It may not be as big as New York or as iconic as San Francisco, but Richmond is one of the USA’s hidden dining treasures. Over the past few years, a wonderful collection of cafes, restaurants and bars has cropped up in the Virginian capital.
Here are five of the finest cafes in Richmond:
Photo courtesy of Sefton Coffee Company.
Sefton Coffee Company
Barely a year old, Sefton Coffee Company has already established itself as one of the best coffee spots in Richmond. Their drinks menu is wildly long and creative and I’m yet to try something that isn’t fantastic. Pair your coffee with granola and a smoothie in the morning, or a sandwich with their house-made trail mix in the afternoon. Whatever you get, get it to eat in; the staff are just lovely.
Photo courtesy of Gemma King.
Sub Rosa
Just before I first moved to Richmond, beloved local bakery Sub Rosa was consumed by a fire. But today Sub Rosa is back and better than ever, serving scrumptious pastries, crusty wood-fired bread and top-notch coffees. The iced version, pictured, is the perfect antidote to a sweltering RVA summer’s day.
Photo courtesy of Lamplighter.
Lamplighter
Popular lunch spot Lamplighter boasts a long bagel and sandwich menu unrivalled by anywhere else in the city. But while their lunch fare is certainly delicious (my favorite is the ‘Katie’ avocado bagel), Lamplighter’s main attraction is its house-roasted coffee. Keep it simple and order their Americano for your afternoon pick-me-up.
Photo courtesy of WPA.
WPA, or Well-Made Pastry Alliance
No pour overs, espressos, short macchiatos or cappuccinos here: WPA does filter coffee (hot or iced) and filter coffee alone. But they do it damn well, and paired with the most delectable pies, muffins and cakes in town. There’s always a sizeable gluten free and vegan range of treats, too. Plus the service and atmosphere are simply charming.
Photo courtesy of Sugar Shack.
Sugar Shack
Donut lovers rejoice: Sugar Shack not only serves rich coffee; they are also famous for some truly mouth-watering donuts. Regular flavours include peanut butter with clusters of fresh peanuts, chai, maple bacon and caramel with sea salt flakes. I’m usually the girl in the corner with the large latte and chocolate sprinkles donut though. Can’t beat the classics.
Note: Sugar Shack’s flagship is an over-the-counter shopfront on Leigh Street, but if you want a sit-down café experience, they have a Monday to Friday coffee shop on Main Street in Downtown.
What’s your favorite coffee haunt in Richmond? Please share in the comments below.
By Gemma King
Photo one – Photo courtesy of Sunny Forest via Shutterstock.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
