Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to catch up with friends while sipping mimosas or the best waterfront views to relax and ease into the weekend with family, Alexandria, VA, just minutes from Washington, D.C., has a brunch spot for you. Alexandria’s independent restaurants are brimming with historic charm and ambiance, spacious patios, riverside views and mouthwatering menus. Keep reading to discover some of our favorite brunch spots in Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray and beyond, and prepare to toast the weekend.

Sip-and-Savor Brunch

Evening Star Café

Settle in for brunch at Del Ray’s Evening Star Café to sample Chef Autumn Cline’s creations, like the smoked corn beef hash with chili aioli or the breakfast “smash burger,” topped off with Evening’s Star’s take on a bloody mary.

Cheesetique

Order a build-your-own mimosa bucket for the table and indulge in Cheesetique’s dairy-rich Del Ray dining, from the “brie and pearsciutto” grilled cheese to a mix-and-match charcuterie board for your table.

Mason Social

In addition to brunchtime classics, Mason Social in Old Town’s Parker-Gray neighborhood serves up quirky offerings like bacon funnel sticks and Lucky Charms French toast, plus a “beermosa” made with Port City’s Optimal Wit.

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap in Del Ray offers brunch options to match your mood, from house-made apple-ricotta donuts to the slow-simmered “Sunday gravy” spaghetti. Enhance any order with an Italian sparkler with seasonal sorbet flavors.

Sonoma Cellar

Located on lower King Street, Sonoma Cellar’s expansive brunch menu ranges from sweet baked goods like the coconut buttermilk pound cake to a crispy tator tot waffle, best enjoyed with a refreshing “mangosa.”

French Flavors

Bastille

For a French foray, Spend Sunday brunch at Bastille in Parker-Gray. Brunch specialties include the croque madame, savory shrimp beignets and more, while tempting treats like pot de crème au chocolat end the meal on a sweet note.

Brabo Brasserie

At Brabo Brasserie, Chef Ethan McKee’s passion for fresh, locally-sourced ingredients shines in dishes like the French onion soup, mushroom and gruyère omelet, moules frîtes and more.

Del Ray Café

Francophile brunchers can settle into a 1920’s Del Ray home to savor Del Ray Café’s crôque monsieur, vegetarian quiche and gluten-free options, all made in the peanut-free restaurant.

Fontaine

Old Town’s Fontaine transports diners to a continental café, with more than 20 crêpes options alone, filled with flavors from Tuscany to Paris to Morocco. The most popular crêpe is the Alexandrian, with smoked ham, sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese.

Seafood Specialties

Hummingbird

In the mood for seafood? Flit over to Hummingbird at Hotel Indigo, whose blue-and-white decor enhances the nautical vibe splashed across the menu. The menu follows the rhythm of the seasons with Prince Edward Island mussels, fried oyster po’ boy and classics like steak and eggs.

Laporta’s

Located between Old Town and Carlyle, Laporta’s offers luscious brunch options including crave-worthy starters like crisply fried calamari, plus entrees including savory seafood crepes and tutta mare linguine, tossed with jumpo shrimp, fresh clams white wine butter.

The Warehouse

The Warehouse on King Street is a local favorite for their delicious seafood options including the Southern softshell crab, Southern-fried catfish and crab and asparagus omelet. Feeling adventurous? Try the fried gator bites served with Cajun remoulade.

Whiskey & Oyster

Ease into your weekend with a seafood feast from Carlyle’s Whiskey & Oyster, starting on a sweet note with cinnamon sugar beignets and building up to the main event—a “seafood tower” from the raw bar or hearty jumbo lump crab cakes.

Waterside View

Ada’s on the River

At waterside Ada’s on the River, open since early 2021, Chef Randall’s menu centers around meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes cooked to perfection in the wood-burning oven. Enjoy elevated brunch options including the Maine lobster omelet and lemon & ricotta pancakes served with smoked citrus syrup.

Blackwall Hitch

Looking for brunch and a show? Visit Blackwall Hitch on the waterfront for the weekly Sunday jazz brunch buffet. Soak in the view, tunes, seafood and carving stations before you dance back out to the riverside.

Café 44

Café 44’s four-story-high balcony offers sweeping views of the Potomac River as a stunning backdrop for your meal. Wrapped in a sunny green and tangerine color scheme, enjoy bottle service of the rosé lemonade and choose from a three-course prix-fixe brunch or á la carte menu.

Virtue Feed & Grain

At Virtue Feed & Grain, once an 1800s feed house, grab a table on the patio by Waterfront Park and fill up on breakfast taquitos, Chesapeake eggs benedict and loaded avocado toast, served alongside brunch cocktails like the bloody mary.

Vola’s Dockside Grill

Under Vola’s riverside canopy of red umbrellas, start with cheddar-jalapeño hushpuppies served with honey butter, then choose between the cheesy breakfast quesadilla, crab grilled cheese sandwich and more.

Southern Inspired

Hen Quarter

Brunchers who mean business need look no further than Hen Quarter’s bottomless family-style brunch. Don’t miss the chicken and waffles, with a crispy fried bird perched atop a corn and cheddar waffle base and sealed with bourbon maple syrup.

King & Rye

Head to King & Rye’s courtyard cocktail garden for brunch to sample cast iron cinnamon rolls with cream cheese, plus cocktails like the Spicy Watermelon Crush and K&R Irish Coffee.

Magnolia’s On King

Magnolia’s On King’s Southern immersion fare lets you lean savory with a protein-packed biscuit breakfast sandwich or go sweet with the banana foster French toast.

Neighborhood Favorites

Chadwicks

Close to the waterfront, laid-back Chadwicks’ loyal following loves the cinnamon butter-topped French toast and hearty breakfast tacos. String lights, exposed brick, cocktails and coffee welcome old and new fans alike.

City Kitchen

In the West End, brunch hub City Kitchen offers tempting menu items including a decadent breakfast pizza and jam-packed Orleans “morning bowl,” plus an extensive drinks list including the strawberry “leminosa.”

Northside 10

Arlandria’s Northside 10 is an ideal watering hole for friends and family convening for brunch. Find crave-worthy comfort food, like the steak and eggs over chorizo hash, served up in a laid-back setting, including the pup-friendly covered porch.

Diner Delights

Executive Diner & Café

1950s-themed Executive Diner & Café, located on Duke Street, offers a new twist on diner favorites including chicken and waffles with sausage gravy, pancakes hot off the griddle and more.

Royal Restaurant

For more than 115 years, The Royal Restaurant in Old Town North has delighted generations of diners with homestyle American, Greek and Italian plates. Brunch go-to’s include a fluffy stack of buttermilk flapjacks, the chicken and biscuit sandwich and more.

Table Talk

This classic Carlyle diner serves up unfussy fare with a touch of Southern flair, such as sausage gravy on biscuits served with home fries on the side.

Casual Cafés

Café du Soleil

Café du Soleil is a delightful French-infused oasis on S. Union St., serving up coffee, crêpes, croissants and more, plus a bevy of breakfast beverages and smoothies.

Cameron Café

Tucked inside Cameron Station, Cameron Café is a local coffee shop and café that brings together residents of the West End and visitors alike. The café’s ample outdoor seating is the perfect setting to sip, savor and socialize after an amble through nearby Ben Brenman Park.

Junction Bakery & Bistro

For a simple but scrumptious brunch, grab a selection of fresh-baked pastries from Del Ray’s Junction Bakery & Bistro along with your morning java. Or opt for a heartier plate like the brisket biscuit sandwich and chicken chorizo burrito.

Looking for more dining options, or perhaps the ideal outdoor eatery? There’s more to explore in Alexandria—just make sure to come hungry.

Image Credits, left to right: Junction Bakery & Bistro; Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria; Café 44