Visit a buzzing small-batch brewery, wander through rejuvenating green spaces and savor satisfying Ethiopian platters. Alexandria’s West End is the city’s headquarters for award-winning craft beer, international cuisine and some of the region’s top barbecue spots. Here are our top picks of things to do now.
Award-Winning Craft Breweries
Port City Brewing Company
Pull up a stool at award-winning Port City Brewing Company’s West End tap room, where you can also take a tour, enjoy trivia night or try out activities like Beer Yoga. One sip of craft brews like the Optimal Wit or Monumental IPA, and you’ll understand why the brewery has racked up accolades nationally and abroad.
Aslin Beer Co.
Aslin Beer Co.‘s neon-signed, art-splashed West End headquarters delights the brewery’s diehard fans who love their funky offerings. The beloved small batch brewery rotates through flavors including the “Astro Zombie” and the coconut and coffee-infused “How Now Brown Cow.” The Instagram-worthy tasting room experience includes arcade games, pop-a-shot basketball and eye-catching art, from quirky can designs to full-wall murals.
Mieza Blendery
Mieza Blendery is a different approach to making beer. The tasting room staff create diverse beer components, many of which may not taste good or balanced on their own, but when blended correctly, result in an experience that couldn’t be achieved as a single one-off batch.
International Eats
Sample a smorgasbord of global flavors in the West End, starting with Umiya Sushi, an all-you-can-eat sushi destination on Duke Street. Sample a broad array of Japanese, Thai and Chinese dishes at Taste of Asia, and enjoy critically lauded Ethiopian cuisine from Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant and Feru Bar & Restaurant. For CDMX-style street tacos, head to raved-about Taqueria Picoso.
Can’t-Miss Diners
Sample the crowd-please menu at Silver Diner for your weekend brunch, or take it easy in Van Dorn Diner‘s 50s-style setting. Plus, at Bradlee Shopping Center, Beeliner Diner offers all-day breakfast, colossal “TowerCakes” and more.
Neighborhood Favorites
Café Pizzaiolo on Fern Street is a favorite for families and friends gathering over a New York or Neapolitan-style pizza, ideally lounging in the laid-back sidewalk seating. At nautical-themed Clyde’s at Mark Center, customers can partake in a raw bar, creamy shrimp and grits and non-seafood specialties. Shooter McGee’s has been an Alexandria institution for more nearly 50 years, while Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana crafts mouthwatering New Haven-style pies. City Kitchen, on S. Pickett Street, pays homage to the nation’s great cities, from Baltimore Crab Cakes to Savannah Chicken and Biscuits. Rocklands Barbecue & Grilling Company is a D.C.-area institution, curating a fanbase over three decades with its wood-smoked barbeque. Grab a pick-me-up from Cameron Café before a stroll in Ben Brenman Park, or check out 1823 Restaurant, the on-campus pub at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Natural Escapes
Relax and rejuvenate at one of the West End’s outdoor havens. Fort Ward, constructed in 1861 to defend Washington, D.C. during the Civil War, welcomes visitors to engage in historic programming, visit the educational museum or simply pack a picnic to enjoy in the 35 acres of greenspace. For more fresh air, wander through Ben Brenman Park at Cameron Station, containing everything from sports fields to pond-side trails to a Sunday morning West End Farmers Market. Runners and cyclists can zoom through Holmes Run Trail, a five-mile, streamside path with a recently-revamped pedestrian/bicycle bridge. Then, experience flora and fauna up close at the Dora Kelly Nature Park and Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center.
Shows & Entertainment
Soak up the West End’s wide-ranging music and arts scene. Catch the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra at the West End’s Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts or at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Plus, enjoy signature Ethiopian dishes like their doro wot and Tuna Kitfo alongside weekly live jazz performances at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant.
Find more to explore in Alexandria’s West End.
Header Image Credit: Matt Smith for Visit Alexandria