Visit Alexandria | ALXnow

Alexandria Restaurant Week returns Aug. 22-31 with nearly 90 participants

Published August 15, 2025 at 2:30PM

Alexandria Restaurant Week (Credit: Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria Restaurant Week, one of the city’s biggest summer events, will return Aug. 22-31 with dozens of participating restaurants offering special prix fixe menus across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.

The 10-day culinary event, hosted twice yearly by Visit Alexandria since 2009, will feature multi-course prix fixe dinner menus at $30, $40 or $50 per person. Select fast-casual restaurants throughout Alexandria will also offer additional special offers, making it easy to sample a wide range of cuisines at every budget.

Around Town

Alexandria Restaurant Week returns Aug. 22-31 with $30-$50 prix fixe menus

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 29, 2025 at 11:00AM

Alexandria Restaurant Week (Credit: Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria Restaurant Week will return Aug. 22-31, offering diners 10 days of special menus at dozens of restaurants throughout the city.

Participating restaurants across Alexandria’s neighborhoods will feature prix fixe dinner menus priced at $30, $40, or $50 per person for in-person dining. Fast casual establishments will also offer additional specials and discounts during the event.

News

Alexandria climbs to fifth place on Travel + Leisure’s “Best Cities in the U.S.” list

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 8, 2025 at 10:16AM | Updated July 8, 2025 at 1:49PM

Old Town Alexandria - 100 block of King Street - pedestrian zone (Credit Chris Cruz)

Alexandria has reached its highest position ever on Travel + Leisure’s annual “Best Cities in the U.S.” list, claiming the fifth spot in the magazine’s 2025 “World’s Best Awards” survey results announced Tuesday.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Alexandria has earned recognition on the prestigious list, but it represents the city’s best showing to date. In 2024, Alexandria was ranked #15 on the list.

Around Town

Alexandria’s Summer Lineup: Pride, jazz, history, and more await

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 8, 2025 at 3:00PM

Around the World Cultural Food Festival (Ethan Yuan Photography)

Summer in Alexandria is set to sizzle with an eclectic mix of festivals, cultural celebrations, and vibrant community gatherings, as Visit Alexandria unveiled today (May 8) a packed schedule designed to draw residents and visitors alike.

From early June through August, Alexandria will host everything from the 8th Annual Alexandria Pride Fair and Juneteenth commemorations to the ALX Jazz Fest on the waterfront, alongside the return of popular events like Alexandria Restaurant Week and the Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair, promising a season full of diverse experiences.

News

Alexandria vies for top spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Small Cities” list

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 28, 2025 at 12:00PM

Biking on Queen Street (Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria is gunning for its eighth consecutive top ranking in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The city is up for nomination in the “Cities” category, hoping to keep its place among the “Best Small Cities in the U.S.”

Allison O’Keefe, PR and Communications Manager at Visit Alexandria, is drumming up community support to keep the city’s high standing.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:13AM

Proposed renovations show a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 400 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

What a busy week it’s been in Alexandria.

Our top story was on big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town. The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye.

News

Notes: Friends To Lovers Bookstore finds new home in Old Town

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 13, 2025 at 7:45AM | Updated March 13, 2025 at 10:19AM

These three businesses were shut down because of a fire at 103 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town on Nov. 17, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria! ☀️ Today’s weather: Patchy drizzle before 11 a.m. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 59 degrees. Northeast wind 7 to 9 […]

News

WHAT’S NEW: Visit Alexandria unveils new waterfront experiences, dining options and major events

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 11, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 1:37PM

Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

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Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)[/caption]

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.

News

Here’s your guide to Alexandria’s 2024 Scottish Christmas Walk weekend in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published November 15, 2024 at 8:45AM

The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums marches in the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Bagpipes, kilts and crowds in red-and-green plaid. The 53rd annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is around the corner.

Here’s your guide to one of Alexandria’s most celebrated and well-attended weekends of the year. Hundreds of costumed musicians, dancers, performers and thousands of spectators are expected to attend the free event, which is produced by Visit Alexandria, the Campagna Center and the city.

News

Visit Alexandria reports record tourism and spending

By James Cullum

Published September 27, 2024 at 1:30PM

A tour guide tells a story on a hot July day in front of the Carlyle House at 121 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

With visitation revenue at an all-time high, Alexandria’s tourism bureau forecasts an “ambitious” agenda for fiscal year 2025.

On Thursday, Visit Alexandria reported an 18% increase (to $941 million) in tourism spending in FY 2024. The city also saw $86 million in consumption tax revenues from sales, meals and lodging, a 6% increase. The largest consumption increase was in lodging, rising from $3 million during the pandemic to $15 million last year.

News

Here’s where Oktoberfest is happening in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 6, 2024 at 3:05PM

Oktoberfest at John Carlyle Square on Sept. 28, 2024 (via Visit Alexandria)

Get the lederhosen and Bavarian hats ready, because Oktoberfest is coming to Alexandria this month.

The annual folk festival celebrating German culture, food and beer, starts at Atlas Brew Works (2429 Mandeville Lane) on Friday, Sept. 20.