First Look: Hotel Aka Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria has added a new visitor’s lure with the recent opening of Hotel Aka Alexandria, the 16th addition to Aka Hotels. With properties across the USA and in England, this hotel chain is a fave of A-listers like Jennifer Lawrence, Lee Daniels, and Richard Gere. Located less than 20 minutes from Washington, D.C., this brown-brick boutique hotel is the first American hotel designed by Piero Lissoni of Lissoni New York.

In the lobby, the hotel’s lodestone is its stunning floating staircase. The staircase leads to the hotel’s A.terrace, offering views of the calming Zen Garden with its abundant greenery, fire pits, access to seasonally inspired cocktails, and a menu curated by notable restaurateur Bill Chait and chef Raphael Francois.

The lobby also features art from New York-based painter Antonio Murado and U.K. interior design house Mineheart, elegant dividers, and chairs in blue and green designed by Lissoni, creating the perfect atmosphere for impromptu meetings. The hotel’s whimsical A.lounge includes several pieces by French photographer/artist Sabine Pigalle and a circular bar highlighted by a massive cloud light sculpture designed by Frank Gehry.

Combining Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics with midcentury style, Hotel Aka Alexandria has 180 rooms and suites, each a tranquil retreat from the busy city streets. The rooms features a calming neutral palette, oversized windows, custom-designed pieces from Lissoni, and expansive bathrooms with large crema marble vanities and rainshowers. A wall of built-in storage adds to the modern design and provides guests with plenty of space to store away travel essentials. There are also rooms that overlook the Zen Garden, as well as spacious suites featuring more Lissoni designs, including custom wet bars.

Additional amenities include a fitness centre with Technogym equipment, complimentary outdoor fitness classes for yoga and meditation on the A.terrace, and A.cinema, with private screenings of vintage and modern films available to all guests.

A French-inspired café on the main floor serves breakfast and lunch, including Illy coffee and pastries from the local Un je ne sais Quoi patisserie.

Photography by Jeffrey Totaro.