In search of the best bars in Alexandria, VA? Alexandria, Virginia, is a historic city located on the banks of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C.
Alexandria is a popular destination for tourists to explore its collection of boutiques, antique shops, bars, and other adventurous nightlife establishments set up to give nightcrawlers something to love.
When visiting Alexandria, VA, you will want to explore the local nightlife and entertainment, as it is second to none. Spending a night in the city will allow you to explore many nighttime spots that offer everything from live jazz to country music, karaoke, pool, and other fun activities you will find engaging.
To make the most of your stay, we’ve compiled a list of the best bars in Alexandria, VA. From cozy, intimate pubs to lively sports bars, you’ll find something that suits your needs.
Let’s get started!
Best Bars in Alexandria, VA
1. Union Street Public House
The bar sits on the waterfront of the Potomac River. Its rooftop seating provides stunning views of the Potomac River and creates a relaxed, comfortable, nostalgic, and inviting atmosphere for its customers.
Occupying a renovated 200-year-old colonial warehouse, Union Street Public House has been serving revolutionary American cuisine in a warm and lively atmosphere since 1986.
The Union Street Public House is one of the best bars in Alexandria, VA. It is wheelchair-accessible and kid-friendly, so everyone in your group can enjoy themselves. Making reservations ahead of time ensures a pleasant visit.
Union Street also features the best of the area’s local and hand-crafted brews, along with an extensive wine list and refreshing seasonal cocktails.
It opens from 4:00 pm to 2:00 am on Mondays, 11:00 am to 2:00 am on Tuesdays to Fridays, and from 10:00 am to 2:00 am on weekends, and happy hour starts from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm only on weeknights.
Address: 121 S Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-548-1785
2. Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub has been a traditional Irish pub since 1978. A group of friends and family opened it to share their Irish culture and delight guests with the Emerald Isle. Enjoy traditional Irish cuisine and entertainment curated for over 40 years.
The pub has an inviting atmosphere, with courteous and attentive staff to all guests. There is a range of live entertainment, such as live music and TV screens, to watch your favorite sports teams play in real-time.
The bar boasts a variety of beers, including Guinness Stout, Pils, Blackberry, Magners, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Bud Light, Harp, and Miller Lite.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub is recommended by its patrons and past customers as one of the top bars in the Alexandria, VA, area.
The bar opens from 11:00 am to 2:00 am on weekdays, 9:00 am to 2:00 am on Saturdays, and 10:00 am to 2:00 am on Sundays.
Address: 713 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-548-1717
3. The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar
The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar in Alexandria, VA, is a popular bar that serves as a neighborhood gathering place, sports bar, and late-night destination with live music, pool, shuffleboard, and more.
It has been a popular destination for 13 years, with many customers praising it.
The Light Horse Restaurant & Bar offers an enjoyable atmosphere with a wide selection of drinks and friendly staff.
The famous bar offers a wide range of wines, spirits, beers, and cocktails, such as the Bold Rock Virginia Apple, Three Brooms Sauvignon Blanc, Glenfiddich, and Old Bust Head Pale Ale. Their selection has something for everyone.
The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar are open Mondays from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am, Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11:00 am to 12:00 am, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:30 am, and Sundays from 11:00 am to 1:00 am. Happy hour starts from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on weekdays only.
Address: 715 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-549-0533
4. Old Hat Bar
Old Hat Bar is a fantastic cocktail bar in Alexandria run by Jack, who doubles as both the proprietor and the bartender and is known to be able to make off-the-menu cocktails for the patrons who request them.
The Old Hat Bar is a welcome addition to the Old Town area of Alexandria. It has a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and its staff has earned a reputation for being exceptionally friendly.
It has an amazing selection of cocktails, such as Daiquiris, POG, and Black Manhattan, as well as beers and wines.
The bar opens from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 112 N St. Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-567-2314
5. King’s Ransom
King’s Ransom is one of the top bars in Alexandria, VA. The cozy bar on King Street is renowned for its wide selection of drinks prepared and served by experienced bartenders. Its inviting atmosphere and excellent services make it the perfect spot for a night out with friends.
Opened on February 18, 2020, in Old Town, King’s Ransom was part of the vision of managing partners Jon Schott and Alex Taylor, who wanted to bring something new and exciting to their Old Town community.
The interior has been designed to give visitors a sense of timelessness, combining modernity and classic aesthetics. The atmosphere created is a relaxed luxury, promising a level of satisfaction that will surely leave a lasting impression.
It boasts a menu of drinks such as the whiskey highball, the gin and tonic, the Moscow mule, Wasabi ’75, the Strawberry painkiller, and a selection of wines.
King’s Ransom opens Mondays through Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am, Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am, and Sundays from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Address: 728 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 571-319-0794
6. Glory Days Grill
Glory Days Grill is a sports-themed, family-friendly American grill and bar in Alexandria, VA. It offers full bar services with the bonus of a patio for outdoor sitting.
Originally founded by Jeff Newman, Richard Denker, and Robert Garner, the idea was to develop a neighborhood establishment emphasizing sports’ positive attributes. The first one opened in Burke, VA, on April 16, 1996.
The bar’s close ties to sports are further reflected in the sports-themed memorabilia and the large-scale photographs of glorious moments in the history of American sports on the walls. The idea is to let its customers know they are all winners in what they do.
Glory Days Grill serves wines, cocktails, and beers, including Stella Artois, Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Guinness Draught.
The bar opens from 11:00 am to 12:00 am from Mondays to Saturdays and from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays.
Address: 3141 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-567-1577
7. Reynold’s Street Bar and Grill
Reynold’s Street Bar and Grill is a family-run establishment with a warm and inviting atmosphere, outstanding service, and meticulous attention to detail. It will have you singing its praises and keep you coming back for more.
The bar’s customers appreciate its classic and friendly atmosphere, which is down-to-earth and unpretentious. Its minimalist yet elegant decor places it among the cool bars in Alexandria, VA, that you should check out.
It offers a selection of drinks, ranging from beers like Heineken, Budweiser, Miller Lite, and Stella Artois; to cocktails like Lemon Drop Shot, Grateful Dead, and Long Beach Tea. The bar also offers a selection of red and white wines.
Reynold’s Street Bar and Grill is open from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am Monday through Thursday; 2:00 pm to 1:00 am on Fridays; 3:30 pm to 01:00 am on Saturdays, and 12:30 pm to 12:00 am on Sundays.
Address: 34 S Reynolds St, Alexandria, VA 22304, United States. Phone: +1 703-751-0830
8. Diko Hookah Bar and Lounge
Diko Hookah Bar and Lounge in Alexandria, VA, is the perfect spot to catch up with friends and have a good time. With its lively atmosphere, great music, and wide selection of drinks, you won’t be disappointed!
Founded by Diko Asfaw, the bar also has good music to set the mood and live bands to bring the atmosphere to life. If you feel like dancing, this bar is one of the fun bars in Alexandria, VA, and is the perfect place to do just that.
The bar offers its customers a cozy and casual setting, with drinks, including spirits, beer, wines, and cocktails like the Diko Delight, Tito’s American Mule, Tennessee Apple, and Tequila Mule.
Diko Hookah Bar and Lounge are open weekly from 3:00 pm to 2:00 am.
Address: 5245 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22304, United States. Phone: +1 202-600-6947
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9. T.J. Stone’s
T.J. Stone’s is one of the cool bars in Alexandria, VA, offering over 300 beers and wines from around the world. If you’re looking for a bar with something for everyone, T.J. Stone’s should be your destination.
This bar is family-friendly, tourist-friendly, and wheelchair-accessible, and it provides excellent service to all customers, ensuring that everyone who visits feels at home. Customers can choose to have their drinks indoors or on the outdoor patio.
With a very large drinks menu, T.J. Stone’s serves draft beers like Guinness Stout, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and T.J. Stone’s Pilsner, with cocktails including Aperol Spritz and Gin Basil Smash and a large collection of wines from around the world.
T.J. Stone’s is open from 11:00 am to 12:00 am on Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays stays open from 11:00 am to 12:30 am.
Address: 608 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-548-1004.
10. The Majestic
The Majestic on King Street has been a neighborhood favorite for 80 years. Its classic 20th-century interior décor and mellow jazz tunes make it a great place to take a step back in time and relax in a cozy atmosphere.
Originally opened in 1932 by John Gadonas, the bar has been for nearly a century. Its iconic neon sign out front is a beloved part of the local fabric and attracts locals and visitors alike.
Enjoy a night out with friends, a cozy evening with your beloved, or a family outing—The Majestic provides a hospitable atmosphere for all. Tourists will also find The Majestic a great place to engage in local culture and activities.
With a wide selection of whiskies, spirits, wines, cocktails, and family-friendly options, The Majestic has something for everyone, with beers like Heineken and Maine Beer and cocktails like Majestic Old Fashioned and The Rose on King.
The Majestic opens from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturdays, and 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on Sundays, with happy hour, starting from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Address: 911 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-837-9117.
11. The People’s Drug
The People’s Drug is a re-imagination of an old and nonexistent establishment founded in Alexandria, VA, in 1905. The bar serves exquisitely crafted cocktails as part of its menu and has taken on the nickname “Peoples” left behind by its predecessor.
With its white porcelain tiled bar backsplash to complement the black finish around the bar, the well-lit atmosphere exudes an air of laid-back premium sophistication in the bar, and its patrons will tell you that it is one of the best bars in Alexandria, VA.
Customers can choose from a selection of drinks that include cocktails like the Signature Old Fashioned and the Watermelon Whiskey Smash, beers like Crazy Pils, Solace, and Duclaw, as well as a collection of wines and spirits.
The People’s Drug opens from Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 am and on Sundays from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Address: 103 N Alfred St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 571-257-8851.
12. Bayou Room
Bayou Room is an intimate, stone and brick-lined bar below street level at Restaurant 219. The bar located on King Street offers an authentic taste of the French-Creole and is considered by many patrons as one of the fun places to drink in Alexandria, VA.
Bayou Room—as part of the Restaurant 219 establishment—has been running since 1979, serving its customers in a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Nestled below street level, the bar is fun to drink, listen to a live DJ, and break a sweat on the dance floor if you want to.
Bayou Room offers its guests a selection of beers, including Bud Light, Hazy Like a Fox, Brau Pils, Red Molly, and a selection of wines, spirits, and cocktails.
The bar is open from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am Monday through Sunday.
Address: 219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-549-1141.
13. Captain Gregory’s
Captain Gregory’s is a hip bar in the city, serving delicious craft cocktails in a funky, cozy space. Drinks at the bar are famous for being a bit pricey, but if you can get past that, the bar is one of the fun bars in Alexandria, VA, to visit.
The speakeasy-style bar only seats 24 patrons, with six at the bar, and it’s located by going through a secret door inside The Sugar Shack, a donut shop on North Henry Street. The bar is known for its exclusivity—you need to make reservations—and for its non-commercial liquor.
At the bar, you can get cocktails like Songs of the Snowfinch, Walking in Winter, Little Ripper, and Jaws of the Python, as well as craft beers such as Woodpecker Lager Beer and Mandarin Galaxy. The bar serves a collection of spirits as well.
Captain Gregory’s opens Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 804 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: not available.
14. Basin Street Lounge
Basin Street Lounge has been a jazz and blues music legend since it opened in 1979. World-class musicians have traveled to perform at the venue and have continued to entertain guests for nearly five decades.
Inside the space, you’ll find that it has an old-fashioned decor with a long bar and a side room where guests can sit in more comfortable chairs to enjoy their drinks and cigars—Basin Street Lounge also doubles as a cigar bar.
With just the right mood and ambiance, Basin Street Lounge, one of the top bars in Alexandria, VA, has an extensive selection of liquors, boasting as many as 300 bottles of varying types to choose from, including whiskeys.
The bar opens Monday to Thursday from 4:30 pm to 1:00 am, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 pm to 2:00 am, and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Address: 219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-549-1141.
15. Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar
Housed in a 17th-century building, the bar owned by John Brennan and his wife Margaret is an homage to old Ireland in the modern era, with all the antiques and labor that built the place imported from Waterford, Ireland, to Alexandria, VA, for that authentic Irish feel.
The bar has an authentic old feel, with a unique and friendly Irish atmosphere to wrap it up. The staff is friendly and courteous, and the environment is warm and spacious too.
The bar serves pints of Guinness, Smithwicks, and 12 other draft beers on tap, its own House Ale, Daniel O’Connell’s Pils, and a collection of other alcoholic drinks like whiskies. All these make them one of the top places to drink in Alexandria, VA.
The bar opens Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 1:30 am, Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:30 am, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Happy hour lasts from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on weekdays only.
Address: 112 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States. Phone: +1 703-739-1124
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Have Fun!
Alexandria is a beautiful city that is filled with sweet nightime adventures awaiting you at these fifteen bars.
It will be a miss if you miss out on the loads of fun available with mouthwatering drinks that you cannot resist.
Ensure that you explore Alexandria and remember to enjoy you drinks responsibly while having a fun-filled evening in this city that has a lot to offer.