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Del Ray Café
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Del Ray Café

About Del Ray Café

Del Ray Café is a highly rated restaurant and coffee shop in Alexandria, VA, serving farm-to-table French-American cuisine from morning to night in a charming converted house at 205 E Howell Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301.

Known for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, catering, dessert, and table service, Del Ray Café offers a warm, casual, cozy, quiet, and trendy dining experience with outdoor seating, dine-in, takeaway, kerbside pickup, delivery, and on-site service.

Guests enjoy fast service, great coffee, great cocktails, great dessert, a great tea selection, a great wine list, and local specialties, along with alcohol, beer, comfort food, happy-hour drinks, happy-hour food, healthy options, and a full bar.

With wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restroom, plus free Wi-Fi, reservations accepted, and strong customer ratings of 4.60 out of 5 from 1,799 reviews, Del Ray Café is a top choice for French-American dining in Alexandria, VA.

To experience farm-to-table French-American cuisine at one of the best restaurants and coffee shops in Alexandria, VA, visit Del Ray Café at 205 E Howell Ave or call +1 703-717-9151 to reserve a table.

★★★★★ 4.60 rating (1799 reviews)
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Guest Reviews
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Independent Reviews
Del Ray Café interior
Est. Local Favorite

A Taste of Tradition

Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.

Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.

  • Fresh Daily Specials
  • Private Dining Available
  • Catering Services
  • Takeout & Delivery

Guest Reviews

Hear from our valued guests

Victoria O

Victoria O

4 months ago

The orange juice was freshly squeezed. The tuna salad was made with fresh tuna instead of canned. The mussels were AMAZING! I haven’t had a meal this satisfying in a very long time. The waiters and the bus boy were very attentive. Even the hostess came outside to help my elderly mom out of the car. The experience was exceptional. This is definitely my new go-to for lunch and I’m looking forward to trying dinner.

Kathryn Breisch

Kathryn Breisch

8 months ago

The food was excellent, and the wait staff was even better. Our main server was extremely warm and welcoming. He replaced a bubbly drink that was too flat. And when they found out we were celebrating an anniversary, they brought us this beautiful dessert plate. We’ll be back soon.

Gavin Hall

Gavin Hall

5 months ago

Friendly staff, comfortable setting, food was amazing. We will be back, this was a perfect visit.

Nikkita Kumar

Nikkita Kumar

9 months ago

Located in Del Ray, Alexandria, this cozy house-turned-café radiates charm and comfort the moment you walk in. My friend and I went for brunch on Sunday and were seated relatively quickly. With the kitchen right up front, you get to see all the dishes coming out fresh and ready to be served. We sat upstairs and had a nice view of the neighborhood. Every staff member we encountered was welcoming and kind. You can still feel the old home-like character of the building, which only adds to its charm. The food was great, but honestly, I think I’ll be coming back just as much for the quaint and inviting atmosphere.

Teri

Teri

6 months ago

Delicious food beautifully presented. Fun vibe, friendly service, mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Mary, specialty coffees.

Bahraa Hijazi

Bahraa Hijazi

5 months ago

Del Ray Cafe is a truly warm and welcoming place. From the moment you walk in, you feel at home comfortable atmosphere, tasteful details, and a genuine sense of care that makes the experience special. A very special thanks to the manager, Nader. His presence makes a real difference. Professional, kind, and attentive, he creates a positive energy that reflects on the entire team. The way he welcomes guests and ensures everything runs smoothly adds a beautiful, personal touch it feels less like a restaurant and more like visiting your own home.

Bobby Royal

Bobby Royal

7 months ago

I am somewhat skeptical about sharing my experience only because I am being selfish! But, I will fight that share. This is definitely without question a treasure of Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia. It was my first time there. My wife and I randomly searching for something different to have brunch. Blindly, we chose Del Ray Cafe - We absolutely love this place. It is now on our calendar for a weekly visit. Why? The list would be too long for this review. Bottom line? It was all about the food & service. They are just doing things other restaurants are not doing. And, as busy as they are, the staff gives you the feeling they enjoy what they do. They truly believe in why they are part of the team and the restaurant’s mission. Kudos to Abdel, the staff and owners. They care about you having the best experience as a customer. They menu is very unique in that they have their core servings. However, there is portion where you can be creative in designing our own meal. The best example would be build your own omelette based on the options they provide. Price wise, expect to pay within the range of $20 - $35 per adult person. Parking is provided but limited but, if you drive passed the restaurant, you can find parking within the neighborhood on the street. Something that by comparison is hard to find in Old Town. They provide both indoor and outdoor dining. They are least than a block away from Main Street. We parked on the street and took a stroll down Main Street to walk off our meal. If you can’t make it in for the early menu. Absolutely, take advantage of their Happy Hour menu - it is extensive! And, as f the you love seafood, their happy Hour menu menu would disappoint you! Haven’t tried it yet, but the word is their Rotisserie Chicken To-Go is amazing. And, I sure if you ordered from the To-Go menu, it to would be amazing! Freshness of food? Absolutely! Fresh salads, in season fruits and in house baked goods all on point. Think of this restaurant as a bed and Breakfast

Jessica Adams

Jessica Adams

4 months ago

This cafe was such a pleasant surprise! My friend and I picked it randomly and it ended up being one of the best brunches I’ve ever had. Smooth rich coffee, homemade whipped cream, and delicious eggs Benedict. Such lovely, attentive and friendly staff. Cozy ambiance and intimate tables.

Maribel Allan

Maribel Allan

3 months ago

Excellent food. We had the Savory crepes. I had the Ham and cheese and my son had the Spinach one. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food. We also ordered the chocolate beignets . Amazing with the chocolate sauce.

BJ Johnson

BJ Johnson

5 months ago

I went to check out Del Ray Cafe for the first time recently and I left overall satisfied. The restaurant is small, quaint, and very well kept. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the decor was nice. The menu itself has many options that I think can cater to a wide audience of people and I appreciated that. One thing to note is Del Ray Cafe offers a lot of organic options, which is a bonus, since many restaurants use foods and ingredients that are detrimental to human health. The food itself was prepared quickly and tastes great. The pancakes were delicious and so was the lamb sausage. My only recommendation would be to give customers more juice. I ordered fresh pressed orange juice and the glass it came in, was much smaller than the glass that had water. Other than that, I'll be coming back for sure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Del Ray Café

Business Features

Highlights & Amenities

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible car park
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Kerbside pickup
  • On-site services
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in
  • Delivery

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great cocktails
  • Great coffee
  • Great dessert
  • Great tea selection
  • Great wine list
  • Serves local specialty

Popular for

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Happy-hour drinks
  • Happy-hour food
  • Healthy options
  • Organic dishes
  • Private dining room
  • Spirits
  • Vegan options
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Table service

Amenities

  • Bar on site
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi
  • Free Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Quiet
  • Trendy

Crowd

  • Family friendly
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Tourists
  • Transgender safe space

Planning

  • Brunch reservations recommended
  • Lunch reservations recommended
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Usually a wait

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • Has changing table(s)
  • High chairs
  • Kids' menu

Parking

  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking
  • On-site parking
  • Paid parking lot
  • Paid street parking

Visit Us

We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!

Location

205 E Howell Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301, United States

Reservations

+1 703-717-9151

Hours

Open Now · Saturday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Thursday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Friday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Saturday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Sunday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Monday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Tuesday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
Wednesday 9 AM-2:30 PM, 4-9 PM
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