The Southwest Quadrant of Old Town: Our Favorite Places

There is so much to discover and enjoy in Old Town. To make it a little bit easier, we’ve rounded up our favorite spots in each quadrant of Old Town. In this article, we explore the lovely Southwest Quadrant of Old Town. The Southwest Quadrant of Old Town may seem quieter than the other parts of town, but rest assured, there is plenty to do here as well. This charming area of Old Town is filled with restaurants, shops, yoga studios, salons, and more. Read on for a roundup of our team’s favorite Southwest Quadrant establishments.

Our Favorite Restaurants in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town

Brabo

1600 King Street

This Belgian-inspired brasserie is one of our team’s favorite spots in all of Old Town! Chef Sebastien Rondier’s farm-to-table offerings are irresistible. You can enjoy everything from small plates to a chef’s tasting menu featuring steak, seafood, and pasta dishes. Brabo’s cocktails and desserts are especially creative. Try the “Walnut Bavarian” with a walnut‎ brown butter sponge cake, goat cheese mousse, poached figs, and caramelized apple sorbet. We also appreciate Brabo’s commitment to environmental and social consciousness – for example, recycling its kitchen grease for bio-diesel fuel!

Faccia Luna
823 South Washington Street
The service is great, the pizza is delicious… there are just so many good things we can say about Faccia Luna. Whether you’re going out on a date or having dinner with friends or the family, Faccia Luna is the perfect stop. Make sure to try Faccia Luna’s classic pepperoni pizza, the Genoa, or its white pizza, the Bianco!

Check out our reviews of other pizza places throughout Alexandria!

Southside 815

815 South Washington Street
Named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “100 Very Best Bargain” restaurants for ten consecutive years, this welcoming restaurant offers traditional southern cuisine. Southside 815 also has unbeatable Happy Hour deals. Monday through Friday, enjoy 1/2 priced burgers, 70 cent wings, mini nachos, mini pulled pork and oyster sliders, and drink specials. Watch the big game is on one of Southside’s 13 TVs in this “Cheers”-like establishment!

Check out our reviews of other sports bars throughout Alexandria!

District Taco
701 South Washington Street
Originally a hit food truck, District Taco has rolled into Old Town with its fabulous Yucatan-style Mexican cuisine. All ages will love this quirky eatery in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town. If you are a Mexican food enthusiast, check out the District Taco app. It is easy to navigate and you accumulate points through every purchase. The best part of District Taco? It opens at 8am so you can start your day with breakfast burrito or Huevos Rancheros. As an added bonus, breakfast is available all day long!

Hank’s Oyster Bar

1026 King Street
Hank’s Oyster Bar is a favorite of Allison’s. Whether it’s the extensive seafood menu, oyster hour, or drag show every third Saturday, Hank’s is always entertaining. Not an oyster lover? Make sure to try their Grilled Steak Sandwich with chimichurri and horseradish mayo. We also highly recommend the seafood cobb salad.  Yum! Check out Hank’s extensive and highly creative menu of cocktails too!

Augie’s Mussel House & Patio
1106 King Street

Alexandria Cupcake

1022 King Street
Alexandria Cupcakes are baked daily from scratch using only the finest ingredients, such as Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, European sweet cream butter, premium chocolate, organic eggs, and fresh fruit. Try one of Alexandria Cupcake’s classic flavors or its signature Rosewater cupcake. This shop even offers vegan and gluten-free options.

Our Favorite Shops in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town

Fleurir
724 Jefferson Street
This artisan chocolate shop uses only fine Valrhona chocolate and other high-quality, natural ingredients to create its delicacies, including bars, cocoa mixes, truffles, seasonal candies, and more. Each piece of chocolate is made by hand in a small batch to maximize flavor. Fleurir also sells its creations in beautiful packages as special event favors.

Whole Foods Market

700 Duke Street

This chain is known for offering the finest and highest quality natural and organic foods available as well as a commitment to sustainable agriculture. Walking through the Southwest Quadrant’s Whole Foods, you’ll find a new sampling station around every corner! Along with typical grocery items and prepared foods, Whole Foods occasionally hosts events within their store, such as wine tastings. Be sure to visit its Holland Pub, which offers espresso, eight rotating beers on draft, and six wines, by the glass!

Bloom

625 South Washington Street
Bloom prides itself on offering an unforgettable floral experience. This delightful shop can handle your every floral need, whether you need an arrangement for that special someone or creative bouquets for a wedding. Bloom’s work has been recognized by Washingtonian magazine and the national wedding website, theknot.com. Owner and Chief Creative Officer Stephen Robinson has truly made Bloom “Alexandria’s Hometown Florist.”

Wellness & Pampering in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town

London Bob Hair Design

415 South Washington Street
Susan loves this salon’s professional staff and cozy atmosphere. Legend has it that London Bob’s current building on South Washington Street was Old Town’s “hottest” hair salon in the 1880s! London Bob focuses primarily on hair, offering services including cuts, colors, updos, extensions, relaxers, keratin treatments, and more. Makeup services are also available.

Barre 3

715 Duke Street
Our team went to Barre 3 as a group and absolutely loved it! The instructors are fabulous and the space is bright and airy. Barre 3 even offers a daycare and kids section, which makes it easier to fit exercise into your day. If you can’t make it to the studio, you can go online and sign up for Barre’s online workouts. The workouts are hard yet fun — and very rewarding!

Radiance Yoga

701 Prince Street
Designed to help participants “explore and discover the many benefits of yoga,” Radiance Yoga is a calming place for everyone of all levels to enjoy yoga. New students can purchase their first monthly pass for $29 that gives you access to unlimited yoga classes for that month. It is hard to beat that price!

For other yoga studios around town, click here.

The Southwest Quadrant of Old Town is a little quieter than the other quadrants, but just as fun! Did we miss your favorite stop in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town? Please let us know in the comments below!

Want to get to know the area even better? Contact us today for one of our personalized neighborhood orientation tours!

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