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Hyatt Centric, Along With New Restaurant, Opens in Old Town

There’s a new dog-friendly boutique hotel in town. The six-floor, 124 room Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria (1625 King Street) opened just a few blocks from the King Street Metro station on Wednesday.

“Today we are 100% open, 24/7 and year-round. It’s really exciting,” General Manager Matt Karow told ALXnow. “As you may know, Alexandria is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country, and inside the rooms you’ll find some fun, quirky little things that pay tribute to man’s best friend.”

The hotel was designed by Alexandria-based architect Cooper Carry, and is the second in Virginia behind the Hyatt Centric Arlington, in Rosslyn. The rooms are small, and a standard king will run visitors $200 to $215 a night. The hotel’s junior suites (there are two) cost about $300 per night. The dog-related quirks include art on the walls and coat hooks that look like dog posteriors.

The ribbon cutting for the hotel was attended by Mayor Justin Wilson, members of the city council and representatives of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

The hotel also opened the French & Southern lobby bar and restaurant. The restaurant features French staples like duck confit and quiche, but also southern favorites including shrimp and grits.

“It’s a top notch restaurant. It’s phenomenal,” restaurant co-owner Steve Greksouk said. “This is a beautiful place and it’ll be really fun to welcome guests from out of town.”

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.