Richmond, Virginia is the capital of the state and is one of the South’s most underrated destinations, especially for foodies. The city has deep ties to American history, including the early days of the nation and the Civil War. It’s close to other destinations like Washington DC, Charlottesville, and Williamsburg, making it the perfect base.
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The Neighborhoods of Richmond
The majority of the well-known attractions in Richmond are downtown, which includes neighborhoods like Monroe Ward. Framed by the highway and thoroughfares, you’ll find the Virginia State Capitol, the Valentine, and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center. It’s also where most of the hotels are. The Electric Bike Tour through Prominent Richmond Neighborhoods is a great way to see them.
Neighboring Shockoe Bottom is set along the James River. The cobblestones and historic buildings make it a favorite of photographers. It’s where the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum are located as well as riverfront restaurants.
Museum District 
Scott’s Addition
Richmond’s Fan District is set around the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. It has wide tree-lined streets with pocket parks and dozens of local restaurants.
Carytown and the Museum District are home to funky murals, boutiques and record stores, and even more restaurants. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
Richmond’s neighborhood for craft breweries and cideries is Scotts Addition. The Veil, Ardent, and Isley are just a few of them. Peter Chang is also one of the most notable restaurants in the city.
Richmond Restaurants and Cafes
Richmond has an incredible culinary scene, especially for chef-driven restaurants with seasonal ingredients. They put unique spins on traditional dishes.
The Daily Kitchen & Bar– For a healthy meal, visit this Carytown eatery for locally sourced and environmentally responsible dishes. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch, the menus include vegan and gluten-free items.
Perly’s– Richmond’s version of an old-school Jewish deli, you’ll find both classic items like bagels and lox along with “Jewish egg rolls” and the “Jewbano” sandwich. Pair with local coffee or, later in the day, cocktails.
L’opossum– A neighborhood gem, the cozy James Beard semifinalist restaurant is filled with colorful lanterns and has a cheeky menu of items like escargot on a ham biscuit and Beef “Swellington.” Save room for dessert!
The Roosevelt– Located in a turn of the century building in the scenic Church Hill neighborhood, The Roosevelt has won awards for its cocktail menu. It’s also been named the best restaurant in the city. Try the comforting dishes like beef cheeks and roasted chicken with collard greens.
Citizen– It’s easy to walk right past this business district modern diner, but inside you’ll find art-lined walls and a healthy menu for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Internationally inspired dishes include tortas, falafel salad, and gravlax.
Saison Market 
Perly’s
Saison Market– Saison’s casual bottle shop and deli has a small amount of seating if you’d like to stay and enjoy their fried chicken sandwiches, artisan coffee, and breakfast burritos.
Maple and Pine Restaurant– Located inside the Quirk, this restaurant has seasonal new American dishes like house-made pasta, local oysters, and seared duck.
Nate’s Bagels– College students love this casual bagel shop that has the usual varieties as well as breakfast sandwiches, vegan cream cheese, and housemade challah bread.
The Fancy Biscuit– Breakfast is served all day at this restaurant that is, of course, known for its biscuits that you can build or pick from their selections. In addition, they also have sandwiches and shrimp and grits.
The Boathouse– The seafood restaurant has multiple locations in town but the riverfront spot is surrounded by greenery. Enjoy Chesapeake oysters, crab cakes, and shrimp and grits.
Richmond Bars and Nightlife
This fun-loving city has all sorts of watering holes from old-school dives and speakeasies to craft breweries to swanky cocktail bars. And don’t forget about music venues!
Breweries- Richmond boasts some of the best craft breweries around including Canon & Draw, The Veil, Ardent, and Hardywood. All have taprooms that sell their beer to go. Blue Bee Cider is ideal for the gluten intolerant. You can visit many on the Richmond Craft Brewery and Distillery Tour.
Q Rooftop Bar– Located at The Quirk, the rooftop bar has the best views in town. It’s open seasonally and serves craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites.
Wonderland– The dive bar covered in kitschy horror decor hosts punk and metal bands most nights.
The National– Catch local or national acts at this converted theater that was built in 1923. It’s one of the few remaining structures from this time.
Things to Do in Richmond
Richmond’s attractions mostly focus on history but there’s more to see in the arts and sciences. If you’re willing to branch out, you can also enjoy nature.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts– Located in the Museum District, it’s easy to spend a few hours admiring the grounds and galleries of the VMFA. Home to 35,000 works, the collection features African, American, Asian, and ancient art as well as one of the largest collections of Faberge eggs in the world.
Edgar Allan Poe Museum– While he lived in a number of locations, Edgar Allan Poe spent much of his life in the Richmond area. The museum is set inside the city’s oldest homes and covers his early life, time at the University of Virginia, and career success.
The Valentine– This historic home tells of the city’s 400 years of history. Their collection includes costumes and textiles, fine arts, and industrial items. They also offer rotating collections and historic tours of the city.
Kings Dominion– Ride thrilling coasters and other high octane experiences at this theme park right outside the city. They also have a seasonal water park.
The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond– Taste the city’s best dishes through tours of Carytown and the Arts District as well as a desserts tour.
Half-Day Winery Tour by Trolley from Richmond Virginia– Get outside of town to explore one of the many wine regions in Virginia.
Lower James Rafting in Richmond VA– See the James River through the beginner-friendly rapids.
Shopping in Richmond
Browse one of the city’s unique shops, selling everything from vintage clothing to records to artwork and everything in between.
Steady Sounds– Browse for new and vintage records from all genres at this downtown record store. They also have record players and equipment with a small section of vintage clothing and accessories.
Fountain Bookstore– The cozy Shockoe Bottom store hosts author readings and events and has a selection of books from every genre. They also have some from local and regional authors.
Plan 9 Music– Another great record store, this Carytown favorite has new releases from notable artists.
Ashby 
Chop Suey
Mongrel– Shop for gifts, cards, and books at this funky shop that has been a part of the Carytown community since 1991. They have items from brands like Rifle Paper as well as locally made goods.
Chop Suey Books– Opened in 2002 in a former restaurant space, the two-story Carytown shop has both used and new titles. They also buy books for extra cash.
Clementine– The funky consignment store sells designer and trendy women’s clothing and has been a Carytown staple since 2003.
Ashby– Another consignment store, this one is owned by the same team as Clementine and sells brands like Levi’s, ASOS, Topshop, and Free People.
Where to Stay in Richmond
There is no shortage of stylish places to stay around Richmond, whether downtown or in its cool neighborhoods.
Quirk Hotel– The millennial pink property is a media darling with its impeccably designed spaces, chic rooms, and rooftop bar.
Graduate Richmond– This property brings the brand’s signature style to the area around the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, including a rooftop bar and lobby restaurant.
The Commonwealth– The stylish hotel is inside a building that dates back over 100 years, covered in artwork and chic furnishings. It’s located near the capitol and has a bar and restaurant.
HI Richmond 
Graduate Richmond
Virginia Crossings Hotel– Located just outside of Richmond, this resort in Hilton’s Tapestry Collection has an outdoor pool, golf course, fitness center, onsite restaurants, and rooms that are ideal for meetings and groups.
Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump Town Center– Set to the west of downtown Richmond, this resort has over 200 rooms and is surrounded by shops and restaurants. It has a fitness center, pool, and restaurant.
HI Richmond Hostel– Budget travelers can stay at the historic building turned hostel that offers free daily breakfast. There are a large kitchen and both dorm rooms and private rooms.
Rentals- Airbnb has a number of properties in the area to choose from.
Transportation in Richmond
Travelers arriving by plane at Richmond International Airport have a few options on getting into town. Rideshare is a popular option but it will cost around $40 and take at least 30 minutes to reach downtown, depending on traffic. The public bus also has a route.
You can also get there by both Amtrak and bus through companies like Megabus. Both arrive at or near the Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom. The train is on the Carolinian/Piedmont route as well as the Silver Service/Palmetto route via Richmond’s Staples Mill Road station.
Rideshare is one of the best ways to get around the city by Uber or Lyft. Get a free ride on Lyft by entering the code “CAROLINE868074”. The city can also be accessed by taxi but is easily accessible by walking and biking. The RVA Bike Share has stations around town as well as the Bolt electric scooters.
If you’re driving, there are places to park in most neighborhoods. You can rent a car from the major companies either at the airport or within the city. There’s also an extensive public bus system that covers every neighborhood. Most rides cost less than $5.
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