| Map 46 • Old Town (South) | |
Old Town (South)
Map 46
This is arguably the most popular section of Old Town and what Arlington strives to achieve. Shops are plentiful and unique, restaurants range from high-end to pizza joints, and the streets with the million-dollar-plus townhomes (from the 18th century to centuries closer) are charming and close to the Potomac. It’s a great area to perambulate, peek in on local artists at the Torpedo Factory, or sit for a spell by the river.
Landmarks
• Alexandria City Hall • 301 King St
703-838-4000
Founded in 1749.
• Alexandria National Cemetery • 1450 Wilkes St
703-221-2183
Visit the graves of buffalo soldiers.
• Christ Church • 118 N Washington St
703-549-1450
Sit in GW’s pew.
• Confederate Statue “Appomattox” •
S Washington St & Prince St
This is The South, don’t forget.
• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum • 134 N Royal St
703-746-4242
Many US Presidents slept here.
• The Littlest House in Alexandria • 523 Queen St
It’s only 7 feet wide!
• Market Square Old Town • 301 King St
Bring your skateboard.
• Ramsay House • 221 King St
703-838-4200
Alexandria’s visitor center.
• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum •
105 S Fairfax St
703-746-3852
Where GW (the original) got his Viagra.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center • 105 N Union St
703-838-4565
Now it churns out art.
Coffee
• Bread & Chocolate • 611 King St
703-548-0992
Bread, chocolate, & more.
• Firehook Bakery & Coffee House •
430 S Washington St
703-549-0128
Like a cozy kitchen with great cake.
• Firehook Bakery & Coffee House • 105 S Union St
703-519-8021
Like a cozy kitchen with great cake.
• Misha’s • 102 S Patrick St
703-548-4089
Organically grown coffee and business.
• Old Town Coffee Tea & Spice • 215 S Union St
703-683-0856
No spice, just tea and coffee. Lots of types.
• Uptowner Café • 1609 King St
703-836-3162
Sandwiches, subs and coffee
Nightlife
• Austin Grill • 801 King St
703-684-8969
Great Tex/Mex; just outside, Janet Reno got a parking ticket!
• Bayou Room • 219 King St
703-549-1141
Lounge at historic 219 Restaurant.
• Chadwicks • 203 The Strand
703-836-4442
Tried-and-true saloon away from the King St. crush.
• The Light Horse • 715 King St
703-549-0533
Neighborhood bar, casual atmosphere.
• Murphy’s • 713 King St
703-548-1717
Locals-favored pub with wonk-beloved Tuesday trivia.
• PX • 728 King St
703-299-8384
This “speakeasy” requires a blazer and lots of dough.
• Rock It Grill • 1319 King St
703-739-2274
Lowbrow and proud.
• Union Street Public House • 121 S Union St
703-548-1785
$2 happy-hour pints!!!
• Vermilion • 1120 King St
703-684-9669
No-frills lounge.
Restaurants
• 219 Restaurant • 219 King St
703-549-1141 • $$$
Interior looks like the swankiest hotel in New Orleans.
• Bilbo Baggins • 208 Queen St
703-683-0300 • $$$
Coziest tavern this side of Middle Earth. Health-conscious options.
• Bittersweet Cafe • 823 King Street
703-549-2708 • $$
Great food, Great desserts.
• Casablanca Restaurant • 1504 King St
703-549-6464 • $$$
Good deals on multi-course meals.
• Chart House • 1 Cameron St
703-684-5080 • $$$$
Chain steak and seafood restaurant.
• Columbia Firehouse • 109 S St Asaph St
703-683-1776 • $$
Old Town bistro and chophouse in a historic firehouse.
• Eamonn’s: A Dublin Chipper • 728 King St
703-299-8384 • $$$
Their motto: Thanks be to cod.
• Faccia Luna • 823 S Washington St
703-838-5998 • $$
The best pizza around, locals love it.
• Fish Market • 105 King St
703-836-5676 • $$$
Just follow your nose!
• Five Guys • 107 N Fayette St
703-549-7991 • $
Best burgers in Old Town (and maybe in all of the East Coast).
• Grape + Bean • 118 S Royal St
703-664-0214 • $
It’s wine! It’s coffee! It’s…the best of both worlds, done well.
• The Grille at Morrison House • 116 S Alfred St
703-838-8000 • $$$$
Where luxury and Alexandria collide.
• Hank’s Oyster Bar • 1404 King St
703-739-4265 • $$$
“Urban Beach Food” from one of DC’s most reliable purveyors.
• Hard Times Café • 1026 King St
703-837-0050 • $$
Nothing but chili, but plenty of it.
• Il Porto • 121 King St
703-836-8833 • $$$$
Best Italian around. Make reservations.
• Jackson 20 • 480 King St
703-842-2790 • $$$$
Southern Comfort food.
• King Street Blues • 112 N St Asaph St
703-836-8800 • $$$
Not quite on King St., but great BBQ.
• La Bergerie • 218 N Lee St
703-683-1007 • $$$$$
Pay the tab if you can-can.
• La Tasca • 607 King St
703-299-9810 • $$$
Great Tapas and Paellas.
• Las Tapas • 710 King St
703-836-4000 • $$$
As almost always with tapas, hit and miss.
• The Light Horse • 715 King St
703-549-0533 • $$
Neighborhood bar, casual atmosphere.
• Mai Thai • 6 King St
703-548-0600 • $$$
Terrific Thai on Old Town’s waterfront.
• The Majestic • 911 King St
703-837-9117 • $$$
American plates with killer cocktails.
• The Pita House • 719 King St
703-684-9194 • $
Intimate Middle Eastern.
• Red Rocks • 904 King St
703-717-9873 • $$$
Brick oven pizza and craft beers, and don’t miss brunch.
• Restaurant Eve • 110 S Pitt St
703-706-0450 • $$$$
Reservations a must.
• Society Fair • 277 S Washington St
703-683-3247 • $$$$
Restaurant, butchery, wine bar, grocery, bakery: all your dreams come true!
• Southside 815 • 815 S Washington St
703-836-6222 • $$
New Orleanean fare.
Consider arriving into Old Town on bike, via the Mt. Vernon Trail. Stop here for lunch and a rest. Exceptional establishments include Restaurant Eve (four stars, so make your reservation weeks ahead) and the Chart House (lobster and a view). Nightlife abounds, but head to PX (above Eamonn’s: A Dublin Chipper) for a unique “speakeasy” experience. On an afternoon outing grab a coffee at Misha’s then saunter down the block and window-shop in the many area boutiques.
• Virtue Feed & Grain • 106 S Union St
571-970-3669 • $$$$
Modern Gastro-pub with a conscience.
• The Warehouse • 214 King St
703-683-6868 • $$$
A bit forgotten but excellent food. Plan to eat hearty.
Shopping
• An American in Paris • 1225 King St
703-519-8234
King St. goes French.
• Apple Seed Maternity and Baby Boutique •
115 S Columbus St
703-535-5446
Why buy $50 pregnancy pants when you can spend $200?
• Banana Republic • 628 King St
703-739-0888
It is what it is.
• Big Wheel Bikes • 2 Prince St
703-739-2300
Rent one and do the Mt. Vernon Trail.
• Candi’s Candies • 107 N Fairfax St
703-518-1718
Candy or something. Free samples!
• Chinoiserie • 1323 King St
703-838-0520
A sure shot for unique home décor or a gift for a hip friend.
• Comfort One Shoes • 201 King St
571-257-7510
Beyond Birkenstocks.
• Decorium Gift & Home • 116 King St
703-739-4662
Lots of pink.
• Diva Designer Consignment • 116 S Pitt St
703-683-1022
What divas wear: designer clothes.
• The Hour • 1015 King St
703-224-4687
Vintage barware for your mid-century home.
• Hysteria • 123 S Fairfax St
703-548-1615
Wearable art at museum prices.
• The Irish Walk • 415 King St
703-548-0118
Every day is St. Patrick’s Day.
• JoS. A. Bank • 728 S Washington St
703-837-8201
For professional types who can’t afford Brooks Brothers.
• La Cuisine • 323 Cameron St
703-836-4435
Upscale cookware.
• The Lamplighter • 1207 King St
703-549-4040
Get plugged in.
• Montague & Son • 115 S Union St
703-548-5656
Birkenstocks on cobblestone streets?
• Notting Hill Gardens • 446 Calvert Avenue
703-518-0215
A delightful urban nursery.
• P&C Art • 212 King St
703-549-2525
Original art.
• Pacers • 1301 King St
703-836-1463
Running wear, if you insist on it.
• Paper Source • 118 King St
703-299-9950
Heaven for scrapbookers and greeting card seekers alike.
• Papyrus • 721 King St
571-721-0070
Cards, gifts, and wrap.
• The Shoe Hive • 127 S Fairfax St
703-548-7105
Shooz. Nice selection.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center • 105 N Union St
703-838-4565
Giant artist compound; most of it’s pretty touristy stuff.
• Williams-Sonoma • 825 S Washington St
703-836-1904
Great cooking stuff if you know how.