47 Best Cocktail Bars in Richmond

“The best experience ever, The service was amazing but the food left us speechless. Came to dinner with dear friends that are all great cooks and we were awed by the flavors, presentation and dimensions of flavor. The seafood pasta was not only bountiful with fresh catches from the sea but the homemade pasta and sauce were divine. We were blessed that the chef came to the table to introduce himself; and although soft spoken, you could tell the pride he took in his craft. Highly recommend this new restaurant! Come and experience! Highly recommend“

“Worth the price and worth the hype. Finally got to try this place and every bite was amazing. Went with the Beauford Sandwich and Oxbow Sandwich and both had depth of flavor enhanced by the jus they were served with. The rolls were so fresh and perfect texture as well. Every ingredient feels intentional and adds an extra layer.“

“Such a great menu. Cocktails are fire and the service is so top notch. Amanda was our bartender and she took great care of us. Loved the flounder mosaic and oysters. Their 'hot car' cocktail was amazing. Glad Amanda took the time to explain all the gadgets they had behind the bar making the cocktail experience that much better. Sit At the bar for the best experience imo“

“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.“

“Lovely stay in very well kept modern hotel in an excellent location. Staff was professional and courteous. Rooms have a nice up to date decor with lots of subtle amenities to help things feel that much more homelike. Very nice open lobby with food, coffee, and plenty of space to work. Clear elevators in lobby are a nice feature. Excellent buffet breakfast with made to order omelettes. Definitely recommend and would happily stay here again.“

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

“Well researched food, solidly composed cocktails, and a warm interior make The Roosevelt one of the most talked about restaurants in RVA currently. Chef Leah is as much a researcher as she is a good chef. Being a long time food writer who has been on assignment in many kitchens, its no surprise to me that Leah has carved out a reputation for herself in Richmond recently. She sources a lot from local farmers, adheres often to seasonal common sense, and takes inspiration from her reading and research on Soul Food, Southern food, and Virginia food. I wouldn't classify prices at The Roosevelt as cheap but also wouldn't classify them as extravagant either. Marketed by many as a "neighborhood spot" I always see The Roosevelt as a great date night spot, particularly for those who might fancy themselves foodies. Congrats to Leah and The Roosevelt on their recent James Beard nod. In my opinion, well deserved.“

“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!!“

“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!“

“We came in for galaxy con this past weekend and I ran by this place on the open table app to get a Saturday reservation. Place had great reviews and i loved the pictures so I wanted to give it a try. I was very impressed! My husband and son loved their food. I had an issue with the first thing I ordered being too spicy so they nicely took it back and had me order something else. The burger was delicious ! They then took both meals off my tab for me for the inconvenience . Great service and will be back! Oh and the rooftop area is beautiful!“

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

“We had a birthday party at Memi’s and it was great. The manager was easy to work with and very responsive during planning. The food and drinks were delicious. We used the downstairs lounge, so our group could be in its own, and it suited our needs perfectly. Highly recommend.“

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

“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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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 �“

“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!“

“Briana P. Was absolutely amazing. I cannot express enough how much we enjoyed our first experience. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left she made sure everything was perfect. The blueberry mimosas were so good. The gooey goose bread was 10/10. Her smile, energy, and passion for seeing others come together over a meal was felt instantly. I cannot wait to come back again and hopefully she will be in a managers position. I just hope she’ll make the exception of serving us again. Give her a raise. Give her a promotion. Take a piece of her hair and clone 5 more of her lol 😂 ♥️ I’ve never had such an amazing experience before! Thank you!“

“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 👌“

“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!“

“Edwin is the best bartender in Cary town!!! Highly recommend his Smoked Preach Old Fashioned!!!!“

“Where do I even begin? This place is incredible! Hands down, it has some of the best burgers and oysters in Richmond. Every bite was amazing, and the quality really stands out.

What truly made the experience unforgettable, though, was the bartender, Oshane. His professionalism, attention to detail, and skill behind the bar are top-tier. He not only crafts excellent drinks but also creates such a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

If you’re in Richmond or even just visiting do yourself a favor and ask for Oshane. He’ll make sure your experience is nothing short of exceptional!“

“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.“

“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“

“The staff was funny and professional . Food and service was excellent.My wife loved the 1950,s decor. I recommend going and have a meal.“

“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“