Inspired by his family’s vacations in Key West, Gordon MacDowell decided to bring the island lifestyle to Northern Virginia. With a few tons of sand, picnic tables, and plenty of palm trees, he managed to create a little slice of the Florida Keys right in downtown Leesburg with MacDowell’s Beach. The restaurant’s menu features Gulf-inspired offerings like Caribbean jerk chicken, beach tacos, key lime pie, and the “Leesburger” in Paradise. There’s also some standard pub fare, including soft pretzels, hot wings, and burgers, along with a generous selection of beers on tap. Keeping the party vibe going, “Cap’n Mac” also maintains a full schedule of beachy live music, karaoke, and other events throughout the week. MacsBeach.com
This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2025 issue.
