Eithne’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
visitrva.com - lots on the site, including details and opening in COVID times...
Disclosure - I am pescatarian so meat places probably under-represented
The Fan
Where you're staying!
Splays out west from downtown in fan shape
Cafes, restaurants, culture
Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Arthur Ashe Boulevard- fantastic community spot, free entry, sculpture garden, open 365 days, late opening Thurs and Fri - often music and happy hour plus 15-min docent favorite tours, downstairs cafe and upstairs restaurant, both relaxed, terrace and balcony onto sculpture garden
Virginia Museum of History & Culture next door being refurbed
Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU, opposite direction on Belvedere
Science Museum on Broad in old train station
Monument Avenue - all but one Confederate statue (Lee) removed in past year. Legal block on removal of Lee currently in place, RVA and VA committed to its removal
Music venues on Broad eg Firestation, Broadberry
Carytown (about 1 mile away, nice walk through Fan)
Fun relaxed, lots of independent shops, cafes, etc
Gift shops, games shops, etc
Byrd Theatre - original restored cinema with live Wurlizer playing before showing!
Far side of Carytown is Maymont, old mansion with interesting gardens, other parks nearby too. Regular music festivals in the park
Scott's Addition (about 0.5 mile away)
Fun, old workshop area, lots of lofts, organic change in the area
Micro-breweries, eating places galore, BBQ eg Ardent, Three Notched
Church Hill (c 3 miles away)
East side of town, historic part, quiet, laid back, cafes, restaurants
Libbie Park historic with nice view down to the James River
St John's Church
Downtown
State Capitol
Library of Virginia
Canal / River walks, cycle paths for miles - take your pick! Tredegar Ironworks and James River walks eg pedestrian bridge under freeway to BelleIsle, walk around (be careful of currents if dipping in the James), bridge from Belleisle to Brown's Island then lower pedestrian Coopers bridge back to Ironworks (a few miles to the west is Pony Pastures with nice tree shade for James River dipping)
Canal / River walks, cycle paths for miles - take your pick!
Great walking tour of murals in downtown and Jackson Ward (historical African American area that was broken up)
Civil War Museum in the Ironworks building
Museum of African-American History & Culture - W Leigh, Jackson Ward
Main St Train Station - nice restoration
First Friday of the month there is an open house at art galleries near Broad around Quirk Hotel. Relaxed, eclectic mix of galleries, and people dropping by, drink and picks offered
Eating / Drinking
Quick and easy, inexpensive, within a mile or so of flat
Kuba Kuba - Cuban!
Joe's Inn - american/italian cafe, omelettes, salads
En Su Boca - tacos etc, bar with Margaritas, outdoor seating
MyNoodle - Asian, outdoor seating
Garnett's- local cafe, salade nicoise, toasties, etc
Level - Asian Fusion, sushi, etc - takeaway
Pupatella - delivery, great pizza
Lemon - Indian delivery
Hofmeister - rooftop bar + bites, live music
Perly's Cafe
Moore St Cafe - breakfast
Bamboo Cafe - cafe/bar, relaxed
Fancier within a mile or so
Rapahannock - esp fish
L'Opossum - French, unique
Perch - esp fish
Bacchus
Peter Chang
Mom's Siam
Edo's Squid - Italian
Secco
The Daily - farm to table, outdoor seating
VMFA Amuse (upstairs + outdoor seating)
Tazza Kitchen (Scott's Addition)
Quirk Hotel roof for a cocktail + view
Local Provisions
Whole Foods - a block away on Broad, open until 9pm
Idle Hands -local bakery, bread, pastries, coffee, Strawberry St 0.5 mile (currently strange hours - check)
Scoop Ice-Cream, open late, Strawberry St 0.5mile
Shields Market - grocery opposite Joe's Inn on Shields 0.5 mi
Early Bird Biscuit Company - N Robinson
Can Can - brasserie with good baguette and croissants - Cary Town c 1 mile
North End Juice Company - juice, smoothies, salad bowls, avocado toast, etc window takeaway / delivery on Cleveland 1 mile
Blanchards Coffee - Broad
Sugar & Twine - coffee place, Carytown
Other Eating / Drinking
Union Market - shop/cafe with outdoor seating Church Hill
Sub Rosa Bakery - Church Hill
Alewife (Church Hill)
Roosevelt (Church Hill)
Rockett's Landing - couple of places looking onto the James, live music, bar, eats
Enjoy! Happy to hear of your recommendations
55 abantu bendawo batusa
Richmond
visitrva.com - lots on the site, including details and opening in COVID times...
Disclosure - I am pescatarian so meat places probably under-represented
The Fan
Where you're staying!
Splays out west from downtown in fan shape
Cafes, restaurants, culture
Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Arthur Ashe Boulevard- fantastic community spot, free entry, sculpture garden, open 365 days, late opening Thurs and Fri - often music and happy hour plus 15-min docent favorite tours, downstairs cafe and upstairs restaurant, both relaxed, terrace and balcony onto sculpture garden
Virginia Museum of History & Culture next door being refurbed
Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU, opposite direction on Belvedere
Science Museum on Broad in old train station
Monument Avenue - all but one Confederate statue (Lee) removed in past year. Legal block on removal of Lee currently in place, RVA and VA committed to its removal
Music venues on Broad eg Firestation, Broadberry
Carytown (about 1 mile away, nice walk through Fan)
Fun relaxed, lots of independent shops, cafes, etc
Gift shops, games shops, etc
Byrd Theatre - original restored cinema with live Wurlizer playing before showing!
Far side of Carytown is Maymont, old mansion with interesting gardens, other parks nearby too. Regular music festivals in the park
Scott's Addition (about 0.5 mile away)
Fun, old workshop area, lots of lofts, organic change in the area
Micro-breweries, eating places galore, BBQ eg Ardent, Three Notched
Church Hill (c 3 miles away)
East side of town, historic part, quiet, laid back, cafes, restaurants
Libbie Park historic with nice view down to the James River
St John's Church
Downtown
State Capitol
Library of Virginia
Canal / River walks, cycle paths for miles - take your pick! Tredegar Ironworks and James River walks eg pedestrian bridge under freeway to BelleIsle, walk around (be careful of currents if dipping in the James), bridge from Belleisle to Brown's Island then lower pedestrian Coopers bridge back to Ironworks (a few miles to the west is Pony Pastures with nice tree shade for James River dipping)
Canal / River walks, cycle paths for miles - take your pick!
Great walking tour of murals in downtown and Jackson Ward (historical African American area that was broken up)
Civil War Museum in the Ironworks building
Museum of African-American History & Culture - W Leigh, Jackson Ward
Main St Train Station - nice restoration
First Friday of the month there is an open house at art galleries near Broad around Quirk Hotel. Relaxed, eclectic mix of galleries, and people dropping by, drink and picks offered
Eating / Drinking
Quick and easy, inexpensive, within a mile or so of flat
Kuba Kuba - Cuban!
Joe's Inn - american/italian cafe, omelettes, salads
En Su Boca - tacos etc, bar with Margaritas, outdoor seating
MyNoodle - Asian, outdoor seating
Garnett's- local cafe, salade nicoise, toasties, etc
Level - Asian Fusion, sushi, etc - takeaway
Pupatella - delivery, great pizza
Lemon - Indian delivery
Hofmeister - rooftop bar + bites, live music
Perly's Cafe
Moore St Cafe - breakfast
Bamboo Cafe - cafe/bar, relaxed
Fancier within a mile or so
Rapahannock - esp fish
L'Opossum - French, unique
Perch - esp fish
Bacchus
Peter Chang
Mom's Siam
Edo's Squid - Italian
Secco
The Daily - farm to table, outdoor seating
VMFA Amuse (upstairs + outdoor seating)
Tazza Kitchen (Scott's Addition)
Quirk Hotel roof for a cocktail + view
Local Provisions
Whole Foods - a block away on Broad, open until 9pm
Idle Hands -local bakery, bread, pastries, coffee, Strawberry St 0.5 mile (currently strange hours - check)
Scoop Ice-Cream, open late, Strawberry St 0.5mile
Shields Market - grocery opposite Joe's Inn on Shields 0.5 mi
Early Bird Biscuit Company - N Robinson
Can Can - brasserie with good baguette and croissants - Cary Town c 1 mile
North End Juice Company - juice, smoothies, salad bowls, avocado toast, etc window takeaway / delivery on Cleveland 1 mile
Blanchards Coffee - Broad
Sugar & Twine - coffee place, Carytown
Other Eating / Drinking
Union Market - shop/cafe with outdoor seating Church Hill
Sub Rosa Bakery - Church Hill
Alewife (Church Hill)
Roosevelt (Church Hill)
Rockett's Landing - couple of places looking onto the James, live music, bar, eats
Enjoy! Happy to hear of your recommendations
lots of interesting independent little shops and cafes, busy village atmosphere
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Carytown
lots of interesting independent little shops and cafes, busy village atmosphere
Recommended
Highly recommended - walk there through The Fan, great art and architecture, including sculpture garden (admission to permanent collections is free), choice of cafes, open late on Thurs and Fri - happy hour, live music)
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N Arthur Ashe BlvdHighly recommended - walk there through The Fan, great art and architecture, including sculpture garden (admission to permanent collections is free), choice of cafes, open late on Thurs and Fri - happy hour, live music)
Rappahannock Restaurant
320 E Grace StGood food, particularly fish
Contemporary
En Su Boca
1001 N Arthur Ashe BlvdVibrant, love the fish tacos, cheap
Outside seating
Chilled local cafe, like the seat on the left by the window, salade nicoise, bargain supper of couple of mains + bottle of wine
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Garnett's
2001 Park AveChilled local cafe, like the seat on the left by the window, salade nicoise, bargain supper of couple of mains + bottle of wine
Relaxed, delicious "most requested omelette" + home fries, inexpensive, half of the place is a bar
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Joe's Inn the Fan
205 N Shields AveRelaxed, delicious "most requested omelette" + home fries, inexpensive, half of the place is a bar
Pleasant walk through the Fan, earn the ice-cream (mini cup if rationing), maybe keep on walking or have a breather in Scuffletown Park down lane opposite
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Scoop
403 Strawberry StPleasant walk through the Fan, earn the ice-cream (mini cup if rationing), maybe keep on walking or have a breather in Scuffletown Park down lane opposite
Interesting food combinations, unique decor and atmosphere, not inexpensive
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L'opossum
626 China StInteresting food combinations, unique decor and atmosphere, not inexpensive
Alewife
3120 E Marshall StHip, happening, good, interesting food
Decent inexpensive Asian fusion takeaway (or you can sit in but not a highlight!). Sushi and lamb lollipop fans
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LEVEL Restaurant & Bar
2007 W Broad StDecent inexpensive Asian fusion takeaway (or you can sit in but not a highlight!). Sushi and lamb lollipop fans
Good Asian food spot, quirk, intimate basement booths, and recent COVID-safe awning. Busy takeaway
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My Noodle & Bar
1600 Monument AveGood Asian food spot, quirk, intimate basement booths, and recent COVID-safe awning. Busy takeaway
Great takeaway pizza.
Personal taste, of course, but love the thin authentive Italian base and crust, plus not too dense on the cheese
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Pupatella
1 N Morris StGreat takeaway pizza.
Personal taste, of course, but love the thin authentive Italian base and crust, plus not too dense on the cheese
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W Franklin StAfternoon tea quite an event!
Local bakery and coffee. Check the hours, reduced because of COVID
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Idle Hands Bread Company
407 Strawberry StLocal bakery and coffee. Check the hours, reduced because of COVID
Perch
2918 W Broad StGood food, pretty stylish
Tazza Kitchen Scott's Addition
1500 Roseneath RdGood food, hopping, well -priced
Shields Market
206 N Shields Avehandy little grocery store
Good food, quite classic French in terms of food and atmosphere/service
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The Roosevelt
623 N 25th StGood food, quite classic French in terms of food and atmosphere/service
Good Indian food, there is an eat in option but decor doesn't particularly enhance the food!
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Lemon Cuisine of India
3215 W Broad StGood Indian food, there is an eat in option but decor doesn't particularly enhance the food!
Coffee place in 1930s building restored to contemporary
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Blanchard's Coffee Broad Street
3121 W Broad StCoffee place in 1930s building restored to contemporary
Bamboo Cafe
1 S Mulberry StRelaxed cafe /bar, decent inexpensive food
Outdoor rooftop bar with view, bar + straighforward bites, sometimes live music
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The Hof Garden
2818 West Broad StreetOutdoor rooftop bar with view, bar + straighforward bites, sometimes live music
Fun local spot, nice walk, decent inexpensive food, enormous portions
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Kuba Kuba
1601 Park AveFun local spot, nice walk, decent inexpensive food, enormous portions
Ipanema Cafe
917 W Grace Stvegetarian and vegan options
Big French style brasserie with good baked goods eg baguette is v good,croissants
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Can Can Brasserie
3120 W Cary StBig French style brasserie with good baked goods eg baguette is v good,croissants
Farm to table, great salads, nice contemporary indoors/outdoors spaces
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The Daily Kitchen & Bar
2934 W Cary StFarm to table, great salads, nice contemporary indoors/outdoors spaces
Maymont
1700 Hampton StNice walks
Mom's | Siam Restaurant
2811 W Cary StIndoor/outdoor place Thai food
Food scene
Bacchus
2 N Meadow StPopular spot, interesting menu
Activities
Pony Pasture by Huguenot Bridge is a lovely shady spot where you can swim in the James River
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James River Park System
Unnamed RoadPony Pasture by Huguenot Bridge is a lovely shady spot where you can swim in the James River