Things to do in Charlottesville
Food Scene
Nice local bar with good food. People love the gnocchi, truffle pasta, and burgers!
116 locals recommend
The Local
824 Hinton AveNice local bar with good food. People love the gnocchi, truffle pasta, and burgers!
Amazing wood-fired pizza! A must try. (This spot has moved to IX Park from the Belmont location.)
105 locals recommend
Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria
205 Monticello RoadAmazing wood-fired pizza! A must try. (This spot has moved to IX Park from the Belmont location.)
(Currently closed, but hopefully will re-open soon.) Great spot for drinks and apps! Food is good too, though perhaps a bit overpriced.
7 locals recommend
Junction
421 Monticello Rd(Currently closed, but hopefully will re-open soon.) Great spot for drinks and apps! Food is good too, though perhaps a bit overpriced.
Excellent tapas - often crowded and sometimes loud inside, but worth a visit!
160 locals recommend
Mas
904 Monticello RdExcellent tapas - often crowded and sometimes loud inside, but worth a visit!
Nachos are amazing, excellent cocktails too! They also often have live Spanish/Latin music.
44 locals recommend
The Bebedero
201 W Main StNachos are amazing, excellent cocktails too! They also often have live Spanish/Latin music.
A Charlottesville institution... solid-to-great food, and fun downstairs bar for drinks
83 locals recommend
C & O
515 E Water StA Charlottesville institution... solid-to-great food, and fun downstairs bar for drinks
Good food & drinks, and often live music... nice place to sit outside
80 locals recommend
The Whiskey Jar
227 W Main StGood food & drinks, and often live music... nice place to sit outside
Another solid Charlottesville institution - nice outdoor seating on the mall, and quite good food
47 locals recommend
Hamiltons' at First & Main
101 W Main StAnother solid Charlottesville institution - nice outdoor seating on the mall, and quite good food
Try the savory personal-sized pies! Great for sweet bites and coffee, too.
16 locals recommend
The Pie Chest
119 E High StTry the savory personal-sized pies! Great for sweet bites and coffee, too.
Revolutionary Soup
108 2nd St SWGreat lunch spot - pretty amazing soups
Chaps Ice Cream
223 E Main StFun ice cream shop, and also a great "greasy spoon" diner!
Go-to coffee shop on the mall - great place to work for a bit. Try the affogato!!
59 locals recommend
Mudhouse Coffee Downtown Mall
213 W Main StGo-to coffee shop on the mall - great place to work for a bit. Try the affogato!!
Grit Coffee, Downtown
112 W Main StStaple coffee shop, has space for working too.
Excellent "greasy spoon" kind of burger joint - be sure to get the special sauce!
28 locals recommend
Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint Cville
109 2nd St SEExcellent "greasy spoon" kind of burger joint - be sure to get the special sauce!
Cute spot in Belmont - great sweet and savory pies, as well as small plates for any time of day. Nice coffee shop/diner vibe.
14 locals recommend
Quality Pie
309 Avon StCute spot in Belmont - great sweet and savory pies, as well as small plates for any time of day. Nice coffee shop/diner vibe.
Cute little coffee shop/bakery with good sandwiches too. Also sells cool local wares!
Found. Market Co
221 Carlton RdCute little coffee shop/bakery with good sandwiches too. Also sells cool local wares!
Awesome new coffee shop right at the end of Douglas Ave! Outside seating, delicious breakfast & lunch. They bake all their breads in-house, including the most amazing English muffins I've ever had. The latest and best addition to the neighborhood!
18 locals recommend
Belle
407 Monticello RdAwesome new coffee shop right at the end of Douglas Ave! Outside seating, delicious breakfast & lunch. They bake all their breads in-house, including the most amazing English muffins I've ever had. The latest and best addition to the neighborhood!
Don't miss this TINY but delicious joint for pasta and salad! Take-away window from the smallest restaurant you'll ever see. I think this is the best pasta in Cville, and the kale salad is amazing too.
10 locals recommend
Luce
110 2nd St NWDon't miss this TINY but delicious joint for pasta and salad! Take-away window from the smallest restaurant you'll ever see. I think this is the best pasta in Cville, and the kale salad is amazing too.
Zocalo
201 E Main StSpacious spot on the mall for drinks and dinner. The salmon is amazing!
Don't miss this new spot in Belmont! Authentic Mexican food, amazing drinks. The owner used to work at Mas (up the street, also great) and started his own business featuring recipes from his family in Mexico. Just excellent. Very small (7 tables) and they don't take reservations, but stop in early or late and you can usually get a spot.
19 locals recommend
COMALCVILLE
816 Hinton AveDon't miss this new spot in Belmont! Authentic Mexican food, amazing drinks. The owner used to work at Mas (up the street, also great) and started his own business featuring recipes from his family in Mexico. Just excellent. Very small (7 tables) and they don't take reservations, but stop in early or late and you can usually get a spot.
Fantastic new spot on the downtown mall - delicious Baja Mexican food, amazing cocktails, and fabulous service! Nice outside space as well. The cheese dip is some of the best I've ever had!
Passiflora
422 East Main StreetFantastic new spot on the downtown mall - delicious Baja Mexican food, amazing cocktails, and fabulous service! Nice outside space as well. The cheese dip is some of the best I've ever had!
Surprisingly good food and vibe for what is also a package store for beer. Outside seating, and a few inside tables and a great bar. Love this spot!
77 locals recommend
Beer Run
156 Carlton RdSurprisingly good food and vibe for what is also a package store for beer. Outside seating, and a few inside tables and a great bar. Love this spot!
Amaaaazing French bakery and cafe! Delicious sandwiches and salads, and the pastries are to die for. Don't miss the apple galette! This is one of my favorite work spots on a weekday afternoon.
11 locals recommend
Petite MarieBette
105 E Water StAmaaaazing French bakery and cafe! Delicious sandwiches and salads, and the pastries are to die for. Don't miss the apple galette! This is one of my favorite work spots on a weekday afternoon.
My go-to coffee shop work spot. Very spacious, although can get crowded with students sometimes. Great coffee and snacks. Excellent work vibe.
52 locals recommend
Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters
945 Preston AveMy go-to coffee shop work spot. Very spacious, although can get crowded with students sometimes. Great coffee and snacks. Excellent work vibe.
Entertainment & Activities
Love this movie theater! You can get food and drinks at the bar, and bring it into the theater for the show.
78 locals recommend
Violet Crown Cinema
200 W Main StLove this movie theater! You can get food and drinks at the bar, and bring it into the theater for the show.
New theater in the Wegman's plaza. Stadium seating, and you can order food and drink (full menu) right from your seat!
31 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
375 Merchant Walk SqNew theater in the Wegman's plaza. Stadium seating, and you can order food and drink (full menu) right from your seat!
Such a fun and unique thing to do: an old-school arcade palace! Open till 11 on weekends, but no drinks or bar or anything. Flat $12 entrance fee and all the games are free! Kid friendly.
6 locals recommend
Decades Arcade
418 Carlton RdSuch a fun and unique thing to do: an old-school arcade palace! Open till 11 on weekends, but no drinks or bar or anything. Flat $12 entrance fee and all the games are free! Kid friendly.
Local country store that turns into an amazing music venue on Saturday nights. Hosting a lot of impressive local talent - mostly in the folk/country/blues/rock genre. The tiny dance floor is usually hoppin by the end of the show! Early venue - music usually runs from 6:30-9:00.
25 locals recommend
The Batesville Market
6624 Plank RdLocal country store that turns into an amazing music venue on Saturday nights. Hosting a lot of impressive local talent - mostly in the folk/country/blues/rock genre. The tiny dance floor is usually hoppin by the end of the show! Early venue - music usually runs from 6:30-9:00.
I love this little home goods store a the corner of my street. Cute place for gifts, or maybe a memento for yourself!
Be Just
2415 Monticello RdI love this little home goods store a the corner of my street. Cute place for gifts, or maybe a memento for yourself!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great local brewery - often has live music, nice outside scene and also bar games inside...
51 locals recommend
Champion Brewing Company
324 6th St SEGreat local brewery - often has live music, nice outside scene and also bar games inside...
Newest brewery, right in the IX Park. Tons of seating! Surprisingly good food.
80 locals recommend
Three Notch'd Craft Kitchen & Brewery
520 2nd St SENewest brewery, right in the IX Park. Tons of seating! Surprisingly good food.
This place is a good restaurant upstairs, but the coolest part is the cozy cellar bar downstairs. Fancy cocktails and limited seating, so it can fill up on the weekends.
11 locals recommend
Tavern & Grocery
333 W Main StThis place is a good restaurant upstairs, but the coolest part is the cozy cellar bar downstairs. Fancy cocktails and limited seating, so it can fill up on the weekends.
Lovely winery about 30 minutes west. Grab a few bottles bring your own picnic, sit outside and enjoy the scenery. They also have small bites, great cheeses, etc.
262 locals recommend
Veritas Vineyards and Winery
151 Veritas LnLovely winery about 30 minutes west. Grab a few bottles bring your own picnic, sit outside and enjoy the scenery. They also have small bites, great cheeses, etc.
Delicious wine, cheese, snacks, and views. This place hosts polo matches on Sundays from June – October! Call to confirm if a match is taking place.
259 locals recommend
King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland FarmDelicious wine, cheese, snacks, and views. This place hosts polo matches on Sundays from June – October! Call to confirm if a match is taking place.
Excellent food and perhaps the best Moscow Mule in town... great little secret/speakeasy feel. No sign out front, but its down an alley and there's a light out in front of the door. One of my favs!
109 locals recommend
The Alley Light
108 2nd St SWExcellent food and perhaps the best Moscow Mule in town... great little secret/speakeasy feel. No sign out front, but its down an alley and there's a light out in front of the door. One of my favs!
This is a great Italian restaurant up front, but even better is the amazing cocktail bar in the back! Semi-secret entrance just to the left of the Tavola restaurant, down a short alley.
128 locals recommend
Tavola
826 Hinton AveThis is a great Italian restaurant up front, but even better is the amazing cocktail bar in the back! Semi-secret entrance just to the left of the Tavola restaurant, down a short alley.
Beautiful vineyard, amazing views, great food, and pretty decent wine!
207 locals recommend
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdBeautiful vineyard, amazing views, great food, and pretty decent wine!
This is pretty much the only place to go out dancing (club style) on weekends in Cville. It can be kind of a meat-market vibe, and sometimes filled with drunk locals and college folks... but sometimes it can be quite fun, and there's also pool tables upstairs.
24 locals recommend
Rapture Restaurant & Night Club
303 E Main StThis is pretty much the only place to go out dancing (club style) on weekends in Cville. It can be kind of a meat-market vibe, and sometimes filled with drunk locals and college folks... but sometimes it can be quite fun, and there's also pool tables upstairs.
Beautiful cidery and tasting house about 10 minutes away. By far, the best hard cider in the area! Snacks and light fare too, and evenings sometimes feature live music.
42 locals recommend
Potter's Craft Cider
1350 Arrowhead Valley RoadBeautiful cidery and tasting house about 10 minutes away. By far, the best hard cider in the area! Snacks and light fare too, and evenings sometimes feature live music.
If you're in the Sugar Hollow area, don't overlook this little winery - beautiful views and some of the better Virginia wine, in my opinion.
63 locals recommend
Stinson Vineyards
4744 Sugar Hollow RdIf you're in the Sugar Hollow area, don't overlook this little winery - beautiful views and some of the better Virginia wine, in my opinion.
One of the few late night scenes, though they open at 5 - good drinks and really good cheesesteaks!
Lucky Blue's Bar
223 West Main StreetOne of the few late night scenes, though they open at 5 - good drinks and really good cheesesteaks!
Essentials
Wegmans
100 Wegmans WyClosest grocery store - has everything you'd need
Trader Joe's
2025 Bond StMy personal favorite for groceries
Express Laundry Center
121 Maury AveLocal laundry spot with the best reviews
This spot, just up the street, is similar to a gas station market. Convenient if you need to pick up a few items.
Belmont Market
834 Monticello RdThis spot, just up the street, is similar to a gas station market. Convenient if you need to pick up a few items.
Sightseeing
Visit the home of Thomas Jefferson - great house tours. Very educational, and beautiful setting!
635 locals recommend
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwyVisit the home of Thomas Jefferson - great house tours. Very educational, and beautiful setting!
Stroll around the beautiful grounds of UVA, then walk to any number of restaurants or shops to round out the afternoon.
251 locals recommend
University of Virginia
918 Emmet St NStroll around the beautiful grounds of UVA, then walk to any number of restaurants or shops to round out the afternoon.
Parks & Nature
A lovely set of hiking trails very closeby - mostly easy strolling.
74 locals recommend
Saunders-Monticello Trail
A lovely set of hiking trails very closeby - mostly easy strolling.
Popular swimming hole in the heat of summer, close to the Charlottesville Reservoir. Google the hike to Snake Hole or Blue Hole to get directions.
48 locals recommend
Sugar Hollow Trail to Blue Hole
6796 Sugar Hollow RdPopular swimming hole in the heat of summer, close to the Charlottesville Reservoir. Google the hike to Snake Hole or Blue Hole to get directions.
Popular hike - only 1 mile to the top but very steep! You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the Blue Ridge and surrounding valley.
203 locals recommend
Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge ParkwayPopular hike - only 1 mile to the top but very steep! You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the Blue Ridge and surrounding valley.
Arts & Culture
This venue defies categories... sometimes art gallery, sometimes music venue, sometimes club, sometimes comedy venue, etc, etc. Potter's Cider has a tasting room there, and there's nice outside seating. Love this unique spot!
The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative
306 Monticello RdThis venue defies categories... sometimes art gallery, sometimes music venue, sometimes club, sometimes comedy venue, etc, etc. Potter's Cider has a tasting room there, and there's nice outside seating. Love this unique spot!
IX is a great spot for strolling in the day with a funky playground, restaurants and a coffee shop peppered throughout. They also host The Looking Glass, an immersive art installation that's "an otherworldly enchanted forest" created by 14 Charlottesville artists. Also, at night sometimes there's live music or DJ's and dancing in the lower industrial space. Worth checking out!
69 locals recommend
IX Art Park
522 2nd St SEIX is a great spot for strolling in the day with a funky playground, restaurants and a coffee shop peppered throughout. They also host The Looking Glass, an immersive art installation that's "an otherworldly enchanted forest" created by 14 Charlottesville artists. Also, at night sometimes there's live music or DJ's and dancing in the lower industrial space. Worth checking out!
Live Arts
123 E Water StAwesome local theater - often have interesting plays showing