Old Town Alexandria has charm in spades. No more so in the warmer months, when residents and visitors alike stroll the cobblestone streets dotted with tony boutiques, sidewalk cafés, art galleries and ice cream shops, and the waterfront beckons with the chance of a cool breeze blowing away the summer swelter. In the heart of this historic and beguiling area is luxury boutique property The Alexandrian, which comprises a perfect home base during an Old Town sojourn. Not only is the hotel easily accessible to the monuments and sights in Washington, D.C., it’s perfectly situated if you want to explore points south of the city, including Mount Vernon and the Marine Corps Museum.

Its 241 rooms (including 11 suites) tout traditional touches of bold patterns like red cardinal-printed settee upholstery and wallpaper adorned with classic lanterns. Some rooms in the pet-friendly hotel offer terraces, and whirlpool baths, and self-parking is available for an additional nightly charge. Guests can also hit the 24-hour fitness center, stocked with treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and elliptical machines. Complimentary bike rentals let you explore the surrounding neighborhood — or even venture across the river to the monuments and sights in The District.

On-site restaurant King & Rye is a must-visit for dinner, serving scratch-made seasonal Southern cuisine along with an impressive menu of whiskeys, bourbon and cocktails overseen by general manager and executive bourbon steward Allison Strunk. Executive chef Tomas Chavarria, who joined the team in January, sources many of the ingredients for his dishes through his relationships with regional farmers, butchers and purveyors. The resto recently rolled out a new menu of dishes and tweaks on perennial favorites. It’s smart to start with a whiskey cocktail, naturally; the Sazerac uses renowned, locally distilled favorite Catoctin Creek Rye, and the fun riff on a New York Sour shakes Knob Creek Rye with cherry preserves topped with a Malbec float.

Sip while noshing on starters like dilly bean-topped deviled eggs, crab cakes with tangy green tomato slaw and pimiento aioli, and mussels steamed in (what else) whiskey, served with a rich beurre blanc sauce. Local oysters are shucked, dotted with an herb-infused oil and garnished with thin slices of Serrano peppers; order a dozen with whatever crisp, well-chilled white Strunk recommends.

The standout among the entrees is Seven Hill Farms dry-aged chef’s cut steak; sliced and topped with a red wine sauce, it arrives with rich and tangy blue cheese-studded mashed potatoes and crispy kale. A soak in sweet tea brine lends Shenandoah Valley chicken juiciness and a hit of complexity, and shrimp and grits are bathed in a rich roux and topped with cherry tomatoes and microgreens. Even if your feelings about mac and cheese are “meh,” you’ll want to add King & Rye’s version to your experience; it’s topped with Maryland lump crab and broiled just long enough to be crispy and caramelized yet still succulent and meaty. Divine.

Returning this season is the hotel’s courtyard Cocktail Garden, featuring lounge areas, intimate dining spaces, fire pits, a summer music series and its own curated menu of sips and bites. While there is some crossover from the King & Rye menu, you’ll also uncover unique finds like a Four Roses Bourbon Sangria with fresh summer fruit and a lip-tingling libation with blanco Tequila, jalapeno syrup, Cointreau, watermelon and lime.

Groups can order a round or two of cocktails and the generous King Street Taco platter. The convivial dish is served with beef birria, pulled pork carnitas, chicken tinga and/or succotash vegetables, along with corn and flour tortillas and accoutrements including pico de gallo, sour cream, onions and cilantro, K&R hot sauce and lime. As the Cocktail Garden is a popular nook in town it’s best to make advance reservations, though walk-ins are accepted if space is available. And if you want to be a squatter in this delightful spot clear until Labor Day? No judgment here.

The Alexandrian

480 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
tel 703 549 6080