Miranda's Guidebook for Charlottesville
Food Scene
My personal favorite restaurant in Charlottesville, this hidden gem is so cool, it doesn’t have a sign! Small, loud, and always crowded, think Mexican food with a twist. Everything is tasty and reasonably priced — and whatever is on special is guaranteed to be a knock-out. You will probably have to wait, but you can have a drink while you do so. The Manager’s Special margarita is a delicious bargain at $7 — but be careful, it packs a punch!
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Continental Divide
811 W Main StMy personal favorite restaurant in Charlottesville, this hidden gem is so cool, it doesn’t have a sign! Small, loud, and always crowded, think Mexican food with a twist. Everything is tasty and reasonably priced — and whatever is on special is guaranteed to be a knock-out. You will probably have to wait, but you can have a drink while you do so. The Manager’s Special margarita is a delicious bargain at $7 — but be careful, it packs a punch!
In the heart of Belmont lies this tapas restaurant that could go head to head with the best in Spain. Especially great in nice weather when you can enjoy the patio,order a pitcher of sangria and soak up the sun while plate after plate of delightful dishes appear!
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Mas
904 Monticello RdIn the heart of Belmont lies this tapas restaurant that could go head to head with the best in Spain. Especially great in nice weather when you can enjoy the patio,order a pitcher of sangria and soak up the sun while plate after plate of delightful dishes appear!
This new restaurant on the mall is delightful! Classic comfort food with a twist and a very customizable menu, I have not had anything here that wasn't delicious. Their cocktails are worth a mention as well!
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The Fitzroy
120 E Main StThis new restaurant on the mall is delightful! Classic comfort food with a twist and a very customizable menu, I have not had anything here that wasn't delicious. Their cocktails are worth a mention as well!
A relative newcomer to the scene, this small restaurant is not lacking for great food. A native New Englander, I love the menu here! Fresh oysters, mussels, and the most amazing brussel sprouts I’ve ever had. Sundays, all bottles of wine are 1/2 price!
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Public Fish & Oyster
513 W Main StA relative newcomer to the scene, this small restaurant is not lacking for great food. A native New Englander, I love the menu here! Fresh oysters, mussels, and the most amazing brussel sprouts I’ve ever had. Sundays, all bottles of wine are 1/2 price!
The elusive Peter Chang inspires a following so ardent that people drive from one of his Virginia locations to another, hoping they will find the one he’s cooking at on a particular day. Regardless of whether he is there in person or not, this place takes Chinese food to the next level. The dry-fried eggplant is a knock-out (I don’t even like eggplant), and the scallion bubble pancakes are not to be missed, just for the spectacle!
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Peter Chang
2162 Barracks RdThe elusive Peter Chang inspires a following so ardent that people drive from one of his Virginia locations to another, hoping they will find the one he’s cooking at on a particular day. Regardless of whether he is there in person or not, this place takes Chinese food to the next level. The dry-fried eggplant is a knock-out (I don’t even like eggplant), and the scallion bubble pancakes are not to be missed, just for the spectacle!
On lazy Saturdays, I like to head to Beer Run for Breakfast tacos and an excellent bloody mary. They do Sunday brunch, too, and everything is local and tasty! The nachos here are the best in town, in my opinion, if you head there later in the day. Their take-home beer selection is also heaven to any craft brew lover!
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Beer Run
156 Carlton RdOn lazy Saturdays, I like to head to Beer Run for Breakfast tacos and an excellent bloody mary. They do Sunday brunch, too, and everything is local and tasty! The nachos here are the best in town, in my opinion, if you head there later in the day. Their take-home beer selection is also heaven to any craft brew lover!
The Charlottesville legend, Bodo’s has Charlottesvillians ready to fight any New Yorker that says you can’t get a good bagel outside of New York. With three locations in town, this place will get you in and out in 10 minutes or less (even if the line is out the door) with a delicious breakfast bagel or sandwich for super-cheap. Most people I know who’ve moved away make Bodo’s their first stop when they come back for a visit!
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Bodo's Bagels
505 Preston AveThe Charlottesville legend, Bodo’s has Charlottesvillians ready to fight any New Yorker that says you can’t get a good bagel outside of New York. With three locations in town, this place will get you in and out in 10 minutes or less (even if the line is out the door) with a delicious breakfast bagel or sandwich for super-cheap. Most people I know who’ve moved away make Bodo’s their first stop when they come back for a visit!
This authentic French bakery has had everyone talking since it opened last year. French pastries, quiche, baguettes, and a brunch that will require you to take a nap!
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MarieBette Café and Bakery
700 Rose Hill DrThis authentic French bakery has had everyone talking since it opened last year. French pastries, quiche, baguettes, and a brunch that will require you to take a nap!
If you have kids, this place is awesome. If you are a kid at heart, this place is still awesome! A good beer selection and local eats are a nice bonus to the classic arcade factor that makes Firefly special! 4 pinball machines, pool, sometimes ping pong, a giant cabinet full of board games, and other old-school arcade games make this place a blast to kill a few hours! Come Thursdays for 80's night and pinball league!
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FIREFLY Restaurant & Game Room
1304 East Market StreetIf you have kids, this place is awesome. If you are a kid at heart, this place is still awesome! A good beer selection and local eats are a nice bonus to the classic arcade factor that makes Firefly special! 4 pinball machines, pool, sometimes ping pong, a giant cabinet full of board games, and other old-school arcade games make this place a blast to kill a few hours! Come Thursdays for 80's night and pinball league!
Hamilton's is a downtown Charlottesville standby. The food is fresh and delicious, and the bartenders don't mess around either! They always have a delicious vegetarian special, which generally sounds so enticing that I often choose it even though I'm not a vegetarian!
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Hamiltons' at First & Main
101 W Main StHamilton's is a downtown Charlottesville standby. The food is fresh and delicious, and the bartenders don't mess around either! They always have a delicious vegetarian special, which generally sounds so enticing that I often choose it even though I'm not a vegetarian!
This grocery store, wine shop, and prepared food store is a foodie's dream! Whether you're grabbing lunch to take to a winery, picking up dinner supplies, or grabbing a latte at their in-house coffee shop, this food mecca will not disappoint!
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Foods of All Nations
2121 Ivy RdThis grocery store, wine shop, and prepared food store is a foodie's dream! Whether you're grabbing lunch to take to a winery, picking up dinner supplies, or grabbing a latte at their in-house coffee shop, this food mecca will not disappoint!
This relaxed yet classy restaurant on the mall is delightful! Classic comfort food with a twist and a very customizable menu, I have not had anything here that wasn't delicious. I just tried their brunch buffet for the first time and it was to die for!
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The Fitzroy
120 E Main StThis relaxed yet classy restaurant on the mall is delightful! Classic comfort food with a twist and a very customizable menu, I have not had anything here that wasn't delicious. I just tried their brunch buffet for the first time and it was to die for!
While not technically a restaurant, this import grocery/fresh pasta and sauce/wine shop/sandwich shop/pizza parlor would be on my top 5 C-Ville list. I can’t live without it! Their wine selection is impeccable. Their caprese sandwich (La Giaconda) is my favorite sandwich in town. Stop by and pick up freshly made pasta, sauce, pizza dough, chicken parmigiana, and more. It’s the best!
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Mona Lisa Pasta Inc
921 Preston AveWhile not technically a restaurant, this import grocery/fresh pasta and sauce/wine shop/sandwich shop/pizza parlor would be on my top 5 C-Ville list. I can’t live without it! Their wine selection is impeccable. Their caprese sandwich (La Giaconda) is my favorite sandwich in town. Stop by and pick up freshly made pasta, sauce, pizza dough, chicken parmigiana, and more. It’s the best!
In the ever-delectable West Main Market, you’ll find this Charlottesville mainstay. Come for freshly baked bread, delicious pastries, cakes, and more! Their currant scone is one of the world’s most perfect foods.
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Albemarle Baking Co
418 W Main StIn the ever-delectable West Main Market, you’ll find this Charlottesville mainstay. Come for freshly baked bread, delicious pastries, cakes, and more! Their currant scone is one of the world’s most perfect foods.
Oakhart Social shares a patio with Public, another favorite, and specializes in shareable small plates and tasty cocktails. I have had some dishes here that were so good the memories of them have lingered for years!
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Oakhart Social
511 W Main StOakhart Social shares a patio with Public, another favorite, and specializes in shareable small plates and tasty cocktails. I have had some dishes here that were so good the memories of them have lingered for years!
I dream of Lampo, delicious dreams of tender meatballs and good wine and tasty salads and delectable wood-fired pizzas that you get to cut yourself with special pizza scissors! It's tiny and makes for a great cozy date night.
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Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria
205 Monticello RoadI dream of Lampo, delicious dreams of tender meatballs and good wine and tasty salads and delectable wood-fired pizzas that you get to cut yourself with special pizza scissors! It's tiny and makes for a great cozy date night.
This little market is a local favorite of mine -- a perfect size, they have all the staples, friendly employees, and the best-hidden butcher shop in town with incredible prices! (It's a well-known secret that many of the best restaurants in town get their meat from Reid's.)
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Reid Super-Save Market
600 Preston AveThis little market is a local favorite of mine -- a perfect size, they have all the staples, friendly employees, and the best-hidden butcher shop in town with incredible prices! (It's a well-known secret that many of the best restaurants in town get their meat from Reid's.)
Drinks & Nightlife
A modern speakeasy, welcome to the other C-Ville restaurant so cool there’s no sign! The food here is pricy, but worth every penny, and is known as the place with the best cocktails in town. Low light, old jazz, and a fireplace give Alley Light a wonderful vintage feel.
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The Alley Light
108 2nd St SWA modern speakeasy, welcome to the other C-Ville restaurant so cool there’s no sign! The food here is pricy, but worth every penny, and is known as the place with the best cocktails in town. Low light, old jazz, and a fireplace give Alley Light a wonderful vintage feel.
In town, the best brewery is Three Notch’d. These guys can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned.
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Three Notch'd Craft Kitchen & Brewery
520 2nd St SEIn town, the best brewery is Three Notch’d. These guys can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned.
These guys have an excellent beer selection, yummy German-inspired food, full sized bocce courts outside, and a ping pong table!
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Kardinal Hall
722 Preston AveThese guys have an excellent beer selection, yummy German-inspired food, full sized bocce courts outside, and a ping pong table!
A converted theater, this is my favorite place to catch mid-size acts in Charlottesville. There's always someone good playing, so check the event listing if you have the chance!
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The Jefferson Theater
110 E Main StA converted theater, this is my favorite place to catch mid-size acts in Charlottesville. There's always someone good playing, so check the event listing if you have the chance!
This little basement club is the best place to catch smaller and up-and-coming acts that come through town. Check it out!
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The Southern Café and Music Hall
103 1st St SThis little basement club is the best place to catch smaller and up-and-coming acts that come through town. Check it out!
This new Charlottesville hotel has a completely fabulous rooftop bar area with amazing views! Eat a light dinner or some appetizers while you enjoy the view, the breeze, and a tasty cocktail.
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Quirk Hotel Charlottesville
499 W Main StThis new Charlottesville hotel has a completely fabulous rooftop bar area with amazing views! Eat a light dinner or some appetizers while you enjoy the view, the breeze, and a tasty cocktail.
Arts & Culture
Keep Charlottesville Weird -- the IX Art Park is trying its hardest and I appreciate it! A renovated industrial park of sorts, this place is sculpture garden, music venue, and more. A great place to let kids explore, they are always hosting cool events. You kind of have to see it to believe it! And Three Notch'd Brewery just moved in, so bonus!
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Park tal-Arti IX
522 2nd St SEKeep Charlottesville Weird -- the IX Art Park is trying its hardest and I appreciate it! A renovated industrial park of sorts, this place is sculpture garden, music venue, and more. A great place to let kids explore, they are always hosting cool events. You kind of have to see it to believe it! And Three Notch'd Brewery just moved in, so bonus!
If you love the smell of old books and getting lost in towering stacks of well-loved paperbacks, you have to come to Daedalus Bookshop.
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Daedalus Books
123 Heather Heyer WayIf you love the smell of old books and getting lost in towering stacks of well-loved paperbacks, you have to come to Daedalus Bookshop.