Ok so here it goes... Why four stars because they make the most delicious bread pudding I've ever had it's like pudding meets cake super yum. The iced latte had way too strong of a coffee taste and I couldn't finish it. Would I go back? For sure! Why? Cause to be fair they seemed to be short staff and were very busy. Beside I saw on their board the "uptowner sandwich" and it sounded delish. read more

IF I COULD GIVE THIS PLACE LESS THAN ONE STAR I WOULD! We were in town visiting family and stopped in to buy several sandwiches before heading to the airport. My daughter has Celiac Disease so we asked if they could please make one of them a lettuce wrapped sandwich rather than using bread and to please change gloves and wash the cutting board to prevent cross contamination. The girl was incredibly rude and making faces so we said if that was too much trouble, she could just change gloves and use the paper to wrap it. She proceeded to wash the board and knife and literally throw them back down on the counter! I understand this may be a family business so I would say to the owners, if this is a family member, she needs a major attitude adjustment! We travel to Alexandria several times a year to see our kids and spend a great deal of money shopping local each time. This is one place we will never step foot in again! read more

Friendly little neighborhood type of coffee shop. seems like the type of friendly place it would be nice to hang out and read the paper or a book or study but I was in a big hurry to get breakfast before going to a conference so no such luxury. egg bagel sandwich $3, a lowfat yogurt cranberry orange muffin was $2. muffin was OK but kind of unspectacular.. i liked the garlic bagel on which the egg sandwich was served.. so by Old Town standards prices are quite reasonable, since the local fashion seems to be to try to be as spendy as possible to outdo the Jones' or something.. menu didn't seem to have anything to special or creative so really this is a fairly generic neighborhood coffee shop/breakfast/sandwich joint.. read more

First off, let me say that the coffee was perfect (which is why 2 stars instead of 1) I ordered a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. They both came out very quickly, but after my first bite I had to take a hair out of my mouth. I then checked the sandwich and found another long black hair. They probably would have replaced it, they seemed like nice people, but I didn't want anymore food here and just decided to throw it away and get food at the museum instead. read more

Great breakfast sandwiches! Lunch is good too. All sandwiches are named after streets in Old Town.

A cute cafe with eclectic non matching seating makes it fun and cozy to sip your coffee in. The freshly ground and dripped coffee is delicious. Prices are very reasonable . What stops them from getting 4 stars : service . Guy at register is stoic, no personality, no even a greeting/smile. Didn't listen in a haste to get order, so they got it wrong . Coffee shops are all about personality and quaint charm.... They really need to work on this!!!!! read more

Dude makes a killer almond milk cappuccino. Fresh, decent selection of muffins, great sandwiches. A go to spot for a quick breakfast.

Good lunch spot in north old town. Nothing fancy, just good sandwiches and quick service.

When I started writing this review, I didn't realize Uptowner was a chain (I'm new to the area). The location I went to had the feeling of a small-town cafe, was intimately cozy and seeemd to have quite a few regulars. I ordered the taro bubble tea, which was pretty standard, but delicious. This location has a bookshelf filled with a random assortment of books for customers to read at their leisure and some well-worn armchairs to make you feel right at home! I settled down with a crime novel in one of those armchairs, and quickly lost track of time. I thought it was a cute little cafe, loved the bookshelf idea, and would definitely come back here (if I lived within walking distance). read more

I had heard about this place for a long time. I finally made it there today. I had a regular tall drip coffee and it was delicious!!!! For a about a buck less then other coffee shops in the area, great value! read more

Quaint and quick. The strawberry smoothie was great if you like them less creamy - which we do! Bagel and lox sandwich was passable - needs onions and capers - the bagel was a little dense/dry for my taste. Cappuccino passable but more like a latte then cappuccino - although that seems to be the norm around here. I'll be back if only for the convenience and a second chance on the coffee. read more

The bacon, egg, and cheese bagel is the best breakfast sandwich in town, and the staff is so friendly and fast, you'll have a hot breakfast and a nice cup of coffee before you're ready to sit down! The atmosphere is honest, with a local cozy vibe, and they've even got some sidewalk seating for spring days (a rare treat in old town). Definitely worth a visit--we come here at least once at month! read more

Low-key, unassuming corner joint. Good lunch spot for a bagel or sammie or morning coffee. They have a few tables outside too. read more

This place is so cute! Quaintly decorated with a homey feel, it's a great place to get a coffee or a sandwich and catch up with a friend. Service is fast and friendly! read more

Solid local breakfast spot! This is the best place on North King for a quick bite and coffee. Fresh-squeezed OJ, assorted muffins/bagels, fresh fruit, and hot breakfast sandwiches ... great location/ambiance. read more

Very good Latte. Salty soup, but tasty. Interesting sandwiches, with adequate value. Wifi- ?? Comfortable, well worn, but homey read more

The bagels here are delicious! I've been doing a tour of Old Town's breakfast joints after moving here for work a few months ago, and this is officially "the" place! read more

I'm a big fan of the Uptowner! About five years ago (or more, but who's counting?) I moved right down the street and this place quickly became a favorite. They have a huge variety for a such a little place, plenty of sandwiches (hot and cold), pastries, coffees, fresh fruits, hot soup, and more. I love that no matter what sandwich I get, I can always taste that the veggies are fresh. Quality is so important. They also have really tasty coffees. And I love the ambience there, casual and cozy, totally unassuming. I do think it's a tiny bit pricy, but hey, this is Old Town! Stop in for an easy casual lunch with a friend, or (like me) a relaxing lunch with a good book! read more

Very basic sandwich. No chips, no pickle, tasted okay. OTOH,seemed to have local traffic. I won't be back, mainly because I want a little more flair. I can do this stuff at home easily. read more

They didn't speak English. Stale scones. Out of cider; however, signs were everywhere. Good pumpkin yogurt muffin. Horrible latte. Horrible is an understatement. read more

This neighborhood mom and pop has bakery and sandwich fare. It's open super early and usually has some locals chatting in the seating area.

Please refer to my review of Beanetics Coffee... to see why I am sooo happy that I found this place! Again, I'm all for local businesses, so immediately this place scores some points. Here are the other things that score brownie points with me: the "mega" size is a perfect size, the latte tasted dark and roasty without tasting burnt, my bacon/egg/cheese on wheat was nothing fancy, but was nostalgic from my childhood and therefore especially tasty (to me). This place also has bubble tea, which I haven't had a chance to try, but mark my words- there will be a follow up visit! Many baked goods, sandwiches on either regular bread or bagels, different espresso drinks and coffee, deli sandwiches, large coolers or other drinks (sodas, juice water, even 2 liter bottles of milk!) offer lots of choices to patrons. Service was extremely friendly without being pushy or fake and though the size compares pretty similarly to Beanetics, it seems almost bigger at Uptowner. Really close to the Kings St Metro stop, and be aware- street parking (as it is in pretty much all of Old Town Alexandria) is tight. Prices are maybe a little cheaper than Starbucks, though for certain things, they are not appropriately priced. (For example, a relative cup of joe or a latte may be cheaper than what you'd find at a chain coffee store, but the "looks home made" breakfast sandwich was a little more than I probably would have liked to pay, if that makes sense.) Will definitely go back for the bubble tea, since places that offer that in NoVA are few and far between. read more

This is a wonderful little coffee/sandwich place. I've been a few times and have to say I've been pleased every time. They have delicious coffees/lattes. I also like their smoothies, although they only offer 3 flavors. Their sandwich/wrap/soup menu is much more extensive (they have lots of delicious looking muffins! Probably a dozen or so different types?) and pretty yummy! I agree it isn't the cheapest place in the world, but honestly, I don't think they're overpriced. I'm not sure where else in the vicinity of Old Town you'll find reliably good foods at a cheaper price. Oh and if you're after deals, I believe they have a frequent customer card of some kind. I didn't grab one myself, but I'm fairly certain they have a buy 9, get 1 free type card (not sure of the details)! And the atmosphere is great. The workers are always nice, other patrons seem nice, and there is a shelf of books and magazines strewn about their eclectic collection of tables and chairs. It's a great place to grab a coffee or bite to eat and hang out for a little while. While parking is usually rough in Old Town, since this place isn't right by the water (I think it's 14 blocks down on King St), I've usually been able to find spots! Even on weekends! Or if you metro, it's pretty close to that! read more

Small, quiet coffee shop. The sandwiches are ok but the bagels with their flavorful cream cheese are the best. They have fresh squeezed oj in the mornings too. read more

Best coffee /sandwich shop in Old Town. Owner and baristas are very friendly! It isn't a trendy coffee shop but the food, drinks, and atmosphere are great. The seating is nice for a quick bite or lounging read more

Great coffee, yummy food, cozy atmosphere, and very friendly staff. This is my go-to coffee shop in the morning!

This is my favorite cafe in Old Town. Small, calm, and cozy. Nothing against Misha's down the street, but I don't like their coffee at all. Uptowner also has food which is a big plus. Even bigger since everything I've had here is delicious. Standard cafe fare, nothing very exciting but nothing to complain about. People complain about the price but I really don't find it overpriced for the area. I believe you'd be hard pressed to find anything more than a snack to eat at a coffee shop for less than $4. The biggest thing I would change if it was up to me is the lack of Wi-fi. Although, that might be what keeps it from getting too crowed. UPDATE: I had the grilled cheese that Kori K complained about and I have to say, he has every right. It was tiny, sub-par, served with nothing else and about $4.50. Avoid it. read more

Decent breakfast sandwiches, good coffee, quaint atmosphere. Good if you're nearby, but not worth trekking across town for.

We stopped in here for coffee and ended up grabbing a bagel as well. They made me a great iced vanilla latte and the bagel was pretty good too. Everything came out really quick and I thought the prices were on the lower side of what I'd expect in Old Town. Overall great place. read more

Fruit is fresh, and their pumpkin spice latte is delicious. Perfect place to get a light breakfast or filling lunch.

Cozy coffee shop environment. Fast, friendly service and good food. Lots of selection!

We were leaving town and wanted something for the drive home. My wife ran inside and I waited outside in the car. We had a bagel with cream cheese, a plain bagel with nothing on it, a low-fat pumpkin yogurt muffin, and a carrot cake muffin. The bagels were fresh and the muffins were excellent. Big, tasty, and fresh. The coffee was just ok. My wife said the staff was on top of things and moving along. read more

A very cozy place with good and quick service. The lunch section leaves some to be desired but works good for a light lunch!

I was just here last weekend to meet up with some girlfriends. It's a great local place that's lesser known on the less-busy end of King Street (near the metro). It did feel a little pricey, but that's what you're going to pay anywhere in Old Town. I really liked the lox sandwich for breakfast. For those that are bubble tea fans, they have a small limited selection of iced flavors. It's not the selection that a NY bubble tea place would have, but it helps you get your fix. read more

No wireless wifi. As small business owner who frequents coffee shops to use as external office space, it is surprising when there is no free wifi. What a great way for a small shop to attract business away from Starbucks! I will be going to delray where the caboose provides free wifi. read more

We had never been here before. We spotted it while driving along King Street, having driven to Alexandria early in order to shop at our favorite Trader Joe's before the holiday rush we anticipated later in the day. We always drive over from Maryland when we need to get more of the TJoe's "3 buck chuck" wine. (They can't sell wine at TJoe's in Maryland for some odd reason) plus we like the Alexandria TJs better than any others. As a lover of "mom and pop" one of a kind eateries, this place seemed like just what we wanted. We each ordered a house coffee (of course...this was 7:20AM) plus a sausage/egg/cheese sandwich on wheat bread (instead of on white bread or a bagel). Gotta have our low-carb protein fix in the morning!!! If they didn't offer something with eggs we would have had to pass. Just having carbs for breakfast doesn't cut it. We had fun people watching out the window while we ate our breakfast sandwich and drank our coffee. The manager was efficient and friendly, talking with us just enough to NOT be intrusive, while we drank our coffee before leaving (to hit TJs when they opened at 8 AM). Our breakfast here was more expensive than having the same type breakfast at a fast food chain (it came to about $12.00 for what we had) but like I mentioned above, we like to patronize the small one of a kind places, so we aren't complaining. (I have NEVER had any desire to go into a Dunkin Donuts outlet so stopping there was out of the question). We will most likely be back here to the Uptowner Cafe next time we drive to Alexandria early in the day. read more

This place has GREAT Bacon Egg and Cheese bagel sandwiches! The coffee is wonderful, and they have comfy chairs to sit in and read or write. Unfortunately, they don't have wi-fi, but that keeps things less crowded. The food and drink options make up for it! read more

I like to food and tea selection. The owner is quiet but kind. Funky joint convenient to King St. Metro!

Nice atmosphere & tasty breakfast food...best vanilla chai latte I've ever had. The employees are nice too.

They have good coffee, but when I went, the guy at the counter (i think the owner) was extremely unfriendly...and i don't like that..I don't spend my money at a business to be treated poorly...especially when there are five other coffee shops I could've spent my money at and supported. read more