Old Town Alexandria recommendations
 

Husband and I are headed to VA for a weekend in April. Would like hotel or B&B near King St. metro so if anyone has any recommendations....I will also look at Trip Advisor. Will probably visit friends in DC/Silver Spring one night but looking for restaurant recommendations for the other. No chains please and would like to be walkable area in Old Town.

This is a well-trod topic. Put Alexandria in the search and you will get loads of information.

Just a quick list: Embassy Suites, Hilton, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn. All of these are basically right at the King Street metro. Residence Inn would be the farthest away at about 3 blocks. The nicest hotel in OT is the Morrison, which is about a 10 minute walk from the metro.

Restaurant reccommendations: Cafe Marianna (you'll need a cab, but worth it); Santa Fe East (straight down King Street, but on a side street. You'll see it from the main road); The Warehouse (seafood); The Majestic (only problem with this place is that the tables are practically on top of each other and the staff hovers constantly. Great food, though). The Warehouse and Majestic are both on King Street.

Santa Fe East is closed. The space is now a highly recommended restaurant called Restaurant Eve (110 S. Pitt St). Vermillion, on King St. is also good.

I can't believe Santa Fe East is closed. One of the better restaurants in OT, which is awash in mediocre places. Ah well.

I strongly recommend the Morrison House which is about 1 block off King Street. It's the best in OT as Ann41 mentions.

Le Refuge is my favorite little French restaurant on Washington St, a block off King. You'll need to make a reservation. Great food, but not pricy.

If you like brew pubs, there's one on King Street that has great beer. Can't recall the name, but just follow the yeast smells. ((b))

just know that if you have a hotel near the metro, you are about 14 blocks to the interesting part of Alexandria - I didn't know that and boy was it a walk!

Isn't there a shuttle from the King Street Metro to Old Town? ((b))

Budman - the brew pub is called Founders.

If you like tapas, there's a good place on King St called Las Tapas. There's also a good Italian place called Geranio's.

Karen

there's not a shuttle that I know of - you can take a taxi but it's about $10 each way.

I thought I remembered some sort of transportation from the King Street Metro to Old Town:

http://www.dashbus.com/

kaudrey, yes, that's the place. Although you can order dinners there, I remember it as a place for burgers/apps/finger foods.

Las Tapas is also great for dinner. ((b))

The OP did say "no chains, please"...

Thanks for these suggestions...keep 'em coming! We are staying at Residence Inn. I like the idea of the Tapas place and Le Refuge as we were in Paris in FEb so it would be nice to have some good French food...

Le Refuge is great- small but bustling and intimate at the same time. We go there every year for our anniversary which falls around Halloween and the waiters dress up in costume. Food is very good, wine list is good.
We love Stardust, but it is not exactly in Old Town proper; it is a few blocks away. Great innovative food and fun colorful atmosphere, great service too. They have a website.

On weekends -- Friday 7 pm - midnight; Sat. 10 am - midnight; Sun. 11 am - 10 pm there is a free bus from the King St. metro to Market Square in Old Town. It is the Dash About bus and they are all painted making them easier to spot.

Unless you have mobility problems, walking from the metro all of the way to the river (which means you will have traveled all of the way through OT) will only take you 20 minutes at the most. And it's a lovely, interesting walk unless it's raining.

How about 'Union Street Public House'on Union Street?
We are staying at the Embassy Suites in mid May and planned to go there for dinner. Gift Certificate from our daughter.

I haven't been to the USPH, but I think I'll try it the next time I'm in town. ((b))

I'd also recommend Union St Public House, as well as the Austin Grill on King St. It is a local chain (about 7 locations) but has such a fun atmosphere and the swirl margaritas are great!

Another fun place is the Fish Market on King St. Go on a Fri night (if in town) to listen to the piano player. I can't remember if this type of entertainment is called anything - it's not dueling pianos because there's only one guy playing/singing but he takes requests and engages the audience.

The Union St Pub House is quite good. Very crowded and noisy on the weekends as they have a big bar. Try to sit upstairs if you are eating a meal.

Karen