Indie boutiques & antiques · King St from the waterfront (Union St) to the King St–Old Town Metro
Old Town Alexandria
King St, Alexandria, Va.
The brick-sidewalk King Street mile in Alexandria, Virginia, running from the Potomac waterfront up to the King St Metro, with the region's largest cluster of independent boutiques plus antiques, bookstores and a few national stores. Best for a full day of browsing that starts at the Torpedo Factory and works uphill.
King Street · Antiques · Waterfront
Photo: John Brighenti from Rockville, MD, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- In our directory
- 23 shopseach one verified
- Where
- King St from the waterfront (Union St) to the King St–Old Town MetroIndie boutiques & antiques
- Right now
- Typical hours10am–6pm
- Getting here
- ParkingKing St–Old Town station (Blue and Yellow lines) sits at the top of the street, and Visit Alexandria runs a free King Street Trolley along the corridor. Water taxis link the Old Town waterfront with The Wharf's Transit Pier in DC.
The directory
23 shops, all in one place.
Tap a shop or a dot on the map to see it.
Gifts4 places
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Gift shop near the waterfront specializing in Old Town gifts and novelties, along with goods made by Virginia artists; an easy stop for Alexandria souvenirs.
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King Street branch of the fair-trade retailer, which Visit Alexandria bills as 'the world crafted on King', selling handcrafted goods and gifts.
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Sister store to Shop Made in DC, selling only work by Virginia-based designers, artists and makers, and hosting classes taught by Virginia makers.
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Gift shop that sells work by artisans with disabilities from across the United States, half a block off King Street on S Patrick.
Boutiques3 places
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Preppy clothing and accessories shop at the foot of King Street, owned by three sisters and carrying Vineyard Vines, Vera Bradley and Lilly Pulitzer accessories.
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Three-floor women's boutique in a brick courtyard just off King Street, known for European designer labels that are hard to find in the region, with espresso served in store.
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Boutique with artistic clothing, jewelry and wedding and formal dresses, plus a large collection of Latin American folk art and nativity scenes.
Specialty3 places
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Comfort-focused shoe store for men and women with brands from around the world, split across two storefronts facing each other on the lower block of King Street.
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Stationery shop for designed greeting cards, pens, paper and desk goods, which also runs free monthly Correspondence Clubs for letter writers.
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Running store on upper King Street with footwear for runners and outdoor enthusiasts and an expert staff to help with shoe selection.
Home3 places
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King Street store for Simon Pearce's signature handmade glass and pottery decor and tableware, listed among Visit Alexandria's national stores.
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Independent home and gift shop mixing antique and new furniture with decor, kitchen and bath goods, work by local designers and Alexandria-themed gifts.
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Lifestyle and home goods shop with colorful objects from local and international artists, on King Street since it moved from S Royal Street in 2024.
Jewelry2 places
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Jewelry shop selling Italian-made 14K gold designs, upcycled vintage earrings and pieces set with ethically sourced lab-created diamonds.
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Antiques dealer specializing in antique jewelry, silver flatware and hollowware from the Victorian through Art Deco periods, a block north of King Street.
Books2 places
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Bookstore devoted to romance novels, billed by Visit Alexandria as the first romance bookstore in the DC metro area, a block off King Street on Cameron St.
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Independent general bookstore focused on book clubs, author events and community programs, with a separate children's and young-teen shop, Old Town Books Junior, next door.
Galleries1 place
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Waterfront art center of working artists' studios and galleries, where you buy one-of-a-kind pieces from the makers, including Dejan Studio Jewelry and GalleriaGeorgiAna.
Fashion1 place
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Upscale New York-based boutique that opened on King Street in 2023; the label takes its inspiration from founders Elyce Arons and Kate Spade.
Beauty1 place
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Beauty boutique stocking high-end cosmetics, skincare and hair care from lines such as Kiehl's and Dermalogica, at the start of the 1000 block of King Street.
Kids1 place
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Toy shop opened in late 2023 with children's toys, books and games, near the top of the King Street shopping stretch.
Vintage1 place
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Antiques and vintage shop selling curiosities, antique furniture, art, books and silver, near the top of the King Street shopping stretch.
Menswear1 place
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Shoemaker where founder Drew Altizer makes custom shoes on the premises, alongside a selection of menswear, half a block off King Street.
No shops in that category here yet.
Insider guide
Shopping Old Town.
The story
The brick-sidewalk King Street mile in Alexandria, Virginia, running from the Potomac waterfront up to the King St Metro, with the region's largest cluster of independent boutiques plus antiques, bookstores and a few national stores. Best for a full day of browsing that starts at the Torpedo Factory and works uphill.
The mix: gifts like The Old Town Shop, The World Crafted on King, Shop Made in VA; boutiques like The Lucky Knot, donna lewis, Gossypia; specialty like Comfort One Shoes, Penny Post, Pacers Running Old Town.
This week
In Old Town this week.
Typical hours
Most shops keep the hours below.
Hours vary by individual store. Always check with specific retailers.
Eat, drink, stay
Between shops, close by.
Top restaurants nearby
All of Eat →- The MajesticAmerican · Art Deco King Street restaurant that reopened in April 2026 under new owner and chef Santiago Lopez; its coconut cake has been served since 2009. Weekend brunch.
- MamanFrench cafe / Bakery · French cafe and bakery in the former Foxtrot space on King Street, for coffee and pastries.
- Finn & FireSeafood / Steak · Chef Ghazal Amir (of the Crab Cab food truck) moved into a storefront on North Pitt Street serving crab and shrimp dishes plus steak.
Ratings are the scores saved in our directory and are not live. Check the listing for the current score.
Getting here
Parking and transit.
- PParkingKing St–Old Town station (Blue and Yellow lines) sits at the top of the street, and Visit Alexandria runs a free King Street Trolley along the corridor. Water taxis link the Old Town waterfront with The Wharf's Transit Pier in DC.
- PMetro: King St-Old Town (Blue, Yellow)At the top of King Street; the shops run a mile down to the riverMetro fare
Keep exploring
If you liked this block of the city, try these next.
The Wharf
A mile of new waterfront along the Washington Channel in Southwest, where a handful of shops on District Square and Water St sit among piers, restaurants and the Municipal Fish Market, open since 1805. Best for an afternoon that mixes a bookstore and local-maker shopping with crabs, oysters and a walk on the water.
This week
Navy Yard
The Capitol Riverfront neighborhood around Nationals Park, rebuilt from the old naval industrial yards, where the shopping is a small cluster in the Boilermaker Shops at The Yards plus food shops, a winery and a brewery near the river. Best paired with a ballgame or a walk along the Anacostia rather than as a shopping trip on its own.
This week
Eastern Market
Capitol Hill's rowhouse main streets, centered on the 1873 Eastern Market hall with its butchers, bakers and weekend farmers, crafts and flea stalls, and running down 7th St SE, Pennsylvania Ave SE and Barracks Row on 8th St SE. Best for a weekend morning of market food, independent bookstores, gifts and vintage-leaning boutiques, then lunch on 8th Street.
This week
Guides for Old Town
All guides →Old Town Alexandria: A King Street Walk
A downhill day on foot from the King St–Old Town Metro to the Potomac: antiques and toys at the top of King, Virginia makers and stationery in the middle, bookshops and boutiques on the side streets, and artists' studios at the water.
Read guide →Washington Holiday Markets 2026
Dates, hours and locations for the 2026 holiday markets in and around DC, from the DowntownDC Holiday Market on F Street to Heurich House's Christmas Markt and Old Town Alexandria's parade weekend, plus the events that haven't posted dates yet.
Read guide →Washington DC Hotels Near the Best Shopping
Fifteen MICHELIN-selected hotels, including all seven of Washington's Key holders, sorted by the shopping you can walk to: CityCenterDC and Penn Quarter, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, the Wharf, Union Market and Old Town Alexandria.
Read guide →Stay in the loop
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