The nature of bars evolves as we do. Our first (legal) drinking experiences probably involved a dark and crowded dive bar, where the most complex co*cktail made was a rail vodka and cranberry.
However, the older and slightly more mature we get, many of us tend to gravitate toward the more complex and artistic-looking co*cktails — ones with dehydrated fruit slices, metal straws, and ornamental glassware.
While Alexandria's history is at the center of its tourism industry, it also has a rich food and beverage culture that appeals to locals and visitors alike. These are my favorite co*cktail-forward bars to visit in Alexandria.
Captain Gregory’s
804 N. Henry St.
Captain Gregory’s is anything but a typical watering hole. Nestled inside the walls of a former doughnut-shop-turned-vegan-eatery, lies this subtle, yet verbose speakeasy. Revealinghow to get in would be a journalistic travesty, since half the fun lies within searching for the treasures inside. Once you find it, though, it’s a dimly lit, sensory journey that feels like the inside of a boutique pirate ship.
The co*cktail menu is just as explorative as the bar itself, with the menu continuously evolving and changing much like the ocean itself. “The co*cktails are meant to be casual, yet sophisticated, and introduce guests to some new ingredients with familiar, comforting flavors in an intimate yet casual atmosphere," a spokesperson at Captain Gregory’s explained.
What makes Captain Gregory’s feel so dynamic is its ability to feel like a brand new restaurant every time the menu changes, highlighting co*cktails from different and often un-highlighted regions. It's chic without being inaccessible to budding craft co*cktail connoisseurs, and you feel more knowledgeable about the hidden world of mixology every time you close out.
Chadwick’s
203 Strand St.
You always know you are at Chadwick’s when you see the yellow exterior wall for the Big Wheel Bikes shop illuminating the night like a stop sign. Chadwick’s is about as closeas it comes to a modern-day “Cheers” bar— everytime you walk in, you feel like a regular.
To outsiders, it almost feels like a secret local society you desperately want to be a part of, where exhausted service workers, and locals come to enjoy a co*cktail or two alongside friendly and familiar-faced bartenders.
Chadwick’s isn’t a craft co*cktail bar serving up drinks in crystal glasses or with artisanal, borderline unheard of ingredients. What we love best about Chadwick’s is that it has never tried to be anything it’s not, placing an emphasis on simple, quality-made co*cktails made with love, laughter and good booze. It’s a bar that doesn't pretend to be chic for the sake of being trendy — it chooses instead to play the long game by focusing on customers and co*cktails equally.
Old Hat
112 N. Asaph St.
The masterminds behind Old Hat take the unapproachability and pretentiousness out of craft co*cktail-making. However, it never sacrifices on originality, twisting and muddling its own version of classic co*cktails that are anything but old-fashioned. Even though it opened in 2021, it has crafted a name for itself as a laid-back bar that feels like you are drinking at your fun, eclectic aunt’s house.
The interior is as eye-catching and subtle as the drink menu, where your eyes tend to discover more as you continue to browse. Beneath layers of house plants and artistic gallery walls, is a co*cktail menu that is both humorous and nonchalant without being gimmicky. Inspired by classic Tiki drinks, co-owner Jack Caminos, celebrates the fresher things in life with house-infused libations and no artificially-sweetened syrups in sight. In fact, each co*cktail celebrates the simplicity of classic co*cktails, but with a comedic twist to keep patrons from craving the old-fashioned renditions of co*cktails past.
In fact, it’s a place where jaded locals and inquisitive tourists can retreat away from the hustle and bustle of King Street to find solace in all things that are glamorous and slightly unrefined.
The People’s Drug
103 N Alfred St.
The modern-day, apothecary-inspired co*cktail bar of Alexandria, The People’s Drug supplies thirsty patrons with classic and aesthetically-pleasing co*cktail concoctions. Walking in, it almost feels like you're entering a retro general store outfitted with a nostalgic lunch counter you could sit down at for a refined, diner-style sandwich. Plus, the large “Drugs” neon sign hanging on the wall snags your attention so fast, you realize you are sitting down for the first of a few drinks.
We wouldn’t call the co*cktail menu at The People’s Drug the most ground-breaking in the world. However, it does the best job of honoring the classics that molded the mixology world, but adding its own twists and flares to them. Over-thought co*cktails like the paper plane, negroni, Irish coffee and even the gin and tonic get fresh facelifts that make them feel both new, but also nostalgic in a way that doesn’t seem overplayed. However, The People’s Drug’s ability to pair time-honored co*cktails to simple, yet iconic sandwiches is the sparkling jewel in its crown.
The Study at Morrison House
116 S Alfred St.
Located just minutes away from King Street and the Potomac River, The Morrison House boutique hotel gives off an air of sophistication the minute you step inside. It matches the historic ambiance of Alexandria so perfectly, you would almost think it had existed since the city’s inception.
However, burrowed inside the aesthetically pleasing hotel lies The Study — a modern co*cktail lounge with an antique atmosphere. Walking in, it feels more like a personal library filled with bottles of liquor, instead of well-loved books.
It feels like a luxurious and quaint home-away-from-home, especially if you go on a night when there’s live music. The co*cktail menu, inspired by the classics of the literary world, takes you through the story of The Study. Like the classics we grew up reading, each co*cktail feels familiar and nostalgic, but with slight variations that keep things feeling fresh every time you take a sip. It’s craft co*cktail-making that pays homage to the classics in addition to the masterpieces that have yet to come.
