This is Alexandria's best gay bar. Dustin and Nikki will serve! Vibes and food and the best wine or…read morechampagne you've ever had. I would come back here 10 out of 10 times.

Giving 4 stars because the selection was good, staff was knowledgeable, and the actual wine and…read morecheese we had was quite nice. It's a little pricey relative to places like Verre wine bar in Courthouse or area Vineyards. I noticed they had the Valravn cab sauv and it was A $20 glass but I have seen it for several dollars less at Verre and elsewhere. However, these were really large pours. So it may be their philosophy to have someone order/pay once and get a lot then having to constantly go back for more. Which is great if you value simplicity but less so if you want variety. I also didn't see flight options, though maybe I missed them. All in all it came out to $83 for 2 glasses of red wine and a cheese plate with 5 cheeses. However they brought bread refills - not sure if it's just that the plate was priced for unlimited bread or if we were being charged for more bread each time and that is what increased the price. Service was a little lax. Again not a bad thing, depends on your preference. When we got their attention they were on it. It resulted in being completely unrushed and unpressured which I appreciate. But my friend was starving and under those conditions we would have liked someone to come take our food order sooner. Vibe is chill. I wouldn't say it's as sexy as others do. When we arrived the lights were fairly bright and then they turned them down and started putting out candles while we were there so that may have been it. That was around 7 or 8 if you are gaming this out for a date. We were the 6pm crowd so maybe they were intentionally going for a less sexy vibe for the benefit of the after work drinks with friends types. I don't recall music. Note also they seem to really focus on imported wines more so than local. I don't thibk there was any local VA wine on the menu. All in all, if you need a wine place in the area then it is totally worth stopping by, especially if you like the specific approach described above. Is it a wine bar I would go out of my way for given that there are a bunch in different neighborhoods around DC? Probably not unless I was specifically looking for this kind of imported wine menu or large pours. This is a no if you are specifically looking for flights or to otherwise try a bunch of different wines.

This place has casual cozy vibes and can be good for a friend catch-up or a date. I sat at the bar…read moreand everyone was really chill. Service was great-- the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I had the featured wine flight, then split a bottle of champagne with my friend. We also had the happy hour meatballs and pimento cheese dip. Both were really tasty. I look forward to making this place a bigger part of my rotation!

(2 out of 5 stars)…read more This is a difficult review to write because the Sonoma Cellar used to be one of my favorite spots in Old Town Alexandria. I was aware the ownership had changed some time ago, but this was my first opportunity to return and see how things had kind of evolved. The good news is that they are pet friendly, which allowed us to bring our puppy, Chewie. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was disappointing. The service was painfully, excruciatingly slow. The staff members were polite though, and genuinely trying to help, but they simply appeared unprepared. When we asked for recommendations or information related to the wines, we received very little guidance. One gentleman eventually admitted that he was just filling in and didn't really know the wines at all. Understandable, but not the experience I was going for. The water bottle for the table served to us was room temperature, which felt odd, especially on a hot day while sitting outdoors. The wine tasting was a major disappointment compared to what Sonoma Cellar used to offer, and the overall wine selection appeared to me at least, noticeably smaller than I remembered. I was also disappointed to discover that Sonoma Cellar has adopted the increasingly common practice of adding a 3% credit card surcharge. I didn't notice any clear disclosure beforehand, and these types of fees always leave a bad impression. I know I'm a bit picky with those, but still. The establishment was likely dealing with staffing issues on the day we visited, but the overall experience felt like a shadow of what this place used to be. What used to be one of my favorite wine stops in Old Town has clearly diminished in both service and selection. We left disappointed and, sadly, don't expect to return. Chewie agreed.

The food was delicious great atmosphere right on the river our server Caroline was the bestread more

My wife and I had a wonderful evening at Barca Pier & Wine Bar in Alexandria on October 19th. If…read moreyou enjoy dining outdoors with great food, good drinks, and a little atmosphere, this place is definitely worth a visit! We enjoyed some excellent cocktails along with a variety of Mediterranean tapas, all of which made for a really enjoyable meal. The service was efficient, friendly, and informative, with just the right amount of attention throughout the evening. It was a wee bit chilly dining alfresco, but the patio heaters helped keep things comfortable. Add in some lively music, the beautiful setting along the Potomac River, and the fun of watching planes make their approach into Reagan National Airport, and you've got yourself a pretty memorable evening. There's just something special about enjoying good food and cocktails right on the water. Barca delivers a great combination of atmosphere, food, and service without feeling overly formal. If you're spending time in Old Town Alexandria, I'd definitely recommend stopping by Barca Pier & Wine Bar. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would happily return!

So this place is...quirky. Whether you enjoy it will depend on whether you embrace that going in…read more It gives immediate NoLa vibes. I went in expecting a place that specializes in chocolate and deserts. Turns out that's not really accurate. The environment is sensual and fantastical and beautiful, but this is really a bar and coffee shop that also sells boxed chocolates. Their actual menu had one chocolate item, a cake, which they were put of when I came. I learned they were out of the chocolate cake only after I ordered a cab sauv to go with chocolate cake, so I ended up spending an additional $30 on packaged chocolates to go with my wine and that I didn't really care for. Likewise I was not thrilled with the brioche grilled cheese small plate. It said it was a trio of mini grilled cheeses served with a soup shot for $12. So I was expecting tomato soup and three little grilled cheeses wither on mini slider buns or cut like tea sandwiches. Oh no. These were Itty bitty little toasts and the soup shot was...French onion? French onion is made with beef broth and I don't eat meat so my friend tried it and did not like it. The toasts were...miniscule. And a little burned (because small things burn). I would rather just have a real grilled cheese. We also got fries, which were fine. The cocktails however - delightful. I saw cocktails going out to other people. Gorgeous. The garnishes were a delight. My friend got a bees knees garnished with a spray of lavender and he lit it on fire. I didn't know you could just burn lavender like that and it smelled INCREDIBLE. New life hack. The space is really small. It filled up when we were there. It was my friend and me, one woman reading, and then a largeparty that felt they could kind of take the place over and they weren't being loud or rambunctious per se but because they felt the liberty to kind of inhabit the small space and take over the room it got loud and we could hear their whole conversation. Likewise, we only had one server working the whole space so he was doing cocktails, coffee, food, the cash register...he was clearly overwhelmed. Not doing a bad job, he was hustling, but it was just too much for one person and I feel like they need two people there if it's busy. Maybe this large party was atypical for a monday afternoon. I still give it 4 stars because the cocktails are fantastic, the space is beautiful, I love the concept and the kitschiness and IYKYK of it, and I also see its potential as a gorgeous sexy little cocktail bar and coffee place when it is more chill. It would easily get a 5th star from me if they reworked a few of the small plates, added more chocolate to the menu itself, and made sure they were staffed more for rushes. Maybe on weekends they are, dunno.

Great experience, amazing drinks and wonderful service. Ambiance is perfect for a date nightread more

We reserved a table for two during a recent weekend to try The Majestic's "Brunch & Bubbles"…read morethree-course meal with Champaign. Goodness, it was great! The staff were welcoming and helpful. Restrooms in the lower level have been updated. Everything was spotless, fresh and lovely. Our server, Tony allowed us to split a delicious salad with our meal. I recommend the Harvest Salad! The beverage, breads, salad and my smoked Salmon Benedict were beautifully plated, and spiced Mediterranean-style perfectly. We finished with a chocolate mousse parfait to-die-for! High recommendations!

Back again and it seems that their menu is a little thinner. Service at the bar is outstanding…read morewith great music. Went with the roasted lamb shank. It was delicious. Polenta with mascarpone cheese. I'm going steel that trick. Still a great place to eat with a really good bar.

I came here with my team and able to get a day of reservation for a large group. Once we arrive the…read moregroup size grew, and they were still very accommodating! I'd return based off that alone, but our sever also did a tremendous job and handled our large group very well! Kudos to him (I forgot his name). Now for the food and drinks. Neither disappointed and the whole group enjoyed their meal (which is hard to come by often). I had the Pasta alla Veneziana, which came with lobster, shrimp, and salmon), and it was very good! It was a tad pricy, but I'd order it again. Extra shout out for removing the tails from the shrimp (my coworker also noticed). I love a Smoked Old Fashioned, so ordered one as well, and it did not disappoint. I'll be back to drink and dine on the patio when the weather cools a bit.

I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

What a great experience!! We Went to the bar upstairs. Great ambiance, lively, watched the…read moreRays-Guardians game. Excellent!! What a beautiful bar!! Had the wings, Delicious! Mauricio was our server. Five Star Service!! We tried some beers and then tried a flight of Private reserve Blanton's and an Old Fashion. One of the best experiences ever! Mauricio explained all the details about the private barrels made for Virtue. Mauricio: You rock!! Thanks!! We hope to be back soon!

Walked in with no idea what I wanted, but one whiff of burger and my mind was made up. The birria…read moreburger and duck fat fries were delicious. Shoutout to my server Scott, hands down one of the best servers I've had in a while. Give that man a raise! He went over the specials, made great recommendations, and even pointed out the restroom without being asked, not sure that's ever happened to me before. When I couldn't decide between regular fries or duck fat fries, he brought out a small sample of each so I could choose. As for the burger, it was just as good as it smelled walking in. The birria sauce took it to another level of flavor. Didn't get pictures this time, but I'll be back and will update the post then. Highly recommend if you're in Old Town Alexandria.

Was looking for a place close to the Lyceum theater for a quick cocktail before the concert…read morestarted. Stumbled on this by accident- thanks to the valet parking person who mentioned a rooftop bar. Score!! With a name like "Good Fortune" I would have guessed it was a Chinese restaurant, not an awesome rooftop bar with a cool view. I got the Jackpot - a drink with espresso and banana and it was perfect. Loved the garnish of banana chips. Haven't had those in a long time. Bartender was super friendly and efficient. Hope to return!!!

Let me start by piggybacking on what so many other reviewers have already said: the views are…read moreabsolutely stunning and arguably some of the best in the area. From the rooftop, you can take in stunning views of the entire DMV, which alone makes this spot worth checking out. The weather was perfect on the evening we visited, and we were even treated to live music by BJ Simmons, which added to the ambiance. Unfortunately, that's where the experience peaked for me. The service was surprisingly slow, especially considering the venue didn't appear to be particularly busy. We ordered a glass of wine, a martini, and the pretzels with cheese dip, which were recommended by the bartender. While everything tasted good, nothing really stood out as memorable or worth raving about. It also took nearly 30 minutes for the pretzel to come out which was a bit frustrating. Overall, the rooftop views and atmosphere are definitely the highlights here, and I can see why people enjoy visiting. However, between the slow service and average food and drinks, I'm not sure I'd make a special trip back. If I happened to be staying at the hotel, I'd probably stop by for the view and a drink but otherwise there are other spots I'd choose first.

We stopped by for drinks and apps while exploring Old Town. They have two levels I think -…read moredownstairs is their restaurant for proper dining (Thai Signature, if I am not wrong) and upstairs is more like a cafe/lounge. The upstairs decor is very charming and whimsical and reminiscent of Alice in Wonderful. For drinks, we got the Mango Sticky Rice (Planteray 3 Star, Coconut Rum, Junmai Sake, Toasted coconut, Mango, Yuzu) and the Alice (Roku Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Lychee Liqueur, Butterfly pea, Yuzu, Egg white). My first assumption on entering the bar was that "instagrammable" places like this are usually a gimmick - but I was so wrong. The drinks were very boozy, aesthetically pleasing and tasted fantastic. Their food menu also looked so good so we also decided to get a couple of apps to accompany our drinks. We got the Shrimp Dumpling (steamed shrimp and chicken dumplings served with homemade creamy ginger lemon soy sauce) and Curry Puff (chicken, sweet potato, shallot in the rice dough served with sweet chili peanut dipping sauce) and I am so mad at myself for not ordering more food here (we had lunch reservation elsewhere). The presentation was spot on, portions were generous and everything was super flavorful - the curry puffs tasted like Indian Samosas! The woman attending us was very sweet and pleasant. Would definitely return for more food and drinks, not too far from DC so maybe one of my next DC trips will drag me here!

Alice Comfort Cocktail is such a hidden gem in Old Town. If you're looking for a fun, slightly…read morewhimsical vibe with cute decor, solid food, and really well-made cocktails, this is definitely the spot. Just a heads up though the space is pretty small so I'd recommend making a reservation. The bar itself only has like 3-4 seats. I tried the shrimp dumplings, crab rangoon, and bang bang shrimp, and had the litchi cocktail with it--everything was honestly so good. Really glad I stumbled across this place and I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

MUST VISIT! I wanted to swing by a cat cafe while I was in town and this one was right near me. The…read moretheme is spot on, lots of kitties are available for adoption and ready to be loved! They offer events, happy hour specials, a beer and wine bar and coffee/mocktail options! The first floor is the cafe/wine bar and the second floor is where the party is at aka the kitties! They owners are very kind and truly care about the kitties. It's is so empowering seeing the passion they put into the cat cafe! I highly suggest coming here for a drink or two and stopping by to see the kitties! *fingers crossed* you'll go home with one!

We had such a purrrfect afternoon experience here! I had wanted to visit this cat cafe for years,…read moreso spring break seemed like a great time to stop by. It was easy to make a reservation online for our entry times the day before, and check-in went very smoothly. Since it was our first visit, we were provided with instructions for everything we needed to know for interacting with the cats. Then we made our way upstairs to see the kitties! I immediately made friends with a cute tuxedo cat who flopped down at my feet. (I even got to give him a belly rub while he purred away!) The cats had many areas throughout the room where they could interact and explore, but they also had the option to go into the back if they were overstimulated. There was plenty of space throughout the room, so everyone was able to enjoy lots of kitty time. Bios for all the cats were posted on the wall to let visitors know about each kitty and their adoptability. It was clear that the cats are very loved and cared for, as they were relaxed and playful. We also stopped downstairs for lunch. The food was made fresh to order and was so delicious. I got the calico grilled cheese with a cinnamon cider, both items I would definitely enjoy again during a future visit. It was a really lovely experience, and I look forward to taking another trip there in the future!