
Best Coffee and Cocktails in Richmond
Lamplighter Coffee Roasters is a local company with three locations. They roast their own beans, so grab a latte and pick up some aromatic blends for gifts.

For serious cocktails, there’s no better spot than The Jasper—this is not a restaurant but an excellent bar with inspired cocktails, and they do have bar bites like smoked fish dip and chicken liver pâté. It’s the perfect stop to grab a drink after work or for a nightcap. In colder months, I like the Lux Manhattan (made with Booker’s Bourbon), of course!
Find more cocktail recommendations at Richmond’s best hotels.
Best Restaurants in Richmond
Richmond has no shortage of wonderful places to eat. For lunch, when feeling noble, I head to North End Juice Co. for fresh-pressed juices and smoothies. They also serve heartier fare like wraps and poke bowls.
When I’m feeling less than noble, I make a beeline for The Fancy Biscuit. Goodness knows I love a biscuit (I really am an innate Southerner), and it’s a dream of a place. You can select one of their signature biscuits like Number 52—country ham, Sriracha hollandaise sauce, pepper-jack cheese, and a poached egg—or BYOB (build your own biscuit). Heaven.


Taste is like family—there’s great salads, sandwiches, and gourmet treats to take home, and it’s always buzzing. You will most likely see someone you know, so put on lipstick!
The chef at L’ Opossum, David Shannon, was sous chef at the famed Inn at Little Washington, and he opened a fabulous hot spot here. It’s impossible to get a reservation even a month in advance. We end up going at 5 o’clock sometimes just to get in. It’s a bawdy, somewhat gaudy atmosphere, but the food is sublime, and the custom cocktails are swoon-worthy.

Dutch & Company is such a find. Located in the Church Hill historic district of Richmond, it’s just the best food. Try the prix fixe three-course menu for only $30—it’s a great way to sample their fare.

I head to Heritage when I’m seeking classic but updated and inspired dishes—think fried Virginia oysters, perfect roast chicken, and a burger with smoked tomato aioli—all in a comfortable setting.
More of Amanda Nisbet’s Richmond
→ My Hometown at Christmas
Meet interior designer Amanda Nisbet, see her adopted city at its festive best, and find out where to stay when you visit Richmond
→ Best Shopping in Richmond
Home decor, flowers, and locally made goods and gifts
→ What to See in Richmond
Art galleries, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and Monument Avenue
Produced by Alice Welsh Doyle | Photography by Sarah Walor