There are plenty of places to eat, drink, shop, and explore all along King Street! From the Metro Station to the Waterfront, you'll find everything from historical landmarks to funky coffee shops and boutiques. A good place to start looking for recommendations in the area is the visitors website for Old Town:
Also, be sure to take advantage of the free King Street Trolley. It makes it fast and easy to go from the Metro to the water and back! More information at the link below:
Here are some of our favorite spots on King St. Feel free to check them out while you're visiting! Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! Restaurants do fill up during Cherry Blossom/tourist season, so many will have a wait if no reservation is held. Most of the restaurants close to the water have been mainstays for decades, and you probably can't go wrong! And there's always Pop's for ice cream at the end of the night. (Right next to the Fish Market, conveniently!)
Hard Times Cafe (Comfort Food - Casual)
Our favorite place in Old Town (and not just because it's less than a block from our apartment)! Sure, it's a greasy spoon kind of restaurant and you're not going to find much health food on the menu, but trust us, you'll be a happy camper when you leave.
Make sure you get the free chili sampler if you go (we prefer the terlingua).
Red Rocks Neopolitan Bistro (Pizza - Casual)
Arguably the best pizza on King Street. We think they have some of the most unique topping combos and by far the best crust around. Plenty of beer on tap and a comfortable atmosphere.
Try the Bianchi or the Salsiccia pies. Two of our favorites!
The Pita House (Mediterranean - Casual)
One of our go-to restaurants, as it's delicious but reasonably priced. We love the hommos - especially the hommos bel fool - and the shawarma.
There are plenty of Mediterranean options on King, this is one of the best.
Magnolia's On King (Southern - Upscale/Lounge)
This restaurant is relatively new for King Street, but absolutely delicious. Cocktails are amazing, and they have a lounge area upstairs if you're interested in just stopping in for a drink. Otherwise, the southern cuisine is decadent (as in, if you eat here for lunch on Saturday, you'll probably fall asleep during our ceremony).
Gadsby's Tavern & Restaurant (American - Upscale/Historic)
Admittedly we have only been here once, but Gadsby's Tavern is a popular spot for tourists. It touts that "George Washington ate here" and when you visit, you'll be entertained by servers maintaining colonial dress and dialogue.
Murphy's Irish Pub
A classic, fun, Irish bar - everything from the bangers to the Guinness to the guitarist playing Irish folk songs (and 'Sweet Caroline'). It's always a good time.
It can get pretty crowded on the weekends, but it has two floors, each with it's own folk singing guitarist.
Blackwall Hitch
A fairly new addition to the Potomac waterfront. This bar/restaurant has great seafood and even better cocktails. With bars downstairs, upstairs, and outside, it should be pretty easy to get a drink!
Take in the great views! You're still in Virginia, but you can see Maryland and DC from here (including the Washington Monument and Capitol Dome).
Killer E.S.P (Espresso, Sorbet, Pies) Coffee Shop
Not only can you get some of the best coffee around at ESP, you can also try DC favorites like Julia's empanadas and Dangerously Delicious Pies. Awesome atmosphere, great food, and, if you're lucky, you might run into Buddy, the Boston Terrier!
We like this place so much, we actually got several of our engagement photos taken here!