Bilbo Baggins

No Longer In Business

This place has been around for decades - we used to go in the 90s, I heard it's been around 40 years. Went back last night. Downstairs is more of a bar, upstairs is a suitably unpretentious restaurant, yet with very good food, and cozy Shire like atmosphere. Well curated selection of beers, both on tap and bottled. Prices are standard for the area. Service was good. Located in Old Town Alexandria, a couple of blocks from the beaten path of King Street. Parking will be slightly challenging (but easier than DC) . A moderate walk from King Street metro, or take the free "trolley " from the metro. Or just bike.

A slightly more scaled up dive bar. Tight bar space makes for a crowded place when people are there. Selection is actually pretty decent. There’s usually a few interesting things on tap. Didn’t have food this time, though I’ve heard mixed things about the food recently. Probably the most worthwhile thing to do is go to the various beer events they hold.

Cozy and small, great staff. Great beer menu. Food is good.

Bar/restaurant. Wish they had slightly bigger list - food is simple but decent.

Ya know, i actually like this place quite a bit. yes, it has insane DC prices, but it has a really cool atmosphere-very old school pub style. Have some decent beer selection but the food was fantastic-definately recomend the steak. Service was very good as well.

Some places are clearly pubs, others are clearly dive bars. And then there is the Bilbo Baggins. To me it walks the line, despite pubby pretensions, and I am cool with that. Typical high DC prices, but with an interesting enough Belgian bottle selection that it would be the easiest trick to drop a load of money here. Big comfort food, can’t vouch for it. Several TV and lots of liquor bottles. Wants to be a pub but also wants to be all things to all people, and that’s a tricky business.

Located in wonderful Old Town, Alexandria. Next door to one of our favorite local sushi restaurants, we occasionally stop in Bilbo Baggins for a pint, and even had dinner there once or twice. The bar has ten taps, including German and Belgian (often Chimay and Aventinus) offerings, as well as American craft brews (often Bell’s and Rogue, among others). The bar area is quaint, and the vibe is very relaxed. The staff is friendly and service is prompt. The bar also has a fireplace, which is especially inviting during the winter months. The drafts don’t rotate too much, as over the years I repeatedly see the same brews on draft. My biggest complaint about Bilgo Baggins is the ridiculous price one has to pay to get a pint of beer. Considering that most, possibly all, of their beers are available at a store in the very same town for a fraction of the price, it’s hard to justify spending that much money just so I can grab a beer and relax for a while. Overall, a cozy place, and worth visiting if you’re in the area. Just be prepared to shell out a few more dollars than you may be accustomed to.

I liked this place. The ambiance was nice, and it had a very homey look to it that I just ate up. The only thing that seemed off were the TVs, which look far more modern that anything else in the building, but the place is a bar, so they’re to be expected. The tap list was surprising without being mind blowing (WWS on tap, oz for oz cheaper than retail). Overall, friendly and pleasant.

Pretty small place- you can go into the restaurant portion or the smaller beer bar. The bar is pretty cramped. 20 taps seems reasonable but only about 1-2 beers caught my eye. Pretty calm and bit empty. I wasn’t too impressed. But before Paradiso Old Town and Rustico, this was about your best bet in Alexandria. Thankfully it has improved.

This is an unassuming place located in historic downtown Alexandria. There are two front entrances, one to the bar and the other to the restaurant. The place was cheerful and quaint with an old-World feel. The beer selection is nice, with many bottles to choose from, though nothing stands out as spectacular. The food is well prepared and appropriately priced. The service is adequate and could improve with more beer knowledge and passion for the food offerings.