Your ultimate guide to a weekend getaway in Richmond, Virginia
Our neighbor to the north, Richmond, Va., uniquely combines a 400-year-old history with a blossoming food, drink, fashion and art scene to create a weekend getaway that checks all of the boxes.
Affectionately known to locals as RVA, the city has endless ways to enjoy the great outdoors, including the country’s only urban class III-IV whitewater rapids. Foodies will love diving into some of the best restaurants around. Richmond is home to one of Bon Appetit’s Hot 10 Best New Restaurants in America 2019 — Longoven, which touts bold, unexpected dishes with a Virginia twist.
From sophisticated to casual, breweries to botanicals, RVA is the 4.5 hour drive from Charlotte that you didn’t know you needed to take.
Where to stay
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W. Franklin St.
A Richmond landmark, the Jefferson Hotel has been welcoming guests — including many presidents —since it opened in 1895. This year, the luxury hotel is celebrating its 125th anniversary and offering guests a variety of vacation packages in honor of this milestone. The Jefferson Hotel offers a lavish Sunday brunch buffet and is home to the much-touted Lemaire restaurant.
Quirk Hotel
201 W. Broad St.
Creative types will love this modern, vibrant, boutique hotel filled with revolving art. This spring, the hotel is opening a collection of eight new rooms decorated with murals from local artists —and we got a sneak peak. Do yourself a favor and don’t leave the hotel without grabbing a cocktail at the uber cool Q Rooftop Bar.
What to do
Capital Trail
2803 Dock St.
Bike this 51-mile, multi-use trail that goes from Richmond to Williamsburg and offers access to more than 45 attractions along the way.
Carytown
Stroll through the hip Carytown corridor, where unique boutiques, shops and row houses line the streets. Get a taste of life as a local and maybe pick up a little reminder of your time in RVA.
James River
Various locations
Hike, canoe, bird watch, rock climb, swim or tube at the James River. You can even go whitewater rafting right through the heart of the city. Get geared up for your adventure at Riverside Outfitters.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Ave
Stop and smell the roses at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The 50-acre property features more than a dozen themed gardens.
Maymont
1700 Hampton St.
Spend the day on the stunning grounds of this mansion-turned-museum. Take a house tour, picnic on the grounds, enjoy a carriage ride, visit the Nature Center or stop by the on-site barn to see some animals.
Museums
Various locations
Go to one of Richmond’s many museums to get your fill of art, history and culture. Choose from the Children’s Museum of Richmond, the Science Museum of Virginia, The American Civil War Museum, The Valentine, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society’s Virigina Museum of History and Culture or the Virginia Holocaust Museum.
Richmond Beer Trail
Various locations
Check out the nearly 40 craft breweries on the Richmond Beer Trail. Many are within walking distance of one another in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood, including Bingo Beer Co. (vintage arcade games), Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (the first Virginia brewery powered entirely by renewable energy), Starr Hill Brewery (great rooftop bar) and The Veil Brewing Co. (daily rotating food truck).
Richmond Mural Project
Various locations
Get your cameras ready for some colorful street art. The Richmond Mural Project offers a map of some of the city’s most Instagramable murals.
Virginia State Capitol
1000 Bank St.
Stop by the state’s Capitol building, partially designed by Thomas Jefferson himself. Stroll Capitol Square and spend some time taking in the impressive monuments.
Where to eat and drink
Belmont Food Shop
27 N. Belmont Ave.
A small (as in 20 seats), local neighborhood haunt that stays off the radar but should be on yours. The chalkboard menu changes regularly, but the food stays consistently great.
Enoteca Sogno
1223 Bellevue Ave.
If you’re in the mood for authentic Italian cuisine, head to Enoteca Sogno. Bonus: the restaurant’s extensive list of Italian wines.
Garnett’s Cafe
2001 Park Ave.
Known for its hearty sandwich menu, Garnett’s is a great lunch or casual dinner spot. The shop’s Date Night special lets you pick any two menu items and pair them with a bottle of wine for $30 after 6 p.m.
Longoven
2939 W. Clay St.
You won’t regret making a reservation for a top-notch tasting menu dinner at Logoven. With six courses and an optional wine pairing, Bon Appetit called it “mind-bogglingly good.”
Perly’s
111 E. Grace St.
A Richmond institution, this modern Jewish deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Known for its delicious latkes and matzo soup, Guy Fieri even featured Pearly’s on a 2019 episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Proper Pie Co.
2505 E. Broad St. #100
Have your pie and eat it, too — with your hands. Proper Pie Co. offers a rotating daily menu of both sweet and savory pies that conveniently fit right in the palm of your hand.
Shagbark
4901 Libbie Mill E. Blvd
Shagbark is home to southern fare from local farmers, fishermen and artisans — with a killer patio. Because its food is locally-sourced, the creative menu is always changing.
SB’s Lake Side Love Shack
6935 Lakeside Ave
Brunch spot alert. This neighborhood breakfast-all-day joint has a great patio and is dog friendly.
Sub Rosa Bakery
620 N. 25th St.
A croissant lover’s dream, Bon Appetit calls Sub Rosa Bakery one of the best bakeries in America.
Rappahannock
320 E. Grace St.
This famous Chesapeake Bay oyster company partnered with local farmers and fishermen to create a restaurant with “good food grown well.” It got Esquire magazine’s stamp of approval, making the magazine’s Best New Restaurant list.
