranked

Average across the 129 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 75.2% for Cafes

Most challenging area: Woodlands: 67.1% at a good address, 61.6% at a typical address

Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Cafe Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Cafe Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Cafe a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Bethesda Center leads Washington DC's 2026 survivability rankings for Cafe operators, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address and 83.8% at a typical address (32 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 84.0% and its lowest at 82.6%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Woodlands, at 67.1% at a good address and 61.6% at a typical address. The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a Cafe?

Bethesda Center ranks #1 of the 129 ranked neighborhoods in and around Washington DC for Cafe survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	Metro	At a good address	Average (typical address)	Best Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Bethesda Center	Washington DC	84.0%	83.8%	84.0%	82.6%
2	Penn Quarter	Washington DC	84.0%	83.5%	84.0%	81.8%
3	Dupont Circle	Washington DC	84.0%	83.4%	84.0%	82.2%
4	U Street Corridor	Washington DC	84.0%	83.4%	84.0%	72.8%
5	NoMa	Washington DC	84.0%	83.2%	84.0%	70.5%
6	Mount Vernon Square	Washington DC	84.0%	83.1%	84.0%	81.3%
7	Judiciary Square	Washington DC	84.0%	83.1%	84.0%	70.5%
8	Swampoodle	Washington DC	84.0%	83.1%	84.0%	71.8%
9	Near Northeast	Washington DC	84.0%	82.8%	84.0%	65.1%
10	Brightwood Park	Washington DC	84.0%	82.5%	84.0%	62.0%

A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.

Where in or Around Washington DC Would a Cafe Make the Most Money?

Where a Cafe would make the most money in or around Washington DC comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Bethesda Center is ranked #1 for Cafe survivability, at 84.0% at a good address and 83.8% at a typical address; Woodlands is ranked last of the 129, at 67.1% at a good address and 61.6% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Your choice of location is one of the few business decisions you can test against data before you commit. Opening a Cafe in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across the 129 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Cafe lasts two or more years is 75.2% at a typical address. Each business category has unique customer behavior patterns that vary significantly by address.

What Should I Consider When Opening a Cafe in or Around Washington DC?

When selecting a location for a Cafe in or around Washington DC, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. When evaluating a potential location, Revenue Capture Score should be the first number you look at. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. StreetSpring's training dataset includes millions of transactions and business lifecycle events. Areas with complementary competitors tend to generate higher overall foot traffic. Every score is produced by our in-house models, trained on 570,000+ real business outcomes. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.

Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a Cafe?

The neighborhoods with the highest survivability for this business type are Bethesda Center, Penn Quarter, and Dupont Circle, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Woodlands, Barry Farm, and North Potomac Yard. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.

Related Articles:

Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
National City Survivability: Cafe
National Neighborhood Survivability: Cafe

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a Cafe?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Cafe in Washington DC is Bethesda Center, at 84.0% at a good address and 83.8% at a typical address (32 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure), followed by Penn Quarter and Dupont Circle. 104 of the 129 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.

Can a Cafe Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Washington DC?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Cafe Rankings in Washington DC Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Washington DC.

Is a Cafe a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?

In Bethesda Center, the projected chance that a new Cafe lasts two or more years is 83.8% at a typical address and 84.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Cafe in Washington DC

From a risk-assessment perspective, a Cafe tenant in Bethesda Center, the top-ranked neighborhood, has a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 83.8% at a typical address. Penn Quarter is at 83.5% at a typical address, and Dupont Circle at 83.4% at a typical address. Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated regularly.

StreetSpring scores the exact storefront address, not only the neighborhood around it.

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Washington DC for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Washington DC to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC.

Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC: See how Cafe compares to all other business types in Washington DC
Best Cities to Open a Cafe in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Cafe
Business Survivability in Bethesda Center, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Penn Quarter, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Dupont Circle, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood

Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Washington DC are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Washington DC

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.

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