Photo by Chris Cruz for Visit Alexandria
The pedestrian 100 block of King Street will expand into the 200 block March to September 2025.
Mark your calendars, Alexandria diners. The city's beloved summer dining celebration has a date: Alexandria Restaurant Week returns Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.
That's the news so far. Organizers at Visit Alexandria have locked in the calendar but haven't yet released the details diners plan around — the roster of participating restaurants, this summer's menus or final pricing. Those typically arrive a few weeks out, alongside a digital flipbook of menus. We'll update this story as soon as the lineup drops.
In the meantime, here's what the summer event has looked like — and what you can reasonably expect when the details land.
What to expect, based on last summer
Alexandria Restaurant Week runs twice a year, in winter and summer, and the August edition has become a reliable excuse to try somewhere new. Last year's summer event, which ran Aug. 22–31, 2025, gave a good sense of the scale and format:
- A big, citywide lineup. Nearly 90 restaurants took part in summer 2025, spread across neighborhoods including Old Town, Old Town North, Del Ray, Carlyle and Eisenhower, Arlandria-Chirilagua, and the West End — a mix of longtime favorites and newer arrivals.
- Prix fixe menus at set prices. Participating restaurants offered multi-course prix fixe dinners at fixed per-person price points, so you can plan an evening out without guesswork. (Summer 2026 pricing hasn't been announced yet.)
- Ten days, two weekends. The stretch of dates is designed to give you time to book more than one meal, whether that's a special-occasion dinner or a casual weeknight out in a neighborhood you've been meaning to explore.
- Perks beyond the prix fixe. Alongside the sit-down menus, select fast-casual spots have offered their own Restaurant Week specials and grab-and-go deals.
The event's whole premise is discovery — using a good deal as a reason to venture into a neighborhood or cuisine you haven't tried. It's also become a showcase for the range of Alexandria's dining scene, from historic Old Town dining rooms to international kitchens across the West End.
How to plan ahead
When the participant list and menus go live, you'll find them at AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com, including a browsable flipbook of menus. A few tips that tend to hold true every year:
- Reservations go fast. The most popular restaurants book up early, especially for weekend evenings. Once menus post, it's worth locking in your table.
- Check each restaurant's specifics. Courses, pricing, and whether a menu is offered at lunch, dinner or both can vary by restaurant, so confirm the details for wherever you're headed.
- Watch this space. We'll publish the full participant lineup and pricing as soon as Visit Alexandria releases them.
Alexandria Summer Restaurant Week runs Aug. 14–23, 2026. Details on participating restaurants, menus, and pricing are still to come — check back for updates.
