Where To Eat In Old Town Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria was founded in 1749, but despite its historical roots, the city’s restaurant scene is anything but traditional. DC’s older sister has plenty to keep diners coming back, like intimate cocktail bars and riverfront dining tables in equal measure, incredible seafood, and spots on King Street where you can seamlessly transition from brunch to Happy Hour to last call. Here are 10 spots to check out on your next visit to Old Town.

THE SPOTS

Josephine

Josephine is as close to Paris as you’re going to get in Alexandria. It’s a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, but feels like it’s been in town for generations, thanks in part to the fact that it occupies a converted historic firehouse that retains some of its original brick walls. The vibe is dark, romantic, bustling, and playful—think candlelit dinner meets Moulin Rouge. Use your brunch or dinner reservation to bust out that slightly over-the-top outfit you’ve been keeping in the back of your closet, whether you’re here for breakfast with friends or an aperitif with a third date. We love their duck confit, their big cheese menu, and their rosé selection. If you come for dinner, stop for a nightcap at Bar Jo on the restaurant’s top floor.

Hank’s Oyster Bar

This is our go-to spot for fresh-as-they-come oysters, lobster rolls, and Old Bay fries—there’s an overarching feeling of never-ending summer, even on a gray winter day. And while the oysters are the real stars of the menu, they also do some larger plates, like shrimp po'boys with cayenne remoulade, a fried chicken sandwich, and a double cheeseburger. Hank’s prides themselves on their local beer selection, and you’ll find a good variety of DC, Maryland, and Virginia brews on tap. The best time to come is during Happy Hour, which draws a loyal crowd thanks to their $2.50 oysters, $6 beers, $7 wines, and five-o’clock-somewhere vibes.

Vermilion

Vermillion sources their ingredients from farms throughout Virginia and neighboring mid-Atlantic states, so on any given night, you might have bread made from grains from a Pennsylvania mill or a salad dressed in vinegar from a craft distiller in Virginia. You can grab fancy bar bites like crispy catfish sliders and juicy arancini downstairs, but we like to come here for the three-course tasting menu in the formal dining room, which showcases the best of Vermillion’s farm-to-table spirit.

Taverna Cretekou

Taverna Cretekou has been an Old Town fixture since 1973, and is as perfect for a souvlaki with your grandma as it is for splitting spanakopita with a date. It’s family-run, and has kept a steady stream of loyal diners for over 50 years with stellar staple dishes. Come here to experience Greek dishes that’ll make you feel closer to the Aegean than the Potomac, like the rich and cheesy lamb exohiko and the creamy, lemony glossa aegeou stuffed flounder.

Urbano 116

One of the best places for brunch in town is the bright, colorful, always-packed Urbano 116, which serves vibrant Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes against the backdrop of a giant Frida Kahlo mural. Convince your friends to wake up early for their excellent chilaquiles and brunch fajitas, plus a plate of breakfast tacos. If a round of Micheladas for the table sounds like child’s play, there’s the option to order a massive, 56-ounce margarita. Happy Hour, which runs from 3-7pm Monday through Friday, is also a great time to come by.

Captain Gregory’s

It’s worth planning ahead to score a seat at one of the handful of tables at this speakeasy inside RailBird Kitchen (stop in for the buttery, crispy lobster fritters before or after your reservation). The petite, low-lit space combines Old Town’s nautical flavor—there’s a canoe hung from the ceiling—with elegant, thin-stemmed Art Deco barware. Their cocktail menu is firmly rooted in the classics, but more creative drinks like the brandy-based Pathological Playa Hater served in a tiki glass make seasonal appearances. If you forget to make a reservation, they also keep a running waitlist for walk-ins, though that can stretch past an hour on the weekends.

Ada’s on the River

A power lunch, perhaps with a martini or two, is what Ada’s dining room is best for. But we also come here to sit outside, because, as its name implies, the restaurant has stellar waterfront views. Unsurprisingly, the menu is seafood-focused, and they’re known for their jumbo leek and shallot crab cakes. And while those are excellent, don’t confine yourself to their signature dish—the seared tuna with avocado mousse, grilled kale salad, and open-hearth cooked steaks are equally delicious.

Caphe Banh Mi

Caphe Banh Mi’s street food-style Vietnamese sandwiches and their hearty phở keep this unassuming spot one of Old Town’s best. While popular with the takeout crowd, it’s a fun place to grab a super casual lunch with a friend or have a quick, quiet solo meal (either way, get the Grilled Pork Thịt Nướng). Caphe Banh Mi is known for their slow-cooked beef, but they also have a handful of plant-based options. Whatever you end up ordering, add their Thai ice tea.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant

Impressing a date or out-of-town guests is easy at Nasmine, an intimate Old Town spot that sticks to what it does best: a seven-course tasting menu. The menu changes daily, so if it’s in your budget to keep coming back, you likely won’t try the same thing twice. A few past favorites include juicy wagyu short rib, a summery octopus and taro salad, and a hearty duck and matsutake mushroom udon soup. The small space lends itself to intimate conversation, so consider this your go-to for a special occasion or anniversary.

Barca Pier & Wine Bar

You can pretend it’s always summer at Barca Pier & Wine Bar, thanks to the restaurant’s waterfront location that hovers directly over the Potomac and its seafood-centered menu. Barca could lean into its locale and go full-on mid-Atlantic with its menu, but the dishes are rooted in Catalonian and Mediterranean cuisine, and we love them for that. This is our go-to for a mid-afternoon meal of tapas and Spanish sparkling wine—get the patatas bravas, seared scallops, and Catalan-style mussels.