Guidebook for Charlottesville
Food Scene
There are at least three SJ's around town, but this is the largest one with the most seating. It can get crowded pretty quickly but if you can snag a seat it's a great place to read, hang out, or get some work done.
52 locals recommend
Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters
945 Preston AveThere are at least three SJ's around town, but this is the largest one with the most seating. It can get crowded pretty quickly but if you can snag a seat it's a great place to read, hang out, or get some work done.
Sultan Kebab
333 2nd St SENear downtown. Very tasty middle eastern food!
This bakery is also a restaurant and a fun place for brunch! There is usually a wait but you can order a pastry and coffee and sit outside until your table is ready.
121 locals recommend
MarieBette Café and Bakery
700 Rose Hill DrThis bakery is also a restaurant and a fun place for brunch! There is usually a wait but you can order a pastry and coffee and sit outside until your table is ready.
If you want to be a bit decadent this place serves sweet and savory items sandwiched inside flaky waffles! YUMMM
Iron Paffles & Coffee
214 W Water StIf you want to be a bit decadent this place serves sweet and savory items sandwiched inside flaky waffles! YUMMM
A bit on the lighter side. This place has soups, salads and sandwiches and is very tasty. Also located on the downtown mall.
26 locals recommend
Revolutionary Soup
108 2nd St SWA bit on the lighter side. This place has soups, salads and sandwiches and is very tasty. Also located on the downtown mall.
Located on the downtown mall. I like this restaurant because they have fun drinks and a lot of tasty southern food.
80 locals recommend
The Whiskey Jar
227 W Main StLocated on the downtown mall. I like this restaurant because they have fun drinks and a lot of tasty southern food.
This place is convenient and has parking! It has coffee, tea, wine, sandwiches, and pastries. It's also got plenty of seating and wifi so it's great to do some work in.
15 locals recommend
C'Ville Coffee
1301 Harris StThis place is convenient and has parking! It has coffee, tea, wine, sandwiches, and pastries. It's also got plenty of seating and wifi so it's great to do some work in.
Great for brunch or lunch! They have sweet and savory grits options as well as other breakfast fare! Also located on the downtown mall.
18 locals recommend
Grit Coffee, Downtown
112 W Main StGreat for brunch or lunch! They have sweet and savory grits options as well as other breakfast fare! Also located on the downtown mall.
Drinks & Nightlife
This place has a full bar, lots of beer options and some tasty food. It has a parking lot of its own which makes it a nice alternative to downtown. It's also has lots of seating including outdoors seating.
62 locals recommend
Kardinal Hall
722 Preston AveThis place has a full bar, lots of beer options and some tasty food. It has a parking lot of its own which makes it a nice alternative to downtown. It's also has lots of seating including outdoors seating.
This place is a restaurant with a full menu and a full bar. It also has free valet often on the weekends which makes it a favorite of mine!
49 locals recommend
South Street Brewery
106 South Street WestThis place is a restaurant with a full menu and a full bar. It also has free valet often on the weekends which makes it a favorite of mine!
The Southern hosts a number of music shows! Check out their website to see if they're hosting any shows you might enjoy if you're looking for live music!
46 locals recommend
The Southern Café and Music Hall
103 1st St SThe Southern hosts a number of music shows! Check out their website to see if they're hosting any shows you might enjoy if you're looking for live music!
A bar and restaurant on the downtown mall that I particularly enjoy because they often have fun and interesting cocktails.
42 locals recommend
The Fitzroy
120 E Main StA bar and restaurant on the downtown mall that I particularly enjoy because they often have fun and interesting cocktails.
Bar and restaurant with mexican food, including tasty mexican brunch! They sometimes have live music, which is quite lovely.
44 locals recommend
The Bebedero
201 W Main StBar and restaurant with mexican food, including tasty mexican brunch! They sometimes have live music, which is quite lovely.
Sightseeing
University of Virginia
918 Emmet St NThe grounds are beautiful to see and walk around.
About 15-20 minutes from my house. You can tour the house and the grounds. I recommend doing both the house tour and the outside tour. A great place for history fans!
635 locals recommend
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwyAbout 15-20 minutes from my house. You can tour the house and the grounds. I recommend doing both the house tour and the outside tour. A great place for history fans!
Another destination for those interested in history and historical places !
123 locals recommend
James Madison's Montpelier
11350 Constitution HwyAnother destination for those interested in history and historical places !
Parks & Nature
Saunders-Monticello Trail
Another great area to do some light hiking!
A beautiful 2 mile trail along the river that starts at a little park. Great for exercise and relaxation.
9 locals recommend
Rivanna Trail
Rivanna TrailA beautiful 2 mile trail along the river that starts at a little park. Great for exercise and relaxation.
Arts & Culture
This is an artist gallery and studio space that is housed in an old school. They often have shows on the weekends.
60 locals recommend
McGuffey Art Center
201 2nd St NWThis is an artist gallery and studio space that is housed in an old school. They often have shows on the weekends.
Shopping
This is a fun antique store that I always enjoy browsing. They have all sorts of weird stuff!
17 locals recommend
Circa
1700 Allied StThis is a fun antique store that I always enjoy browsing. They have all sorts of weird stuff!
The pedestrian outdoor mall has everything: food, drinks, local shopping, and lots of cute dogs to look at! Definitely a place to check out when you're visiting Charlottesville. It's not your average shopping mall, it's a unique place! Fridays after 5 are live music shows that take place in the Sprint Pavilion at the end of the mall during the warmer months.
291 locals recommend
Downtown Mall
The pedestrian outdoor mall has everything: food, drinks, local shopping, and lots of cute dogs to look at! Definitely a place to check out when you're visiting Charlottesville. It's not your average shopping mall, it's a unique place! Fridays after 5 are live music shows that take place in the Sprint Pavilion at the end of the mall during the warmer months.
Essentials
This is my Kroger of choice b/c it's not usually the place that students go to. It also has a liquor store and gas station. The whole foods is right across the street if you need something a bit fancier.
46 locals recommend
Kroger
1980 Rio Hill CenterThis is my Kroger of choice b/c it's not usually the place that students go to. It also has a liquor store and gas station. The whole foods is right across the street if you need something a bit fancier.
Trader Joe's
2025 Bond StLocated in the Stonefield shopping plaza.
Another grocery store that I enjoy, although I always feel like I spend more here! But it has a bit more interesting fare sometimes and lots of tasty bakery treats if you're looking for something tasty and sweet!
50 locals recommend
Wegmans
100 Wegmans WyAnother grocery store that I enjoy, although I always feel like I spend more here! But it has a bit more interesting fare sometimes and lots of tasty bakery treats if you're looking for something tasty and sweet!