***Please note that this Old Town Alexandria, Virginia dining guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the historic district’s most up-to-date dining scene. This guide was most recently updated as of November 2025.***

After living as a college graduate and growing up in the Washington, DC area, I have fallen in love with Northern Virginia’s Old Town Alexandria. Over on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee), I frequently share my adventures to Old Town Alexandria. Fun fact of the day: Old Town Alexandria, Virginia is the United States’s third-oldest historic district! Alongside Old Town Alexandria’s historical significance, the historic district boasts a robust culinary scene, offering visitors and locals alike extraordinary dining experiences. I feel oh so fortunate to have experienced much of Old Town Alexandria’s dining scene and hence have created a dining guide for YOU. Truly, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Old Town Alexandria!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Old Town Alexandria Dining Guide

Planning a trip or staycation to Old Town Alexandria?! Look no further than Hotels.com & Booking.com to reserve your stay!

I will be organizing my Old Town Alexandria, Virginia dining guide into a few sections: cafes, casual eats, upscale restaurants + bars, and desserts. Whatever time of day you may be visiting Old Town Alexandria or price point that you’re looking for, you will indeed find something for you.

Cafes:

Fontaine Caffe & Creperie (119 South Royal Street) – A gorgeous French-inspired cafe and creperie serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as wine, beer, and cocktails. I have passed by Fontaine Caffe & Creperie on a few occasions and knew I would LOVE dining there before having a wonderful dining experience with my college best friend Hannah when she came to visit from North Carolina. The atmosphere is adorable and the eats and drinks are delicious!

Misha’s (6 Prince Street & 917 King Street) – An independent coffee shop and roaster with two locations in Old Town Alexandria, Misha’s has been serving local coffee and selling their coffee to customers since 1991. Misha’s location on Prince Street has a gorgeous rooftop section that is fun to enjoy in the warmer months (and remains on my bucket list!). One unique aspect of Misha’s is that their variety of coffee beans are on display for customers to see.

Call Your Mother Deli (1300 King Street) – Having several locations across the Washington, DC area and in Colorado, Call Your Mother Deli is a well-known deli and bagel shop and cafe paying homage to its owners’ Jewish roots. Call Your Mother has an adorable branding of pink and teal and has beautiful interiors!

Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee (631 King Street) – A gorgeous Persian-inspired dessert shop and cafe owned by a woman and mother named Lily. Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee is all-things pretty and pink from the flower walls to the chocolate, tea, coffee, and desserts! Indeed, Lily’s is an excellent place to stop for a sweet refreshment while gallivanting the streets of Old Town Alexandria and perhaps snapping a photo, too.

Tatte (515 King Street) – Tatte has several locations across the Washington, DC area as well as the Boston area, however, I ALWAYS forget that there is a Tatte right in the heart of Old Town Alexandria! Tatte is a Mediterranean-inspired cafe selling everything from breakfast and lunch dishes to baked goods and pastries and coffee and tea. Each Tatte location has the most elegant and sophisticated flair and the staff are always ultra-kind and go above and beyond to ensure that each customer has a wonderful experience there. One thing to note about Tatte is that due to its high popularity, locals and tourists alike will flock here in crowds during peak breakfast and lunch times.

Starbucks (100 South Union Street) – While I try to steer clear of sharing chain restaurants like Starbucks in my dining guides, I do want to point out that the specific Starbucks on 100 South Union Street overlooking the Potomac River is pretty unique and a historic site within itself! The Starbucks’s interiors are stone-lined and represent Old Town Alexandria’s historic charm. There is a historic plaque in there to honor this Starbucks’ roots as the once Seaport Inn & Restaurant dating back to 1765. It is definitely my favorite Starbucks location due to its unique history!

Casual Eats:

Daniel O’Connell’s (112 King Street) – Described as a modern Irish pub in an an ancient Irish pub setting, Daniel O’Connell’s boasts live music and traditional Irish delights in a beautiful 2-story restaurant. One of the unique things about Daniel O’Connell’s is that I have on multiple occasions had staff from Irish be my servers, which I find to be super neat and adds to the pub’s Irish pub experience.

Andy’s Pizza (North Fayette Street) – Although I have yet to dine at the Old Town Alexandria location, Andy’s Pizza is truly worth a visit! I dined at the Tyson’s Galleria location and was very impressed. I lived in New Jersey until I was 8 and fell *in love* with New York style pizza as a kid and Andy’s Pizza truly exceeds my expectations.

Upscale Restaurants + Bars:

When dining at any of the upscale restaurants and bars in Old Town Alexandria, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. Most restaurants in Old Town Alexandria take reservations and is a great way to plan in advance, as they are pretty popular and do get pretty busy especially during the weekends and even on the weeknights. Many of these restaurants also have happy hour which can be a fun way to enjoy an upscale restaurant at a fraction of the cost, however, I do recommend getting there as soon as it starts *even* on a Monday or Tuesday and checking the restaurant’s website beforehand and planning accordingly. The bottom line: be sure to check out the restaurant’s website before dining there!

Josephine (109 South St. Asaph Street) – Known for the “happiest hour in Old Town,” Josephine is a multi-level elevated and elegant French restaurant. Josephine is indeed the place to go for any kind of celebration and is my go-to special occasion restaurant in all of Old Town Alexandria! This French restaurant has the most stunning Parisian-inspired interiors and serves all-things French cuisine and drinks. One of my most special memories at Josephine is celebrating my 25th Birthday there and the staff bringing out complimentary dessert and champagne alongside sparkling cider for my friend who doesn’t drink and indeed making us feel like royalty the entire time! The people who work at Josephine truly go above and beyond to make every diners’ experience there unforgettable.

Vermillion (1120 King Street) – Committed to supporting the growers, families, farmers, purveyors, and watermen across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region, Vermillion honors the work of those locally with their curated menus that change with the seasons. Vermillion offers two settings and menus, making it the perfect spot for a casual dinner or brunch, celebratory occasion, or happy hour. Upstairs, Vermillion has a wine room with its walls lined with wines from vineyards across the Mid-Atlantic where they also host specialty wine tastings and events throughout the year.

Old Hat Bar (112 N St. Asaph Street) – Opened in 2021 in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Old Hat Bar has since become a local night life staple and a great place to enjoy a drink, whether it be a specialty cocktail or a glass of wine or beer, and some light bites.

Indochen (1615 King Street at the Hyatt Centric) – Proudly serving comfort Indian-Chinese food, Indochen serves both Indian and Chinese cuisine favorites alongside a wonderful onsite cocktail bar. Founded by Chef Ram Thapa, an accomplished chef from Nepal, Indochen takes on the Chef Ram’s Nepalese roots from the heart and soul of his grandmother’s kitchen.

Thompson Italian (1024 King Street) – With delicious menus curated by Gabe and Katherine Thompson, Thompson Italian opened their second location in Old Town Alexandria a few years ago. Thompson Italian serves delicious and unique Italian dishes and offers fun food + wine tastings and a Monday Happy Hour deal of a $30 pasta bowl and a glass of wine!

Barca Pier & Wine Bar (2 Pioneer Mill Way) – Dining at Barca is a literal experience in itself! Located on a pier on the Potomac River via Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront (minus a small bar section inland!), Barca Pier & Wine Bar serves Spanish tapas and drinks for all to enjoy. Barca has become a family (and friend!) favorite spot of ours over the past few years, as we’ve celebrated birthdays and other celebrations as well as simply going for a good time together. It truly is our go-to Spring/Summer restaurant! I highly recommend dining at Barca and timing your reservation for when the sunset is on the day you plan to go — you will NOT regret it!!

Mia’s Italian Kitchen (100 King Street) – Mia’s Italian Kitchen is definitely a fan favorite of mine! Not only does Mia’s Italian Kitchen have an excellent and affordable happy hour, but it also has a delicious vast lunch and dinner menu including pizza by the slice and a rotating gelato menu for dessert. Each time I’ve dined at Mia’s, the staff truly make it a great experience, too.

Ada’s On The River (3 Pioneer Mill Way) – Named after Ada Lovelace – the founder of computer programming and a pioneering woman in STEM, Ada’s On The River offers delicious eats on the Potomac River. Everything on the menu at Ada’s is wood fired, from the French fries to the seafood and steak and everything in between, making it uniquely delicious! The scallops and French fries are my FAVORITE. Every time I dine at Ada’s, the staff treats us all like royalty and the views and food are impeccable!!

Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge (101 North Union Street) – Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge is located alongside the Potomac River with sections both indoors and outdoors. In the Summer months, Vola’s also offers alongside their outdoors section cocktail stand where people can grab a drink and walk alongside the nearby pier and waterfront park. One of the beautiful things about Vola’s is that it’s named after and pays tribute to Vola D. Lawson: the Washington, DC area’s first female city manager. I will say that the staff at Vola’s is ultra-kind and I have had some of THE BEST crab here!

The Majestic (911 King Street) – Housed in a 1932 established theatre, The Majestic offers an intimate and sophisticated feel *just* as if you walked into a mashup of a jazz club and vibrant art gallery combined from decades prior. The Majestic specializes in modern comfort food combined with its vintage interior charm. The staff at The Majestic indeed ensure that all diners feel like royalty when eating there and you truly feel as if you’ve been transported back in time!

Virtue Feed & Grain (106 South Union Street) – Housed in a 1800s feed and grain warehouse, Virtue Feed & Grain is named for its heritage and serves delicious American eats. Virtue Feed & Grain has endured flooding over the centuries, including during Hurricane Isabel in 2005. Yet, Virtue Feed & Grain has truly stood the test of time and has served diners over the years and continues to do so. It is even occasionally a spot during an Alexandria ghost tour (depending on which tour operator you use)! Read more in-depth on Virtue Feed & Grain in my blog post here.

Sisters Thai (503 Montgomery Street) – Located in Old Town North with multiple locations and sister restaurants across the Washington, DC area, Sisters Thai is a delicious Thai restaurant in a gorgeous atmosphere. Immediately when I walked into Sisters Thai, I was IN AWE by its gorgeously fun and floral environment!

Landini Brothers Restaurant (115 King Street) – A family favorite restaurant of ours, Landini Brothers Restaurant is a lovely celebratory and upscale Italian restaurant. The interiors are lined with cobblestone walls honoring its building’s historic Old Town Alexandria charm and makes it so much more cozy and the perfect gathering place for a celebration! Not to mention the fact that the food and wine are AMAZING and the staff there are ultra-kind and welcoming.

Hank’s Oyster Bar (818 North St. Asaph Street) – Located in Old Town North and being one of a couple of Hank’s Oyster Bar locations across the Washington, DC area, this seafood restaurant is known for its delicious eats and drinks.

Vaso’s (1118 King Street) – With all dishes prepared by Chef Vaso Voliotis, Vaso’s provides guests with the ultimate and authentic Greek fine dining experience. Alongside high-quality Greek dishes, Vaso’s also has a wonderful happy hour that is *even* served on Saturday afternoons.

The Cooper Mill (10 Duke Street) – The Cooper Mill is housed in a Civil War era warehouse that has been repurposed for the first time since being a warehouse. Serving AMAZING pizza by the slice, garlic knots, cocktails and beer and wine, alongside a DELICIOUS chocolate peanut butter cake, The Cooper Mill has IT ALL! The staff at this newly opened Old Town Alexandria restaurant are ultra-kind and it is ALWAYS busy. It is worth noting that The Cooper Mill does not take reservations at this time and will soon be opening up their second floor seating, including some outdoor seating for the warmer months.

Good Fortune Rooftop Bar (699 Prince Street) – Located on the rooftop of the recently-opened Hotel Heron, Good Fortune Rooftop bar is the highest rooftop bar in all of Old Town Alexandria! Guests can take in the STUNNING views of the Potomac River, Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and Old Town Alexandria from up above. As of July 2024, Good Fortune only offered a drink menu, but I am hoping to dine at their onsite restaurant, The Kiln, at some point!

Desserts:

Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. (109 King Street) – When it comes to ice cream shops, Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. is an Alexandria, Virginia staple! This long-time running ice cream parlor has been serving sweet tooth’s both near and far on King Street and boasts a super fun vintage atmosphere.

Kilwin’s (212 King Street) – I don’t like posting too many chain restaurants on my dining guides, however, I adore Kilwin’s for *none other than* ice cream and fudge wherever I may be, including in Old Town Alexandria! The staff at this Kilwin’s location are also pretty kind, too.

Dolci Gelati (107 North Fairfax Street) – Offering free samples and delicious gelato and coffee, I had an amazing time and will be coming back for more gelato at Dolci Gelati! It’s location is in close proximity to Market Square – the heart of Old Town Alexandria’s downtown and home to the historic Alexandria City Clerk and Clerk of Council Building alongside several town events and festivities and the weekly farmers market – making it a perfect stop along an Old Town Alexandria walking journey!

Wrap-Up:

Old Town Alexandria is one of my FAVORITE places to dine out at! Not only is there a vast array of cuisines at a variety of price points for all to enjoy, but it is also a welcoming place and each of my dining experiences there have been nothing short of fantastic. Truly, what makes Old Town Alexandria Old Town Alexandria is the people who live and work there and make it as magnificent as it is!

XOXO – Katie <3