The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection — Attraction in Alexandria

I would not recommend getting married here. The reasonable cost, great drinks, solid food, and perfect location were not worth the heaps of anxiety caused by dealing with the venue.

We signed a contract for our wedding 18 months ahead of time, and The Alexandrian gave us the impression that the ballroom would be renovated well in advance of our big day. The ballroom needed to be renovated – the carpet was gaudy, the light fixtures were too large and too low, and the room is quite dark – and we wouldn’t have otherwise picked The Alexandrian without these assurances that the renovation would happen. Most irritating about the entire situation was how the venue strung us along with the renovation schedule: in January 2022, the renovation was scheduled for "summer 2022"; then in February 2022, "there is no definite timeline"; in May 2022 "the end of the summer 2022"; in September 2022, the venue said “they are continue moving forward with the renovation plans. We should be closer to a date within the next month or two,” ; at our tasting in January 2023, the venue said the renovations would be done within the next few months but "definitely before our May 2023 wedding".

The ballroom was not renovated in time. We found this out in February 2023 from looking at their Instagram story. So we just crossed our fingers for good weather so we could get married in the gorgeous courtyard. But it rained.

On the Wednesday before our wedding we were told to decide by Thursday whether our Saturday wedding would be inside or outside, even though the forecast was changing by the hour. They then threatened to charge us a $3,000 rain fee (not in the contract, never discussed before). What we were allowed to do on the patio in the event of rain changed on a daily basis that week. On Tuesday we could use the patio for dancing and have the bar outside, but on Wednesday that was a liability. It did stop raining during dinner and many guests ended up standing on the patio during the reception. But the Alexandrian did not move any of the outdoor furniture for us. It is my understanding that all of these decisions and last minute changes came from management.

Speaking of their lack of rain plan: they casually mentioned to our vendors (not to us) 2 days before the wedding that our seating chart (20, 8-person tables) would not work indoors with a band – the band and dance floor would have to be in a separate room down the hall and around a corner. This could have been raised months before, or even to us directly, not as an off-hand comment the Thursday night of our wedding-week. This meant we had to spend several hours Friday morning rearranging the seating charts, and my mother-in-law spent all day Friday and early Saturday morning (the morning of the wedding) reformatting, reprinting, and recutting new escort cards.

Having a wedding here caused so much stress. The event coordination team took up to 3 weeks to respond to emails, even in the weeks leading up to the big day. Do yourself a favor and get hitched at a location that is better-organized, more responsive, and doesn’t hide the ball. Don’t settle. To their credit, they did discount our wedding around 10% and threw in gold chairs and a dancefloor for our troubles.

I will say the staff, the food, the drinks, the location, and most of the guest rooms were amazing. It’s just clear that they need more forthcoming and responsive management (and a...

Quick Take:|If you're looking for a hotel with soul, service, and southern-inspired comfort, The Alexandrian is it. From the gracious staff to the well-appointed rooms and mouthwatering cuisine, this is more than just a place to stay—it’s a welcome exhale in the heart of Alexandria. Whether you’re in town for business, leisure, or in my case, a PhD residency, this hotel delivers the perfect blend of warmth and professionalism.||Pre-Arrival: Thoughtful, Responsive Service|Before I even stepped foot in the lobby, I had the pleasure of corresponding with Sam, the Assistant Manager. I had several questions, and his responses were prompt, attentive, and genuine. His thoughtful approach gave me peace of mind and set the tone for the exceptional stay that followed. After my visit, I reached out again to express my thanks—and once again, Sam responded with warmth and sincerity. That level of follow-through matters.||Arrival Experience: Southern Hospitality in Action|When I arrived on a muggy Alexandria day, I was warmly greeted by Zeniah at the front desk. She offered me water and a curated list of local restaurants. She handled my many questions with patience and a smile. That moment—simple but thoughtful—was exactly what you hope for after a long day of travel.||Room: Comfortable, Spacious, and Thoughtfully Designed|I was delighted with my room: a spacious layout, a private balcony, a large bathroom, and amenities that actually feel like amenities. The refrigerator and safe were both appreciated—many hotels these days skip them. The Malin+Goetz bath products and generous supply of towels added to the upscale yet welcoming feel.||Dining: King & Rye – A Meal to Remember|I had planned to eat elsewhere, but after reviewing the menu, I knew I had to try King & Rye, the hotel’s southern-inspired restaurant. The staff was gracious, and even though I dined alone, I was treated with care and attention.||Here’s what I ordered:||- Lavender Bee’s Knees cocktail – beautifully balanced and aromatic|- Shrimp & Grits with crawfish and crispy shallots – decadent and unforgettable|- Biscuits – true southern comfort|- Candied Brussels Sprouts – an unexpected standout||Every bite exceeded expectations. I even joked with the team that it “better be good”—and it absolutely was.||Neighborhood & Safety: Central, Walkable, and Inviting|You’re just a short walk from the wharf, steps away from free trolley and DASH bus stops, and surrounded by restaurants offering global flavors. As a solo female traveler, I felt completely safe walking around both at night and in the early morning. The location is a major bonus—especially if you're visiting without a car.||Why I’ll Be Back:|As a PhD student at Virginia Tech, I travel regularly to the area for residency sessions. These days are intense—hours of advanced statistics and academic rigor—so having a restful, well-run home base in between matters. The Alexandrian delivered. This isn’t just where I stayed; it became part of what supported me during an important chapter of my academic journey.||Final Thought:|I’ve stayed at many hotels, but few have matched the experience I had here. If you're considering a stay, stop considering and just book it. Huge thanks to Sam, Zeniah, and the restaurant team at King & Rye. You made this traveler feel cared for—and that, to me, is the...

I recently stayed with both of my parents, 2 children (ages 2.5 yrs and 14 months), and husband at the Alexandrian in Virginia for my best friend's wedding (the actual wedding was at my friend's house not the hotel). A large group of the wedding guests were staying in this hotel and the bride and groom had a room for the night before and after their wedding. First, I want to emphasize that everyone we spoke to was exceptionally nice. However, it seemed like nothing went right during our stay. I had called several times leading up to our stay to request special things - cribs for my kids and two rooms close to each other (we had one suite and one room with 2 beds reserved). I had also spoken to someone from Marriot over the phone to inquire as to how the complimentary shuttle from the airport worked. Upon arrival at Reagan International we called the number for the shuttle and were told to wait for it to arrive at its next scheduled stop (5:30 pm). The shuttle never showed up so we called the hotel to see what happened. At this point we were very late as the rehearsal dinner was about to start. We were forced to pile 4 adults and 2 kids with car seats into an uber. Upon arrival at the hotel Earl (the manager) was very apologetic and gave us coupons for complimentary breakfast during our stay. This was a nice gesture. Next, we discovered the hotel did not have one of our rooms ready (at this point it was after 6pm - check in is 4pm). We hurried to the room that was available and tried to get ready for our rehearsal dinner and be on our way. The second room was made available after about 20 minutes so my parents were able to throw their stuff in there as we ran out for dinner. We connected with the Bride and Groom and they asked us if we got our "Welcome bags" - we did not so checked in at the front desk. One bag was brought immediately to the suite, however, the Bride and Groom had allocated 2 bags per room. We again checked in with the front desk. Later that night 2 bags were brought to the room with 2 beds and we just gave up on the final bag. It wasn't until later we realized the first bag we had received was actually from an entirely different Wedding. We realized after dinner that first night we didn't have a blanket for our older daughter so used a bath towel and that worked fine. We tried to call the front desk on Saturday to have an extra blanket brought up but when the hotel staff arrived at our door he handed us 3 water bottles -...