Alexandria - Old Town

Indoor and patio seating NOW OPEN!

This is the Granddaddy of Them All

In 1980, the first Hard Times Cafe opened on this very site in Old Town. Founders Jim and Fred Parker didn't really know what they were getting into — but they did know how to cook award-winning chili. The rest is history.

Follow Hard Times Alexandria's Facebook page or join the email list for specials and events. And check out our upstairs — we've added some big flat screens for you to catch the games!

On-site Catering: Available for groups of 25 or more.

Open Mic (Tuesdays at 9 p.m.): Many big-name entertainers begin their careers playing for free in bars and honky tonks, and Hard Times Cafe continues the Old Town open mic tradition, begun at the now-closed Tiffany Tavern. On Tuesdays at 9 p.m., our second floor transforms into an intimate club setting that offers acoustic musicians, poets and comics a late-evening opportunity to try out new material and socialize with other artists. 

Weekly Specials

Specials are for dine-in only

Sunday

Kids Night, 5 - 8 p.m.
(1 Free Kids Meal with 
Adult Entree Purchase)

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