FP Travel Guides: Richmond, VA with Brittany Mullins

We all have it in us, that wanderer’s spirit that shines through when adventure awaits.

Even if it’s just to the next town over, the desire to travel and experience is undeniable. But sometimes a little guidance doesn’t hurt. Today, Brittany Mullins of the blog Eating Bird Food shares her favorite spots around Richmond, VA to eat, drink, and be active:

I grew up in a small town, so Richmond is the perfect city for me, it’s big, but not so big that it’s overwhelming. Filled to the brim with vibrant neighborhoods that each boast their own unique attractions, Richmond is an easy city to explore (thanks to a noticeable lack of traffic), and just a short distance from the ocean’s shore and gorgeous mountains. As a health coach with a love for wholesome, delicious food and all things fitness who just happens to be married to a beer nerd, I spend a lot of time eating and being active. Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite spots around Richmond to catch a bite to eat, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and take in the beautiful Richmond scenery.

City Guide City Guide

Lamplighter Roasting Company, 116 South Addison St. Richmond, VA 23220

Lamplighter is my favorite spot to grab a morning coffee. They roast their own beans and have three full-service locations that offer espresso, pour overs, and various other brew methods. We often stop by the Addison Street location, where you’ll find a wide variety of coffee beans, an extensive menu full of amazing made-to-order options, and if it’s a nice day, a patio full of people and a few dogs. We always order the cold-brew iced coffee in the summer, but when the days turn cold, nothing beats their hot options: an almond milk cafĂ© au lait for her, and a dry cappuccino for him. I love the fruit and yogurt parfait with granola, but if you’re in the mood for a treat, grab one of the house-made sweet potato chai muffins. They’re my husband’s favorite.

City Guide

The Daily Kitchen and Bar, 2934 W. Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221

The Daily brings warm west-coast vibes to Richmond, both in decor and menu. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Daily provides options that are not only delicious, but also health conscious, with a variety of options for all dietary preferences including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and paleo. They partner with local farmers and use organic, all natural and sustainable ingredients as much as possible, which I love. Everything I’ve tried has been delicious, but my absolute favorite item on the menu is the seared salmon salad with quinoa tabouleh, feta, almonds and a chipotle lemon vinaigrette. Oh, and the sweet potato fries… they’re some of the best I’ve ever had. The cocktail menu is packed with unique creations like a watermelon kombucha martini (made with ginger kombucha from Barefoot Bucha) and a coconut water mojito. I highly recommend both.

City Guide City Guide

Maymount Park & Estate, 2201 Shields Lake Drive, Richmond, VA, 23220

Richmond is full of parks and outdoor spaces to explore, and while I love hiking along the James River or posting up on the rocks at Belle Isle or Pony Pasture, my absolute favorite park in the city is Maymont. I may be a little biased — my husband proposed to me there — but I think any Richmonder would agree that Maymont is a treasured spot. The 100-acre park was a gift to the city from James Henry and Sallie Dooley and it’s such a special place. Strolling the grounds is a lovely activity for all ages — there are beautiful blooming gardens, animals to spot, and plenty places to set your picnic blanket. If you’re a history lover, I recommend also scheduling a tour of the Maymont Mansion.

Richmond Breweries, see addresses below

If you’re visiting Richmond, you absolutely must take a brewery tour. The craft beer scene has exploded here in Richmond in recent years, so you can easily spend a whole day traveling to different breweries, tasting them all. A few must-stop places include Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Strangeways, and Ardent Craft Ales. Wrap up your tour at Mekong — which was voted the best craft beer bar in America — for a huge selection of craft beer on tap as well as delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

  • Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2408 Ownby Ln, Richmond, VA 23220
  • Strangeways, 2277 Dabney Rd, Richmond, VA 23230
  • Ardent Craft Ales, 3200 W Leigh St, Richmond, VA 23230
  • Mekong, 6004 W Broad St Henrico, VA 23230

City Guide
City Guide

South of the James Farmer’s Market, New Kent Ave, Richmond, VA 23225
If you’re visiting on the weekend, you should definitely make time on Saturday morning to check out the South of the James Farmer’s Market. It’s a producer-only market where farmers and artisans sell locally-grown and hand-made items. I highly recommend picking up a jar of Reginald’s Homemade peanut butter to take home (the Nana Honey is to die for) as well as Dracula’s Dilemma pickled garlic from Sweet Sour Salty & Co. If you’re hungry for breakfast, keep things on the lighter side and grab a quinoa breakfast bowl from Goatocado or indulge with a Mrs. Yoder’s donut. You’ll be delighted with either choice.
City Guide
City Guide

City Guide

This is just a sampling of places to visit while you’re visiting Richmond. If you’re looking for more ideas, checkout my Local RVA page with lots of great places to eat, shop and work out!

Be sure to follow Brittany on FP Me!

Follow FP Julie on Twitter and Instagram!

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
9 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
9 years ago

Thanks for having me! I loved sharing a few of my favorites spots in RVA.

Rae
9 years ago

thanks so much for these great insights! i am from virginia but have not been to richmond in over 10 years. will def. need to check out some of these spots if I ever travel down to richmond!

rae of love from berlin

9 years ago

Gorgeous scenes! Those daisies are so pretty.

Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com

9 years ago

Such gorgeous photos!
xoxo Kennedy
Northern Indigo

9 years ago

Such good recommendations.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/flourishdesignco

The almond milk lattes from Lamplighter are SO good and the Daily Kitchen is definitely one of my favorite spots as well :)

9 years ago

Oh my, the sunflowers!!

http://www.korinsusanne.blogspot.no

9 years ago

Oh my, the sunflowers!!!!! :-D

sincereju
9 years ago

My city!!!