The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021

Style Weekly's Best Black Cultural Event:

2nd Street Festival (1st Place)

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Style Weekly's Best Outdoor Concert Series:

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

Richmond Folk Festival (3rd Place)

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Richmond Magazine's Best Concert Series:

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

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Richmond Magazine's Best Music Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st Place)

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

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Richmond Magazine's Best Live Music Venue within City Limits:

Brown's Island (3rd Place)

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Richmond Magazine's Best Non-Music Festival:

Dominion Energy Riverrock (1st Place)

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Virginia Living's Best Non-Food Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st Place)

Dominion Energy Riverrock (3rd Place)

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Hall of Fame:

• Best Independent Arts Gallery: Gallery5
• Best Place to Hike, Bike and Run: JRPS
• Best Local Fresh Seafood Restaurant: Rappahannock
• Best Restaurant for Oysters on the Half Shell: Rappahannock

Best Brunch:

The Jefferson (2nd Place)

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Best Lunch:

Perly’s (3rd Place)

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Best Dinner:

Lillie Pearl (2nd Place)

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Best Local Sandwich Spot:

Secret Sandwich Society (1st Place)

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Best Black-Owned Restaurant:

Mama J’s (1st Place)

Lillie Pearl (2nd Place)

Soul Taco (3rd Place)

Croaker’s Spot (Honorable Mention)

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Best Richmond Chef:

Mike Lindsey, Lillie Pearl (3rd Place)

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Best Steakhouse:

Old Original Bookbinder’s (Honorable Mention)

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Best Local Fresh Seafood Restaurant:

The Boathouse (First Place)

The Hard Shell (Honorable Mention)

Rappahannock (Honorable Mention)

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Best Local Asian Restaurant:

Mom’s Siam (Honorable Mention)

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Best Gluten-Free Menu:

521 Biscuits & Waffles (Honorable Mention)

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Best Restaurant Beer List:

Capital Ale House (2nd Place)

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Best Food Truck or Cart:

Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay (3rd Place)

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Best Local Pizza:

Bottoms Up Pizza (2nd Place)

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Best Local Ice Cream Shop:

Charm School (3rd Place)

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Best Guacamole:

Casa del Barco (Honorable Mention)

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Best Local Southern Food:

Mama J’s (First Place)

Lillie Pearl (3rd Place)

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Best Restaurant for Oysters on the Half Shell:

Rappahannock (1st Place)

The Hard Shell (2nd Place)

The Boathouse (3rd Place)

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Best Appetizer:

Lillie Pearl (1st Place)

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Best Restaurant for a Romantic Evening:

Lemaire Restaurant (1st Place)

The Boathouse (2nd Place)

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Best Gay Bar:

Godfrey’s (2nd Place)

Barcode (3rd Place)

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Best Bar for To-Go Adult Beverages:

Lemaire (3rd Place)

Wonderland (Honorable Mention)

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Best Rooftop Bar:

Quirk Hotel (1st Place)

Kabana Rooftop (3rd Place)

Graduate Richmond (Honorable Mention)

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Best Taxi, Shuttle or Ride-Hailing Service:

RVA Tuk Tuk (3rd Place)

GRTC (Honorable Mention)

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Best Place to Hike, Bike and Run:

JRPS (1st Place)

Virginia Capital Trail (2nd Place)

Buttermilk Trail (Honorable Mention)

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Best Place to Run/Bike/Walk Off the Calories:

Virginia Capital Trail (1st Place)

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Best Museum:

The Valentine (Honorable Mention)

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Best Local Mural:

Mending Walls RVA (Honorable Mention)

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Best Independent Arts Gallery:

Gallery5 (2nd Place)

1708 Gallery (3rd Place)

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Best Local Theater Company:

Virginia Repertory Theatre (3rd Place)

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Best Dance Company:

Richmond Ballet (1st Place)

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Best Local Comedy Group:

Sandman Comedy Club (3rd Place)

Coalition Theater (Honorable Mention)

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Best Place to Learn About Richmond:

The Valentine (1st Place)

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Best Recording Studio:

In Your Ear Studios (1st Place)

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Best Outdoor Concert Series:

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

Richmond Folk Festival (3rd Place)

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Best Black Cultural Event:

2nd Street Festival (1st Place)

Richmond Black Restaurant Experience (2nd Place)

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Best Local Furniture Store:

LaDiff (2nd Place)

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Best Hotel or Inn:

Jefferson Hotel (1st Place)

Quirk Hotel (2nd Place)

The Commonwealth (3rd Place)

Hilton Richmond Downtown (Honorable Mention)

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Best Children’s Clothes:

Little Nomad Shop (3rd Place)

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Best Local Fashion Boutique:

Mod & Soul (2nd Place)

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Best Bridal Wear:

Blue Sage Bridal (3rd Place)

Annalise Bridal Boutique (Honorable Mention)

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Best Independent Bookstore:

Fountain Bookstore (2nd Place)

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Best Place to Take a First-Time Richmond Visitor:

The James River (2nd Place)

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Best Historical Attraction:

American Civil War Museum (2nd Place)

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Best Non-profit Art Gallery or Museum:

Gallery5 (2nd Place)

1708 Gallery (3rd Place)

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Best Building in Richmond:

Virginia State Capitol (1st Place)

Main Street Station (2nd Place)

The Jefferson Hotel (3rd Place)

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Best Local Hike:

James River Park System Trails (1st Place)

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Best Place to Escape the Pandemic:

The James River (2nd Place)

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Best Specialty Market:

Stella’s Grocery (1st Place)

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Best Restaurant Overall:

Restaurant Adarra (2nd Place)

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Best New Restaurant:

Lillie Pearl (1st Place)

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Best Outdoor Dining:

The Boathouse (2nd Place)

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Best Fried Chicken:

Hot Chick (3rd Place)

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Best Jackson Ward Restaurant:

Mama J’s (1st Place)

Restaurant Adarra (2nd Place)

Salt & Forge (3rd Place)

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Best Shockoe Bottom Restaurant:

Bottoms Up Pizza (1st Place)

Hot Chick (2nd Place)

Carmela’s (3rd Place)

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Best Downtown Restaurant:

Perly’s (1st Place)

Lemaire (2nd Place)

Lillie Pearl & Julep’s (3rd Place, Tie)

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Best Brunch:

LuLu’s (2nd Place)

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Best Waffles:

Capitol Waffle Shop (1st Place)

LuLu’s (2nd Place)

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Best Local Coffee Shop:

Ironclad Coffee Roasters (3rd Place)

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Best Breakfast Sandwich:

Salt & Forge (3rd Place)

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Best Local Tacos:

Soul Taco (2nd Place)

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Best Ramen:

Grace Noodle (3rd Place)

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Best Korean:

J KOGI (1st Place)

K-Town Kitchen & Bar (3rd Place)

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Best Pizza:

Bottoms Up Pizza (2nd Place)

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Best Caterer:

Homemades by Suzanne (2nd Place)

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Best Locally Owned Juice/Smoothie Café:

Ms. Bee’s Juice Bar (2nd Place)

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Best Coworking Space:

Gather (1st Place)

Common House (2nd Place)

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Best Membership Gym:

YMCA (2nd Place)

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Best Yoga Studio:

BareSOUL Yoga & Wellness (3rd Place)

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Best Dance Event or Series:

Richmond Ballet (2nd Place)

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Best Youth Art Instruction:

Art180 (3rd Place)

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Best Virtual Cultural Experience:

Shockoe Sessions Live (1st Place)

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Best Concert Series:

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

Richmond Symphony (3rd Place)

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Best Non-Music Festival:

Dominion Energy Riverrock (1st Place)

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Best Music Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st Place)

Friday Cheers (2nd Place)

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Best Live Music Venue within City Limits:

The National (1st Place)

Brown’s Island (3rd Place)

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Best Locally Owned Women’s Boutique:

Mod & Soul (1st Place)

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Best Locally Owned Tire Shop:

Leete Tire & Auto Center (3rd Place)

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Best Locally Owned Bookstore:

Fountain Bookstore (2nd Place)

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Best Commercial Gallery in which to Buy Art:

Quirk Gallery and Gallery5 (2nd Place, Tie)

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Best Hotel:

The Jefferson (1st Place)

Quirk Hotel (2nd Place)

Graduate Richmond (3rd Place)

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Best Cottage Rental/B&B:

Linden Row Inn (2nd Place)

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Best Arts Event:

RVA First Fridays (2nd Place)

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Best Art Gallery:

Quirk Gallery (1st Place)

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Best Non-Food Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st Place)

Dominion Energy Riverrock (3rd Place)

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Best Music Venue:

The National (1st Place)

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Best Wedding or Special Event Venue:

The Jefferson Hotel (2nd Place)

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Best Professional/Regional Performing Arts Company:

Richmond Ballet (1st Place)

Richmond Symphony (2nd Place)

Virginia Repertory Theatre (3rd Place)

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Best Hotel:

The Jefferson Hotel (1st Place)

Quirk Hotel (2nd Place)

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Best Hiking or Biking Trail:

Virginia Capital Trail (1st Place)

Buttermilk Trail (3rd Place)

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Best Park:

James River Park System (2nd Place)

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