There’s nothing better than cozying up with loved ones to fireside dining when the temperatures drop. If you’re looking to share a warm meal with friends and family, we’ve rounded up a list of Alexandria restaurants with fireplaces that will make any meal memorable.
And if you’re looking to make sparks fly, Alexandria is the perfect place for a romantic evening of fireside fare. Just be sure to call ahead to ask if the fireplaces are in use.
Magnolia’s on King
Nestled in a beautiful historic building on King Street, the upstairs Palm Lounge atMagnolia’s on King is the perfect place to cozy up beside the fire with delicious Southern immersion cuisine and some of the best cocktails in Old Town.
Daniel O’Connell’s
Image Credit: Daniel O’Connell’s
With three working fireplaces, woodwork salvaged from Irish monasteries and castles and the scent of whiskey suffusing it all, this popular Irish pub in Old Town is not lacking for atmosphere, inviting you to snuggle up and enjoy fish and chips by the crackling flames.
219 Restaurant
It’s hard to imagine a more intimate spot for a date night than the elegant 219 Restaurant on King Street, complete with a fireplace in the main dining room. Want to really impress your date? After dinner, head upstairs to the Basin Street Lounge for live jazz and blues seven nights a week plus curated whiskey and cigar offerings, or go to the Bayou Room downstairs for dancing and a DJ Tuesdays through Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
For a more spirited evening, head to Murphy’s Irish Pub on King Street, buzzing with live music and cozy with wood-burning fireplaces on the first and second floors. The upstairs room even features a three-sided open stone fireplace.
Il Porto
Il Porto is an Alexandria tradition that’s perfect for a date night, offering a historic setting with a warm interior and traditional Italian fare that makes you feel like you’re in an old European town.
Village Brauhaus
It’s always Oktoberfest at Village Brauhaus, a 2019 addition to King Street. That means an extensive beer and beverage menu, hearty German and Austrian fare and two fireplaces to cozy up on a cold winter’s day. Say “Prost!”
Sonoma Cellar
For the ultimate intimate date night, share a bottle of wine at Sonoma Cellar and warm up by the fireplace with small plates. When it’s not too cold, you can also enjoy wine on the back patio around a fire pit.
Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant
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Savor the flavors of early America at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, located just footsteps from George Washington’s historic estate. Warm up with a bowl of the inn’s famous Virginia peanut and chestnut soup enjoyed by a wood burning fireplace.
Chadwicks
Chadwicks offers classic American cuisine against a backdrop of rustic décor and a fireplace roaring all winter long. Find the coziest spot on the bar side at the front of the restaurant.
Columbia Firehouse
Image Credit: Scott Suchman for Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Under a glass ceiling and low lighting, make this one a memorable date at Columbia Firehouse, serving up seasonal dishes and an extensive drinks list in the heart of Old Town. Check before you go about the operating fireplace; it’s in a room that is often public seating but sometimes reserved for private events.
Chart House
Image Credit: @acrylicandoil via Chart House’s Facebook page
Not only does the Chart House set the stage for romance with waterfront views over the Potomac, it also features a gas fireplace with a 20-foot-tall exposed copper chimney that’s almost guaranteed to be on.
Cedar Knoll
Eight miles south of Old Town and located on property once owned by George Washington, Cedar Knoll is a hidden gem offering American and French cuisine with two roaring fireplaces and waterfront views of the Potomac River. The historic building was built around an 1800s log cabin and has operated as an inn and restaurant since 1941, re-opening in 2015 after a brief hiatus.
For more information about romantic restaurants in Alexandria, click here.
Header image credit K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria
