WHY GO: What are the most romantic things to do in Leesburg VA, a Loudoun County town outside of Washington DC? Well, since the Historic District is undergoing a mini renaissance, thanks to a local builder/developer – plenty!
Established in 1758, county seat Leesburg is a fashionable burg with a historic downtown newly abuzz with craft breweries, cocktail bars, artisanal coffee shops, farm-to-fork restaurants and chic clothing stores.
What’s creating the latest buzz, in mid-2025? Introducing a new, swanky boutique inn, and a modern American restaurant located in a beautifully restored 18th-century building – both in the heart of historic downtown Leesburg.
(Find more to do within the region in our Loudoun County and Middleburg VA posts. Looking for more couples weekends in Virginia? Check out our Best Romantic Getaways in VA.)
If you haven’t been to Leesburg in a few years, you’ll be surprised how much the town has been spruced up without loosing its old charm. Of course, there’s sporty and political history here – with George Marshall’s (of The Marshall Plan fame) weekend home, and the Museum of Hounds and Hunting in North America – both great attractions. In addition to the downtown boutique hotel, we also present an airbnb in the country – on the grounds of a winery. Read on….
Best Things to Do in Leesburg VA – Loudoun County
TOUR: Marshall House, Leesburg
General George Marshall served as Chief of Staff during WWII, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under President Truman, and is best known for the Plan that bears his name (and for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953) – The Marshall Plan – also known as the European Recovery Program.
But Marshall’s yellow farm home in the country was his “getaway place.” So a tour here will provide a glimpse of a highly regarded military man at ease. Ninety percent of the house and its furnishings are original, including a 40’s style red-and-white-checkered kitchen straight out of I Love Lucy, a comfortable living room and modest bedrooms.
Despite its modesty, however, the home is stocked with priceless mementos: a replica of a painting from Winston Churchill hanging above the mantelpiece, a photo of Black Jack Pershing, who served as Best Man at Marshall’s second wedding, and a picture painted by Madame Chaing Kai-shek, good friend and frequent overnight guest.
Marshall was avowedly non-partisan. When asked if he was a Democrat or Republican, he answered, “I’m an Episcopalian.” He was married twice. First to Lily Cole, who died of heart failure after 25 years, and then to Katherine Boyce Tupper, a former actress and mother of three, whose first husband, an attorney, was murdered.
Though President Truman considered Marshall his “go-to guy,” you’ll discover more about the personal side of this highly decorated military man on this intimate tour. The man who played an integral part in Europe’s reconstruction loved watching Gunsmoke and I Love Lucy, and ordered seeds from Burpee to plant his beloved vegetable garden. Check website for tour times and dates open.
TOUR: Museums of Morven Park, Leesburg
Commercial and residential development has reached a frenzied pace in Loudoun County – one of the fastest growing counties in the county. Three Metro Silver Line stations opened in Loudoun in 2022, connecting the county to the capital by rail. Some consider Loudoun County’s 1,000-acre Morven Park to be the area’s Central Park.
That might be exaggerating a bit, but there’s no doubt that this beautiful place is worthy of a couple of hours exploration. Once home to two Governors, Morven Park has a vibrant horse-riding legacy, tied to fox hunting on the vast grounds. It still serves as the Morven Park International Equestrian Center – home to world class international polo, Olympic-level Eventing, steeplechase racing and other equestrian pursuits.
Come to Morven Park to tour its museums – first, The Westmoreland Davis Mansion, which also serves, quite appropriately, as the Museum of Hounds and Hunting in North America. Displaying clothing, tack, saddles, and foxhunting memorabilia throughout several rooms, you can’t help but think “Downton Abby” as you peruse objects from this British tradition brought to America.
The 45-minute guided Mansion Tour brings you through dark but stunning rooms, heavy on drapery, “as if the Davis’s have just stepped out.” The tour focuses on Davis’s life rather than “stuff,” so guides point to the large portrait of the Governor in his red hunting coat, and a utilitarian waffle iron on the beautifully set dining room table – indicating that newfangled kitchen technology was something to be shown off, not hidden.
WALK: Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Park, Leesburg
Explore 67 acres of hiking trails featuring panoramic views of the Potomac River at Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Park. This unique, tucked-away network of trails is also home to several historic structures, native plants and wildlife.
SHOP: Leesburg Historic District’s King Street
It is also home to dozens of gift stores, home décor shops and boutiques. Highlights include Muz & Rose, Wldwst, and The Global Local – and some of our favorites below:
Brick and Mortar
Looking for a naughty, edgy, or just downright fun gift for a loved one, friend, or frenemy? You’ll find it at Brick and Mortar. From books to candles; aprons to bull-shaped glass whiskey decanters; whimsical to kinda-serious – you’ll for sure have a blast perusing this amusing shop.
The Lucky Knot, Leesburg
Owned by three sisters (with six locations), The Lucky Knot sells a selection of both reasonably-priced sporty garb and gowns for formal events and dressy occasions.
Birch Tree Books and Plants
If you love books and growing things, you’ll love this tiny spot off King Street
The friendly Very Virginia shop sells Virginia products – long on peanuts and bbq sauces. Did you know that Virgina Peanuts are a type of the nut – harder than most other varieties, and that makes them unique.
Where to Eat in Leesburg VA
Known as “Restaurant Row”, there are more than a dozen restaurants on and around King Street – this historic main road. It is the heart of the Leesburg Coffee Corridor with no less than seven coffee shops, cafes and espresso bars within a few blocks.
EAT: Shutters On King, Leesburg
Like Hotel Burg next door (see below under Where to Stay), the fine-dining Shutters on King at the intersection of King and Loudoun Streets, opened to much anticipation in sumer 2025. Housed inside what was originally built in 1900 for the Thompson Plaster X-Ray Co. – which, among other things, made and sold devices used in electro-shock therapy – Shutters knocks it out of the park with both ambience and food.
Dressed in Southern Gentleman chic, the banquette-lined ground floor dining room with its exposed brick walls, wood floors, plush couches, stone fireplaces and handsome backlit bar has the feel of a private member’s club. A smaller dining room features olive green walls, one solid wall of bookshelvs crammed with books, and velvet drapes on floor to ceiling windows. There’s a popular rooftop dining area offering commanding views of town, and, in the basement, an intimate private dining room inside one of the wine cellars.
You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Chicken Masala, Fried Chicken Sandwiches, “BBQ’d Sweet Jesus Oysters” all got nods from fellow diners. But I was blown away by the Clay Pot Chicken Wings starter, which comes glistening and crispy to the table and is drizzled with “White bbq” – more like a sweet-vinegary Asian sauce – cucumber, sliced scallions, and crispy garlic. I made a meal of it – along with a bowl of artisanally presented butternut squash soup and was a very, very, happy – and sated – gal.
EAT: Hotel Burg Diana Lounge
I can personally vouch for the Spicy Thai Chicken Salad at the Diana Lounge in Hotel Burg: piquant pulled chicken and firm Virginia peanuts, served on a bed of Butterhead Lettuce. If all the menu items are as awesome, as I assume they are, this could be your go-to lunch or dinner spot in Historic Leesburg, if you’re looking for a casual meal with a glass of wine or a cocktail. For more of an hours-long experience, step into the adjacent room where you’ll find the fine-dining, Huntōn.
EAT: Wine Kitchen, Leesburg
First and foremost at Wine Kitchen, there’s the wine – local and labeled with florid tasting notes. But the food, inventive tweaks on Southern is a close second reason to have a meal in this adorable spot. Farmers bearing fresh-picked produce walk right through the front door, and in a few minutes, said produce might be cleaned, chopped and appear on your plate. “Eat-Drink-Simply,” indeed.
COFFEE: Goosecup
Goosecup is a beautifully designed artisanal coffee shop and roastery that turns into a cocktail bar by night. Order not-your-momma’s breakfast sandwiches and espresso drinks to eat and drink in a gorgeous light-flooded indoor space or a sun-lit outdoor patio.
COFFEE: Shoe’s Cup and Cork
When the weather warms, take your coffee or wine out back to Shoe’s Secret Garden.
Where to Stay in Leesburg VA
STAY: Hotel Burg
New in 2025, the greatly anticipated 39 room boutique Hotel Burg has helped prop up tourism in Leesburg VA. “If there was ever a spot that needed a boutique hotel to elevate the area, this was it,” said developer/owner/contractor, Kevin Ash, of the largest single lot for sale in Leesburg’s Historic District. Ash should know. He has eight projects under his belt nearby, already revitalizing this part of town.
Doing justice to a once flagging yet promising area requires vision, a keen eye for design, and tenacity. Hotel Burg is the beneficiary of all of those things.
Ash envisioned the Inn as a pseudo hunting lodge without the macho mud and gruff. So, design elements like the Diana Statue (“The Goddess of the Hunt”) by the front door, (also the name of the casual lounge); naming Hotel Burg’s upscale restaurant, Huntõn; and the hotel’s Members Only Social Club – The Chase – are all nods to the hunting theme.
Speaking of the Social Club, members (mostly locals) enjoy some groovy benefits, such as a private space on the 3rd floor separate from the guest rooms, which serves as a workspace by day and a social area by late afternoon, when the music come on and the drinks flow.
Sit on a flokati stool at the intimate bar. Work out in a compact gym. Guests and HB Members can enjoy a meal or a drink at the Rooftop Lounge (seasonal) – open to the public on Wednesdays only.
STAY: The Cottage At Stone Tower Airbnb, Leesburg
Get the best of both worlds – City and Country – at The Cottage at Stone Tower, a highly rated Airbnb just outside of downtown Leesburg VA. Twelve minutes from town, the Cottage sits a bit off Route 15 on Stone Tower Winery property. Just past the Paint Ball entrance.
With sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a large front lawn bordered by a white picket fence right outside your bedroom window, you could be on your own private farm miles from civilization.
But drive under 12 minutes, and you’ve got the foodie town of Leesburg just a coffee run away.
The cottage itself is dressed to the nines in country-chic finery. Soaring ceilings, half a dozen plump decorative pillows on a very comfy King size bed, open kitchen with modern appliances and granite counters, a seating area, and antique furniture – the cottage is an oasis in glorious surroundings. No wonder comments on the website are so overwhelmingly and exuberantly positive.
FYI – the Cottage at Stone Tower books up quickly during wedding season, as Stone Tower Winery is a hot venue for nuptials these days. so it’s a preferred lodging for brides’ and grooms’ families.
STAY: Lansdown Resort, Leesburg
If you prefer a larger, full service, spa and golf hotel, check into Lansdown Resort.
