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The patio at Augie’s
The patio at Augie’s
@ShootJoeC/Augie’s

Where To Drink Outside in Alexandria

Find locally brewed witbier, frosé, tiki drinks, and riverfront views

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The patio at Augie’s
| @ShootJoeC/Augie’s

So many spots in Alexandria have stepped up their outdoor setups for the summer. Stroll through King Street in Old Town to check out patios built onto the street and lush cocktail gardens. Closer to the water, drinkers can find happy hours with Potomac River views. In suburban Del Ray, the main drag has seen an influx of beer gardens and wine-friendly patios. Local brewers like Port City, Lost Boy cider, and Aslin Beer Company have also added more alfresco seats with options in the shade. Here are 18 options for grabbing a drink outside.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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Hops N Shine

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Del Ray beer garden Hops N Shine aims to be a neighborhood hangout, drawing locals to its back patio for events like a Tuesday night “Paint N Sip.” Moonshine appears on the drink list in cocktails and on the rocks. There’s a lengthy draft beer list and frosty drinks like spiked slushees.

Evening Star Cafe

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Over the past two years, Evening Star Cafe brought on more outdoor seating. In addition to its Front Porch, “The Back Yard” features cabanas and shady umbrellas. This Del Ray institution from Neighborhood Restaurant Group offers beer, wine, and cocktails such as a “Front Porch Frosé” and an iced tea-infused bourbon slushee.

The Garden

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What used to be a garden store on Del Ray’s main strip is now an outdoor beer garden run by the owners of nearby Live Oak restaurant. Prosecco on tap and spiked seltzer cans round out the lengthy draft list.

Cafe 44

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Try Cafe 44’s balcony for cocktails on a rooftop perch overlooking the Potomac River. The bar also is all-in on happy hour, even on Saturdays, with $5 beer, $6 house wine, and $7 spirits.

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap

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In Del Ray, this pizzeria created a garden oasis complete with misters and fans for hot days. Keep cool with frozen drinks like citrus sangrias and frosé. There’s also $4 wine and $5 beer during happy hour.

Port City Brewing Company

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There are picnic tables and umbrellas outside at this long-running Alexandria brewery, known for beers like Optimal Wit and Beach Drive golden ale. For a bite to eat, consider ordering barbecue from nearby Rocklands.

The Peoples Drug

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Old Town cocktail bar the Peoples Drug built a charming setup in the street full of umbrellas and planters. Order a Watermelon Whiskey Smash or spicy mezcal margarita, and share an order of truffle fries.

Augie's Mussel House and Beer Garden

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Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden boasts one of the most popular patios in Old Town. The drinks menu highlights beer from Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, with picks from Belgium and some other imports.

Blackwall Hitch

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Blackwall Hitch’s Potomac Patio offers a view of the river with comfy seating and tables equipped with fire pits. The cocktail menu includes drinks like strawberry-ginger margaritas and blueberry mules.

Taverna Cretekou

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In Old Town, Taverna Cretekou’s lush side street garden is a beautiful spot for a glass of wine and a meze platter.

King & Rye

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King Street’s King & Rye rolled out a Cocktail Garden in April that features fire pits, lounge areas, and more private dining spaces. In addition to a long list of rye, bourbon, and rare whiskeys, find refreshing summer cocktails like a cucumber gin rickey.

Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge

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This riverfront restaurant with a tiki sensibility serves a potent Painkiller and rum punch alongside a seafood-heavy menu full of coconut shrimp, crab grilled cheese, and po’ boys. Frozen orange crushes are $6 at happy hour, and brunch is a big draw, too.

Aslin Beer Company

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Aslin Beer Company added an outdoor beer garden to its neon-tastic Alexandria brewery and taproom, which is just as colorful as its beer cans. The beer garden is open Thursday through Sunday, which is also when Andy’s Pizza’s serves up Sicilian pies here too.

Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant & Bar

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This classic Irish pub took advantage of King Street’s expanded pedestrian zone, putting in a verdant streetside seating area for customers enjoying a pint.

Hummingbird

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Cathal Armstrong and Meshelle Armstrong’s seafood restaurant Hummingbird seats guests on a stylish patio with fire pits and river views. The drink menu includes wine by the glass, Virginia brews, and sharable cocktails like Mint Juleps or blackberry sangria.

Ada's on the River

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This new Old Town restaurant with picturesque Potomac River views on its patio serves cocktails with ingredients like pour-over coffee, fresh raspberries, or cinnamon nutmeg syrup.

Barca Pier & Wine Bar

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One of Old Town’s most unique new drinking spots, Barca Pier & Wine Bar seats customers on industrial freight containers floating on the Potomac River. Order cocktails like passionfruit frojitos or pomelo sangria along with tapas.

Lost Boy Cider

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This cidery near the Eisenhower metro stop added a 1,200-square-foot outdoor tent to its airy, 6,000-square-foot taproom.

Hops N Shine

Del Ray beer garden Hops N Shine aims to be a neighborhood hangout, drawing locals to its back patio for events like a Tuesday night “Paint N Sip.” Moonshine appears on the drink list in cocktails and on the rocks. There’s a lengthy draft beer list and frosty drinks like spiked slushees.

Evening Star Cafe

Over the past two years, Evening Star Cafe brought on more outdoor seating. In addition to its Front Porch, “The Back Yard” features cabanas and shady umbrellas. This Del Ray institution from Neighborhood Restaurant Group offers beer, wine, and cocktails such as a “Front Porch Frosé” and an iced tea-infused bourbon slushee.

The Garden

What used to be a garden store on Del Ray’s main strip is now an outdoor beer garden run by the owners of nearby Live Oak restaurant. Prosecco on tap and spiked seltzer cans round out the lengthy draft list.

Cafe 44

Try Cafe 44’s balcony for cocktails on a rooftop perch overlooking the Potomac River. The bar also is all-in on happy hour, even on Saturdays, with $5 beer, $6 house wine, and $7 spirits.

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap

In Del Ray, this pizzeria created a garden oasis complete with misters and fans for hot days. Keep cool with frozen drinks like citrus sangrias and frosé. There’s also $4 wine and $5 beer during happy hour.

Port City Brewing Company

There are picnic tables and umbrellas outside at this long-running Alexandria brewery, known for beers like Optimal Wit and Beach Drive golden ale. For a bite to eat, consider ordering barbecue from nearby Rocklands.

The Peoples Drug

Old Town cocktail bar the Peoples Drug built a charming setup in the street full of umbrellas and planters. Order a Watermelon Whiskey Smash or spicy mezcal margarita, and share an order of truffle fries.

Augie's Mussel House and Beer Garden

Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden boasts one of the most popular patios in Old Town. The drinks menu highlights beer from Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, with picks from Belgium and some other imports.

Blackwall Hitch

Blackwall Hitch’s Potomac Patio offers a view of the river with comfy seating and tables equipped with fire pits. The cocktail menu includes drinks like strawberry-ginger margaritas and blueberry mules.

Taverna Cretekou

In Old Town, Taverna Cretekou’s lush side street garden is a beautiful spot for a glass of wine and a meze platter.

King & Rye

King Street’s King & Rye rolled out a Cocktail Garden in April that features fire pits, lounge areas, and more private dining spaces. In addition to a long list of rye, bourbon, and rare whiskeys, find refreshing summer cocktails like a cucumber gin rickey.

Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge

This riverfront restaurant with a tiki sensibility serves a potent Painkiller and rum punch alongside a seafood-heavy menu full of coconut shrimp, crab grilled cheese, and po’ boys. Frozen orange crushes are $6 at happy hour, and brunch is a big draw, too.

Aslin Beer Company

Aslin Beer Company added an outdoor beer garden to its neon-tastic Alexandria brewery and taproom, which is just as colorful as its beer cans. The beer garden is open Thursday through Sunday, which is also when Andy’s Pizza’s serves up Sicilian pies here too.

Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant & Bar

This classic Irish pub took advantage of King Street’s expanded pedestrian zone, putting in a verdant streetside seating area for customers enjoying a pint.

Hummingbird

Cathal Armstrong and Meshelle Armstrong’s seafood restaurant Hummingbird seats guests on a stylish patio with fire pits and river views. The drink menu includes wine by the glass, Virginia brews, and sharable cocktails like Mint Juleps or blackberry sangria.

Related Maps

Ada's on the River

This new Old Town restaurant with picturesque Potomac River views on its patio serves cocktails with ingredients like pour-over coffee, fresh raspberries, or cinnamon nutmeg syrup.

Barca Pier & Wine Bar

One of Old Town’s most unique new drinking spots, Barca Pier & Wine Bar seats customers on industrial freight containers floating on the Potomac River. Order cocktails like passionfruit frojitos or pomelo sangria along with tapas.

Lost Boy Cider

This cidery near the Eisenhower metro stop added a 1,200-square-foot outdoor tent to its airy, 6,000-square-foot taproom.

Related Maps