Guidebook for Alexandria

Steven
Guidebook for Alexandria

Nearby Restaurants

Buffalo steaks. Friendly bar for solo travelers. Short driving distance.
Ted's Montana Grill
2451 Eisenhower Ave
Buffalo steaks. Friendly bar for solo travelers. Short driving distance.
An omakase Japanese restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. Small, so reservations suggested. The chef is one of the best in America doing a modern interpretation of Japanese food with fresh ingredients.
7 locals recommend
Nasime Japanese Restaurant
1209 King St
7 locals recommend
An omakase Japanese restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. Small, so reservations suggested. The chef is one of the best in America doing a modern interpretation of Japanese food with fresh ingredients.
Authentic Nepali/Indian restaurant about a seven-minute drive up Franconia in the Rose Hill Shopping Center (which also has a Safeway, Little Caesar's pizza take-out shop and a barber.
6 locals recommend
Namaste
6138 Rose Hill Drive
6 locals recommend
Authentic Nepali/Indian restaurant about a seven-minute drive up Franconia in the Rose Hill Shopping Center (which also has a Safeway, Little Caesar's pizza take-out shop and a barber.
This is the closest restaurant to our place -- about a two minute drive. The food is decent if not a bit over-priced for what it is and service can be a bit slow but it's a friendly spot.
Tanger Kabob House Cafe
5735 Telegraph Road
This is the closest restaurant to our place -- about a two minute drive. The food is decent if not a bit over-priced for what it is and service can be a bit slow but it's a friendly spot.
This is a casual, affordable and tasty spot serving pho and a few other Vietnamese specialities. Nothing fancy and a short drive from our place. We've been there several times and have never regretted it.
6 locals recommend
Viet House Restaurant Ltd
6226 Richmond Hwy
6 locals recommend
This is a casual, affordable and tasty spot serving pho and a few other Vietnamese specialities. Nothing fancy and a short drive from our place. We've been there several times and have never regretted it.
A great dinner spot for solo travelers (as there is counter seating) and it's also family friendly with dining rooms on two levels. This is a come-as-your-are very laid back eatery, best known for its varieties of chili. Several craft beers usually on tap and more in the bottle.
29 locals recommend
Hard Times Cafe
1404 King St
29 locals recommend
A great dinner spot for solo travelers (as there is counter seating) and it's also family friendly with dining rooms on two levels. This is a come-as-your-are very laid back eatery, best known for its varieties of chili. Several craft beers usually on tap and more in the bottle.
One of the better burger joints in our area (although we say nothing beats Shake Shack in Pentagon City). If you've not been there it's definitely worth a visit -- burgers, hot dogs and fries are very good.
95 locals recommend
Five Guys
1300 2nd St NE
95 locals recommend
One of the better burger joints in our area (although we say nothing beats Shake Shack in Pentagon City). If you've not been there it's definitely worth a visit -- burgers, hot dogs and fries are very good.
You can easily start an argument about which BBQ joint is best in the area. There are a few to choose from and they all are decent. We give a slight edge to Myron Mixon's for its location, ambience, food quality and prices but we're happy to visit others anytime (including
9 locals recommend
Myron Mixon's Pitmaster Barbeque
220 N Lee St
9 locals recommend
You can easily start an argument about which BBQ joint is best in the area. There are a few to choose from and they all are decent. We give a slight edge to Myron Mixon's for its location, ambience, food quality and prices but we're happy to visit others anytime (including
Another decent spot for BBQ in the area. This is more of a chain, corporate type outlet but the food is tasty and there's a bar at which to sit for solo travelers.
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
6630 Richmond Hwy
Another decent spot for BBQ in the area. This is more of a chain, corporate type outlet but the food is tasty and there's a bar at which to sit for solo travelers.

Adult Beverages, Nightlife and Caffeine

Belgian beers in Old Town.
Brabo Tasting Room
1602 King St
Belgian beers in Old Town.
Classic Irish pub offering traditional food & drink & nightly live music.
41 locals recommend
Murphy's Grand Irish Pub
713 King St
41 locals recommend
Classic Irish pub offering traditional food & drink & nightly live music.
This is also a restaurant, known for its oysters and mussels, although we prefer it as place for a nice drink at the bar for its ambience and history.
21 locals recommend
Columbia Firehouse
109 S St Asaph St
21 locals recommend
This is also a restaurant, known for its oysters and mussels, although we prefer it as place for a nice drink at the bar for its ambience and history.
Our local craft brewery and they have a decent lineup. There's usually something go on here. See the calendar: https://www.portcitybrewing.com/the-brewery/events/
49 locals recommend
Port City Brewing Company
3950 Wheeler Ave
49 locals recommend
Our local craft brewery and they have a decent lineup. There's usually something go on here. See the calendar: https://www.portcitybrewing.com/the-brewery/events/
Husband-and-wife, family-friendly local coffee shop that has been a hit for the past decade. Excellent pastries and some other food. Mainly a spot for organic, free trade coffee and teas. All baking done on the premises. It can get crowded on weekends. On Sundays, there's live music from 11 am to 1 pm.
9 locals recommend
Grounded Coffee Shop
6919 Telegraph Rd
9 locals recommend
Husband-and-wife, family-friendly local coffee shop that has been a hit for the past decade. Excellent pastries and some other food. Mainly a spot for organic, free trade coffee and teas. All baking done on the premises. It can get crowded on weekends. On Sundays, there's live music from 11 am to 1 pm.

Arts & Culture

Dozens of local art galleries inside and on the waterfront. An Alexandria must-visit.
125 locals recommend
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N Union St
125 locals recommend
Dozens of local art galleries inside and on the waterfront. An Alexandria must-visit.
A Greek Revival building built in the mid-19th century and was home to a bank. During the Civil War, Federal troops commandeered the building, which they used as Commissary Headquarters for the Union Army. After the Battle of Bull Run/First Manassas, the building served as a triage facility for wounded Union soldiers.
6 locals recommend
Athenaeum
201 Prince St
6 locals recommend
A Greek Revival building built in the mid-19th century and was home to a bank. During the Civil War, Federal troops commandeered the building, which they used as Commissary Headquarters for the Union Army. After the Battle of Bull Run/First Manassas, the building served as a triage facility for wounded Union soldiers.

Parks & Nature

Sizable park with trails & a nature center -- animals & environmental classes.
7 locals recommend
Dora Kelly Nature Park
5750 Sanger Ave
7 locals recommend
Sizable park with trails & a nature center -- animals & environmental classes.

Getting Around

This is the closest Metro station. Ample parking. There is a bus stop on the other side of Telegraph Avenue but not too frequent. If you don't have a car, call Lyft or Uber for a cheap ride there.
43 locals recommend
Huntington station
2501 Huntington Ave
43 locals recommend
This is the closest Metro station. Ample parking. There is a bus stop on the other side of Telegraph Avenue but not too frequent. If you don't have a car, call Lyft or Uber for a cheap ride there.
Both the Yellow and Blue WMATA lines stop here (less than three miles from our home).
58 locals recommend
King Street–Old Town Station
1900 King St
58 locals recommend
Both the Yellow and Blue WMATA lines stop here (less than three miles from our home).

Essentials

There's ample basement parking just off Duke Street. There's a craft brew bar inside and the fresh cookies are a real treat. Not as cheap as Safeway (in Rose Hill and Old Town) but quality of food is better.
69 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1700 Duke St
69 locals recommend
There's ample basement parking just off Duke Street. There's a craft brew bar inside and the fresh cookies are a real treat. Not as cheap as Safeway (in Rose Hill and Old Town) but quality of food is better.

Sightseeing

An area landmark since 1932. It offers daytime tours every day except holidays but you'll have to decide whether that's worth $15. There is an observation deck on the ninth floor and there are special events once in a while. https://gwmemorial.org/pages/events
65 locals recommend
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
101 Callahan Dr
65 locals recommend
An area landmark since 1932. It offers daytime tours every day except holidays but you'll have to decide whether that's worth $15. There is an observation deck on the ninth floor and there are special events once in a while. https://gwmemorial.org/pages/events
Our favorite historic sightseeing spot nearby (less than a 20-minute drive, ~6.6 miles) and a must-see for even the most casual history buff. The fine dining room on the premises is excellent.
191 locals recommend
George Washington's Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy
191 locals recommend
Our favorite historic sightseeing spot nearby (less than a 20-minute drive, ~6.6 miles) and a must-see for even the most casual history buff. The fine dining room on the premises is excellent.
A historic mansion in Old Town Alexandria built by aScottish merchant John Carlyle in the mid-18th century.
18 locals recommend
Carlyle House
121 N Fairfax St
18 locals recommend
A historic mansion in Old Town Alexandria built by aScottish merchant John Carlyle in the mid-18th century.