Guidebook for Downtown Richmond
Food Scene
Delicious southern comfort food, definitely save room for some of their amazing cake! I recommend the rum cake. Sooo good!
46 locals recommend
Mama J's Kitchen
415 N 1st StDelicious southern comfort food, definitely save room for some of their amazing cake! I recommend the rum cake. Sooo good!
One of the best spots around for upscale cajun cuisine. Their brunch menu is fantastic. Reservations recommended. You will love it!
51 locals recommend
Tarrant's Cafe
1 W Broad StOne of the best spots around for upscale cajun cuisine. Their brunch menu is fantastic. Reservations recommended. You will love it!
The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe (Scott's Addition)
3015 Norfolk StThe Boathouse has excellent seafood, but the best thing about this location is the view over the James River. #1 Romantic sunset spot for dinner around Richmond in my opinion. If they don't have the outside seating open, ask for a table by the window when you make a reservation. After dinner you can take a nice walk along the canal. <3
69 locals recommend
The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing
4708 E Old Main StThe Boathouse has excellent seafood, but the best thing about this location is the view over the James River. #1 Romantic sunset spot for dinner around Richmond in my opinion. If they don't have the outside seating open, ask for a table by the window when you make a reservation. After dinner you can take a nice walk along the canal. <3
THE BEST BRUNCH SPOT. Make a reservation, the wait time can get crazy without one. Get the fried chicken and red velvet waffles. You're welcome.
Also, the shrimp and grits. Have a friend order this, so you can steal a bite. ;-)
32 locals recommend
LuLu's
21 N 17th StTHE BEST BRUNCH SPOT. Make a reservation, the wait time can get crazy without one. Get the fried chicken and red velvet waffles. You're welcome.
Also, the shrimp and grits. Have a friend order this, so you can steal a bite. ;-)
Sightseeing
Historical Statues. Nice for walks, long runs, Holiday light tours.
15 locals recommend
Monument Avenue
Monument AvenueHistorical Statues. Nice for walks, long runs, Holiday light tours.
Carytown
Arts & Culture
American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar
480 Tredegar StEdgar Allan Poe Museum
1914 E Main StScience museum and planetarium. One of my favorite spots as a kid and an adult. :)
132 locals recommend
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 W Broad StScience museum and planetarium. One of my favorite spots as a kid and an adult. :)
The Valentine
1015 E Clay StLots of great exhibits for the art lover! They also have a really nice happy hour!
494 locals recommend
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N Arthur Ashe BlvdLots of great exhibits for the art lover! They also have a really nice happy hour!
Parks & Nature
Amazing view of the James River and Richmond City skyline. Sunset views here are fantastic, and it's often packed with photographers around that time. Richmond is actually named for the view from this park being reminiscent of the view of the Richmond on the Thames in England from centuries ago.
115 locals recommend
Libby Hill Park
2801 E Franklin StAmazing view of the James River and Richmond City skyline. Sunset views here are fantastic, and it's often packed with photographers around that time. Richmond is actually named for the view from this park being reminiscent of the view of the Richmond on the Thames in England from centuries ago.
Wide open and quiet park with lots of nice picnic/frisbee spots. Nice views of the city.
54 locals recommend
Chimborazo Park
3215 E Broad StWide open and quiet park with lots of nice picnic/frisbee spots. Nice views of the city.
Belle Isle is a favorite for the locals. Park under the train tracks by the Tredegar Museum, and walk across a suspension bridge. You will find an all natural island with hiking trails, climbing spots, and swimming holes in the James River. Have a picnic, scenic walk, and an outdoorsy good time. The sunset views from here of the city skyline are AMAZING.
276 locals recommend
Belle Isle
1 Belle IsleBelle Isle is a favorite for the locals. Park under the train tracks by the Tredegar Museum, and walk across a suspension bridge. You will find an all natural island with hiking trails, climbing spots, and swimming holes in the James River. Have a picnic, scenic walk, and an outdoorsy good time. The sunset views from here of the city skyline are AMAZING.
Disc golf course! Picnic tables, walking paths, and other typical park stuff. :)
17 locals recommend
Bryan Park
4308 Hermitage RdDisc golf course! Picnic tables, walking paths, and other typical park stuff. :)
Paddle boats, tennis courts, awesome 1 mile fitness loop trail, and sports fields. Close to Carytown. Nice spot to feed the ducks or geese with kiddos.
82 locals recommend
Byrd Park
600 Lakeview AvePaddle boats, tennis courts, awesome 1 mile fitness loop trail, and sports fields. Close to Carytown. Nice spot to feed the ducks or geese with kiddos.
Maymont Park is the BEST park in the city of Richmond. It's gigantic. It has a petting zoo, aquarium exhibit, historical home, bamboo forest, waterfalls, Japanese water garden with koi pond, Italian rose garden, a super cool birds of prey exhibit, buffalo, bears, and more.. It's a hit with locals and tourists alike. It is a hot spot for weddings, picnics, and play days. Free. (Donation recommended.)
14 locals recommend
Maymont Children's Farm
1001 Spottswood RdMaymont Park is the BEST park in the city of Richmond. It's gigantic. It has a petting zoo, aquarium exhibit, historical home, bamboo forest, waterfalls, Japanese water garden with koi pond, Italian rose garden, a super cool birds of prey exhibit, buffalo, bears, and more.. It's a hit with locals and tourists alike. It is a hot spot for weddings, picnics, and play days. Free. (Donation recommended.)
It's gorgeous. I love the butterfly exhibit and just walking around the manicured grounds. There is a per person fee.
171 locals recommend
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside AveIt's gorgeous. I love the butterfly exhibit and just walking around the manicured grounds. There is a per person fee.
Shopping
Nice fresh air mall with local and chains, stores and restaurants, upscale and casual shopping. Godiva store!!
76 locals recommend
Short Pump Town Center
11800 West Broad StreetNice fresh air mall with local and chains, stores and restaurants, upscale and casual shopping. Godiva store!!
Super fun shopping downtown! You will find high end and specialty boutiques beside thrift and consignment stores. Chocolatiers and bakeries, ice cream shops, salons, game shops, all sorts of stores for kids and grown-ups. Entertainment provided by the occasional street performer. It's great for low-key nightlife, and there's Farmers Market held here on the weekend mornings. Many great options for casual or nice places to eat. Grab a gyro at Greek on Cary, some frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog, or some sushi at Carytown Sushi. Then catch a movie or film festival at the Byrd Theatre.
307 locals recommend
Carytown
Super fun shopping downtown! You will find high end and specialty boutiques beside thrift and consignment stores. Chocolatiers and bakeries, ice cream shops, salons, game shops, all sorts of stores for kids and grown-ups. Entertainment provided by the occasional street performer. It's great for low-key nightlife, and there's Farmers Market held here on the weekend mornings. Many great options for casual or nice places to eat. Grab a gyro at Greek on Cary, some frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog, or some sushi at Carytown Sushi. Then catch a movie or film festival at the Byrd Theatre.
Essentials
Kroger
1601 Willow Lawn DrWhole Foods Market
11173 W Broad StTrader Joe's
11331 W Broad StLocally owned grocery store downtown that focuses on locally grown and raised food.
72 locals recommend
Ellwood Thompson's
4 N Thompson StLocally owned grocery store downtown that focuses on locally grown and raised food.
Entertainment & Activities
$4 movies! $4.50 for a big bucket of super buttery popcorn in an iconic and historical theatre. This is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. They do film festivals every so often as well, so check their website for the current showings. They have a live organist play before the weekend shows. They also have sensory friendly showings of kids movies.
156 locals recommend
Byrd Theater
2908 W Cary St$4 movies! $4.50 for a big bucket of super buttery popcorn in an iconic and historical theatre. This is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. They do film festivals every so often as well, so check their website for the current showings. They have a live organist play before the weekend shows. They also have sensory friendly showings of kids movies.
Movieland at Boulevard Square
1301 N Arthur Ashe BlvdRichmond Raceway
7433 Bell Creek RdRaces and shows.
Live comedy shows. Sign up for their email list to get free tickets. :)
10 locals recommend
Richmond Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant
11800 W Broad StLive comedy shows. Sign up for their email list to get free tickets. :)