Fairfax’s Mosaic District is the perfect place to sip, stroll, & shop this summer

Discover the best local restaurants, shops, and summer entertainment in Fairfax’s Mosaic District. 

Fairfax’s Mosaic District has become one of Northern Virginia’s most vibrant summer hangout spots, offering visitors an energetic mixture of outdoor charm and urban energy. Whether you’re looking to sip a local brew, savor some international fare from a local chef, or browse thoughtfully curated boutiques, the immensely walkable Mosaic District has something for everyone.

Restaurants

While the district hosts a mix of big-name restaurants, it’s the home-grown and regional eateries that truly give the neighborhood its unique flavor. From modern Thai cafes to an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria, these locally owned and regionally rooted restaurants offer an unforgettable culinary experience.

Colada Shop

Location: 2920 District Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031

Colada Shop is all about casual Cuban dining. Rooted in the Cuban coffee tradition, the shop has remained true to its mission of bringing people together over coffee, as well as food and cocktails, since its opening in 2016. Founded by Daniella, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, several locations exist in the DMV area.

Go for coffee and give Colada a try. It consists of four shots of Cuban strong espresso and whipped espresso sugar. If you have time for a meal, consider the empanada tray, which comes with three empanadas, along with a choice of side green salad, side Caesar salad, or soup.

District Dumplings

Location: 2985 District Ave. #110, Fairfax, VA 22031

Enjoy a meal at District Dumplings, where it’s all about the fusion of cultures. Consider ordering from the specials menu, which includes Peking duck dumplings, steamed wonton, and shrimp dumplings. Enjoy the dumplings with a bowl of wonton noodle soup and a cup of honey jasmine tea.

HI/FI Tex Mex Barbecue 

Location: 8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031

HI/FI Tex Mex Barbecue operates with the mission of being a “one-stop shop for all things tasty.” The Mosaic District location was launched by Nathan Anda, the chef who started the first HI/FI in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria.

The menu offers a combination of Texas and Carolina-style meats with Tex-Mex infusions. Check out the Tex-Mex BBQ plates section of the menu, which features hickory-smoked meats served on corn tortillas, accompanied by pickled peppers, pickled onions, Pico, smoked crema, rice, and beans. The orange soda braised carnitas is a standout option. Wash it all down with a HI/FI margarita.

Iron Chef House

Location: 2985 District Ave. Suite 145, Fairfax, VA 22031

Iron Chef House offers a combination of traditional Japanese fare with modern décor. The menu has something for everyone, including sushi and sashimi prepared by Master Sushi Chefs, as well as Japanese fusion options. Fresh, organic, and non-GMO ingredients are used.

Consider ordering the Iron Chef’s Halo Sushi, an Osaka-style pressed sushi with crunchy spicy tuna and avocado. It’s topped with tuna, salmon, and white tuna and is served with spicy mayonnaise and sesame vinaigrette sauce. For dessert, consider the banana tempura.

Mom & Pop

Location: 2909 District Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031

Mom & Pop is a collaboration between gelato brand Dolcezza and the team behind Red Apron Butchery. It serves handcrafted charcuterie, pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks, gelato, coffee, and pastries.

Try the egg and cheese croissant, then treat yourself with a pint of hazelnut crackle gelato.

Our Mom Eugenia

Location: 2985 District Ave. #185, Fairfax, VA 22031

The family-owned Our Mom Eugenia serves authentic Greek cuisine. The restaurant is spearheaded by Eugenia Hobson, a Greek-born chef who has been cooking for more than 30 years. She runs the business with her two sons, Philip and Alexander.

Give the Arni Giouvetsi—a tender, slow-braised domestic lamb shank that is nestled with imported Greek orzo—a try. Wash it down with a Greek mule.

Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza

Location: 2980 District Ave. Suite 140, Fairfax, VA 22031

Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza is a DMV area staple that was originally established by Italian-born Enzo Algarme in 2007 as a food truck. Drawing from Algarme’s native Naples, the pizzeria uses traditional ingredients from Naples, as well as traditional Neapolitan techniques. Notably, the wood-fired ovens used are made from bricks that were forged from the ashes of Mount Vesuvius.

We recommend the 11-inch Neapolitan Classica DOC, which comes with fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil.

Sisters Thai The Ordinary Café

Location: 2985 District Ave. Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22031

If you’re looking for traditional Thai food served in a comfortable living room-style atmosphere, give Sisters Thai The Ordinary Café a try.

The gai grob Kaprow, breaded chicken cutlets with basil chili garlic sauce, is a standout menu item. For dessert, order the sticky rice with mango.

Urban Hot Pot

Location: 2980 District Ave. Suite 110, Fairfax, VA 22031

Urban Hot Pot offers all-you-can-eat, including seafood, meat, and vegetables, in personalized hotpots. The menu allows you to select your soup base, vegetables, and meats.

Urbano Tex-Mex

Location: 2985 District Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031

The menu at Urbano Tex-Mex is a celebration of the flavors that make Mexican cuisine so unique. It ranges from tacos and fajitas to an assortment of Tex-Mex items. You can’t go wrong with the carne asada, which comes with marinated steak, grilled onions, beans, rice, and avocado salad.

A meal at Urbano Tex-Mex wouldn’t be complete without a margarita, which is made using premium tequila and fresh lime juice. Start with the tangy and sweet Urbano classic margarita first.

Drinks

Whether you’re in the mood for craft brews, Latin American wines, or carefully crafted cocktails, the district’s locally focused drink scene doesn’t disappoint. To make the most of your district experience, skip the chains and instead enjoy a drink from one of these independent establishments.

Grand Cata

Location: 8298 Glass Alley Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22031

Grand Cata is a wine bar that brings the unique taste of Latin American wine to Northern Virginia. Grand Cata is the brainchild of Julio and Pedro, who met in 2007 and bonded over the love of wine and Latin culture.

Give the Alto de la Ballena from Maldonado, Uruguay a sip.

Caboose Brewing Co.

Location: 2918 Eskridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031

While Caboose Brewing Co. is first and foremost a great place to go for beer, it also serves coffee and food. On a summer evening, stop by the massive beer garden for a game of corn hole.

The beer is made using traditional styles and seasonal flavors, but with new techniques. Those who are adventurous should order the build-your-own flight, which comes with four 4-ounce pours of your choice.

AKB Hotel Bar

Location: 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031

AKB Hotel Bar is a cocktail bar that’s ideal for a date night drink or a gathering with friends. The bar has several conversation niches, so you can be comfortable and enjoy a good conversation along with a craft cocktail.

Give the Happy Place cocktail a try. It comes with pinot grigio, peach schnapps, triple sec, orange, peach, strawberry, and soda splash. Be sure to check out the shareables menu as well.

Shops

Beyond the national retailers that one can visit in any shopping district, the Mosaic District is home to an eclectic array of local boutiques and regional shops. Whether you’re searching for one-of-a-kind candles, niche fragrances, or glittering garments, these small shops offer finds not available at the bigger chain stores.

Alas Eius

Location: 2905 District Ave. #112, Fairfax, VA 22031

Alas Eius is the brainchild of Ashley Turchin, who tapped into the Latin phrase alas eius, meaning “her wings,” to come up with a retail space in 2023 that prioritizes design-focused apparel, art, accessories, and home décor. Notably, each item sold was carefully selected by the team with the brand’s core values in mind.

Arielle Shoshana

Location: 2920 District Ave. Suite 145, Fairfax, VA 22031

Arielle Shoshana describes itself as “your perfume playground for unique, hard-to-find fragrances for all genders.” The niche fragrance boutique was started in 2015. Be sure to take the quiz, which guides you through the specific qualities you’re looking for in a fragrance.

District Candle Lab

Location: 2910 District Ave. Unit 130, Fairfax, VA 22031

If you love candles but haven’t been able to find just the right scent, visit District Candle Lab. The DIY shop allows you to select your own scent and then create your candle, from wick to wax. All candles are made from 100% soy wax and are free from parabens and phthalates. The lab was started by Turkish-born former NASA physicist Ferzan Jaeger.

Entertainment

For a cultural break between shopping and dining, the Angelika Film Center offers an upscale moviegoing experience in the heart of the district.

Angelika Film Center

Location: 2911 District Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031

The Angelika Film Center is an extension of the original center in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, which opened in 1989. The arthouse cinema has been the go-to place in Northern Virginia for independent and specialty film screenings since it opened in 2012. While enjoying a screening in one of the plush velour stadium-designed screening rooms, you can enjoy a sandwich, salad, or pizza along with a cocktail.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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