New Alexandria Hotel Is First U.S. Project Of Renowned Italian Architect

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Visitors to Alexandria will have a new luxury hotel option with the opening of Hotel AKA Alexandria in the Old Town North neighborhood.

Located at 625 First Street in Alexandria, Hotel AKA Alexandria is close to Old Town's waterfront, restaurants, boutique shops and more experiences as well as about 20 minutes from Washington, DC.

The 180-room property was the first U.S. project of Piero Lissoni, a renowned Italian architect with Lissoni New York.

“Lissoni envisioned a new chapter for the old city of Alexandria, a destination for business travelers and leisure visitors to feel at ease in an art-oriented environment," said Stefano Giussani, CEO of Lissoni, Inc. "The sculptural motifs are distributed in the common areas like the staircase, the art gallery, bar lounge and the library. We added a serene garden terrace where guests can enjoy the changing of the seasons and relax in peace and tranquility."

The hotel is described as a "blend of modern minimalism and mid-century elements." The lobby greets guests with art by Mineheart Limited and Sabine Pigalle flanking the walls and a signature Lissoni floating staircase. The staircase leads up to the terrace level, where guests can get cocktails from the seasonal bar. Guests can also enjoy seating, fire pits and greenery outside on the terrace.

When it's time to eat, the hotel has two dining options: a.lounge and a French-inspired café. A.lounge is a lounge and bar serving classic and signature cocktails, wines and light bites. The menu is created by restaurateurs Bill Chait and Raphael Francois. At the café on the ground level, guests can find breakfast and lunch options, including baked goods and Illy coffee and tea from D.C. based French pastry shop, Un je ne sais Quoi.

Business meetings and small celebrations can be hosted at the hotel with the help of the hotel's event team. The hotel includes a conference center, 1,500-square-foot junior ballroom with a 700-square-foot welcome area, on-site catering and audio and visual equipment setup.

Guest rooms range from 525 to 735 square feet and have features like furnishings by Italian furniture makers Living Divani and Porro and walk-in showers with rain shower heads. Each suite has a living and bedroom area with Lissoni-designed wet bars. Rooms typically feature views of Old Town or the terrace courtyard, while Zen Garden Rooms feature views of the Zen gardens.

Another amenity offered by the hotel is a ground level fitness center with Technogym equipment. The hotel will work with local partners and businesses to offer rotating outdoor fitness classes that will be complimentary for hotel guests. Guests can also access the hotel's on site theater, which can host private screenings of various films.

Hotel AKA Alexandria is the 16th property from AKA. It is the second open in the DC region, following AKA White House.

"The opening of Hotel AKA Alexandria brings a distinctive new experience to Alexandria, unlike any hotel the city has offered before," says Larry Korman, CEO of AKA, which owns the hotel. "Together with our partners, we’ve created a modern hotel with sophisticated design, bespoke amenities and services, while paying tribute to the rich history of Old Town to bring a new wave of travelers to the city."

For more information, visit Hotel AKA Alexandria's website.