Nothing beats weekend brunch in Alexandria, located on the Potomac River within eyesight of Washington, D.C. Whether you’re sharing brunch with family or catching up with friends, you can linger over a latte, sip mimosas and indulge in rich eggs Benedict or buttery French toast patio-side for a laid-back, satisfying meal at our independent restaurants. Sound tempting? To help you choose the perfect spot, we’ve rounded up our favorite places for brunch in categories like Best Eggs Benedict, Best Biscuits, French Favorites, Best Waffles, and Seafood Specialists to help you decide. Cheers to the weekend!
Best Eggs Benedict
Magnolia’s on King
Image Credit: Magnolia’s on King Facebook Page
Nestled in a 200-year-old building on King Street, Magnolia’s on King serves elevated brunch classics and Southern-inspired surprises. They’ve also got two of the best benedicts in town, including one classic-style and one with Maryland lump crab. You can also choose from a variety of omelettes, benedicts, salads and small plates like stuffed dates with blue cheese wrapped in bacon, or order a specialty dish like the shrimp and grits or biscuits and gravy with house-made sausage gravy over buttermilk biscuits with scrambled eggs or the brunch burger with a fried egg, bacon or ham and hollandaise. Magnolia’s serves brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Evening Star Café
Image Credit: K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria
Located in the heart of Del Ray, Evening Star Café has some of the best brunch offerings in the region, including a pimento cheese benedict. Other brunch specialties include a Bloody Mary garnished with a bite-sized grilled cheese sandwich and bacon, blueberry pancakes with whipped brown sugar cream and toasted pecans and huevos loca tostada with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, cheese, cilantro and fresno chili sauce. Brunch goes from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Chadwicks
Image Credit: Chadwicks
Located near the waterfront, Chadwicks is a go-to casual brunch spot in Old Town. Their eggs Chesapeake with two mini crab cakes topped with poached eggs and Béarnaise is so good, you might just become a regular. They also have four other delicious benedicts including the new Eggs Omar with two petite filets topped with poached eggs and Béarnaise on an English muffin. Stop into Chadwicks for brunch on both Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a wide variety of menu items in a friendly atmosphere.
Café 44
Image Credit: Cafe 44
Café 44 opened in fall 2017 in Alexandria’s North Old Town neighborhood and is located on the fourth floor of 44 Canal Center Plaza with sweeping views of the Potomac River. You can enjoy their two or three course prix-fixe brunch menu on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside a bright and clean natural space with open room for seating and an outdoor terrace for even more stunning views of the Potomac River. It’s hard to go wrong at Café 44, but the classic eggs benedict is a must-try and is among the best in the region.
Mason Social
Image Credit: Mason Social
Mason Social in Alexandria’s North Old Town neighborhood is a fantastic spot for brunch and drinks, serving a spectacular tasso bacon benedict with hot mustard. They also have a wide selection of cocktails, appetizers, lunch, breakfast and brunch items like the bacon funnel sticks with powdered sugar, salads and sleepy pigs with maple honey mustard sauce. Brunch is offered Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Best Biscuits
Stomping Ground
Image Credit: Stomping Ground Facebook Page
Stomping Ground’s fried chicken and biscuit breakfast sandwiches are heavenly, but it will take more than one trip to experience all the other delights on the menu like the veggie hash with seasonal vegetables or the breakfast grit bowl with smoked gouda, chorizo, salsa verde, cilantro, pickled jalapeño and a poached egg. The Del Ray locale’s comfort food is some of the best in the region and the cozy atmosphere will make you feel at home. Stomping Ground is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Junction Bakery & Bistro
Image Credit: Junction Bakery & Bistro Facebook Page
Junction Bakery & Bistro in Del Ray is the place to go if you’re craving homemade biscuits and pastries in a casual atmosphere. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Junction offers a brunch menu complete with all your favorites including egg-wiches on melt-in-your-mouth cheddar-chive biscuits, six types of croissants, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns and more, along with egg-wiches like roasted pork shoulder with house-made kimchi. Between their toasts, sandwiches and salad offerings, there are options for every palette, including a kids menu with fun foods like French toast sticks.
Society Fair
Image Credit: Society Fair Facebook Page
Society Fair is a fun and colorful brunch spot serving up classic French fare like country poutine with a poached egg, Louisiana-style beignets, quiches and more. Their homemade biscuits with seasonal jam make a great start to any meal, but it’s the sausage gravy and biscuit with scrambled eggs and cheddar that will hit the spot for biscuit-lovers. Make sure to order one of the fresh-squeezed or pressed juices or an espresso as an extra treat. Society Fair does brunch Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is the perfect spot for mimosas with friends.
French Favorites
Bastille
Image Credit: Bastille Facebook Page
If you’re looking for a classic French brunch, head to Bastille in North Old Town. Choose from cocktails like the Kir Royal or the Parisian Morning with orange juice, aperol and sparkling wine, paired perfectly with hors d’oeuvres, soups, salads and sandwiches. Brunch specialties include the steak and eggs, the seasonal galette and more. Bonus: their brunch desserts will win over any sweets-lover, with options like cookies and cream with house-baked cookies and ice cream, a rotating menu of bread puddings and more. Brunch at Bastille is offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Del Ray Café
Image Credit: K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria
Del Ray Café is like a home away from home, set in a house tucked away in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. It’s a cozy setting with covered outdoor dining that serves French bistro fare including pastries, eggs and omelets, sandwiches like croque monsieur and signature dishes including sautéed baby spinach with bucheron goat cheese, smoked salmon and eggs. Del Ray Café is a peanut-free restaurant and also offers a large selection of gluten-free items, making it a safe and easy choice for families with food allergies. Brunch starts early at Del Ray Café, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays.
Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie
Image Credit: K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria
Eating brunch at Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie feels like you’re in a European café in Old Town, with savory crêpes filled with flavors from Paris, Morocco, Tuscany, California, Italy, and Norway. Sweet crêpes with Nutella, wild berry, lemon drop, peach and more are mouthwatering good. Their most popular crepe is The Alexandrian, with smoked ham, sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese. Other menu items include quiches, bruschetta, vanilla brioche French toast and classic cocktail, coffee and espresso drinks. Fontaine serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Best Waffles
Columbia Firehouse
Image Credit: Dakota Fine for Columbia Firehouse
Columbia Firehouse is another fantastic brunch spot, located near the center of Old Town. They have an entire section of their menu devoted to waffles, and the fried chicken and waffles with bacon-praline and maple syrup is must-try creative comfort food. The King with peanut butter, banana and bacon topped on a warm waffle is loved by kids and adults alike. Other brunch plates include raw oysters, steamed mussels, burgers, and jalapeño cheddar biscuits with bacon butter. Columbia Firehouse serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Virtue Feed & Grain
Image Credit: C. Davidson for Visit Alexandria
The fried chicken and waffles at Virtue Feed & Grain are among the best in the region, with buttermilk brined chicken, beer gravy and bacon marmalade. Virtue also has one of the most extensive cocktail menus for brunch, including a Creamsicle Mimosa with licor 43, orange juice, cream and prosecco, and a Bloody Mary with Tito’s vodka, homemade alta cucina tomato mix and fresh horseradish. Additional food specialties include huevos rancheros, the garden frittata, fresh fish tacos, burgers and more. Brunch at Virtue Feed & Grain extends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Nectar Del Ray Coffee & Wine Bistro
Image Credit: Nectar Del Ray Coffee & Wine Bistro Facebook Page
Nectar Del Ray Coffee & Wine Bistro comes from sisters Susan and Shirley Waller from Dublin, Ireland. The sisters wanted to bring a “local Irish hamlet coffee and bistro concept to the Del Ray neighborhood.” Waffles are their culinary specialty, with a full menu including seasonal rotations, and favorites like The Loaded Potato with hash browns, cheddar and bacon all topped with sour cream and chives and The Waffle Benedict with Canadian bacon or sausage with egg and hollandaise sauce. Nectar is the perfect gathering place for brunch, complete with outdoor seating and Washington state’s Dillanos Coffee Roasters. Nectar opens at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings and 8 a.m. on Sundays.
Hen Quarter
Image Credit: M. Enriquez for Visit Alexandria
King Street’s Hen Quarter offers Southern comfort food including some of the best chicken and biscuits in Old Town, fried green tomatoes with smoked mozzarella and black-eyed pea salsa, sweet and savory Belgian waffles, a short rib hash and eggs, biscuits and gravy and more. It’s the go-to spot in Old Town if you’re craving comfort food for brunch, offered Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Seafood Specialists
Vola’s Dockside Grill
Image Credit: Todd Wright for Visit Alexandria
Located right on the waterfront with plenty of outdoor dining, Vola’s Dockside Grill is the ideal brunch spot for a group of friends and is a great way to start the day in Old Town. Locally-loved menu items include shareable starters like oysters, crab dip, spicy fried pickles, conch fritters and deviled eggs, along with sandwiches and tacos, soups and salads and specialty entrées like crab cake benedict, thick cut brioche French toast and shrimp and grits. It’s as close to the beach as you can get in Old Town. Vola’s offers brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Image Credit: Hank’s Oyster Bar
The Washington Post named Hank’s Oyster Bar one of the best brunch spots in the D.C. region, and for good reason. The hangtown fry with a fried oyster frittata, bacon, capers, parmesan and tartar sauce will become an instant favorite, and the smoked rainbow trout hash with poached eggs, potatoes, dill and cream is a one-of-a-kind treat for your taste buds. Hank’s offers brunch Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hummingbird
Image Credit: Hummingbird
Hummingbird opened in July 2017 at the new Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria on the Potomac River waterfront. From celebrated chef Cathal Armstrong, Hummingbird focuses on locally-sourced seafood and seasonal ingredients and includes Potomac River views from the dining room and outdoor patio. The new spot has already earned high praise from The Washington Post and locals alike. Start with the crab and corn fritters or the crispy fried oysters and try the crab cake sandwich with Old Bay fries for a creative twist on classic seafood fare. Hummingbird serves brunch from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Warehouse
Image Credit: M. Enriquez for Visit Alexandria
The Warehouse on King Street is a local favorite for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Warehouse has delicious seafood options including wasabi crusted fried oysters with chili mayo and pickled ginger, blackened scallops with avocado-corn salsa and tortilla chips, and Southern fried catfish. They also serve unique dishes like alligator stew and sandwiches named after Alexandrians throughout history like the John Carlyle with grilled chicken, bacon, and Monterey Jack cheese on a sesame bun.
Chart House
Image Credit: M. Enriquez for Visit Alexandria
Chart House is about as close to the water as you can get without going for a swim, giving you perfect Potomac River views from almost every seat in the house. Their brunch is a classic in Old Town, with an extensive list of seafood options, starters, fresh fish and a $27 brunch menu that includes a plated entrée and the salad bar. The crab dishes, including the crab and asparagus omelet and the crab cake benedict, are staples on the Chart House menu. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Laporta’s
Image Credit: M. Enriquez for Visit Alexandria
If you’re in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood, check out Laporta’s for an extensive brunch menu with small plates like fried calamari with a tangy seafood lemon vinegar barbecue sauce or Burrata cheese salad with mesclun greens with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette. Many pastas and breakfast favorites like steak and eggs, eggs benedict and more. What really makes Laporta’s stand out is their live jazz piano from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday, making it a fun spot for a brunch date.
For more on dining in Alexandria, click here.
Header Image Credit: K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria
