Underground Coffee Bar in Adams Morgan Will Start Serving Cocktails at Night

Lapop, the Adams Morgan coffee bar lined with Afghan rugs and leather-bound books, is going the way of the all-day cafe.

Ownership announced today that, starting February 20, the underground space beneath Lapis bistro (1847 Columbia Road NW) will offer a 10-drink cocktail menu and small plates after 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday. Lapop will serve lunch — think bento boxes and acai bowls — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, and the Lapis brunch menu will be available downstairs on weekends.

The Popal Group (Cafe Bonaparte, Lapis, the Berliner) has brought in head mixologist Gordon Nester, formerly of Truxton Inn, to craft drinks that incorporate far-out ingredients like kiwi-ginger-habanero soda. Beer and a small selection of wines will be available, too.

According to the announcement, small bites will include turmeric-ginger shrimp, whipped feta with black bean salad, and lamb meatballs.

Joy Asico/For Lapop

Joy Asico/For Lapop

Formerly Sweet Science coffee, Lapop has been Popal’s pop-up for nearly a year. With large couches, shelves full of books, and a selection of board games, the drinking den is intended to be a cultural epicenter. That means there will be yoga — apparently that’s a thing now — dancing, and music.

The shift in the space represents more tinkering from the Popal Group, which has gradually shifted some of its properties from a French focus to one more reflective of the owners’ Afghan heritage. Napoleon Bistro transformed into Lapis in 2015. Malmaison became the Berliner — a German beer hall with nods to Afghan family in Europe — this past December.