Richmond's Best Coffee Spots, By Neighborhood
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Richmond is making itself known for many things, and excellent coffee is definitely near the top of the list. Every neighborhood seems to have a coffee shop, and many have fierce followings and diehard fans among Richmonders.
With so many local roasters, handcrafted specialty drink options, and stocked cafes around the city, you’re sure to find a sweet spot to stop in no matter where you find yourself around RVA.
— Updated by Alie McArdle, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind This Little Life. Follow her work @thislittle_lifeblog!)
Arts District
Birdie’s
Quaint cafe serving lattes, cappuccinos, pastries, and more.
Location: 305 W Broad St
Hours: Found here
Buna Kurs
Ethiopian cafe serving coffee, frappes, smoothies, breakfast food, baked goods, and more.
Location: 402 1/2 N 2nd St Suite A
Hours: Found here
Lift Coffee Shop & Cafe
Cute, canopied cafe with sidewalk seats serving breakfast fare, sandwiches, salads, and box lunches.
Location: 218 W Broad St
Hours: Found here
Urban Hang Suite
Urban Hang Suite is Richmond's only Social Cafe nestled in the eclectic mix of the Arts District, Downtown, and Jackson Ward communities. The Urban Hang Suite is a place to create a new Richmond culture while connecting over coffee and conversations.
Location: 304 E Broad St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Monroe Park
Bon Air
Coco + Hazel
Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up, Coco + Hazel serves espresso and sweet treats (like their Instagrammable specialty milkshakes).
Location: 2733 McRae Rd
Hours: Found here
Perk!
Perk! opened in early 2015 as an independent community cafe with a focus on locally sourced coffee and food in the Bon Air area.
Location: 2620 Buford Rd
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Lewis G. Larus Park
Carytown
Can Can Brasserie
Can Can’s coffeehouse, Le Coin, is inspired by the window shops of Southern France, selling fresh bread, pastries, and sandwiches as a walk-up service.
Location: 3120 W Cary St
Hours: Found here
Capital One Cafe
Great place to work remotely. If you’re a Capital One card holder, enjoy 50% off your coffee every day.
Location: 2933 W Cary St
Hours: Found here
Minglewood Bakery
Local, storefront bakery offering 100% vegan options. Stop in for your morning cup of Joe and grab a pastry.
Location: 3337 W Cary St
Hours: Found here
Sugar & Twine
Local, storefront bakery with a homey vibe providing artisanal pastries (dairy-free and gluten-free options available), coffee, and custom-made cakes.
Location: 2928 W Cary St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: William Byrd Park
Church Hill
Honey Baked Bee
A gothic-inspired bakery offering caffeinated bevs and countless pastry options infused with Virginia honey.
Location: 2824 E Broad St
Hours: Found here
Rise Cafe
This spot is part of Rise Labs, providing skill training and job experience to the youth of Richmond’s East End and offering an inviting space where the neighborhood can get together.
Location: 2600 Nine Mile Rd
Hours: Found here
Riverbend Roastery
Located in the heart of Church Hill, Riverbend offers a full menu of drinks, baked goods, and food.
Location: 2623 E Broad St
Hours: Found here
Sub Rosa Bakery
Local grains are house-ground and baked in wood ovens to make bread and pastry in an airy, rustic space.
Location: 620 N 25th St
Hours: Found here
Whisk
Snug, casual bakeshop for French-inspired pastries, bread, espresso, coffee, and sandwiches, plus wine.
Location: 2100 E Main St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Jefferson Park, Libby Hill Park, or Chimborazo Park
Downtown
Sefton Coffee Company
Homey, local outfit, open weekdays only, offering specialty coffee, tea drinks, and light bites.
Location: 24 N 8th St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Gambles Hill Park or Brown’s Island
The Fan
Blanchard’s
These craft coffee roasters are a Richmond staple.
Location: 26 N Morris St
Hours: Found here
Rostov’s Coffee & Tea
Longtime nook serving coffee, tea, and pastries, plus a shop for freshly roasted beans and loose leaf teas.
Location: 1618 W Main St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden or Monroe Park
Forest Hill
Blanchard’s
These craft coffee roasters are a Richmond staple.
Location: 4930 Forest Hill Ave C
Hours: Found here
Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream
Funky breakfast-through-dinner cafe serving simple American fare, desserts, and craft beer.
Location: 3600 Forest Hill Ave
Hours: Found here
WPA Bakery
Hip bakeshop in a historic building with pastries, cakes, and coffee, plus gluten-free and vegan options.
Location: 3414 Semmes Ave
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Forest Hill Park
Manchester
Cafe Zata
With a dreamy patio outside and a cozy loft inside (perfect for working remotely!), Cafe Zata serves coffee, lunch, and breakfast all day.
Location: 700 Bainbridge St
Hours: Found here
Gold Lion Community Cafe
A vegetarian/vegan cafe serving coffee, breakfast, and lunch.
Location: 1012 Hull St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Floodwall Park
Museum District
Best Café
This spacious, light-filled café inside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers casual fare with gluten-free and vegan options.
Location: 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd
Hours: Found here
Blanchard’s
These craft coffee roasters are a Richmond staple.
Location: 3121 W Broad St
Hours: Found here
Reviresco Coffee Company
This small and charming coffee shop serves their own unique coffee blends.
Location: 710 Lafayette St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden or Meadow Park
Northside
The Smoky Mug
Brookland Park Boulevard’s “Front Porch” coffee shop with outdoor seating and gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian food options available.
Location: 15 E Brookland Park Blvd
Hours: Found here
Stir Crazy Cafe
Stir Crazy Cafe was founded in 2002 to bring great coffee, food (sandwiches, salads, wraps, pastries, and more), and atmosphere to Richmond’s Northside neighborhood.
Location: 4015 MacArthur Ave
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Bryan Park
Scott’s Addition
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
This spot moved in to the Lamplighter Coffee Roasters former location on Summit Ave. The operation is owned by five previous Lamplighter employees, who saw an opportunity to “try something different” when COVID hit.
Location: 1719 Summit Ave
Hours: Found here
Grit Coffee
Great place to work remotely with your morning go-to order — there’s plenty of seating available.
Location: 1621 Roseneath Rd
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden or PARK365
Shockoe Slip
Urban Farmhouse Market & Café
Fresh roasts and local, organic brunch fare in a sunny cafe with high ceilings and cushy armchairs.
Location: 1217 E Cary St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Brown’s Island or Jefferson Park
VCU
The Lab by Alchemy Coffee
Cozy, contemporary counter offering gourmet coffee options, baked goods, and desserts.
Location: 814 W Broad St
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Monroe Park or Abner Clay Park
West End
Caffespresso
Offering coffee, paninis, salads, breakfast, wine, pizza, a market, and more, all with an Italian influence.
Location: 1127 Gaskins Rd
Hours: Found here
Grit Coffee
A Virginia-based coffee shop with the goal is to tell the story of the many hands and thoughtful acts that go into delivering their coffees, and to have a positive impact on the communities and countries from which they source.
Location: 409 Libbie Ave
Hours: Found here
ShoreDog Cafe
ShoreDog offers a farm to table menu anchored by hand-crafted beverages and freshly caught seafood. From lattes made your way, to gourmet food, they want to bring the best of breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the West End.
Location: 435-B N Ridge Rd
Hours: Found here
For a nearby spot to sit and sip, check out: Cheswick Park or Tuckahoe Public Park
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