Gungho Guides

Lamplighter Roasting Company

Not only the best coffee roasters in town, but also incredible mac n’ cheese and sammiches. Great menu for everyvores.

Joe's Inn

An RVA classic. Best happy hour ever, Greek and Italian family recipes - all treasures.

The Camel

One of Richmond most storied venues, a Social Oasis to some. This fantastic venue / bar / restaurant is the reason many smaller touring acts have decided to play Richmond again.

Belmont Pizza and Pub

Blue Moon Diner

The Box

Chas, Tash, Ben, Church, Matt... The only bar in town that I learned EVERYONE’s name in the first week of writing this thing. The first bar that I’m going to MISS when I leave. Have some of their good juju. Go.

Camino

A little wedge of a place with moxie in the pasta. Chef Matt Turner delivers southern European so good it might make you actually like southern Europeans.

Chaps Ice Cream

What is it about the 50s and Ice cream that goes so well together? Soda jerks that are decidedly not, well, jerks.

Commonwealth Restaurant and Skybar

It’s the diamond ring on the slender finger of the girl someone better than you proposed to. Sexy, sleek and well-dressed restauraunt sporting an open air skybar.

Continental Divide

Local indie ICON. Order EVERYTHING. From the Margaritas to the Santa Fe Enchiladas, noms and more noms. Get in here!! The cooks eat crying babies.

Eppie's

F’ fancy food and eat something your doctor would frown at you about. Great sandwiches, fried chicken and southern gobs of yum.

Fellini's #9

Old school dark wood and brass bar with a colorful past and a secret next door (9 1/2). I didn’t tell you about it though. Best Calamari Ever. Live band karaoke too!!

L’ Etoile

French for “localvore.” Break out the beret but leave the attitude at home. Comfy and friendly but still delivers that subconscious sense that keeps your elbows off the table and your napkin in your lap.

La Michoacana Deli

REAL Mexican. If you've had REAL Mexican you know the difference and will thank me for the tip. Yes, I take cash.

Littlejohn’s New York Deli

Open 24 hours and staffed by the friendliest people ever. How they’re that nice dealing with you after last call is miraculous. Please chill with the popped collars and leave your hacky sack at home. I’m looking at you, UVA.

Mas Tapas

Unforgettable tapas, extensive wine list, and a very "happy" bullfighter portrait to stare you down at the bar. You'll get it when you see it.

Maya

Christian and Peter have corralled the locals who know how to drink without being obnoxious d-holes. Best place to go if you if you don’t know anyone in town. You will by the time you leave.

Mel's Cafe

Eat at Mel’s and strip every pretension from that fauxhmian pose you’re rocking right now. Food. Good. Cheap.

Miller's Downtown

Eatin’ in the front and liquor in the back. The perfect blend of lowbrow and lowerbrow. Third floor’s the charm.

Mono Loco

This place smacks of Mission Hill in San Diego. ‘Just seems beachy. That and they’ve Frankensteined Latin cuisine with an American palette without stripping it of its charm. That’s hard to do.

Peter Chang's China Grill

This place caught the attention of some yankees from the New York Times recently. Say what you will about some “Nawthunnurs” but they know Chinese food. What they lack in moderne decor they make up for in dishes so good they ruin conversations.

The Pigeon Hole

When you do simple down-home cuisine right - like perfect stone ground grits and transcendent mac n cheese - you can make a snooty tartare look like cat food. Lex and Naomi,the owners, are real down chicks too.

Positively 4th Street

Straighforward American fare Mellencamp and Springsteen would high-five each other for. Steak, mashed pertaters, burgers, beer and Fourth of freakin’ Joo-ly!!

Rapture

Consistently attracting the best local and touring bands to it’s main stage and dance club, this New Orleanic venue has all the voodoo. Purple pool tables and perfect lighting make this a great casual night out spot.

The Shebeen Pub and Braai

Still. In. Coma. From too many foods. Couldn’t help myself. Damn you delicious South African cuisine! Piri-Piri Chicken tastes just as good as it is fun to say.

South Street Brewery

On-site brewery with a giant fireplace for you to tell old skiing adventure stories while wearing your best cable-knit turtleneck. Exceptional beer too.

Tavola

A Belmont darling. Rustic Italian that reminds me of the scenes in The Godfather where Michael Corleone is courting the girl that blows up.

Ten

Cavernous and designed at the edge of a blade, this place is SHARP. Pocket squares and cufflinks sharp. The sushi so good it judges YOU.

Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar

My favorite place in CVIL. Tea house with great live music, better tea, awesome ambiance, an adorable staff and damn, just the most welcoming and comfortable spot in Central VA. You HAVE to go there.

The White Spot

Your hangover has no power against the almighty Gus Burger. Come sacrifice a shockingly small amount of money to erase that last tequila shot from your body's memory.

Zocalo

Spanish cuisine with odd little numbers like Key Lime Chicken and Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding. Reserve the private, curtained booth if you’re famous. Douche. You’re not famous.

Alamo BBQ

Amour Wine Bistro

Bistro Bobette

Lemaire

S@MPLE

The Continental

Coppola's Deli

Croaker's Spot

Don't Look Back

The Roosevelt

Franklin Inn

New York Deli

821 Cafe

Akida Japanese

You will never have an argument about the best place for sushi in Richmond. This is it.

Can Can Brasserie

Our best response to any argument that puts Richmond behind any other city. French brasserie with enough unique elements and service flair to make Balthasar take notes.

Comfort

As I write this I am craving their mac n’ cheese, cornbread, and every Southern fried gob of deliciousness that has made them unimpeachable force of pride in this city. Hot DAMN, they are good.

Cous Cous

A little Marrakech and a lot of heart. Beautiful and delicious, with a healthy bar scene after hours.

Empire

Our CBGB’s. The spot has changed names and hands over the decades but has always remained a legendary hole for the punk and metal horde.

Garnett's Cafe

Tiny little corner spot with my favorite Monsieur sandwiches and amazing red velvet cake. It’s adorable.

Ginger Thai

THE BEST THAT FOOD IN RICHMOND. Can't front on that!

Balliceaux

Helen's Restaurant

Incredible southern comfort food in heels. After 10, the best place to insert yourself into the wheels that move RVA’s underground culture.

Ipanema Cafe

Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant with giant tofu bricks of history as one of RVA’s locals’ all-time favorites. Don’t miss the delicious pie!

Julep's

New Southern Cuisine - like Tom Wolfe in skinny jeans or Scarlett O’Hara in Prada.

Kuba Kuba

Eating here is like having Hector Lavoe sing in your ear while Tito Puente gives you a foot rub. It’s the lost Fania All-Star.

Mamma Zu

Our Little Italy is this building.

McCormack's Whisky Grill

It’s called Whiskey, why aren’t you already there? If the wall of amber-hued heavenly libations isn’t enough, the fried green beans should do the trick.

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

The only authentic Ethiopian restaurant with an Ethiopian Olympic skiier on staff. Probably ever. Also, if Afro-Beta is going on - you HAVE to check out that awesomeness.

Pescados China Street

Oregon Hill wears this spot like a brand new haircut. It’s got “I’ll be here for 50 years” all over it. The arepas are outstanding BTW.

Secco Wine Bar

The wine bar you WANT to go to - oh the fried chickpeas!!!

Strange Matter

THE venue that touring metal, punk and indie bands want to play. The list of “who played here” is long and un-Richmondlike braggy.

Belvidere at Broad, The

Black Sheep, The

Empress

Coffee in the AM, wine in the PM. Great food all day. Gluten free and vegan options abound

Urban Farmhouse

Foodies, chefs and gourmets shop here when they go to heaven. The restaurant features their local and seasonal produce.

Sidewalk Cafe

Giant food portions and one of the last few REAL Fan bars.