49 Best Cocktail Bars in Richmond

“I was so hungry that I didn't take pics of my food. The choice was to go here or some steakhouse place. I was intrigued by the menu and the possiblity of some new flavor experiences. Our server was Elliott, she was great. Knowledgeable, funny, and told us what Trouvaille meant ...lucky find. And it lived up to that. I had a mocktail, it was pretty good. As a person who loves wine and on a break, I needed something to give me the vibe of having a drink but not really having it. Anyhoooo, we had the cauliflower appetizer. It was a variety of textures and flavors that went so well together. It was crispy, the black bean puree was unexpectedly good with the flavor of curry and pickled shallots. We both ordered the braised short ribs. Today was the first time I have had kimchi and it didn't disappoint. There was a fair amount of ginger and whatever else pickled. The crispy rice was great, I wanted more. For the star, the short rib...fork tender. Amazing flavor. This dish is served in a bowl and it's cool for me because I literally could get a bite of everything at once. It was amazing. Everything was very fresh. I'd go back. We also got there before 5 and there was no wait which was great for an early date. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something new.“

“We came in for a late lunch and each had a huge sandwich - a plus that they offered gf bread! The food was good, but we were most impressed by our bartender, Shelby. A bartender who can offer drinks on the fly based on what you like is a rarity these days, and Shelby did not disappoint! A great spot for a bite and creative drinks.“

“The food was absolutely delicious, with generous portion sizes that left us satisfied. We enjoyed our appetizer the roasted oysters! We decided to order the 14 ounce Dry Aged ribeye with perfectly cooked red potatoes for our main course. The entree was accompanied by a caramelized onion steak sauce. The ambiance was lovely, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.“

“Excellent little cocktail bar with plenty of fun speakeasy style and atmosphere. Drinks are unique and very delish! Come by every first Monday of the month for vintage style jazz 6-8pm by @gracestreetseven duo!“

“The rockfish special was fantastic! Great service too. My wife and I enjoyed our dinner at the bar.“

“The staff were phenomenal and the food/spirits were outstanding. Highly recommend.“

“Let me just say, the Embassy Suites in Richmond, VA, truly went above and beyond! We rolled in around 2 AM, and those late check-ins can be hit or miss. But our check-in was lightning fast and so incredibly smooth. The lady at the front desk was an absolute angel. I wish I could remember her name, because her kindness at that hour was just what we needed. She was so understanding and welcoming, it made our late arrival feel like no big deal at all. And the hotel itself? Absolutely beautiful! The lobby is stunning, and it really sets the tone for the whole place. Our room was fantastic too – super comfortable, and you could tell it was meticulously cleaned. After a long drive, sinking into those comfy beds in such a clean space was a dream. If you're ever in Richmond, you've got to check out this Embassy Suites. It's a fantastic spot with amazing staff!“

“Phenomenal flavors paired together for sweet and savory dishes. Unique menu options they change regularly! So yummy 😋“

“My friends and I had a fantastic time indulging in multiple rounds of Lemon Drop Martinis, along with delicious appetizers like cornbread and wings, followed by a delightful dinner. Our server was exceptional, making the evening even more special as we celebrated my friend's birthday. To our surprise, they treated my friend to a complimentary glass of Prosecco adorned with a birthday candle. We couldn't resist sharing our entrees, which included smoked brisket meatballs, pan-roasted shrimp, and fried catfish, all of which were incredibly tasty. The portions were generous enough for sharing, and the fried catfish was simply the best we've ever tasted, prompting us to order some to take home. I wholeheartedly recommend this place for a cozy evening with friends or family!“

“Caught up with an old friend I hadn’t seen since around ’95/’96 over lunch on 6/17/2025. I’m not usually a downtown Richmond person—city crowds just aren’t my thing—but I’m really glad he suggested this spot. I made the drive from King William, and it was absolutely worth it! The food was fantastic, and the laid-back atmosphere made it the perfect place to reconnect. I had the pork carnitas with a Caesar side salad—super flavorful, and the pork was incredibly tender. The Caesar dressing? Easily one of the best I’ve ever had. I’d love to know if it was homemade or store-bought, because I need it in my life! Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a relaxed and cool meeting spot. I’m already planning to explore more RIC gems soon!“

“This place is one of the best restaurants in Richmond hands down!!!! #crispyporkbelly❤️“

“Friend and I had a girl's night at the Lillian last night. We enjoyed the Ceviche Jipijapa and a caviar slider to start. This was my first time having caviar and it was delicious with the creme fraiche it came with. The ceviche was a flavor combo that I would never have thought of, and it was wonderful...we ate every bite. I had the Ecuadorian inspired seafood rice and the Honey Roasted a duck legs. When I tell you those duck legs were juicy and cooked to perfection, and the attention to detail, the little leaves of cabbage had hints of clove and cinnamon. The Seafood rice had a touch of heat to accentuate the complex flavor profile of the meats and seasonings. The service was engaging and prompt and the atmosphere was warm/relaxing. Definitely suggest this place for a great meal and experience. Will be coming here again!“

“Great place to grab good food and great margaritas, Grant and Sam were amazing!!“

“this right here is the place to be good music best djs the staff was very professional and shout to the security guard at the front entrance for being very professional and nice but still held it down the atmosphere is so classy and shout out to the dj in the library always play the classics the food is on point and drinks a must place to visit and get your party on and shout out to host on the mic you have put Richmond back on the map once again I always enjoy myself and friends when we are at your HOFHEIMER and last to the mangers that keep it real and do interact with everyone .“

“My family and I took my Mother there for her 91st birthday. In all there were 14 of us. The staff took great care of us. We ordered from the brunch menu. Everyone one of us had a wonderful time. The food was tasty, chef (AJ) even came out to say Happy Birthday to his Grandmother! Several of us said we will return again. The dinner menu looks amazing I wanted to stay for dinner but I had to head home and I was too full from brunch. I wish Sweet P's much success!“

“This place is awesome! Great service, great food. My go-to every time I’m in Richmond.“

“My dad and I tried Memi’s today for brunch, it was so good!! We split the Hummus Avocado Toast, which was so fresh and came with these very delicious potatoes on the side. I had the Morning in Minya platter and my dad had the Chicken Shawarma wrap. They both hit the spot and you can tell everything is fresh; we dug in too fast to take pictures. Service was amazing, and it’s a very cool space. I definitely will be back!! 10/10“

“Atmosphere was great and so was the food. I will go again.“

“The food was really good and service was good even though there was only 1 working and the cook. Will definitely eat there again if back up in that area.“

“OMG!!!! I love soup , especially Wonton and I had exactly that. That was the best flavor explosion 💥 that I’ve ever had. The broth, the perfect wonton, the delicious oversized noodles 🍜, vegetables. I could go on and on.“

“Ramen Bowl 🥣 are so good and the happy hour ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“fabulous food, great flavors, excellent service, and a fun place to eat and relax. we all loved it.“

“This place is amazing. It was our first time there and they made the experience wonderful. The drinks and the food were fantastic. The restrooms were very clean. Staff was friendly and professional. We are going back in a few weeks and I can't wait. I recommend getting a ride to and from, most of the drink are strong and there is no need to be behind the wheel. We did this and it made the experience better.“

“There is a saying a ruined shoe in the dessert is gold. This place is the only kosher place plus another in entire VA and West Virginia. Very friendly atmosphere. Quick serving and fair prices hope they don’t change it if in and around VA don’t miss it it’s cool with poker night , bingo night and jackpot“

“The bacon wrapped scallops are wonderful. The chicken pot pie was the best I have ever had. My compliments to the Chef �“

“I couldn't speak more highly of this restaurant! When we dined in we had delicious entrees (the duck was amazing!) along with cocktails and Chef Andy was able to make our Christmas dinner a success by catering for us! 5 ⭐️ all around!“

“Loved the duck and the fried green tomatoes. Great service, too!“

“We had an early Christmas Eve dinner at The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing. It was one of the best meals that we have had in Richmond. The atmosphere was delightful, enhanced by the duo playing holiday music; the food was excellent (as usual) but what made this a truly wonderful dining experience was the service. Our server, Trinity, was upbeat, efficient, and most of all really seemed to care if we were having a good meal. Without being intrusive, she checked on us several times to be sure we were doing ok. She is absolutely outstanding!“

“We had the best dinner with the greatest waitress and superb cocktails this weekend! Thanks for the tremendous experience!“

“My daughter and I stopped here for lunch, and it was amazing! We finally found some delicious dim sum with great portion sizes and excellent customer service. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to go back for more. There's a lot of variety, and I especially love that they offer roasted pork, duck, and chicken!“

“Good food, clean place. Staff are super helpful. Nice room 👌“

“Good food, good drinks, and better atmosphere. Staff was amazing. Very good oysters, ordered a dozen. I asked offhand what kind of vinegar was in the minionette, and they wrote down all of the ingredients for me! I really appreciated that they went out of their way to help me out! I'm making the minionette for Thanksgiving for my family and my mom is on hospice, so I want everything to be perfect. It means so much to me that they took the time on a busy Friday to do that for me.“

“What an unexpected culinary treat. We wanted to try out Mantu after reading a favorable article about it in the RTD a few months ago. We belong to a gourmet group and I can't wait to bring them back with me to this delightful restaurant. Our dumpling appetizer of an encrusted whole egg was subtle, different, and enjoyable. Our main course kebabs were nothing like meat and veggies on a skewer, there were no skewers in sight just wonderfully grilled, tender, and amazingly flavored lamb and vegetables. Our desserts of custard with fruit and a very imaginative take on baklava were a perfect close to the meal. In the end, it was the remarkable and very different use of unusual spice combinations, together with a friendly and engaged staff and chef that will guarantee our early return. P.S. the Afghan cuisine, if you have never experienced it, is quite different from the cuisine of India and Nepal.“

“Moving from the west coast I was worried I wouldn’t find good Mexican restaurants. Thank god I found this gem! They smoke their meats fresh everyday and it’s amazing! Pastor, asada and chicken are all absolutely delicious! Highly recommended! Staff are great, environment is authentic and welcoming! If you’re looking for a great meal stop in and try it!“

“I don’t usually leave reviews but I wanted to say I have came to eggspectation with my Lady at least twice one time 100% before my son was born and now once with him and I can say this second time confirms I love the food here the breakfast sandwich never fails it’s absolutely delicious and don’t get me started on the french toast that me and my son ate together 9.5/10 recommendation“

“We were asked to LEAVE the restaurant by the manager. He told us that just ordering drinks was not making him money and we were taking up space from the people waiting to be seated. I looked and there was NO ONE WAITING. I hope everyone believes this. I was embarrassed and so very angry that I got up and left before I spoke out in anger. Also we had already decided to come back there and have lunch after our scheduled tour was over. After how he treated us..... he lost our business and the business from everyone else I tell my experience to This is the review I posted on their website.“

“Thank you Adam for your amazing service and hospitality. We will be back for sure. 🩶 Marnie & Ben“

“KARAOKE NIGHTS with DJLON ON FRIDAY NIGHTS IS A VIBE! COME JOIN US!“

“Amazing wings, pizza, and service“

“Great Great Great. The best Jamaican food in Richmond“

“100% recommend! Such a wonder gem of a restaurant. The staff were all so genuine and amazing. And the food was beyond good. The Cubano sandwich was heavenly. Thank you all so much for an amazing experience. ❤️✨“

“Delicious cuisine and great service!“

“Very dog friendly to our three pups. Brought water out for them. Food was Fantastic“

“A great spot for breakfast. I had the Jersey Devil and it was delicious 😋“

“Shout out to Armondo for excellent service“

“Love Gather and Hem. Amazing service, very creative drinks and yummy food menu“

“First time today! Loved It. Definitely to return!“

“Got our munchies on after a few rounds across the street. Always wanted to come in, should’ve done it waaaaayyyy before now. The wings were awesome and massive, the nachos were an event unto themselves, and the ladies taking care of the guests made us feel like regulars on our first visit! Can’t wait to go back. The bartender mentioned that she liked the slogan on my shirt, and I happened to have a spare hoodie, thought it was small and I hope it fits! We’ll see y’all next time we’re in the neighborhood, for sure! You made it a great experience.“

“everything was amazing a must visit if in Virginia“