Coffee Republic is expanding to Bethesda, with a new location planned for the ground floor of the Bethesda Place apartment building, connected to the upcoming Lidl grocery store. The news was first reported by Robert Dyer.

The coffee shop opened its first Montgomery County location in King Farm in the fall of 2016 and has steadily grown its footprint since then. Today, Coffee Republic operates 11 locations across the DMV and North Carolina, with Bethesda set to become its latest addition. An opening timeline for the Bethesda location has not yet been announced.

According to Coffee Republic, the brand was built around a passion for exceptional coffee and creating vibrant community gathering spaces. The café offers a wide range of classic and specialty coffee drinks, along with signature quirky beverages, using organic coffee sourced through its roasting partner, Disco Roasters.

Each Coffee Republic location is designed to reflect the surrounding community, blending eclectic, urban energy with the warmth of a neighborhood café. The company says its mission is to create a welcoming space where coffee meets community, with an atmosphere meant to be just as enjoyable as the drinks themselves.

Four Maryland restaurants have earned national recognition after making Eater DC’s newly released list of the “Best Chinese Restaurants Around DC,” with three of the four located right here in Montgomery County and one in neighboring Prince George’s County.

Rockville once again proved to be a regional hub for standout Chinese cuisine, landing three spots on the list:

Shanghai Taste, located at 1121 Nelson St. in Rockville, continues to be celebrated for its focus on traditional Shanghai-style cooking. Open since 2013, the restaurant has built a loyal following for its soup dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, and dishes made from family recipes prepared in-house by its chefs. Eater has long praised Shanghai Taste for delivering authentic flavors in a small, unpretentious setting.

Also in Rockville, Bob’s Shanghai 66 at 305 N. Washington St. remains one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in the county and beyond. Founded in 2013, Bob’s Shanghai 66 has consistently earned accolades from both local diners and national food publications. Known for its soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, and classic Shanghai dishes, the restaurant previously topped a Washingtonian reader poll for favorite Maryland restaurant.

Rounding out the Montgomery County trio is A&J Restaurant, located at 1319 Rockville Pike. A&J has been serving Northern Chinese fare in Rockville for more than 25 years. The family-owned restaurant traces its roots back to Taipei in the 1970s, before expanding to Los Angeles and eventually Rockville in 1996. A&J is especially well-known for its dumplings, scallion pancakes, and beef noodle soup, earning it a long-standing reputation as a go-to spot for authentic regional Chinese cuisine.

The fourth Maryland restaurant on Eater DC’s list is Northwest Chinese Food, located at 7313 Baltimore Ave. in College Park. The Prince George’s County restaurant, situated near the University of Maryland campus, is the only Maryland spot outside of Montgomery County to make this year’s list. Northwest Chinese Food has developed a strong following for its bold, northwestern Chinese dishes, including hand-ripped noodles and cumin-spiced meats, and currently holds a 4.5-star rating on Google with hundreds of reviews.

The full Eater DC list of the “Best Chinese Restaurants Around DC” can be viewed on Eater DC’s website.