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Waterfront Restaurants

Aerial view of a marina with boats docked along the waterfront, surrounded by buildings, trees, and a park area at sunset in an urban setting.

People cross a sunlit street in a charming downtown area lined with shops, restaurants, and outdoor seating. Trees provide shade and the sun is low in the sky, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Shoppers at Red Barn

Three people sit at outdoor tables under red canopies, talking and drinking, while a person walks by. The background features a colorful Greetings from Bel Air mural on a brick wall.

Aerial view of a marina with boats docked along the waterfront, surrounded by buildings, trees, and a park area at sunset in an urban setting.

People cross a sunlit street in a charming downtown area lined with shops, restaurants, and outdoor seating. Trees provide shade and the sun is low in the sky, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

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A woman and a man ride red rental bikes together on a leafy street lined with colorful historic houses, one displaying an American flag.

Visit Alexandria, a Top 3 Small City with Big Cosmopolitan Vibes

On the Potomac River within eyesight of Washington, D.C., Alexandria, VA is nationally recognized for its rich history and beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Voted a Travel + Leisure Top 5 Best City in the U.S 2025 and a Condé Nast Traveler Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2024, Alexandria is a welcoming escape next to our nation’s capital.

Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront.

Explore Alexandria

Fall in Alexandria

A row of colorful storefronts and parked cars along a tree-lined street in autumn, with orange and yellow leaves framing the scene.

Top 18 Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria

A person walks past three colorful row houses—white, blue, and red—on a tree-lined street with a sidewalk and utility pole in the foreground.

Shopping

Three women walk on a brick sidewalk, carrying shopping bags and smiling, in front of brick buildings and shop windows on a sunny day. A man can be seen walking in the background.

Experience the Alexandria Waterfront

The Alexandria Waterfront At Dusk

Architecture in Alexandria

A collage shows: a man walking on a brick sidewalk by colorful historic row houses, a tall stone tower with a spire against a blue sky, and a small modernist home surrounded by trees and grass.

Events in Alexandria

A man in a tan suit and a woman in a white dress stand in front of a silver sports car on a city street, with a crowd of people and buildings in the background during an outdoor event.

Alexandria’s Neighborhoods

Tap to explore the whole city. Learn more.

Pinch to Zoom

Transportation Options

People enjoy outdoor dining under red umbrellas on a lively street lined with restaurants, including an ice cream shop, on a sunny day. Trees and flower planters decorate the scene as pedestrians walk by.

Old Town

America’s third-oldest historic district along the Potomac River waterfront.

18^th and 19^th-century architecture
Historic museums and attractions
200+ local boutiques and restaurants

Four people socialize at outdoor tables beneath a red canopy, in front of a colorful mural on a brick wall that says “Greetings from Peoria.” One person is walking by while three are seated and conversing.

Del Ray

Alexandria’s modern-day Main Street that marches to the beat of its own drum.

Wellness District
Outdoor dining and beer gardens
Arts community and festivals

Carlyle & Eisenhower

Carlyle & Eisenhower

An economic engine that celebrates the spirit of innovation and local culture.

National Inventors Hall of Fame
Black history sites
The region’s first urban cidery

West End

West End

Expansive stretch of the city featuring green spaces and global dining.

Award-winning craft breweries
Parks, paths and nature preserves
Top Ethiopian restaurants

Arlandria-Chirilagua

Arlandria-Chirilagua

A bustling community representing Central American culture.

The Birchmere: America’s Legendary Music Hall
Salvadoran, Peruvian and Nepalese dining
Meaningful murals

A man and woman sit at the marble bar insider the Founding Farmers Alexandria restaurant, smiling and toasting drinks.

Potomac Yard

Alexandria’s emerging vibrant, diverse and sustainable mixed-use community.

Potomac Yard Metro
Virginia Tech campus
Founding Farmers

Transportation Options

Alexandria’s Accolades

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From Travel + Leisure to Southern Living to Condé Nast Traveler, everybody is buzzing about Alexandria, Virginia.

Discover seasonal events, where to shop, sip and savor and more insider intel in “The Best Of” series.

Top Things to Do This Fall in Alexandria

A brunch table set with pancakes topped with strawberries and syrup, eggs Benedict with salad, grilled grapefruit, a cappuccino, a glass of orange juice, and a red checkered napkin.

Brunch Spots in Alexandria, VA

A collage shows people walking past shops, friends clinking drinks at an outdoor restaurant by the water, and groups enjoying vibrant outdoor dining at colorful tables on a brick sidewalk in a lively town.

Outdoor Dining in Alexandria

Three women smile as they walk out of a store, shopping bags in hand. The storefront window reads Virginia and Made. Sunlight and shadows dance across the brick sidewalk in front of the shop.

The Ultimate King Street Shopping Guide for Old Town Alexandria

Events & Festivals

September 25, 2025

Art on the Rocks

Hotel Heron

A cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with an orange flower, herbs, and citrus peel sits on a rustic wooden table beside a glass of water and a folded napkin.

September 25 - October 5, 2025

Old Town Cocktail Week

Various locations throughout Old Town

Flyer for the 83rd Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Tickets are $45. Includes a QR code and link to www.thetwig.org for ticket purchase, with a green illustration of a historic home.

September 27, 2025

The Twig’s 83rd Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour

Historic Old Town Alexandria

A promotional poster for Alexandria Oktoberfest features a man and woman in traditional German attire holding beer mugs. Event details and activities are listed, including food, beer, arts, crafts, competitions, and performances.

September 27, 2025

Alexandria OKTOBERFEST @ JOHN CARLYLE SQUARE

John Carlyle Square

Events Calendar

#visitALX

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