Best of Downtown Richmond 2025 Awards

8/26/25

Discover the ultimate guide to the best of Downtown Richmond, where the city's top talents, businesses, and experiences have been rounded up by readers of three local publications. From culinary favorites and cultural hotspots to hidden gems and local icons, these winners represent the heartbeat of RVA. Whether you're a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, our list offers an insider's look at the very best that Downtown Richmond has to offer.

Venture Richmond's Awards and Recognition in 2025

In 2025, Venture Richmond's dedication to enhancing the vitality of downtown has been widely recognized, with numerous awards from local publications. From best concert series to best festivals, these awards emphasize our commitment to making Downtown Richmond a vibrant, dynamic place to live, work, and explore.

Richmond Magazine’s Best Concert Series:

Friday Cheers (1st place)

Richmond Magazine’s Best Music Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st place)

Virginia Living's Best Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (1st place)

Dominion Energy Riverrock (3rd place)

Style Weekly's Best Outdoor Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival

Dominion Energy Riverrock (3rd)

Style Weekly's Best Concert Series:

Friday Cheers

Style Weekly's Best Place to People Watch:

Brown's Island (2nd)

Richmond Times-Dispatch's Best Festival:

Richmond Folk Festival (finalist)

Richmond Magazine's Best & Worst 2025

Congratulations to the Richmond Magazine "Best and Worst" winners located in Downtown Richmond! Richmond Magazine has conducted these awards since 1987 and now has 190 categories.

Best Food Truck:

Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay (2nd)

Best Ramen:

Grace Noodle (2nd)

Best Steakhouse:

Bookbinder’s (3rd)

Best Seafood or Oyster Restaurant:

Rappahannock (3rd - tie)

Best Tearoom or Tea Shop:

The Queens Library Tea Room

The Jefferson Hotel (3rd)

Best Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant:

Gold Lion Community Cafe (2nd)

Best Korean:

Kogi

Best Thai:

Patio Thai (3rd)

Best Global Cuisine Not Mentioned Above:

Addis Ethiopian

Best Fine Dining:

Lemaire

Best Specialty Market:

Stella’s Grocery (2nd)

Best Local Brewery:

Triple Crossing Beer (2nd)

Best Wine Bar or Shop:

Penny’s Wine Shop (3rd - tie)

Best Martini:

Birdie’s

Best Happy Hour:

Tarrant’s (3rd)

Best Local Distillery:

Belle Isle Moonshine

Best Place for a First-Time Richmond Visitor:

Belle Isle/James River (2nd)

Best Gallery or Museum (Nonprofit):

Gallery5 (2nd)

Best Hiking or Biking Trail Within 30 Miles of Richmond:

Virginia Capital Trail

Buttermilk and North Bank Trails, James River Park System (2nd)

Best Local Walk or Run:

Richmond Marathon (2nd)

Best Local Comedy Show:

Coalition Theater (2nd)

Best Underrated Attraction or Hidden Gem:

James River/James River Park System (3rd)

Best Pickleball Court:

Padel Plant (3rd)

Best Free Fun:

Belle Isle/James River (2nd)

Best Historical or History Related Attraction:

The Poe Museum; The Valentine (2nd - tie)

Best Live Music Venue in the City:

The National

Best Dance or Event Series:

Richmond Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”

Best Adult Dance Classes:

Richmond Ballet

Best Hotel:

Jefferson Hotel

Quirk Hotel (2nd)

Linden Row Inn (3rd)

Best Staycation Spot:

The Jefferson Hotel

Quirk Hotel (2nd)

Best Commercial Art Gallery:

1708 Gallery, Art Works (3rd - tie)

Best Local Sporting Goods Store:

Trail Hut (3rd - tie)

Best Locally Owned Bookstore:

Fountain Bookstore

Best New Store:

Little Wish Toys (3rd - tie)

Best Record Store:

Vinyl Conflict (3rd)

Best Place to Buy a Suit:

707 Fine Clothing (3rd)

Best Neighborhood for 20-Somethings:

Manchester (3rd)

Best Hospital:

VCU Health (2nd)

Virginia Living's Best of Central Virginia 2025

Congratulations to these Virginia Living "Best of" winners located in Downtown Richmond! This is the 13th edition of the Best of Virginia, which had 106 different categories. There were nearly 1,600 winners with almost 600,000 votes from across the state.

Best Food Truck:

Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay (2nd place)

Best Outdoor Dining:

The Boathouse (2nd place)

Best Pizzeria:

Bottoms Up (1st place)

Best Seafood Restaurant:

Rappahannock (3rd place)

Best Steakhouse:

The Tobacco Company (2nd place)

Best Specialty/Gourmet Food Shop:

Stella’s Grocery (2nd place)

Best Cocktails:

The Lobby Bar at the Quirk Hotel (3rd place)

Best Distillery:

Belle Isle Moonshine (1st place)

Best Art Event:

Richmond First Fridays (2nd place)

Best Art Gallery:

Quirk Gallery (2nd place)

Best Entertainment Center for Adults:

Hotel Greene (2nd place)

Best Music Venue:

The National (2nd place)

Best Performing Arts Company:

Richmond Ballet (1st place)

Richmond Symphony (2nd place)

Virginia Repertory Theatre (3rd place)

Best Performing Arts Theater:

Carpenter Theatre (2nd place)

Best Special Event Venue:

The Jefferson Hotel (2nd place)

Best Hotel:

The Jefferson Hotel (1st place)

Quirk Hotel (2nd place)

Best Bookstore:

Fountain Bookstore (3rd place)

Style Weekly's Best of Richmond 2025

Congratulations to these Style Weekly "Best of Richmond" winners located in Downtown Richmond! Style Weekly had readers nominate their favorites in February and then held the official vote in March, which received over 125,000 submissions.

Best Public Art:

ICA (2nd)

Best Music Venue:

The National

Best Museum:

The Poe Museum (3rd)

The Valentine (4th)

Best Independent Art Gallery:

Gallery5

Art180/1708 Gallery (3rd - tie)

Best Film Festival:

Afrikana Film Festival (2nd)