Alexandria - Old Town

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

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.

On-site catering available for groups of 25 or more. Check out Hard Times Alexandria's Facebook page for specials and events! 

Parking available in rear of building:
Monday - Friday: After 6 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: All day!

Check out our upstairs — we've added some big flat screens for you to catch the games!

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, every Tuesday night. 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. 

Specials

Specials are for dine-in only