46 Best Cocktail Bars in Richmond

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

“My partner and I spent our anniversary here last night. We had the 1/2 chicken which was on special and it was phenom.en.al. It was a littttttle on the salty side but overall just so flavorful and delicious - can’t recommend enough. Best chicken I’ve had in a long time. My partner is a vegetarian and she goes “this was worth breaking veg for”.

The carpaccio was also amazing and our cocktails were great. Staff was friendly and on point. We’ll be back for oysters soon.“

“Food was wonderful!!!! One of the top restaurants in RVA!“

“I moved to the fan a year ago and Brazen quickly became my favorite spot. The food is absolutely amazing. The service? Even better. Finding Brazen gave me an amazing DELICIOUS place to come to after. I would would recommend 100 times over. I’ve never had a bad time here and it’s such a hidden gem. 10/10 recommend“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

“I am struggling to write this review because everything about this experience was so stupid-good that I am at a loss for words.

The service? Stupendous. The food? I literally cried a little bit when it was gone. The vibe? Impeccable. Come as you are, as long as “you are” means you want to enjoy glorious seafood.

Here’s what I will do on my next visit:
1. Book an early reservation, say 4pm. Lay waste to the happy hour menu. I’m talking $1 oysters, $30 bottles of vino verde. Grab a ceviche that will make you doubt every ceviche you have ever had to date. Eat some fat shrimp. Get a tin of tuna belly with cocktails - and ask for suggestions; there are some thoughtful and magical pairings to enjoy.
2. Pay up and go for a walk.
3. Come back for your cleverly-arranged 7:00pm reservation. Do EVERYTHING. Order it AGAIN. Maybe skip the conserva and get dessert instead; the banana ice cream sundae was calling my name. Doesn’t matter, just make sure you do this experience twice in one night.
4. Do you have the intestinal fortitude to repeat steps 2 and 3? I do not, but I would respect the heck out of anyone who can. You do you.“

“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!“

“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!“

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

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

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

“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.“

“Had the most wonderful experience last night, the bartenders, food and drinks were amazing.“

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

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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“

“Emerald Lounge was our favorite food stop of the entire weekend. The decor is moody and tropical, the staff looked effortlessly cool, and honestly, I felt a little sexier just walking through the door. What a vibe.

We ordered the crab Rangoon empanadas, pork lumpia, and Baja fish tacos, and every single thing was delicious. But those empanadas deserve a moment. Two beautifully golden empanadas with a sauce so good I wanted to dive in and swim around in it. Give me a spoon and a bowl of that sauce and I would be perfectly happy. Paired with the crispy pastry and creamy crab filling? I’ll be dreaming about them.

The fish tacos had generous pieces of crispy fish on little corn tortillas, and the pork lumpia with chili sauce was another winner. Everything looked as good as it tasted, right down to the dishes it was served in. The portions were just right for us to share and try several things.

Two Miami Vices with a little coconut rum floated on top had me feeling very good about our decision to start the weekend here. We enjoyed it so much that we seriously considered coming back for dinner the next night.

Beautiful space, delicious food, and drinks that encouraged us to keep the night going. Already planning my next visit and my next order. Although those empanadas are absolutely coming back to the table.“

“The ambiance of the place was beautiful & such a lovely vibe. My girls & I came to celebrate a birthday and also came for the $5 margaritas & $5 lemon drops. I can say this was not my first time coming but I loved everything about my service this time it was only right I came and left a review.. My experience with my server was absolutely amazing! She was very welcoming, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. Her positive attitude, professionalism, and warm personality made the entire experience enjoyable. She checked on us consistently without being overbearing and made us feel valued as a customer. Even after explaining to us that they had a new system so she’s still learning as she’s goes incase she messes up & she did absolutely great. We would have never even noticed if she didn’t tell us. You can tell she genuinely cares about providing great service and making sure her guests have a wonderful experience. I would definitely come back and request for Asia again!“

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

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

“Pretty good place. Food was pricey, but had good flavor combinations. Service was okay, seemed like the waiter might have been alone for the early morning breakfast crowd. Overall enjoyed my experience. I had the Lemon Blueberry Pancakes and a side of sausage patties. Worth it.“

“Loved it. Great views, amazing cocktails, perfect for late spring/early summer w a lovely breeze. Kid friendly, but don't be a jerk- if you are ordering food (for yourself or your kid) rub the two neurons together that it takes to understand how unfair it is to the staff to order food on the balcony - it SUCKS to have to get food to there, (and, shockingly!) even more than it sucks having to go back downstairs to order food. Just be a decent person, order drinks at the bar (like a normal person), and get your food downstairs close to the kitchen.... that way it is still warm when you get it, and you won't sound like a completely entitled dumbass when you complain about how long it took/how cold your food is, when you were too lazy to even try to go downstairs without the burden of an order.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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. ❤️✨“

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

“Amazing wings, pizza, and service“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Delicious cuisine and great service!“

“everything was amazing a must visit if in Virginia“

“Shout out to Armondo for excellent service“