A couple years ago while looking for a place to have brunch with some friends, we opened the red door that leads you into Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub in Old Town Alexandria. All of the tables were taken, so we found a couple stools at the bar. In two years, I have yet to find my way to a table, even if one happens to be vacant. It didn’t take long to realize this is a cozy place that I’d be frequenting for years to come, and I assure you that once you’ve gone, you’ll walk through that red door a few dozen times as well.

The first thing I noticed about Murphy’s were the bartenders; they will always engage you in conversations, whether about sports or weekend plans. However, if you are there before noon, you’ll most likely bump into Duncan, whose name can be seen on the chalkboard out front. He’s responsible for the “Duncan’s Bloody Mary” – one of the best I’ve had.  He crafts it early in the morning, mixing it up ever so slightly each week. Murphy’s is a place that you can find a good meal for a great price, while finding some of the best company Old Town has to offer on a Sunday morning.

All of that doesn’t even begin to describe Murphy’s. On Al’s first trip to the DC area, I took her here for brunch. We sat next to a 70 year old couple on their second date (their first date only the night before), and were finding they already wanted to be around each other all the time. The two of us immediately took a liking to them when they started talking about the differences in the dating scene after you hit a certain age.  Months later, we occasionally bump into this couple, and are always delighted to see them still very much in love.

From the conversations with the bartenders and Duncan to the people we meet at random over brunch -even just sitting in a comfortable atmosphere – Murphy’s is that place in Old Town where “everybody knows your name”.

-Scott
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