Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee: A Tea and Chocolate Lover’s Dream
I was in Alexandria and wanted to find a bakery that offered an assortment of desserts, a unique story and an unforgettable experience. As I was walking down King Street in Old Town, I saw a business that immediately caught my eye. I love chocolate and any establishment with chocolate in its name is worth a try. I ventured into Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee not sure what I’d find but intrigued by the business name and its pink and gold décor.
After my initial visit, I was sold. I knew from the start I’d return to Lily’s during future trips to Northern Virginia. During this visit, I went to Lily’s two days in a row, twice on the second day. I ordered the exact thing, intent on verifying that the chocolate cake was as good as I initially surmised. It was!
Background
Lily’s was established in 2020 by Iranian immigrants. Saif and Lily Alobaidi, are siblings who immigrated from Iraq in 2009. I actually met Lily on my second visit to the shop and enjoyed witnessing her delight in the business she’d co-built. In addition to offering amazing treats, Lily’s offers a wonderful experience; it is cozy, beautifully decorated and exciting. With pink walls, a floral wall with a neon pink Lily’s sign, and swing chairs near a wall, the bakery is elegant, fun and airy. It felt like a vibe unto itself.
Lily’s specializes in lokma, an Iraqi dessert I’d never tried before my mid-August visit. Lokma is made of leavened and deep-fried dough that is soaked in syrup or honey. It is then coated with cinnamon, chocolate, or other sweet accents. I look forward to tasting it when I haven’t spent my daily allotted dessert calories on chocolate cake.
What’s Special About This Place?
When I visited the business during my early morning walk (in the 7:00 a.m. hour) on Friday, August 16, there were a handful of patrons. When I returned around 6:00 p.m. that Friday evening, there was a long line extending out the door. Lily’s appears to be a community treasured. The location in Old Town is also blessed with significant foot traffic from tourists and residents alike. Although I wanted the chocolate cake at 7:00 a.m., I decided to wait until the evening to indulge. Afterall, who eats dessert for breakfast?
I digress. Here are five special things about Lily’s:
- They offer chocolate imported from Belgium
- They offer afternoon tea service. If you know me, you know that I love the ways in which tea calms the mind and spirit. What couldn’t be more relaxing than afternoon tea in a beautiful environment.
- The establishment has been carefully curated to wow. There is nothing mediocre about this bakery. There appears to be intention in every detail.
- They serve a range of hot and cold beverages to satisfy patron’s thirst and style.
- Lily’s is beautiful. Even if I didn’t love sweets, I’d visit simply for the design and vibe of the interior. It is truly a cut above the rest.
If you haven’t visited or planned your return visit, please stop reading this article and do so today. If you’re among the millions of people who visit the Washington, D.C. area, plan to venture to its Northern Virginia suburb of Alexandria and give Lily’s a try. You’ll be glad you did. They have two locations in the area; one in Alexandria and another in Vienna.
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