Staying in Alexandria

Considering staying In Old Town Alexandria this visit since we thought it would be a pretty place to be in Dec. We always stay at Crystal City marriotts. We need a room or suite for my husband and I with a pullout or something for our friend. Any ideas? Thanks!

Staying in Alexandria

You could consider The Embassy Suites Alexandria-Old Town. It%26#39;s located opposite the Amtrak and King Street Metro station.

Staying in Alexandria

SueFee, thanks. I think that is what we will do. Do you have any casual favorite restaurants you enjoy there?

You%26#39;re welcome, Dltreks. While I haven%26#39;t been there, Stella%26#39;s (American cuisine) is right by the Embassy Suites. Dinner is $14-$25, casual dress. Last time I was in Old Town, we ate at Taverna Cretekou and didn%26#39;t like it. Hopefully, other posters will see this and pass along their Old Town favorites. Enjoy your stay!

For casual dining, just down King Street a little bit is a chili place called Hard Times Cafe that%26#39;s pretty good. And a few blocks farther east on King there%26#39;s a casual country French place called Le Gaulois that has a great fireplace going in the winter. Most of the good restaurants are on the south side of the street for some reason, so if you walk along looking at menus you%26#39;re sure to find one that suits your taste.

If the Embassy Suites doesn%26#39;t work out, there%26#39;s a Hampton Inn a couple of blocks farther away from the Metro that also has some suites. Be sure to look for the Hampton Inn Alexandria--Old Town/King Street--the one at 1616 King Street. There are others in the area with similar names but worse locations. But the Embassy Suites right at the Metro station is a good place to try first. There%26#39;s also a Hilton right across the street from the station on King Street, but I%26#39;ve never been inside that one.

Hard Times Cafe is good. At the one nearest to us, one day our waitress told us that it had the cleanest kitchen of any restaurant she worked in! I like their Cincinnati chili.

Hard Times is very casual dining. I do love their chili mac. I also agree that Le Gaulois is a nice place to dine in winter for casual french fare. 100 King (on the other end of King Street from where you%26#39;ll be - near the river) has also gotten good reviews.

If you have a car or want to cab it one night - check out Rustico in North Old Town (Slaters Lane) or go to the Del Ray neighborhood, just north of Old Town and try Evening Star Cafe (Mount Vernon Avenue).