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Great Date Ideas for Foodies

A smiling man and woman sit at an outdoor restaurant table, clinking wine glasses. Plates of food, a wine bottle, and a vase of white flowers are on the table. String lights and brick wall are in the background.
A dimly lit, stylish restaurant with framed art on the walls, diners sitting at tables, and waitstaff serving food and drinks. The atmosphere appears lively and cozy with warm lighting.

Do

Get a taste for Old Town’s dining scene by joining a Carpe DC Food Tour. The Boutique Old Town Food Tour takes guests to five locations throughout the city’s historic streets. If you prefer sweet to savory, check out Discover Alexandria’s Sweet History walking tour.

Browse King Street’s culinary boutiques for souvenirs. Cocktail enthusiasts from around the country flock to The Hour for its exquisite collections of vintage and new creative cocktail glassware curated by local owner Victoria Vergason. For beautiful items for your home and kitchen, stop by Red Barn Mercantile.

Eat

People walk along a lively brick sidewalk with outdoor dining at a restaurant called Fish Market. A sign advertises live music and live lobster. Trees and streetlights line the busy street in a charming downtown area.

For fresh seafood with waterfront views, head to Vola’s Dockside Grill. Nearby on the marina is Blackwall Hitch, serving up local Chesapeake oysters, Prince Edward Island mussels and more. Fresh seafood isn’t limited to the waterfront. Explore restaurants like Fish Market, The Wharf and Hank’s Oyster Bar throughout King Street for more menus that will make your mouth water.

Alexandria is also known for its dozens of restaurants offering creative comfort food. From restaurants with Southern roots to menus  with creative takes on familiar favorites, no visit to Alexandria would be complete without trying these restaurants.

In the warmer months, streets are filled with al fresco dining and Old Town’s waterfront calls. Here’s where to get the best ice cream and cold treats in Alexandria.

Drink

A glass of light beer with a Port City logo sits on a wooden table in a brewery taproom, with people and a bar area blurred in the background.

Raise a glass of bubbly at Brüt Champagne and Wine Bar in Old Town or do a wine tasting at Sonoma Cellar.

Savor handcrafted cocktails at Evening Star Café in Del Ray alongside bites sourced from the restaurant’s rooftop garden. On summer nights, enjoy specialty slushes on their pop-up patio The Front Porch.

An orange coffee cup from Misha’s is iconic in Alexandria. Enjoy the flavor of handpicked, hand-roasted beans at this local hangout and go-to spot for coffee and baked goods.

Tour a brewery or cidery tour and stay for a pint at Port City Brewing Company, Aslin Beer Co. or Lost Boy Cider.

Stay

A modern hotel room with a large bed, colorful pillows, a wooden desk with an open notebook, two plaid armchairs by a window, and a view of water and trees outside. A TV and floor lamp are also visible.

For boutique hotels that also offer a buzz-worthy dining experience, options abound. Check into Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria, the city’s only waterfront hotel and home to Hummingbird. At The Alexandrian, Autograph Collection, enjoy a centrally located hotel and creative comfort food at Jackson 20. Morrison House, Autograph Collection, the city’s only AAA four diamond hotel is home to The Study. And on upper King Street, check into Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa and enjoy dinner and dessert at Brabo Brasserie.

Date Ideas

A man and woman enjoy outdoor dining at a waterfront table, smiling and toasting colorful drinks. Plates of food are on the table, with a blue sky, clouds, and distant shoreline in the background.

Wedding Activity Ideas in Alexandria

Split image: Left—People sit and chat at outdoor tables by the water under a shaded patio. Right—Three people smile and pose by lush plants and a neon sign near a woman standing at a table with a drink.

Romantic Getaway

A smiling couple walks arm-in-arm down a lively outdoor street lined with cafes, red umbrellas, and autumn trees, while other people stroll in the background.

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