Port City lights
Some years I feel like I should have honorary residency in The District after flying into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) so often. This time, I squeezed in a trip to Alexandria, Virginia, next door and discovered a historic (176 years young) town on the Potomac with thoroughly modern sensibilities. Minutes from DCA, DC and Mount Vernon, the world is your Rappahannock oyster at any of these unique venues.
Meet & Stay
My journey started at Hotel AKA Alexandria. This reimagined Holiday Inn is now a hip, moody, stripped-down art space designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni with a theater, “jungle gym” (seriously, the oversized plants scattered between the Pelotons and ellipticals were game changers), Zen garden, Pilates partnership, fun lobby bar/restaurant and an outdoor patio event space.
After capturing snaps of Frank Gehry’s Mamacloud light sculpture over the bar at Hotel AKA, I continued my search for unique chandelier pics throughout the city.
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Archer Hotel Old Town Alexandria recently opened as a colorful alternative to boring big boxes, with its brick courtyard, indoor-outdoor space and a new spa coming soon in the heart of shopping and dining on King Street. What caught my eye and my camera were the bespeckled bronze animal heads on the walls of brick-cozy AKB hotel bar.
Hilton Alexandria Old Town is near King Street Metro Station, Amtrak and Trolley. This conference hotel offers all the amenities, including an in-house Starbucks for those needing a comforting fix after all the fun, and independently owned fare on the walkable street.
Hotel Heron opened in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, and the modern iteration of the inn retained the stories, stature and high-ceilinged guest rooms while adding a wood-floored meeting venue, Old Town’s only hotel rooftop bar and elevated dining options. Since I visited during peak cherry blossom promotion season, Francis Hall was decked out as an uber-floral Secret Garden Bar.
Eat
The city is proud of its inclusive history and culinary scene. On the King Street Mile alone, there are more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques.
Because this is the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, we explored the waterfront where the Potomac Water Taxi ferries passengers across to National Harbor and DC. Then we ducked into Ada’s on the River, an homage to 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace at Robinson Landing, for their famous black brioche loaf with charred orange butter and coal-roasted oysters.
You can’t go wrong with bivalves in Alexandria, whether you like them raw, barbecued or deep-fried. Josephine, a French brasserie, features an extensive raw and Champagne bar that will scratch that international seafood itch.
Explore
After announcing that I had never been to the city, I realized on my tour that I had, in fact, attended a reception at Torpedo Factory Art Center, and remembered that I really enjoyed the vibe at the converted industrial building on the harbor. It turns out Torpedo Factory is a convenient and popular off-site for groups from Georgetown, D.C. and surrounding areas looking to add some culture to their agenda.
A walking tour included Captain’s Row, circa 1753 Carlyle House, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and more cute brick houses where George Washington once slept than I could count.
Look for upgrades coming soon to Market Square, the site of Alexandria’s City Hall and centuries-old weekly farmers’ market.
This article appears in the May/June 2025 issue. Subscribe to the magazine here.
