Virginia Association of Museums

Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me Liberty or give me Death” speech took place in Richmond in 1775. Today, Richmond is more than just Virginia’s state capital; it’s where the American South begins. Come explore these local favorites to get a true taste of the town.

Welcome to Richmond

No trip to the South is complete without a proper biscuit, but these take tradition to the next level.

Biscuits are synonymous with the American South, and when you're in a city so significant to the region's history, it makes sense to have a biscuit place. At least, that's the idea behind Nicole and Byron Jessee's The Fancy Biscuit. 

The couple acknowledges that The Fancy Biscuit isn't the first biscuit-centric spot in Richmond, and will point out some of their personal favorite places like Early Bird Biscuit Co. But they envisioned a different concept and sought to put their own spin on biscuits. As the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted:

They envisioned their buttermilk biscuits being simple and straightforward, piled high with creative toppings, and best eaten with a fork and knife. With their eatery, The Fancy Biscuit, they’ve risen to the challenge.

Located near Richmond's historic Fan District, The Fancy Biscuit is a short walk from beautiful Victorian homes and Virginia Commonwealth University.  Always looking to be a good member of the community, The Fancy Biscuit partners works with local brands and suppliers.

While the space is intimate, it gives an impression that you’re eating in someone’s kitchen. The artsy decor also gives off a warm, Southern Hospitality feel that adds to the feeling that you’re eating right at home.

When you walk up to The Fancy Biscuit, you’ll see employees rolling and cutting biscuits right in the window. Once you’re seated, you’ll have to take a minute or two to go over all your biscuit options. 

Some combinations are classic, like shrimp and grits, and others are a little more intriguing, like country ham with Shyndigz house caramel sauce. Whether you’re a carnivore or vegetarian, there’s an option for you.

Particular with your tastes? You can build your own biscuit sandwich, too.

Even if you're not feeling like eating biscuits, The Fancy Biscuit has a loaded menu starring classic dishes like fried green tomatoes, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, and even salads those those who have an incredible amount of self control.

Post photo from @lizandheidi via Instagram.

Breakfast at the Fancy Biscuit

Take in the sights of the gorgeous gardens in this 100-acre Victorian estate and public park.

Maymont Park is one of the most scenic spots in Richmond, and it all began with James H. Dooley. A graduate of Georgetown College (now Georgetown University), he came into prominence during Richmond’s Reconstruction years. 

Dooley began a legal career soon after the Civil War and served in the Virginia General Assembly in the 1870s. He soon grew his wealth after becoming involved in real estate, railroads, steel, and banking.

By 1893, Dooley completed a large stone mansion built on a large estate overlooking the James River. He named it “Maymont” after his wife, Sallie May. They were among Virginia’s biggest philanthropists, and they left the estate to the City of Richmond to use as a museum and pubic park after their death. Today, Maymont is one of Richmond's biggest attractions and the city takes much care into its upkeep.

Lovers of the Victorian/Gilded Age aesthetic often drift towards the guided tours for the Dooleys’ mansion, where the only way to guarantee a tour is to purchase a ticket in advance. Here, visitors can take a peek into the lavish lifestyles of the American railroad tycoons at the turn of the century. Those who are more nature-inclined won’t be disappointed. There is still plenty to explore with 100 acres of land.

Many Maymont visitors are drawn to the park's two largest gardens: the Italian Garden and the Japanese Garden. While Dooley commissioned the gardens for the original estate, they underwent renovation in the late 20th Century to expand the gardens and better reflect the styles of the two cultures they represent. 

In the Italian garden, for instance, you will find many fountains, various levels, and geometrically shaped beds. In the Japanese Garden, visitors experience a "stroll garden" style that uses classic elements from Japan's biggest cities to offer changing impressions of natures as different areas come into view.

If you'd like to get out of the way of engagement photo shoots in the gardens, Maymont also boasts a diverse arboretum with more than 200 species of trees and woody plants. Children will also enjoy the Children's Farm, where Maymont keeps its farm animals. 

Various other creatures, many of whom are injured and cannot live in the wild also make their home in the park. As you explore the estate, you might come across bald eagles, black bears, foxes, deer, elk, and American bison. 

The grounds are free to explore, but don't miss a tour for Dooley Mansion

Post photo by @kevinjkelleyphoto via Instagram.

A Stroll Through Maymont

Shake up your trip at what Southern Living called "The South's Best Restaurant".

When you're exploring a new town, you always want to experience something memorable. In that regard, Chef David Shannon's L'Opossum is an experience just by entering the space. 

It's been such a local favorite for the past few years Southern Living Magazine's readers recently named L'Opossum the best restaurant in the South.

As you stand on the corner of Pine and China, the restaurant appears to be a plain building in a residential neighborhood. Yet walking inside is like diving down the rabbit hole. Colored lights and plant arrangements hang from the ceiling, a hodgepodge of paintings and artwork hang on the walls. Even though the space is dim, you'll still find tables where slices of chocolate cake are literally on fire.

And you'll find that the food is just as forward-thinking and creative as the restaurant's ambiance. Dishes catch your eyes with one glance at the menu, ranging from intriguing (fabergé eggs) to suggestive (Baby Got Coubliac). You'll see creative takes on all the classics, from foie gras with "persimmon pleasures" to beef wellington with truffled duxelle to macaroni and cheese truffle mornay cream.

Between the restaurant's creative takes on French cuisine, its dismissal at fine dining snootiness, and the bohemian atmosphere, L'Opossum is a great restaurant to try high quality food without worrying if you belong with the crowd. It's that inclusive, fun atmosphere that David Shannon wants to nurture at L'Opossum, which is partially motivated by his LGBTQ identity:

I have always tried to create a very inclusive environment for all, knowing that visibility on all fronts is key for our LGBTQ community. Being located in a city that was once the capital of the Confederacy, it is important to me to always remain out and LGBTQ-forward in my approach to running L’Opossum.

Get a spot at the best restaurant in town

Dinner And Warm Drinks At L'Opossum

The Quick Hotel's lobby sofas are comfy after a day of walking, but its gallery is full of wonders...

When most people think of art galleries, you might think of snooty critics in Paris or New York sipping on wine and bidding thousands of dollars on mostly blank canvases. That’s exactly what Kate Ukrop wanted to avoid when she opened Richmond’s Quirk Gallery with her husband Ted in 2005.

They chose "Quirk" as a gallery name to encourage curiosity and whimsy. The gallery also added a gift shop, similar to what could be found at an exhibit in an art museum. Quirk Gallery quickly became a hot spot for local artists to showcase and sell their art. 

The gallery's success allowed the Ukrops to open a boutique hotel in 2015 under the same name. They moved the gallery right next door, and the hotel lobby offers an entrance to the gallery. 

Quirk continues to showcase multiple artists in its gallery every month. Not only can visitors purchase the artwork, but the gallery shop also carries Quirk-centric products that live up to its name (boyfriend-smelling candles, anyone?)

As you move around the space, you'll notice that the muted colors, abundant white space, and clean lines give a minimalistic and elegant feel. The building that houses the Quirk Hotel and Quirk Gallery was originally the luxury department store J.B. Mosby & Co and it was constructed in 1916. 

The Ukrops took the building's history to heart when they transformed the space, keeping many of the original architectual details. Combined with artisan dining and beautiful sitting areas in its lobby, the Quirk Gallery is a perfect place for anyone who loves aesthetically pleasing environments.

Post photo from @annakardosphoto via Instagram.

Souvenirs At The Quirk Gallery

Explore the seat of Virginia's state government and the state's role in American history.

Even if you're not a history nerd, a quick stop to the Capitol is worth your time, if only to pay respects to some of the brightest founding members of this country. Richmond is the third home of the Virginia General Assembly, the oldest ongoing state legislature in the country.

Placed at the top of Shockoe Hill, the Capitol overlooks the falls of the James River.

In 1779, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, then-Governor Thomas Jefferson urged the Virginia General Assembly to move the state capital from Williamsburg to Richmond. Jefferson continued to be involved with the construction of the capitol even when he served as ambassador to France in the 1780s.

 Although he was a self-taught architect, Jefferson created a scale model for the other directors to show how the three branches of Virginia's government (legislative, executive, and judicial) could combine so that all three buildings were in the same location.

Jefferson hired French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau to help with the project. They modeled the capitol after Maison Carrée, a Roman Temple in Nimes, France. Many people consider the temple a model of perfect classical design. Construction on Jefferson’s capitol was slow-paced, and the stucco-clad brick building finished in 1800.

Today, visitors at the Capitol can see the various nods to Virginians throughout American history such as George Washington, Stonewall Jackson, and even Edgar Allan Poe.

Yet perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the capitol was its symbolic departure of British architecture and embrace of neoclassical styles. WWTW says of Jefferson's goals:

The Virginia State Capitol was Jefferson’s declaration of independence from British architecture. Its influence is seen in more than two centuries of neoclassical government and commercial buildings across America, from local banks and post offices to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C

The Capitol

It might be a bit cold outside, but Lamplighter Coffee Roasters have drinks to keep you warm.

Winter weather calls for cozy clothes and hot drinks, and one of the most popular cafes in Richmond provides a cup of coffee and a friendly atmosphere to keep you warm. Just a short walk from the capitol building, Lamplighter Coffee is a local favorite worth visiting for a while.

Lamplighter Coffee opened in 2009 by spouses Noelle and Zach Archibald. Although Noelle has Richmond roots, the pair met in the Pacific Northwest. Once they moved, they learned that there was a market for specialty coffee in their community of bicyclists and artists in Richmond. And indeed, bicycle culture is very much a part of Lamplighter Coffee you'll find motifs in their name, decor, cups, and the packing on coffee beans available for purchase.

10 years later, there are three locations for Lamplighter Coffee in Richmond and they offer catering and delivery services. For a small business to have so much growth in what was previously thought to be a small market for coffee, Lamplighter Coffee is a case study for success. 

Part of their success is in their coffee; it's actually that good. They source their coffee from a variety of places, but Lamplighter Coffee roasts all of their beans in Virginia. For those who lean more towards Team Tea rather than Team Coffee, Lamplighter also has tea options, including Matcha lattes.

Thanks to Zach's experience in the food industry, all locations also offer snacks and sandwiches for those looking to pair their drink with a light meal. Even though most people associate coffee shop workers with huge cities, you'll still see hipsters and students alike hanging out and getting work done.

And if you've ever been curious about delving deeper in coffee culture, Lamplight also hosts classes for all enthusiasts. Their seminars range from teaching coffee fundamentals to newbies and training baristas for skills such as creating latte art and operating specialized equipment.

Love coffee? Take a class with Lamplighters while you're in Richmond

Grab A Cup At Lamplighter Coffee

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Welcome to Richmond

Breakfast at the Fancy Biscuit

Breakfast at the Fancy Biscuit

A Stroll Through Maymont

A Stroll Through Maymont

Dinner And Warm Drinks At L'Opossum

Dinner And Warm Drinks At L'Opossum

Souvenirs At The Quirk Gallery

Souvenirs At The Quirk Gallery

The Capitol

The Capitol

Grab A Cup At Lamplighter Coffee

Grab A Cup At Lamplighter Coffee

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