The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021
Artboard 2

8/31/21

The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021

2021 Venture Richmond Awards & Recognition

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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The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021

Style Weekly's Best of Richmond 2021

All of the winners listed are located in downtown richmond. You can find the full list of winners at the link below.

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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)

Check out Style Weekly's Best of Richmond 2021 here!
The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021

Richmond Magazine's Best & Worst 2021

All of the winners listed are located in downtown richmond. You can find the full list of winners at the link below.

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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)

Check out Richmond Magazine's Best & Worst 2021 here!
The Best of Downtown Richmond 2021

Virginia Living's Best of 2021

All of the winners listed are located in downtown richmond. You can find the full list of winners at the link below.

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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)

Check out Virginia Living's Best of 2021 here!