Reston VA in Fairfax County Virginia was, from its inception in 1964, a Planned Community – the granddaddy of all that followed. It sparked a movement in the suburbs of Washington DC – providing house-hunters with the all the conveniences of city living – being able to work, dine, recreate, and shop right outside your door – with the lower costs of a commuter town.
Soon, more of these developments began to crop up: Tysons Corner, the MOSAIC District, and tiny Fairfax Corner to name the most prevalent. Each has its own charms, great restaurants, and hotels, and we expound on them here.
Check Getaway Mavens Things to Do In Fairfax County VA for much more to do in this massive Northern Virginia county, inincluding George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Things to Do in Reston VA
EXPLORE: Reston VA
Robert E Simon (initials RES), used the money from the sale of his family owned Carnagie Hall in NYC to create an Italian planned community in 1964 where residents could “LIVE-WORK-PLAY.”
Saying that Reston VA, and Fairfax County in general is going through a rapid growth spurt is an understatement. On the Silver Metro Line, you can get to both downtown DC (35-45 minutes) and Dulles Airport (10 minutes) without getting off the train – one reason that this area of suburban Washington DC is so hot.
Reston Town Center
The DC suburb of Reston VA is composed of the Reston Town Center connecting five Lake Villages – each with its own identity. There’s live music, a year-round ice-skating rink, business offices, clusters of homes, condos, and apartments, utility hubs, and a system of interconnected art-laden walking trails to link them all.
Reston Town Center is home to wine bars like Sixty Vines, and women owned businesses, such as CitySwing – whose tag line is, “Golf but not so golfy” – to help with your game in a non-testosterone infused space. Also find indie bookstore, Scrawl Books, and the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art.
Lake Anne Village Plaza
Lake Anne Village, constructed between 1963 and 1967 – with its “Italian inspired” Brutalist architecture surrounding a placid lake – is perhaps the most interesting of the Lake communities.
The Lake Anne Plaza is filled with shops, restaurants, and activities including Paddle Boat rentals, Lake Anne Brew House, Lake Anne Coffee House (with Euro-style baguette sandwiches!), Kalypso’s Sports Tavern on the lakefront, an Art Gallery, Studio and Museum, and Chiboo Macarons. Stroll over the cute Van Gough Bridge and take a walk around the complex.
VISIT/SHOP: RiverSea Chocolate, Reston
Opened less than a year ago in a nondescript cluster of offices, the 3,000 sq ft. production facility of RiverSea Chocolate is owned by husband-wife team, Mariono and Krisse D’Agular.
The couple offers classes and tastings in their former (smaller) facility in Chantilly VA with an expanded cafe there. In Reston, RiverSea turns out 20,000 bars of luscious chocolate bars a day. These unbelievably tasty morsels can be found in Capital One airport lounges, in gift shops, and in stores as “private label” confections. Ever innovative and creative, RiverSea’s USA’s 250th Anniversary chocolates are made with spices popular during the Colonial Era.
SHOP: Dano’s Granola, Reston
Find Dano’s Granola just down the hall from RiverSea. Excellent and crispy (as opposed to soft-cereal competitors), Dano’s is the perfect morning meal for vegans with a sweet tooth.
VISIT: Fairfax Corner
The tiny Fairfax Corner has an IKEA! (OK, so it’s a “Plan and Order” shop, with virtual displays and folks to help you with design and not the whole Big Box Store). The tiny town also has an Apple Store, and large Cineplex, a Coastal Flats Restaurant and Ozzie’s Good Eats (both part of the Great American Restaurants group), and the latest, Ruthie’s All Day (see below). Eat, shop, and wander.
EAT: Ruthie’s All Day, Fairfax Corner
Are you a fan of breakfast? So much so, you crave it ALL DAY? Well, the cute Ruthie’s All Day in the charming little Fairfax Corner delivers. Have a hankering for a sandwich heaping with Brisket or Pulled Pork at any time? Have that, too. The service is quick and the biscuits are out of this world good.
MOSAIC District
The Mosaic District, a very walkable “Urban Village,” is growing leaps and bounds around the Angelika Film Center and Café. Within its expanding boundaries, find Home Depot, a “next-gen” Barnes & Nobel, a Sundance store, Anthropology, a Bloomie’s, and plenty of independent shops and restaurants. (See below).
Where to Eat and Drink in Reston, Tysons, MOSAIC
EAT/DRINK: Open Road Distillery, Reston
Grab a meal and pair with a small-batch gin, rye, or bourbon in the pretty tasting room – or massive restaurant at Open Road Distilling. The stills sit in a glass-enclosed room, so you can see where that Maple Old Fashioned is fashioned. Popcorn (rather than bread) arrives at your table before you dine on the likes of a great Chimichurri Steak Bowl, or Loaded Grilled Cheese made with Tillamook Cheddar.
Open Road serves a multi-purpose – it’s a distillery, restaurant, and speakeasy. So, if you’re in an amorous mood and yearn for dim lighting and atmosphere, by all means book a table in the cool Speakeasy.
EAT: Barrel And Bushel, at Hyatt Regency, Tysons
Brew pubs are always a happy place. Especially when the food is great (signature, 72-hour Pork Belly), the beer is fresh, and the environment is funky cool. Barrel and Bushel is all that. How fresh is the beer? So fresh – it flows directly from casks and barrels through organ-pipe like tubes directly to 22 individual taps.
Right outside Barrel and Bushel, you’ll find a gathering area atop the shopping mall garage (seems to be a local theme), complete with Virginia’s LOVE sign, heaters in cool seasons, and places to sit or sprawl out.
EAT/Breakfast: Pura Vida, MOSAIC
You’d be forgiven if you believe you’d been transported to Miami. The vibe at Pura Vida – with its couches and pool umbrellas on the rooftop deck – is pure Florida. Breakfast and lunch offerings, like Croissant Sandwiches and overnight oats are very good, and the summer at the shore aesthetic will transport you from Virginia to a tropical beach town in a New York second. Come on a weekday after the pre-work hour rush and you’re guaranteed a comfy couch on the roof – a vacation if only for an hour.
EAT: NAJA Mediterranian, Mosaic District
All you need are a bunch of Mediterranean dips, some piquant salads, and a heap of kebabs, and you’ve got yourself a party at Naja (formerly Kirby Club).
EAT: Red’s Table, Reston
Red’s Table, a cute rustic-contemporary spot by a small lake, prides itself on locally sourced American comfort food. Thanks to Reston natives Matthew, Patrick, and Ryan Tracy, dishes are down-home good, service great, and ambiance a breath of fresh air after a busy day.
Where to Stay in Reston, Tysons, And MOSAIC
STAY: Watermark Hotel, Tysons
Part of the Capital One Center outside of DC, the luxuriously cool and romantic boutique Watermark Hotel Tysons VA is a self-contained pleasure palace – especially if you’re fond of Japanese Street Food, semi-private Omakase dinners, mini-golf, rum drinks, craft beer garden, food trucks, and green roof decks. This place is so hot, and we love it so much, we’ve covered it in a separate post in this Watermark Hotel Tysons Review.
Most hotels in the area are large chains. Some of the most upscale, like the Ritz Carlton, can be found in Tyson’s Corner.
STAY: Hyatt Regency, Tyson’s Corner
As the Hyatt Regency Tysons anchors the upscale Tysons Center, it makes sense that its public areas nod to the fashion industry in creative ways. Yep – fashionistas will find comfort and upscale accomodations, plus the likes of Bloomie’s, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and dozens more, right outside the door.
STAY: JW Marriott, Reston Station
Newly opened in the newly developed Reston Station, it’s a short walk from the JW Marriott Reston Station to the train that will take you into the Mall in DC in 35 minutes or to Dulles Airport in 10 minutes on the Silver Line without having to transfer.
The Plaza itself holds a multitude of concerts, movies, and art. The permanent Lorenzo Quinn sculpture – an array of raised hands representing “building bridges,” sits right outside the front door of the JW Marriott. The installation has turned into a popular spot for weddings.
Don’t miss a meal or at least a drink at on-site The Simon Bar and Restaurant, where cocktails are almost as pretty as the oblong bar itself. New for JW Marriott – book a room on the “Mindful Floor,” with lighting that helps guests who suffer from circadian sleep problems get the rest they need.
STAY: Sheraton Reston VA
Rooms are handsome, clean, and newly renovated in soothing earth tones at the Sheraton Reston Hotel. If you’re choosing a hotel in Fairfax County for a good night’s sleep – or to get some work done – and don’t want to spend twice as much for a luxury hotel – this is a perfect choice.
