Alexandria is welcoming a wave of new developments across the city, from waterfront dining to boutique retail and major upcoming events that promise to draw visitors from around the world.
Claire Mouledoux, Visit Alexandria‘s senior vice president of marketing and communications, presented the city’s latest attractions during the “What’s New 2025” event at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard on Tuesday.
“We’ve had incredible momentum in recent years with new waterfront experiences across dining, arts, history and more,” Mouledoux said.
The waterfront continues to evolve with the recent grand opening of Cooper Mill, a two-story restaurant adapted from one of Alexandria’s last remaining historic waterfront warehouses. Developed by Murray Bonitt and restaurateur Noe Landini, the establishment features a relaxed tavern space, pizza, sandwiches and an event space.
Other recent waterfront additions include Catboat Pizza Bar at Washington Sailing Marina and the Pier Bar alongside the Tall Ship Providence, both reopening this spring for their second seasons.
Art enthusiasts can look forward to “Breakwater,” the seventh annual temporary public art installation at Waterfront Park. Created by DC-based artist Nikisha Durrett, the installation evokes the side wheel of The River Queen, a steamboat that once docked at the foot of Prince Street in Alexandria. The piece honors the resilience of Black communities and will be on display from late March through November. An opening date is set for March 22.
The pedestrian-friendly atmosphere in Old Town expands this spring with Phase 2 of the pilot program to pedestrianize the 200 block of King Street, running March 14 through September.
The city is also working on reimagining City Hall and Market Square, with construction expected to begin next year.
Hotel developments include the recently opened Archer Hotel (1600 King Street), which will soon welcome Homegrown, an independent daytime eatery created by a husband-wife team with Alexandria ties. The hotel has completed updates including a new entry lobby, living room, library and meeting space.
Hotel Heron (699 Prince Street), which opened last spring with a restaurant and rooftop bar, added the cozy cocktail bar Francis Hall in the fall. The bar is launching a cherry blossom-themed pop-up today.
Potomac Yard is becoming more of a destination with the opening of the Innovation Campus, the Potomac Yard Metro station, and new dining options.
Founding Farmers Restaurant (466 Swann Avenue) opens its first Alexandria location tomorrow (March 12), featuring scratch-made dishes and sustainable practices in a 9,200-square-foot space.
“The sizable restaurant and bar is open daily including holidays with full service, breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekday happy hour and weekend brunch plus a grab-and-go bakery and cafe,” Mouledoux noted.
Coffee enthusiasts have reason to celebrate with several new cafes coming to Alexandria. Mudhouse Coffee, which started as a coffee cart more than 20 years ago, is opening in Old Town soon.
Woman and immigrant-owned Sharbat Bakery and Cafe also plans to open in Old Town, while Cafe Du Soleil is adding a second location to complement its existing shop at 215 S. Union Street.
Old Town and Old Town North are seeing the largest influx of new dining options. Pizzeria Paradiso will launch its Alexandria comeback with a pickup and delivery pop-up at Hank’s Oyster Bar starting March 13, while Pupetella Neapolitan Pizza is constructing a location on Slater’s Lane in Old Town North.
La Pluma Coffee and Wine, a Salvadoran wine bar and cafe, is expected to open next month at 1000 Cameron Street.
Additionally, The Parlour and Madame Coco’s Chocolates is in soft opening with plans to be fully open this weekend.
For beer lovers, Latinoria now serves tacos as the first permanent food vendor at Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue), and Atlas Brew Works and Andy’s Pizza brought their partnership to Eisenhower Avenue last June.
Alexandria’s retail scene continues to evolve with the largest collection of independent boutiques in the DC region. Recent openings include Old House Provisions (315 Cameron Street), offering menswear and custom shoes, and Friends to Lovers, the first romance bookstore in the DC metro area, which will reopen at 301 Cameron St. with a ribbon cutting on April 2.
New experiences include Continues Arcade, an arcade bar and restaurant coming soon to Old Town with more than 30 vintage games. Sky Zone Trampoline Park will also open later in the year.
A Taylor Swift-inspired pop-up bar in Del Ray is currently open through June, offering a journey through all 11 of Swift’s iconic albums with themed decor and signature drinks.
Two major events are on the horizon for Alexandria. World Pride 2025 will take place from May 17 through June 8, with DC’s Capital Pride selected as host. The event is projected to attract 3 million visitors, including 2 million from outside the region.
“Visit Alexandria’s promotion focuses on Alexandria’s welcome to LGBTQ couples, families and friends to stay in and explore our city during World Pride and beyond,” Mouledoux said.
The 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States culminates in 2026. Gretchen Bulova, Director of Office of Historic Alexandria, detailed the city’s participation in the commemoration.
“On July 4, 2026, our nation will be turning 250 years old,” Bulova said. Alexandria’s semi-quincentennial programming includes exhibitions at the Lyceum, arts installations, and lectures by local museums and history organizations.
The celebration will culminate with Alexandria’s participation as an official Sail Virginia 2026 affiliate harbor, hosting three or four tall ships from June 12-15, 2026, as part of a national tall ship event sailing from New Orleans to Boston.
“This is the only event like this in the entire region,” Bulova noted, emphasizing the significance of Alexandria’s role in commemorating the nation’s milestone birthday.
