The Common Room's Guidebook
Sightseeing
An authentic apothecary perfect for Harry Potter fans. Ingredients found in the series can also be found at the shop such as mandrake root, valerian, dragon’s blood, and castor oil.
Their hours are fairly odd: Fridays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sundays & Mondays 1 - 5 p.m. Visit their website for more info: https://www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary
15 locals recommend
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S Fairfax StAn authentic apothecary perfect for Harry Potter fans. Ingredients found in the series can also be found at the shop such as mandrake root, valerian, dragon’s blood, and castor oil.
Their hours are fairly odd: Fridays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sundays & Mondays 1 - 5 p.m. Visit their website for more info: https://www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary
Visit George Washington's home for the history and the views.
191 locals recommend
George Washington's Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HwyVisit George Washington's home for the history and the views.
2 stories tall and 7 feet wide, this house was built in 1830 to keep people from passing through John Hollensbury's alleyway
10 locals recommend
Spite House Alexandria
523 Queen St2 stories tall and 7 feet wide, this house was built in 1830 to keep people from passing through John Hollensbury's alleyway
Old Town Alexandria offers antiquing, food, and shopping many of which can be found on King Street.
393 locals recommend
Old Town
Old Town Alexandria offers antiquing, food, and shopping many of which can be found on King Street.
Expansive views 180 feet above the Potomac River in climate-controlled gondolas. Sights include National Harbor, the Washington Monument, City of Alexandria, Masonic Temple, Georgetown
28 locals recommend
The Capital Wheel
141 American WayExpansive views 180 feet above the Potomac River in climate-controlled gondolas. Sights include National Harbor, the Washington Monument, City of Alexandria, Masonic Temple, Georgetown
Popular running, cycling & fishing spot with views of the Potomac River & several picnic areas. One of the best places to experience Cherry Blossoms around the last week of March into the first week of April.
68 locals recommend
Hains Point
Popular running, cycling & fishing spot with views of the Potomac River & several picnic areas. One of the best places to experience Cherry Blossoms around the last week of March into the first week of April.
Great place to experience local seafood and sightseeing.
158 locals recommend
Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf
1100 Maine Ave SWGreat place to experience local seafood and sightseeing.
The famous obelisk within the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington
790 locals recommend
Washington Monument
2 15th St NWThe famous obelisk within the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington
Food scene
Krispy Kreme
9870 Liberia AveDonuts! Need I say more?
Local ice cream hotspot creating delicious, unique flavors using locally-sourced, natural ingredients.
35 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1925 14th St NWLocal ice cream hotspot creating delicious, unique flavors using locally-sourced, natural ingredients.
Bob & Edith's Diner
2310 Columbia PikeLocal 24hr diner with old-school decor.
A popular cider microbrewery focusing on natural, unfiltered and unpasteurized ingredients.
9 locals recommend
Lost Boy Cider
317 Hooffs Run DrA popular cider microbrewery focusing on natural, unfiltered and unpasteurized ingredients.
Offering a wide selection of teas and coffees as well as some small sweet and savory treats.
42 locals recommend
ESP Tea & Coffee
1012 King StOffering a wide selection of teas and coffees as well as some small sweet and savory treats.
Las Catrachitas offers excellent, authentic Honduran food for brunch, lunch, and dinner. May require a bit of Spanish!
autentica comida catracha
2303 Huntington AvenueLas Catrachitas offers excellent, authentic Honduran food for brunch, lunch, and dinner. May require a bit of Spanish!
Best Italian food in the DMV. It's a famous restaurant, so it often fills early, early reservations are highly recommended.
49 locals recommend
Filomena Ristorante
1063 Wisconsin Ave NWBest Italian food in the DMV. It's a famous restaurant, so it often fills early, early reservations are highly recommended.
Excellent NY style bagels available right here in Old Town, Alexandria. I can't say I've had anything I didn't like, and I've tried their sandwiches, bagels, drinks, and snacks
The Chewish Deli
807 Pendleton StExcellent NY style bagels available right here in Old Town, Alexandria. I can't say I've had anything I didn't like, and I've tried their sandwiches, bagels, drinks, and snacks
Hole in the wall Vietnamese food, their specialty is definitely their pho. Think the warm nourishment of chicken noodle soup but usually made with beef. Very affordable, super tasty.
6 locals recommend
Viet House Restaurant Ltd
6226 Richmond HwyHole in the wall Vietnamese food, their specialty is definitely their pho. Think the warm nourishment of chicken noodle soup but usually made with beef. Very affordable, super tasty.
Dumplings, noodles, stir-fried deliciousness. KungFu provides authentic Chinese food for Alexandria. This is our go to place whenever we get the craving.
KungFu Kitchen
Dumplings, noodles, stir-fried deliciousness. KungFu provides authentic Chinese food for Alexandria. This is our go to place whenever we get the craving.
Chewy, crusty pizza made fresh. All sorts of tasty toppings, we lived in NYC for years and Frank Pepe hits the spot!
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Chewy, crusty pizza made fresh. All sorts of tasty toppings, we lived in NYC for years and Frank Pepe hits the spot!
Home Basics
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and shopping
This Whole Foods has a large selection of organic produce, body care, and hot/cold prepared foods
69 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1700 Duke StThis Whole Foods has a large selection of organic produce, body care, and hot/cold prepared foods
Your standard, large grocery store offering a little bit of everything.
83 locals recommend
Giant Food
2501 9th Rd SYour standard, large grocery store offering a little bit of everything.
CVS
2441 Eisenhower AvenueThe closest pharmacy also offering home necessities and snacks
Walmart Supercenter
5929 Georgia Ave NWTypical Walmart offering both home goods and groceries
Target
3101 Richmond HwyStandard Target offering home goods and clothing
Costco Wholesale
7940 Richmond HwyBuy food and home goods in bulk at wholesale prices
Massive grocery store with tons of hot food, a cafe, and a large site down area. Good prices and excellent selection makes this our go-to for weekly shopping
Wegmans
Massive grocery store with tons of hot food, a cafe, and a large site down area. Good prices and excellent selection makes this our go-to for weekly shopping
Entertainment
MGM at National Harbor offers a casino with a view of the waterfront as well as shopping and dining.
359 locals recommend
MGM National Harbor
101 MGM National AveMGM at National Harbor offers a casino with a view of the waterfront as well as shopping and dining.
A local museum dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and role of espionage. It holds the largest collection of international spy artifacts on public display.
231 locals recommend
International Spy Museum
700 L'Enfant Plaza SWA local museum dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and role of espionage. It holds the largest collection of international spy artifacts on public display.
Museum documenting the history of aviation & space exploration, with displays of vehicles & more.
809 locals recommend
National Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Ave SWMuseum documenting the history of aviation & space exploration, with displays of vehicles & more.
From dinosaur exhibits to displays of rare gems, this acclaimed museum celebrates the natural world.
647 locals recommend
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NWFrom dinosaur exhibits to displays of rare gems, this acclaimed museum celebrates the natural world.
This park is a short 5 minute walk away and provides a small playground, beach volleyball court, and a picnic area. We often see a variety of birds and occasionally you might spot deer or a fox!
Mount Eagle Park
Huntington Park DriveThis park is a short 5 minute walk away and provides a small playground, beach volleyball court, and a picnic area. We often see a variety of birds and occasionally you might spot deer or a fox!
City advice
Getting around
Use the Huntington Metro for buses and subways
The Huntington Metro is a short 5 minute walk and is the easiest and most affordable way to get around Northern Virginia and DC.
Useful phrases
DMV is a common term short for DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Example: How long have you lived in the DMV?
Don't miss
The Huntington Levy is 5 minutes away
The levy (dam) is a beautiful place to walk and get some fresh air in the Huntington neighborhood.
Just go down Biscayne, cross Huntington and continue on Farrington Ave, follow the small curve in the road and go left on Liberty Dr. The levy will be right in front of you.