We missed the recent banned speakeasy but heard it was great. My foodie bestie and I finally made our way here a few weeks ago. We've had this place on our list for quite some time. They're located inside the Morrison House. Seems like a nice place to stay. I'll be adding that to my list. We enjoyed our experience. We had an early reservation. Finding nearby parking wasn't an issue. This place is cozy and cute for a date night or night out with friends. It's not big enough for a large group. We enjoyed the live pianist. Wondering about the attire? I would suggest smart casual, business casual at a minimum. You can put on a fancy dress if you'd like too! The drinks and food were amazing! I loved the kalabi Toscana and the bistec entree (chef's choice and that day was waygu). It was soooo good! I was greedy and wanted more. I just have to visit again. Service overall was top notch! Kudos to our main server, Rodney. He was amazing! Thank you! read more

See all

This beautiful hotel restaurant is tucked along a quiet side street just off King Street. The space is cozy and inviting, with an elegant atmosphere that's perfect for a romantic meal. When we arrived, there was a piano player in the bar area, which added charm without being too loud. The service was fast and helpful. The food was delicious, my favorite dish was the octopus, though I also really enjoyed the steak. The pork belly was another standout, full of flavor. They also offer an innovative cocktail menu. Overall, a charming spot that balances sophistication with comfort. I'd recommend it for a date night or ladies night. read more

See all

Moving to the top of my Alexandria list! I dropped by for ALX Restaurant Week after a last-minute schedule change, and they graciously squeezed me in for an early dinner. I was thrilled to discover this is a Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection property--the "cozy yet grand" ambiance definitely reflects that high standard. The experience was a total treat: The Food: Delicious, elevated "tapas-plus" portions that were perfect for one. The presentation was incredibly romantic and intentional. The Service: Terrific and timed to perfection. Thank you for the wonderful evening. I'll definitely be back soon! read more

See all

This was a perfect end to a busy day. We had appetizers and cocktails at this establishment. The bartender was wonderful and catered to our every need. The atmosphere was beautiful and quiet, which is what I was looking for after being around people all day. read more

I had the greatest time here tonight at the Banned Book Speakeasy. What a charming and yet meaningful theme for an evening. Thank you to the organizers for bringing our attention to the amazing books that should never have been banned. As to the Study experience, the food, drinks, and ambiance all were terrific. We had the delicious burger, excellent, guacamole, and yummy empanadas. Yucca fries were also great with the sauce. Okay, onto the cocktails. They each had a name of a wonderful classic banned book and the two that I had were delicious. The staff was welcoming and attentive. Looking forward to returning to this cozy spot in Old Town. read more

See all

Such a cozy place!!! I loved the fire, ambience and the live piano music. It was packed on a cold night but it is restaurant week. I loved all the food! What an incredible mix of flavors. I tried the chicken empanadas which were amazing and the steak as my entree. It wasn't a big serving of steak but I was stuffed. The sauces and sides with each dish were perfection. I tried the tres leches dessert which was really yummy and different from other tres leches in a traditional manner. I will be back! read more

The Study at Morrison House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

My husband and I came here for a book event. They served delicious craft cocktails specifically for the event itself. The event itself seemed a little chaotic but the service at the bar was great. read more

See all

Very cute place. If it's for an intimate date night for drinks at the bar or a small gathering for friends this place is great! Wished the bar had a bigger variety of drinks and a knowledgeable bartender to create drinks other than on the menu, but otherwise this place was wonderful. A great atmosphere. read more

We love a cute speakeasy and this one didn't disappoint! Before you enter, you have to give the librarian the code word The vibe is relaxed -- grown and sexy for a deep discussion but polished enough for a chat with a coworker. The ambience certainly sets the tone for a great chat. The drinks were on point! (I'm no drinker by any means lol but I did enjoy "The Hate You Give" drink made with scotch. All of the drinks are named after books, cute! I decided to try something new and I didn't regret it! The chicken tacos were tender and flavorful (although the chicken came on a skewer) so you'd have to take that off. I say overall this experience was 10/10! You may catch me there again read more

We've lived in Alexandria for years and have dined out in Old Town countless times, but tonight we stumbled upon an absolute treasure. Calling it a hidden gem doesn't even do it justice! Tucked away inside the charming Morrison House Hotel, this moody yet intimate bar and restaurant feels like stepping into another era--in the best possible way. We began the evening at the bar, enjoying perfectly crafted cocktails while an incredibly talented gentleman played the piano, creating a romantic, nostalgic atmosphere. From there, we moved into the small, beautifully appointed dining room--just eight tables overlooking the hotel's elegant portico and fountains. Our server, Shawn, was exceptional: attentive, engaging, warm, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, wine list, and pairings. He clearly loves what he does, and it shows. The menu, though small, is perfectly curated for quality over quantity. Every bite was full of flavor, from the appetizers to the desserts, and the wine and cocktails were equally impressive. An unforgettable evening from start to finish--this is one Alexandria dining experience you absolutely shouldn't miss read more

The Study at Morrison House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Live music with Derrick was fantastic. The best reason to visit. They had a problem with room charges for guests staying in the hotel. They said it was due to the CrowdStrike fiasco but this was still a problem weeks later. The bartender was friendly and made a good martini but was not very attentive. read more

The Study at Morrison House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Stylish bar and restaurant that is part of a nice hotel tucked away in Old Town Alexandria The chef is Costa Rican, so much of the menu is inspired by this type of cuisine. Portions are fairly small and very pricey as well, but the food and our drinks were all very tasty. We also got a tiny bite-sized amuse bouche that was pretty good as well I came here with my GF for dinner on a Saturday night. We were seated in the dining area, and we were glad that this was the case as the bar area has a piano player/singer that made it very loud. This being said, there was only one other party in the dining area even though there were no other reservations available (which was strange) Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, but he had an extremely thick accent that made him hard to understand at times read more

See all

Wonderful service and food! Nice space , friendly staff, good tasting well seasoned food(I'm black). Will come back!!!

I had a great experience here during restaurant week. The food is good, not great but the service is excellent. Leo was amazing, helpful and kind. The coconut rice has charred, shaved coconut and coconut milk to make the flavor. I would prefer more traditional caribbean coconut rice but it was bad. For my solo diners: i wasn't offered bread service like the other tables. Not sure if that was just because I was first to the dining area of because I was a dining solo. Otherwise, solo diner approved. read more

See all

This is a hidden gem in Alexandria. The food is delicious - you can't go wrong. The service is friendly and the vibe is very nice quality.

Located inside the Marriott Hotel in Alexandria, The Study is truly a hidden gem Although the restaurant as listed as being American cuisine, in my opinion it boasts more Latin fusion! For example Turnip Ceviche, Scallops Tiradito, Korobuta Pork Belly and that's just a few highlights from the menu. Executive Chef Thomas Chavarria has done an AMAZING job with the menu!! Decorated to perfectly fit its name - The Study is a great spot for cocktails, as well as a great meal. The food was all packed with amazing fresh flavours, as were the drinks!! This is a definite must-visit... Perfect for date nights, a special occasion, a business meeting or causal dining. read more

See all

The Study is quite an experience. It's got a classy, intimate mood. The handcrafted cocktails and the live piano music create a romantic mood. I highly recommend the bar as a first stop on date night. Great service! The bartender and server were attentive and friendly. read more

A hidden gem! Came to the bar area for a few drinks before dinner. This is a great place for a date night or casual dining. They had great drinks and great service. We also loved the live piano music (Thursday-Saturday 6-9pm). read more

An absolute delightful and fun evening catching up with an old friend who happened to be staying at the Morrison House. The ambiance was cozy with a fun atmosphere of live music and great company of other patrons and employees. If you want to be separate from the bar area and the music for a little more privacy, there is another room with additional tables and seating. Will be back next time to try their food options and of course for drinks! Enjoy! read more

See all

My wife and I went here on a Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary. We were given 2 complimentary glasses of champagne for our anniversary which was really nice. The atmosphere was great and there was someone there playing the piano as well. For appetizers we ordered the Empanadas and the Croquettes. Both were really good however the empanadas only came with 2 and the croquettes came with 3. So the appetizers were a bit on the small side. For entrees my wife ordered the ARROZ CON MARISCOS and I ordered the BISTEC ENCEBOLLADO. My wife enjoyed her entree and said that it was good. My entree was good as well, however it was not very filling and was only a couple of pieces of steak. The steak was very flavorful, however it was not much and did not come with any sides or anything else. I was still pretty hungry after we left which is never a good thing when you leave a restaurant. The service was great and our waiter was very attentive. The restaurant is really nice with great service and a nice ambiance. However, I do feel like there was not much food given for the entrees and appetizers despite the flavor. You never want to leave a restaurant still feeling hungry. read more

See all

A combination of flavors that worked. Small intimate restaurant which felt like personal dining. Cocktails were artistic and delicious. Had the Eden Bounty and a traditional Gin Martini. Well done. Aged butters and bread. Ok. Maybe the tortillas needed some salt. But we had the butter!! And so. The tortilla played its role as being the transporter and "beard" for my eating all of the butter. Seriously. Who does that. The short ribs were a surprise. Thank goodness there were only three. They could be a main course for someone. We split it and it was perfect. The lettuce gave permission as a holder and a reason to eat the whole thing. Sauces were spicier than expected and appreciated. Fish of the day was halibut served with the Plaintain purée. Well done. Well done. I had the octopus. And although tender and delicious. The stand out performer was the very puree. An intensive surprise with every taste. Finally Panela tart for dessert. Yes. Another please. I was full and it was a great ending. read more

Had dinner there today for Restaurant Week and I'm glad I did. The bartender, waitstaff, and manager were all very friendly. The piano playing was also lovely. The smoked hamachi was beautifully presented, fresh, and flavorful. Every component of the Run Down Stew was delicious. Perfectly cooked octopus, clams, fish, and potatoes. Again, beautifully presented. The Tres Leches was one hiccup. It reminded me more of a shortcake in presentation and the milks weren't as soaked as I'm accustomed to. The flavor was also not what I would expect. However, the dessert was delicious. The Lucid Dreams cocktail was sweet on top because of the white chocolate foam. I love sweet things and I made sure I had very bit of that foam. The rest of the cocktail was delicious as well. I will definitely be back. read more

The Study at Morrison House - Hamachi, Run Down Stew, Tres Leches, Lucid Dreams cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Beautiful, intimate and wonderful food and drinks. I wish we had known of this place earlier.

I attended The Study with a friend for Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week! Upon arrival, we heard the pianist playing elegantly with familiar songs of all genres. This set the tone for a great night! Our table was in a quiet area of the restaurant and we were allowed to peruse the normal menu and the restaurant week menu. For restaurant week, I ordered the following; Scallops Tiradito - Fun flavors but not very filling. The juices of this would've been perfect with dipping bread! Run Down Stew- Absolutely amazing dish. The stew itself was a perfect broth of everything I could ask for. Within the stew there was Octopus, Clams, Scallops, Purple Potatoes, and the catch of the day. Sadly, I do not remember what the catch was. I would return for this dish alone. Tres Leches- Delicious Dessert to top off the meal. I ordered a second one of these! I forgot to grab a picture of these. Off the regular menu, the following was ordered: Pickle Board- This was my least favorite item of the night. The flavors of the vinegar and bases were too powerful for my palette. Steak & Onions- Perfectly cooked piece of steak! I could've ate about 10oz of this and I would've been satisfied! Korobuta Pork Belly- The Star of the evening. I believe this was the best pork belly I have eaten ever. The whole dish was perfection from top to finish. I am surprised this was not on the restaurant week menu. I would return for this dish as well! The Sweetest Corn- Beautiful Presentation, but it was underwhelming sadly. I was hoping for more of a cornbread taste, but it lacked flavor and I wasn't a fan of the texture. It just isn't fair for it to be compared to the Tres Leches. All in All, The Study has made it to be one of my favorites and on my highly recommended list! read more

See all

Came in to have a few cocktails with friends that were staying in the hotel. The bar area is nice and Manny the bar tender was great! Just told him what type is liquor I liked and drink notes he whipped up a drink and it was amazing! Highly recommend if you are in the area for craft cocktails read more

The Study at Morrison House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We are long time residents of Old Town but had never gone to the Study and boy were we missing out. Everything, the food, service and ambiance were all curated perfectly. read more

I was truly blown away by how delicious every single dish at The Study was. As a Guatemalan, I found the creative use of Latin American ingredients and flavors in the unique dishes at The Study not only interesting and creative but also familiar and nostalgic. I love it when food takes me to a happy place. Chef Tomas Chavarria and chef Madeline Guzman can really create magic in the kitchen. Some of my favorite dishes included the kalbi ssam short rib lettuce wraps, the sweet plantain empanadas, the Costa Rican ceviche, the duck magret and achiote, the tres leches, and the coffee flan. I also loved the seasonal cherry blossom-inspired cocktail and the mocktail they prepared specially for me. I really loved the ambiance, and even though I had dinner here with friends, I think this is the perfect restaurant for a date night or for celebrating something special. read more

See all

Had another fantastic evening out at The Study. Manny's (bartender) drinks are beyond fantastic, Rodney's (server) menu recommendations were on point, Maddy's (sous chef) amuse bouche and dessert were balanced and deliciously unique, and Tomas (chef) expertly upgrades typical fish and steak with flourishes of Costa Rican influence. The "banned book speakeasy" theme was the cherry on top. We'll be back! Probably next week... read more

A culinary delight! I came with a small group to checkout the Alexandria Restaurant Week menu. For an appetizer I had the short rib lettuce wrap and for the entree the duck and achiote. Since it's a dry January for me, I had a sangria mocktail that was as delicious as it was pretty. The service was outstanding and I will be back to enjoy the cuisine and pleasant atmosphere. read more

See all

What a gem! Our waiter, Rodney, gave us wonderful recommendations. From the specialty cocktails to the bread with multiple butters to savor to the appetizers and the main courses it did not disappoint! Chef Maddie came to our table to chat and brought us a mouth watering chocolate delight to end our meal. The entire restaurant has only 8 tables! Highly recommend and we will definitely be back! read more

See all

An incredible hidden gem. I honestly cannot tell you about the restaurant because I never make it past the amazing bar. My wife and I go out for cocktails a lot, and Emmanuel is one of the best bartenders in the DC area. He throws together unique combinations of quality ingredients that always come across smooth. To add to the ambiance, is a cool cat on the piano playing jazz. Go before dinner, or after, or go all night and listen to jazz and taste amazing cocktails, but go. read more

The Study at Morrison House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Ambiance at the bar was great. Very friendly bartender and well-crafted cocktails. Food was good, not exceptional. We will go back given the total package was an enjoyable evening. read more

Enjoyed a very nice meal here a few weeks back while staying at the Morrison House. I can't say enough things about Earl, our server, who was absolutely brilliant- pleasant, professional, helpful, and patient with all our questions about the menu! We had several visits from the manager Leo, who was helping the servers as the night went on and tables got full. So service was top-notch. We started with the Heritage Croquettes, which were very interesting because of the perfectly fried outside, with an inside that was light and creamy. The red onion pickle and trout roe caviar was a nice touch of saltiness! For mains my wife had the Run Down Stew, their very tasty version of a bouillabaisse! It included an excellently grilled octopus tentacle, very large shrimp, several good sized and perfectly seared scallops (with which they happily replaced the clams my wife doesn't enjoy), a nice piece of cod, which coincidentally was my main meal as the fresh catch. The cod was meaty and thick, but prepared expertly as my fork easily separated layers for my enjoyment! Her broth was a tasty scotch bonnet stock, which wasn't too spicy and added another layer of flavor to the other marvelous ingredients! There was also a few purple sweet potatoes, which gave some starch to a very protein-intense meal. They were soft and filling! My cod was on a bed of very tasty bok choy, which is often-times over-cooked, and had soaked up a bit of the dark tomato broth beneath. We decided to splurge on the Churros In A Row- again, expertly fried with no evidence of excess oil, and a generous amount of both cinnamon sugar and spicy chocolate sauce! We explored the wine menu, which had some nice selections. Often we simply try glasses to enjoy better pairings with our individual dishes. Although small, the wine list was more than adequate, as was their offering of beer and cocktails! Ambience was warm and cozy, with plenty of space between tables and booths, something many restaurants seem to forget by cramming a few more 2-tops in normal aisle or walking space. My only regret was that we couldn't eat there again during our weekend, as they aren't open every night. For Alexandria with its plethora of restaurants, The Study is near the very top. Clearly the management has provided an experience that requires an excellent and well-trained team, which is something they should certainly be proud of, never mind they're a "Hotel Restaurant". Probably the best dining experience we've had since visiting Alexandria over the last decade! read more

See all

Lovely ! The gas fireplace / front sitting area is so beautifully appointed. They've done a great job making it feel a part of the bar on the other side- and welcoming to all, even if you're not staying there. The cocktails are fabulous and actually fairly priced for the ambiance. Best part is the live piano player / singer- SO fun !! You do need to go get your own drinks, and I do feel the bar tender was a bit inundated and could have benefited from a second helper making cocktails. Restaurant waiters were getting their own beer / wine / etc for patrons but one bartender for a pretty big area felt a tad unfair to him - the only dinged star for me (its gonna be dumb so be ready)- since they're a high end restaurant, the bar snacks are also super elevated, but I think they'd benefit from some hand cut truffle fries and/or an olive medley and/or some uniquely flavored deviled egg's and/or hummus crudite etc etc, some more snacky things. But we'll be back ! read more

See all

Great Menu Weird Service. So. I'm a local. I do not often go to Morrison House but I was looking for a quiet civilized moment of respite. Walking in felt right. The menu looked perfect and intentional. I was primed and ready and excited that I picked the right place for my mood...until I had to interact with the bartender - who needs a course in service. - I sat down right at the moment where the gracious pianist was asking him about desserts and the bartender kept abrasively repeating how he doesn't like desserts and he's just being honest. The pianist pressed a bit with his question to help him decide on a dessert and the bartender repeated his position even more abrasively. - I tried to defuse the tension my offering that I'd go for the Tres Leches but that's just because of my son :) and also offered that there are ways to be honest and still guide patrons such as: "it's really popular with our customers, etc." I ordered a Mezcal Negroni, the Hamachi starter and the Tostones (with octopus ceviche). The menu seemed so intentional and delicate so I asked if it was offered with chopsticks (so that I wouldn't have to stab my food) and the bartender said no. So, I used 2 paper straws as my chopsticks. All the while I was there, the bartender for some reason felt he needed to gratuitously bang and slam the mixing glasses in a highly disruptive and jarring way with no show value or purpose. It was so weird. I did intend to linger as long as possible, but after the dessert conversation and after waiting 15 minutes with empty plates and empty glass, and to get the bartender's attention (though not busy at all). I simply said: "I need to be offered my check" (also my parking was expiring). Apparently he had it ready and no where near me at the bar but didn't feel like offering it to me or asking me if I was ready or needed anything else but just decided to ignore me until I flagged him down an asked for it after an uncomfortable amount of time. So I signed and left. On my way to the car I attempted to call the numbers offered on the website to provide some feedback. A woman answered and just said "hello." I said I was trying to reach a manager to provide some feedback. She told me to go on Tripadvisor. I asked her if she could direct me to a manager and she said not at this time. I asked her if she was at the hotel and if I could leave feedback with her and she said no. I came to find out that it's a Marriott hotel and part of the Alexandrian and I'm a loyal Bonvoy member, but this is questionable...very questionable...Great menu, great atmosphere, remedial service and training. I gave the pianist a great tip :) read more

The service and food was nice. Desserts was great. They have limited of tables so it's better to make a reservation before you go. read more

See all

Staying at the hotel, grabbed some drinks and bites with friends. Bring your bookmark from the front desk for a specialty off-menu cocktail each evening you stay, they were fantastic. Had the Paradise Lost and Eve's Mistake - both were delicious and dangerously drinkable. We shared the bread and butter plate as well as the cheese plate. We ended up with a lot of bread that way, but we took care of it! There was a lovely pianist there, I believe his name was Derrick - fantastic! Cozy, warm and inviting - worth a stop for sure. read more

See all

The best bar in Old Town, hands down, and I've been to all of them. This bar competes with the best bars in DC. The drinks are imaginative. No short cuts. For the true cocktail enthusiast. read more

Went for restaurant week. The ambiance is great, nice cocktail menu and small but well crafted wine list. Unfortunately, the food left more to be desired. There was a very long wait from when we ordered to receiving any actual food - we started out with the bread share bites. Which was more like breakfast toast instead of hearty sourdough but the butter was great. We decided to do three starters to share: hamachi, shrimp and scallops. All three had lovely presentation. The shrimp with potato layers was probably the best - unfortunately it only came with one small shrimp. Would love to see 2-3 shrimps but maybe they shrunk the portions for Restaurant Week? Scallop - avoid. While we love raw scallops this left something to be desired. It severely is lacking in taste, needed desperately a pinch of acid or something. The foam leaves a gross residue once it deflates and it all tasted bland. It looked like the scallops were cut with a butter knife and not the level of skill you'd expect. The side chips were the best part of the dish. Hamachi - good, nothing special but good. For dinner, it took quite a considerable amount of time for the food to arrive. Two of us had the Steak & Onions. While it was cooked to perfection, it literally came out cold for both of us. Which was disappointing since we had such a long wait. I even rechecked the menu to make sure I didn't miss if it was meant to be served chilled. Really disappointing because the meat was cooked to a great medium rare. Run down stew - was delicious broth and great presentation. Few shells or something hard in the stew that we bit into when trying the octopus but hoping that was an off bite? Tres leches was a great dessert. All-in-all I am disappointed, was extremely excited to have this new addition in the neighborhood but was quite let down. May give it one more chance for dinner but would likely file this as more of a cocktail and apps location. Hoping they can figure out their expediting and quality control, potential to be great. read more

Words cannot express our utter delight dining at The Study. In an area filled with various eateries this incredible gastro experience is tucked away-off the beaten path in the Morrison House-A Marriott signature hotel. Now, don't ever let a restaurant attached to a hotel give pause. This was amazing. It's elegant, sublime, approachable, and memorable. The menu consists of uniquely paired seafood, beef, vegetable dishes masterfully and creatively prepared. That's what was exciting. Real creativity! The bar, rightfully so, gets a lot of attention but the food, oh, the food! I do have to give a shout out to the perfect martinis, one gin, one vodka, both perfect We started with the "snack "of house made pickles. Fresh summer squashes and cucumbers adorned with flower petals and three flavored "sauces" were quite a surprise. Refreshing, a little spicy, and memorable- it was perfect for a warm spring evening and the martinis.. The crudo tostada trio was beyond our expectations, and we almost ordered more. The three worked so well together- yet each was a standout. Of course we had to try the croquettes and were not disappointed. That sauce is worth writing about. When you get a serving with three, and you battle each other for the third, that's a statement. Delicious. As for mains-I had the steak and onions, he had the bass. Silence fell upon the table, and bites were exchanged. Both were so different and yet very exciting. We were stuffed, but decided to go full throttle intro dessert. We talked briefly to the chef who had just made fresh corn cakes, which we had with a boozy tequila cream sauce. It may sound odd, but it was magic. We also shared an order of the tree leches cake. Both desserts were well portioned at the end of an amazing meal. If I had but one suggestion it would be to have spoons set with the flatware service. We scraped all of the sauces with our knives and forks, and yes, when no one was looking, and index finger. Please look at this menu and see if it is of interest to you as a diner. True gastronome's will love the experience. In a town full of amazing food choices I encourage you all to peruse The Study. Better yet, go! read more

See all