Old Town, Alexandria.

Here's a confession up front: I spend a huge amount of my life in Old Town. My office is at 1004 King Street, my mornings usually start with a walk along the Potomac before the day catches up with me, and my dinners often end here too. I live over in Del Ray, but Old Town is my second home — if you've been thinking about what it might feel like to actually live here, the version I know is a pretty good preview.

Old Town isn't a secret. It's one of the most photographed neighborhoods in the DMV, and for good reason. But there's a difference between the version you see on a Saturday afternoon King Street stroll and the version I know at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday. Let me tell you about both.

What Old Town actually is.

Old Town Alexandria is a National Historic Landmark district that traces back to 1749 — older than the country itself. George Washington considered it his adopted hometown, and there are still more than 140 locations tied to him within a walkable mile. But this isn't a museum neighborhood where people just visit. It's a real, lived-in place where over 100 independently owned boutiques share blocks with 250-year-old rowhouses and one of the country's longest continuously operating farmers' markets (going since 1753 — every Saturday morning, rain or shine).

The bones are Federal-style and Victorian rowhouses on brick sidewalks lit by gas lamps at night. Captain's Row on the 100 block of Prince Street still has its original 18th-century cobblestones. There's a rhythm to it that other neighborhoods try to fake and can't.

The waterfront.

The Potomac is what makes Old Town Old Town, and it's where I do my morning walks. The Mount Vernon Trail runs right along the river — 18 miles of paved path connecting George Washington's Mount Vernon estate all the way up to the monuments in DC. In Old Town, it becomes a promenade. You get the water on one side and 275-year-old buildings on the other. Runners, dogs, strollers, people with coffee just standing there watching the sailboats. It doesn't get old.

The waterfront has been reimagined over the last few years — new piers, expanded parks, and a serious wave of restaurants that finally do the view justice.

Restaurants on the water.

If you're deciding where to eat with a view of the Potomac, here are the ones worth knowing:

• Ada's on the River
  Modern American, wood-fired everything. Named after mathematician Ada Lovelace. Award-winning brunch and panoramic river views from Robinson Landing. This is where I send clients for a celebration.
• Jula's on the Potomac
  The most polished of the bunch — refined American, prime steaks, a serious wine list, and a striking circular dining room. Best for a special-occasion dinner.
• Vola's Dockside Grill
  Fresh oysters, a legendary lobster roll, and semi-annual Oysterfest events. The Hi-Tide Lounge attached to it channels a 1960s vibe. Best patio in Old Town, in my opinion.
• BARCA Pier & Wine Bar
  Modern Spanish on a repurposed shipping pier. Sangria, tapas, and outdoor tables that literally extend over the water. It's got that beach-club-of-the-Potomac feel.
• Chart House
  The old guard of Alexandria waterfront dining. Classic seafood, panoramic marina views, and a reputation that goes back decades. Reliable in the best way.
• Blackwall Hitch
  Coastal-inspired menu with live music on the weekends. Family-friendly with a big rooftop and dependable brunch.

My actual favorite restaurant.

Full disclosure: it's not on the water. My favorite restaurant in Old Town is Josephine — the French brasserie tucked into the old Columbia Firehouse on S. St. Asaph Street. Three floors of Parisian brasserie done right, with a stunning glass-roofed atrium, vintage pendant lights from the actual Paris Metro, and the kind of food where the veal stock literally simmers 24 hours a day for three days before it becomes sauce.

Get the steak frites. Get the burger if you're feeling casual. Get a martini upstairs at Bar Jo, the hideaway champagne lounge on the third floor. If you're in town and I recommend one dinner, it's this one.

And the coffee.

Okay — I have to be honest with you about this one because I love this neighborhood and I want you to have a good time. There are a lot of coffee options in Old Town. Some are fine. Some are pretty. Some just aren't very good.

If you actually want good coffee — the kind where you can taste the origin, the kind roasted by people who care — you need to go to Hypergoat Coffee Roasters. It's on N. Payne Street, tucked into a historic building that also houses a coworking space and a fitness studio. Owned by Rodrigo and Deborah, who started roasting beans in their garage in Southern California in 2015 before landing in Alexandria. Everything is roasted in-house. Ask for a pour-over and let them tell you where the beans come from. That's where I go, and now it's where you go too.

What the homes look like.

Old Town is defined by its historic rowhouses — Federal, Georgian, and Victorian, most from the late 18th through 19th centuries. You'll find everything from tiny two-bedroom "flounder" houses to grand three-story townhouses with courtyard gardens. There are some newer condos in Robinson Landing and along the waterfront redevelopment, plus a scattering of single-family homes on the quieter blocks toward the west side. Prices reflect the demand — this is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the DMV, and it prices accordingly.

Prices in Old Town vary widely by block, condition, and whether you're on the waterfront side. If you want a real number for a specific home — yours or one you're eyeing — I'll pull the comps for free.

Getting around.

The King Street–Old Town Metro station is at the west end of King Street, and there's a free King Street Trolley that runs the length of it down to the waterfront. You can walk most of Old Town in under 20 minutes end to end. Reagan National Airport is 10 minutes north, DC is a quick Metro ride, and the neighborhood is genuinely one of the most walkable in the region. I do most of my Old Town life on foot.

Who Old Town is for.

If you want cobblestones, water views, walkability, history you can touch, and a Saturday that starts at the farmers' market and ends with dinner overlooking the Potomac — Old Town is going to feel like home fast. If you want a big yard, a garage, or a quiet suburban block, this probably isn't your neighborhood, and that's okay.

But if you're the kind of person who thinks a morning walk by the river is worth building your day around — well. I'll see you out there. Come find me.