Alexandria’s people tell its story, and Hispanic, Latina, and Latino-owned entrepreneurs and business owners enrich the city’s vibrant cultural landscape. This community represents a vast range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds from Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South and Central America, and many other countries.
This community is an important part of Alexandria’s story. Beginning in the 1980s, a large community from El Salvador settled in Arlandria-Chirilagua, a neighborhood named after the municipality in southeastern El Salvador. Since then, Hispanic, Latina, and Latino-owned businesses have flourished across Alexandria. Support these business owners and explore special programming and energizing events during Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated September 15–October 15, 2026, and honored all year long. This community forms a deeply important part of Alexandria, so take the time to explore their stories.
If your business is Hispanic, Latina, or Latino-owned business within the City of Alexandria, email the author at KSingh@visitalexva.com to be featured in this article.
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Support Hispanic, Latina and Latino-owned Businesses
Here are some of our favorite Latine-owned spots to pick up pan dulce, sample Panamanian coffee, mix up your hairstyle and more.
El Pulgarcito
El Pulgarcito, “the little thumb,” refers to El Salvador’s tiny size in Central America. The evidence of its small but mighty spirit comes through in pupusas that pack a punch. The soft, circular griddle cakes are stuffed with and served alongside slaw and tomato salsa. El Pulgarcito also celebrates a wide breadth of Mexican platters like tacos de lengua. Pair your savory selection with a sweet and creamy horchata.
La Pluma Coffee & Wine Bar
Nestle in for a cozy meal at La Pluma Coffee & Wine Bar, and you are bound to feel the warmth of Central American hospitality. The owners, Iliana from El Salvador and Dany from Guatemala, draw on their backgrounds to craft iconic homestyle dishes like asada tacos, popular Guatemalan street food like shuco, a Salvadoran-inspired chicken sandwich, Pan Con Pollo, seasonal specialties like pumpkin horchata, and spicy ceviche with flavorful twists.
The word “La Pluma” translates to “the feather”, representing resilience and strength. They believe that the lighter moments in life can bring peace, and that’s exactly what Iliana and Dany bring with La Pluma Coffee & Wine Bar, a place of comfort and warmth that invites you to enjoy their outdoor patio and savor flavors rooted in heritage and connection.
Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato
Family owned and operated, Casa Rosada brings a taste of world-class Argentine gelato and sorbet to Alexandria. All of Casa Rosada’s treats are produced on-site with the highest quality natural ingredients, giving customers the most authentic Argentine dessert experience in the D.C.-metro area. Named after the iconic pink-colored presidential office in Buenos Aires, the Old Town operation serves popular and unique flavors such as stracciatella, mint granizado and sambayon, plus sugar-free flavors, vegan sorbet and gelato and dog-friendly treats.
Cualtzin Salon
Named after the Aztec word for “gorgeous,” Cualtzin Salon is an eco-friendly beauty destination on King Street owned by Lucia Stockmaster. Cualtzin Salon offers customized hair services showcasing the most creative and advanced techniques and providing outstanding customer service. Cualtzin Salon specializes in personalized color services and color transformation options including balayage, Ombre, fashion colors and highlights to enhance natural beauty or make a statement.
Veronica’s Bakery
Located on Mount Vernon Avenue, bustling Veronica’s Bakery specializes in Latin American pastries, desserts and cakes, as well as Salvadorian, Mexican and Honduran traditional cuisine. Choose from a wide selection of panes dulces like conchas, orejas and churros. In a savory mood? Try a Honduran baleada, a flour tortilla filled with refried beans, crema and crumbled queso duro, plus options for more fillings. Or, order a festive cake for your next party.
Via Volcán
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Via Volcán features exquisite, single-origin coffee grown on owners Chris and Janina McCausland’s family farm on the slopes of the Barú Volcano in the province of Chiriquí, Panama. Arabica trees are carefully cultivated in ideal soil, altitude and micro-climate conditions to produce beans that are selectively harvested by hand, sun-dried and sent to the Northern Virginia micro-roastery for daily small batch roasting. Visit the Old Town shop to experience the distinct flavor profile for yourself.
Huascarán
Owners Paula and Celia Coleto named their restaurant Huascarán in honor of the highest summit in their native Peru. The sisters’ menu offers more than 70 items that are representative of Peruvian cuisine, from seafood-filled ceviche to flavorful lomo saltado and beyond.
Old Town Shoe & Luggage, Old Town Mini Mart & Top Services
Rodrigo “Don” Restrepo owns and operates Old Town Shoe & Luggage Repair, Old Town Mini Mart & Top Services in the heart of King Street, all with the customer-forward motto, “We do it all.” Visit Restrepo’s operations to browse high-quality, top-brand luggage and travel items, then grab a pick-me-up and free coffee at the Mini Mart next door.
White Lily Shoppe
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Curate a toxin-free self-care routine by patronizing White Lily Shoppe. Owner Bianca Del Cid, the daughter of Central American immigrants, started her shop as an Etsy store in 2019, and now sells at the Old Town Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings. Discover products such as bar soaps, bath bombs and more, made with effective natural ingredients that nourish and protect the skin without harming the environment.
Explore Alexandria’s Arlandria-Chirilagua Neighborhood
Discover Alexandria’s diverse multicultural community north of Del Ray. Catch a concert from a favorite artist, enjoy Peruvian, Cajun and Nepalese dining and admire powerful murals in Alexandria’s Arlandria-Chirilagua neighborhood, named for its proximity to Arlington and the municipality of El Salvador from which many of the neighborhood’s residents hail. In addition to Spanish, you may also hear Mam, a Mayan language native to Guatemala and Mexico. Dive deeper here, and get inspired with travel influencer @dominicanabroad below.
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Restaurants Celebrating Latino and Latin American Culture
