Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play in Alexandria

With its lantern-lit streets and Colonial-style houses, Old Town Alexandria oozes historic charm. Founded in 1749, after a teenager named George Washington helped survey the land, it’s recognized today as a National Historic Landmark District. But that doesn’t mean it’s been preserved in amber, with no trendy hot spots worth exploring. Here are the best new shops and restaurants in Old Town—and the rest of Alexandria.

Eat and Drink

Atlas Brew Works

A DC-based microbrewery offering award-winning pilsners and stouts, Atlas Brew Works opened its latest outpost earlier this year in Alexandria. A 6,000-square-foot taproom in the Carlyle Crossing development features a patio as well as pinball and arcade machines. Slices and wings are by local joint Andy’s Pizza.

Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ

A culinary tribute to all things Texas, Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ, a Neighborhood Restaurant Group venture, debuted in June 2023 behind the group’s flagship eatery, Evening Star. Tuck into slow-smoked brisket, Southern sides, and barbecue tacos in an outdoor beer garden with dozens of lagers on tap.

Hank’s Oyster Bar

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle’s longtime seafood standby, has brought its raw-bar fare and Old Bay fries to a sprawling space north of Old Town. The oysters on the half shell and lobster rolls are served both indoors and on the rooftop bar.

Negus Winery

Hidden along a back road near the Beltway, Negus Winery might be America’s only tasting room specializing in tej, Ethiopian honey wine. Owner Gize Negussie, who supplies his tej to the stars of DC’s Ethiopian food scene—clients include restaurants El­fegne, Chercher, and Das—opened the space last year, hoping to win more fans of the fermented beverage.

ZeMeda Market & Restaurant

Some of the best Ethiopian food in America can be found in the strip malls and nondescript storefronts on Old Town’s outskirts. ZeMeda Market & Restaurant is a solid addition to the scene, offering exemplary doro wat, kitfo, and veggie combos that can be enjoyed while watching live soccer on TV.

Do and Shop

Pippin Toy Co.

Pegboards full of sweet treats and baskets of plushies decorate the magical and kid-centric Pippin Toy Co.. The newest venture by Amy Rutherford, owner of the nearby gift shops Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post, Pippin fills a void created by the 2016 closure of the children’s boutique Why Not?, a local institution. Opened in April, Pippin is organized by types of play, including watercolors and jewelry-making kits in the “creativity” section and kaleidoscopes and STEM-focused games in the “exploration” area.

Crème de la Crème

Outfit your kitchen in the style of a French bistro or an Italian trattoria with selections from Crème de la Crème. This homeware shop, which blends European elegance with Southern charm, opened in Old Town in July, making it the mini-chain’s fifth brick-and-mortar location. You’ll be greeted by aromas from the store’s signature candles (which come in reusable ceramic urns) as you peruse bohemian-style linens and hand-painted dishware.

Era

There’s no shortage of stylish boutiques lining Old Town’s cobblestone streets. But what differentiates Era, a women’s shop that opened this summer, is its selection of designs from up-and-coming brands, including Favorite Daughter and Pistola Denim. According to Georgia-born owner and stylist Hattie Dove, the collection currently spotlights “boho-western” undertones in homage to runway trends: Think turquoise bolo ties and ruffle dresses.

Old Town Books Junior

When local mainstay Old Town Books had the chance to expand into the other half of its 1840s brick building, owner Ally Kirkpatrick and book buyer Melissa LaSalle transformed the space into a standalone haven for young readers. Old Town Books Junior, open since September, triples the onsite selection of offerings for early and middle-grade readers. A sprawling oak-tree sculpture welcomes bookworms, as does a fall calendar with events promoting youth literacy, including a Taylor Swift–­inspired book club for young teens.

What’s Selling

Alexandria’s townhouses and detached homes, many dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, continue to be sold for a premium. The median price so far this year of $685,000 is up by almost 12 percent from 2023. Here’s a glimpse of recent sales.

This article appears in the November 2024 issue of Washingtonian.