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Charlottesville Guidebook
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items Welcome to Charlottesville! As locals for 10+ years, here are some of our favorite things to do (and more importantly... places to eat)!
Map
Sections
10
Breakfast/Brunch
Casual Bites
Food Scene
Vineyards
Breweries
Sightseeing
Breakfast/Brunch
Even if you aren't a morning person, start your day off right with great food!
Literally the best french pastries you will EVER have! Perfect for espresso and that morning caffeine fix as well.
Cou Cou Rachou
With 3 locations in town, including one on the corner, this is a C'ville staple. Classic New York style bagels and bagel sandwiches that you can get in literally any way with any topping imaginable - don't miss this one!
Bodo's Bagels, Charlottesville, VA
This location just off the Downtown Mall is adorable and a great spot for pastries and breakfast/lunch! Our favorite is the everything croissant with bacon, egg, and gruyere as a breakfast sandwich!
Petite MarieBette Café & Bakery
This local B&B has a standalone cafe with great brunch options. Indoor and outdoor seating, and a nearby parking garage makes it an easy spot for casual weekday or weekend brunch.
Oakhurst Café
If all else fails, First Watch is a franchise that rarely disappoints. Located in Barracks Road shopping center, parking is easy, and while you can't make reservations, you can “get in line” virtually before you even leave the house.
First Watch - C'ville
Casual Bites
These are all spots you could pop in easily without a reservation or getting all dressed up.
A food court for everyone! This isn't your mall food court - many C'ville local restaurants and breweries have satellite locations here, so your party can feed any picky eater with options from pizza and burgers to arepas! There's even a Moo-Thru ice...
Dairy Market - Charlottesville, VA
A classic, craft burger place on the Downtown Mall! You can often get a seat outside or at the bar without much of a wait.
Citizen Burger Bar
Great for a night in (GrubHub anyone?!), they also have a location in the Dairy Market. Some of the best thai food in town, and barely 5 minutes from the house.
Chimm - Thai & Southeast Asian Restaurant
A little off the Downtown Mall is this gem of a (more casual) sushi place. With some non-sushi options for the picky eaters, there are also BIG rolls for the sushi eaters!
Now and Zen: Home
With a location on the Downtown Mall AND the Corner, these are great spots to stop in for a quick smoothie, juice, or Acaii bowl!
Corner Juice
With multiple locations, this is THE classic pizza place in town. Whether hitting up the Downtown Location or the one that's open until 2 a.m. they are there for you with some unique and classic options.
Christian's Pizza on 5th Street
Our favorite brunch/lunch spot, this is a MUST eat for cville! Classic Miami cuisine that brings some Cuban flavor and dishes!
Guajiros Miami Eatery
Another great spot barely 5 minutes from the house – also on GrubHub for delivery! Great Indian food!
Kanak Indian Kitchen
Peruvian charcoal chicken. What else do we need to say? This is a great casual lunch/dinner spot!
Al Carbón
Food Scene
Consider a reservation for these upscale spots. Perfect for date night or an amazing meal with friends!
Our favorite French speakeasy, this is where you're most likely to find us on date night! A tiny, hole-in-the-wall bistro that honestly REQUIRES a reservation (there's not a ton of space). A great bar with awesome french food. Ask about their “dealer...
The Alley Light
On the Downtown Mall is another great, (more fine-dining) sushi restaurant. With some non-sushi options for the picky eaters, there's a lot of options and a great bar.
Ten
Elevated Aegean food, a knowledgable bar staff, and a great atmosphere!
Smyrna
Oakheart has great Tapas-style offerings, and great cocktails. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but space is limited.
Oakhart Social
Our favorite Italian place! Make sure you get a reservation for dinner or just see if there's room in the back bar.
Tavola
A little piece of New Orleans here in C'ville, this small restaurant has a great outdoor space and unique food options.
Southern Crescent Galley and Bar
The rooftop bar is a great place for sunset views and a drink! You can always check out the lobby bar, too.
Quirk Hotel Charlottesville
Great dessert and prosecco, make a reservation for a nightcap or grab some goodies for the road! They also have Friday night specials, but check for a reservation for this.
Cake Bloom
Vineyards
There are dozens of wineries in the Charlottesville area, but these are some of our favs!
Great wine, food, and views! This upscale vineyard is a can't miss!
Pippin Hill Farm: Culinary Vineyard in Virginia's Wine Country
A local staple with great wine and views. They sometimes have a food truck, too!
King Family Vineyards
Great cidery near Pippin to keep the tour rolling!
Potter's Craft Cider
Great wine and food, this tasting room is off the beaten path but so worth it!
Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve
The wine tasting is extensive, so make sure you have a DD. This is the vineyard that provided the wine for Queen Elizabeth, so definitely check it out. Especially if you like seeing the ruins of an old building!
Barboursville Vineyards
Breweries
Just like wineries, the Charlottesville area is RICH in breweries!
A great local brewery in a quirky art park - this place is huge with plenty of parking! There's also a sake place in the basement that is wonderful.
Three Notch'd Brewing Company: Three Notch'd Brewing Co ...
You think you know sake, until you come here! A surprising treat in the IX art park, this is a unique experience that adds a twist to your winery/brewery tour!
North American Sake Brewery: Home
A great brewery with plenty of options and outdoor seating! Near the Downtown Mall and could make for a perfect happy hour spot!
Random Row Brewing Co.
Right off the Downtown Mall, this is a cozy bar for sports fans who want good beer and food!
South Street Brewery
This place is awesome - a little out of town, but plenty of space for games and kids to run around (it's very kid-friendly). Great food, beer, and views - you can usually find their stuff in-town too!
Blue Mountain Brewery
A little trip away, this cidery is well-known throughout the US! It's not far from Devil's Backbone, making it an easy part of a brewery tour!
Bold Rock Nellysford Cidery
With a location near Bold Rock and one in Cville, this is a classic stop. Off main street, this is a good spot for a drink if you're heading to the university or Downtown! Parking can be tough here...
Devil's Backbone
Sightseeing
If you want to get out of the house between meals, check out these classic Charlottesville spots!
A staple in C'ville, this is where a lot of restaurants reside. There are plenty of cute boutiques for shopping and bookstores for browsing. Word of caution: this is the hub of C'ville, so there will be more homeless people present. We have never had...
Charlottesville Historic Downtown Mall
Right across from the University of Virginia, this is the spot for great lunch spots, cute boutiques, and a great dumpling! If it's during the academic year, you'll find a LOT of UVa students!
Welcome to The Corner
For the grads and potential students, or just people who like a nice walk among great architecture, UVA is a landmark in C'ville. You can pop over to the corner for food, check out the campus ("grounds"), and usually find street parking or park in on...
The University of Virginia
A great spot for groups with small children to get out and get creative! Located on the Downtown Mall, there's plenty of parking and food options available.
Virginia Discovery Museum | Charlottesville, VA
A must-see for history buffs, come learn about Thomas Jefferson: the proverbial founder of UVa and Charlottesville, author of the American Declaration of Independence, and our 3rd President.
Monticello
Another American founding father's estate, come tour or walk the grounds!
James Monroe's Highland
Hiking
If you need a break from C'ville, get out into the mountains!
The best as a sunrise hike, this is not a super long hike but it is challenging enough!
Humpback Rocks
A gorgeous drive on it's own, Shenandoah National Park is full of stunning overlooks and hikes! Our favorite is Blackrock Summit, which has two options for the same view (Blackrock Gap Parking is 1.5 miles from the summit and Blackrock Summit Parking...
Blackrock Summit via Trayfoot Mountain and Appalachian Trail
An awesome place for a sunset picnic, this is one of Sarah's favorites since there is literally no hike. An overlook with plenty of parking and space to spread out. Word of caution: this place can get PACKED on weekends and it does not have any raili...
Ravens Roost Overlook
Pick Your Own Fruit Farms
Depending on the season, this can be a great activity for any age!
If you are visiting in June-September, you can pick your own strawberries or peaches here (depending on when you come! Check their website to make sure you're in the right season range, but this is always a fun stop! This place has ice cream and incr...
Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market
An iconic location with the best view of Charlottesville, if you're visiting from August through November you can pick your own apples, pumpkins, or gourds or just visit their Summer Sunset Series for some frozen wine. They require tickets as the mou...
Carter Mountain Orchard and Country Store
If you are blessed to be here for the 2 weeks in June that cherries are ripe for the picking, you should visit. Even the drive there is stunning. Again, they do not allow dogs, but kids are welcome!
Spring Valley Orchard
Grocery Stores
Here are the grocery stores nearest our properties!
One of the closest grocery stores to you! They have a huge selection including wine and beer.
Wegmans
Also close by and a great budget option in comparison to Wegmans.
Food Lion 5th Street
A little further away, but once you drive up 29 you have easy access to basically all other grocery stores including Whole Foods, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Costco, etc.
Trader Joe's
Places of Worship
If you're looking for a place of worship during your stay, here are a few recs!
This is a great non-denominational church in downtown Charlottesville that meets Sundays at 9 and 11 am. Family-friendly, multi-generational, and diverse. Reach out to us directly if you're interested in knowing more!
Portico Church
This is the closest Catholic Parish to our rental properties, and has a mix of University students and Charlottesville residents.
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
This is the nearest gathering place for Islamic worship in Charlottesville!
Islamic Society of Central Virginia
This is the nearest Jewish place of worship in downtown Charlottesville.
Congregation Beth Israel