48 Hours in Alexandria, VA

Where We Stayed

The Alexandrian

A quaint little hotel in the heart of downtown Alexandria, this was the perfect place to spend our first night in town. We were walking distance from all of the great restaurants and shopping as well as several historical neighborhoods and streets. Had it been a tad warmer we definitely would have taken advantage of the complimentary bikes – how cute are they?!

Lorien Hotel and Spa

For our second night we moved a bit further down King St to the Lorien. It is a bit further removed from the action, but who can resist a hotel with a great spa? PS. the lobby courtyard makes for great photos 🙂

Where We Ate

Day One

Virtue Feed & Grain

Upon arriving in town, we headed almost immediately to Virtue Feed & Grain to meet up with our contact from the Alexandria Tourism Board. After a busy morning of traveling I was starving, and Virtue proved to be a solid lunch spot. If you visit in the Fall or Winter make sure the try one of their hot toddy’s to warm up!

Jackson 20

Located conveniently on the first floor of the Alexandrian, Jackson 20 was one of my favorite meals I had in Alexandria. The crab cakes were scrumptious, and so was the gnocchi! They also have a great bartender on staff, so make sure to try one of the specialty cocktails.

Vermilion

After dinner, we headed over to Vermilion for a night cap. This place has a bit of a speak easy vibe and is a great spot to unwind with a drink at the end of the night.

Day Two

Room Service Breakfast at The Alexandrian

It never gets better than breakfast in bed, especially at a hotel! Bethany and I decided to order room service so we would have more time to sleep in, and it was a great decision. I ordered the biscuits and gravy which was excellent!

Mia’s Italian Kitchen

Since we had a later breakfast we skipped lunch and opted for a heavy afternoon happy hour at Mia’s. Their meat and cheese board really hit the spot! Also make sure to check out the lounge upstairs, the decor is on point.

Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar

Bethany and I were feeling a bit indecisive on where to have dinner, so we decided to pop into the local Irish pup for a few drinks and apps while we mulled it over. We ended up staying the rest of the night because FUN FACT they have a trivia night! Bethany and I came in third to last…I blame the wine haha. PS. make sure to try the scotch eggs with extra honey mustard.

Day Three

Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie

Right around the corner from the Alexandrian is the cute little gem of a restaurant. This is the perfect spot before a day of exploring the downtown neighborhood streets.

Taqueria el Poblano

All we needed to see was the Best Margaritas in DC sign and we were sold. Don’t let appearances fool you, this little dive restaurant served us some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in a long time.

What We Did

It’s worth noting that Alexandria is a stones throw away from all the DC and the surrounding areas have to offer, but you still feel like your are in a quiet small town. As our time was limited, we decided to keep our activities limited to what was walkable from Old Town.

Shopping

The Hour – Vintage Barware and Glassware

Mint Condition – DC’s Metros best consignment shop

Red Barn Mercantile – Home Decor and Gifts

BluPrint Chocolatiers – The chocolates are made right downstairs

The Old Town Shop of Alexandria – Gift Boutique that supports local Artisans

Site Seeing

The Ramsay House

The Oldest House in Alexandria and current visitors center. Located on  221 King Street. 

America’s Skinniest Home aka The Spite House

This 7 feet wide, 25 feet deep, 325 total square feet house was built by the owner of the homes on either side, John Hollensbury, to keep carriages and loiterers out of his alley way. Located on 523 Queen Street.

The Athenaeum

A great example of Greek Revival Architecture and is Currently an Art Museum.

Torpedo Factory Art Center

The name is pretty self explanatory. Located on the bank of the Potomac River, this WWII torpedo factory is now an art center. If you like supporting local artists, it is definitely worth checking out!

Outfit One: ADELYN RAE velvet dress | MANOLO BLAHNIK black patent mary janes | HM knot headband | DKNY grey ribbed tights

Outfit Two: c/o BA&SH camel coat | LOVERS + FRIENDS chenille sweater (similar) | STEVE MADDEN sling back heels | TARGET grey beret | c/o GIGI NY game day bag | LOUIS VUITTON pouch

Outfit Three: & OTHER STORIES grey sweater | BY THE WAY leopard pants | HM red beret | flats | KAREN WALKER sunnies | CHANEL wallet on a chain

Outfit Four: D.RA cardigan (similar) | NEW YORK & CO cross neck tee | c/o PARKER SMITH jeans | GOLDEN GOOSE sneakers | & OTHER STORIES cashmere beanie

For more information or to plan your trip to Alexandria, VA check out the Visitor’s Center Website here.