Guidebook for Charlottesville
Food Scene
The ham biscuits they serve till 12pm are amazing. Great locally farmed meats.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
JM STOCK PROVISIONS
709 W Main StThe ham biscuits they serve till 12pm are amazing. Great locally farmed meats.
One of our favorite spots. We always get a dozen oysters and the mussels and frites.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Public Fish & Oyster
513 W Main StOne of our favorite spots. We always get a dozen oysters and the mussels and frites.
Bizou
119 W Main StThe meatloaf!
C & O
515 E Water StWonderful food and great atmosphere.
Transcendent Tex Mex. A charlottesville icon. Get a margarita, but get there early for a booth. It get's full quickly and loud.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Continental Divide
811 W Main StTranscendent Tex Mex. A charlottesville icon. Get a margarita, but get there early for a booth. It get's full quickly and loud.
We love our local bakery. Swing by for a loaf of bread or a treat on your way home from the downtown mall.
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Albemarle Baking Co
418 W Main StWe love our local bakery. Swing by for a loaf of bread or a treat on your way home from the downtown mall.
Just off the downtown mall or on Rose Hill Drive. My favorite pastries, sourdough, and coffee.
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MarieBette Café and Bakery
700 Rose Hill DrJust off the downtown mall or on Rose Hill Drive. My favorite pastries, sourdough, and coffee.
I love to bring my kids here on a summer evening. Great tacos, yummy drinks, family friendly.
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Brazos Tacos
925 2nd St SEI love to bring my kids here on a summer evening. Great tacos, yummy drinks, family friendly.
A great spot to pick up a bottle of wine, and some fine cheese, or other tasty treats.
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Feast
416 W Main StA great spot to pick up a bottle of wine, and some fine cheese, or other tasty treats.
Take out Thai! This is a staple for us. Monsoon has a sit down and eat version on Market Street.
Monsoon Togogo
416 W Main StTake out Thai! This is a staple for us. Monsoon has a sit down and eat version on Market Street.
This is a wonderful summer Saturday morning activity. Try to get there early, but it goes until noon. Tacos, giant ripe tomatoes, coffee, local meats, fresh eggs, baked goods, plants, jewelry, flowers, and everything else. It's a scene for sure :)
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Charlottesville City Market
100 E Water StThis is a wonderful summer Saturday morning activity. Try to get there early, but it goes until noon. Tacos, giant ripe tomatoes, coffee, local meats, fresh eggs, baked goods, plants, jewelry, flowers, and everything else. It's a scene for sure :)
Pearl Island Catering
233 4th St NWAwesome take out just a short walk away.
Great vegetarian food and any exotic tea you can imagine. And green tea milkshakes!!
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Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
414 E Main StGreat vegetarian food and any exotic tea you can imagine. And green tea milkshakes!!
Drinks & Nightlife
The Alley Light
108 2nd St SWOur local speak easy.
Ten
120 E Main StAmazing sushi and fantastic cocktails. Great design too!
This is a gorgeous spot to visit plus it has wonderful food.
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Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdThis is a gorgeous spot to visit plus it has wonderful food.
This is where Dave Matthews got his start. Stop in and have a beer on their downtown mall patio.
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Miller's Downtown
109 W Main StThis is where Dave Matthews got his start. Stop in and have a beer on their downtown mall patio.
This is the most "uncool" bar in Charlottesville, which I think makes it one of the best :) They have a fantastic selection of beers and no pretension what-so-ever. Also- definitely order some wurst and pretzel to go with your beer.
Court Square Tavern
500 Court SquareThis is the most "uncool" bar in Charlottesville, which I think makes it one of the best :) They have a fantastic selection of beers and no pretension what-so-ever. Also- definitely order some wurst and pretzel to go with your beer.
Artisanal spirits created by our friend and former UVA professor Ian Glomski. Walk to their water street location!
Vitae Spirits Distillery Downtown
101 E Water StArtisanal spirits created by our friend and former UVA professor Ian Glomski. Walk to their water street location!
Iron Paffles & Coffee
214 W Water StPuff pastry waffles filled with deliciousness.
Blue Moon Diner
606 West Main StreetAwesome brunch spot- just up the street!
Great outdoor space and wonderful renovation of a historic building AND the best cider around. Worth a trip south on 29 for sure!
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Potter's Craft Cider
1350 Arrowhead Valley RoadGreat outdoor space and wonderful renovation of a historic building AND the best cider around. Worth a trip south on 29 for sure!
Arts & Culture
Fantastic and educational spot to visit. Enjoy a house tour, the beautiful gardens, and don't forget the Saunders Monticello trail if you up for a beautiful walk. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a must see.
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Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwyFantastic and educational spot to visit. Enjoy a house tour, the beautiful gardens, and don't forget the Saunders Monticello trail if you up for a beautiful walk. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a must see.
Check out our top notch local theater! My husband and I went here on our first date :)
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Live Arts
123 E Water StCheck out our top notch local theater! My husband and I went here on our first date :)
James Monroe's Highland
2050 James Monroe PkwyFantastic collection and great exhibits.
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The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia
155 Rugby RdFantastic collection and great exhibits.
Sightseeing
Don't be dissuaded by the garden gates. The gardens off of UVA's Lawn are public domain. They are a wonderful spot to stop and take a breather, eat a sandwich or climb a tree.
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Rotunda
1826 University AveDon't be dissuaded by the garden gates. The gardens off of UVA's Lawn are public domain. They are a wonderful spot to stop and take a breather, eat a sandwich or climb a tree.
Parks & Nature
RRC is run by our good friends Gabe and Sonya- take a tube, stand up paddle board, kayak, or canoe down the Rivanna River, and enjoy Charlottesville's landscape from a totally new perspective! We take our kids (3&1) down the river as much as possible. It's no Gauley or New River, but it makes for a lovely afternoon.
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Rivanna River Company
1520 E High StRRC is run by our good friends Gabe and Sonya- take a tube, stand up paddle board, kayak, or canoe down the Rivanna River, and enjoy Charlottesville's landscape from a totally new perspective! We take our kids (3&1) down the river as much as possible. It's no Gauley or New River, but it makes for a lovely afternoon.
Steps from our house. It's got a great play ground, a baseball/kickball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a small amphitheater.
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Tonsler Park
500 Cherry AveSteps from our house. It's got a great play ground, a baseball/kickball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a small amphitheater.
A beautiful drive, and a bunch of incredible hikes. Turn north off of 64 to get to Shenandoah National park as well.
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Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance
Blue Ridge ParkwayA beautiful drive, and a bunch of incredible hikes. Turn north off of 64 to get to Shenandoah National park as well.
A great spot for a hike. This is a long trail the nearly wraps around Charlottesville's reservoir.
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Ragged Mountain Natural Area
1730 Reservoir Rd A great spot for a hike. This is a long trail the nearly wraps around Charlottesville's reservoir.
Forest Hills Park has the best spray park in Charlottesville. It can get wild on a hot summer afternoon, but it's within walking distance.
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Forest Hills Park
1022 Forest Hills AveForest Hills Park has the best spray park in Charlottesville. It can get wild on a hot summer afternoon, but it's within walking distance.
Ivy Creek Foundation
1780 Earlysville RdNice beginner hikes.
Great hikes and a nice swimming lake. Camping too!
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Sherando Lake Recreation Area
96 Sherando Lake RdGreat hikes and a nice swimming lake. Camping too!
Crabtree Falls
Beautiful steep hike
Entertainment & Activities
A place for kids to explore pretend and have fun!
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Virginia Discovery Museum
524 E Main StA place for kids to explore pretend and have fun!
Washnigton Park Pool
1001 Preston AveGreat spot for kids!
I haven't been here yet, but it seems like it might be pretty cool for kids. wildrock.org
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Wildrock
6600 Blackwells Hollow RdI haven't been here yet, but it seems like it might be pretty cool for kids. wildrock.org
This is a beautiful well maintained trail. I try to go as much as possible.
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Saunders-Monticello Trail
This is a beautiful well maintained trail. I try to go as much as possible.
Charlottesville Skate Park
425 US-250 BYPFamily friendly shredding.
Essentials
Wegmans
100 Wegmans WyWhole Foods Market
1797 Hydraulic RdTrader Joe's
2025 Bond StCVS
208 E Main StWe love the takeout spot. Caribbean deliciousness. A short walk away at the Jefferson school.
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Pearl Island Catering
233 4th St NWWe love the takeout spot. Caribbean deliciousness. A short walk away at the Jefferson school.