Richmond is the kind of city where you can find people enjoying outdoor dining and drinking year-round. During the winter you’ll see people gathered around heaters at breweries, summertime you’ll see groups crowded together at shady picnic tables, spring time brings outdoor happy hours galore and fall is ideal for sipping coffees and eating snacks outside your favorite markets.
From rooftop seating to dining on the canal walk, there is a diverse range of culinary experiences and dishes to have outdoors in RVA.
Outdoor Patio Eating in the River City
Not only do outdoor patios provide the perfect opportunity for city-gazing in the beautiful area of the beloved Richmond, Virginia, but they also serve as conduits to an eclectic collection of tastes around the city.
Whether you’re looking for American cuisine in The Fan District, Mexican delight near Downtown Richmond’s Shockoe Slip, modern French Belgian food in the Arts District or pub grub in The West End, we have compiled a list of the best patios for outdoor eating.
Grab a pen and paper, and jot down the next restaurants to visit for outdoor enjoyment.
1. Lunch & Supper – 1213 – 1215 Summit Ave.
As a Richmond classic southern smokehouse, Lunch & Supper offers great food and gracious hospitality as one of the first modern restaurants in historic Scott’s Addition. Known primarily for their signature comfort food dishes, this homegrown-food-experience provides a very spacious outdoor eating, activity and garden area, combining their Urban Roast event space with their delicious entrees through (as you may have guessed) lunch and supper.
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2. Casa Del Barco – 320 S. 12th St.
As one of the more popular restaurants located on Richmond’s well-visited Canal Walk, Casa Del Barco offers authentic and inventive Mexican cuisine in Richmond’s Central Office District. Offering more than a massive menu of tequila, this restaurant has plentiful patio seating and is in the perfect location for a stroll through the Canal Walk all the way to Brown’s Island.
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3. Pinky’s – 3015 Norfolk St.
Scott’s Addition is packed full of restaurants. Pinky’s Mediterranean dishes and modern decor make it a standout and crowd favorite. Their patio area is adorned with bright green plants and is a delightful outdoor oasis.
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4. The Continental Westhampton – 5704 Grove Ave.
As a go-to outdoor seating restaurant in the West End, The Continental specializes in American cuisine, reimagined. Providing guests a warm and bustling ambience, this restaurant offers retro vibes and enhanced American classics along with a peaceful, enclosed front patio in the heart of the West End.
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5. The Byrd House at the Graduate – 301 W. Franklin St.
Home to the Byrd House, the Graduate provides 360-degree, light-strung, rooftop views of the entire city of Richmond. Atop 15 floors, the Byrd House cocktail bar provides more than spectacular views with a rooftop pool, snack bar and plentiful chairs and tables for the ultimate patio experience.
Available parking –
- Lot 201 – W. Franklin & Jefferson (1 minute walk)
- Lot 20 – Grace & Jefferson (3 minute walk)
- Lot 41 – Adams & Grace (4 minute walk)
6. Bottoms Up Pizza – 1700 Dock St.
With enclosed patio seating in Shockoe Bottom, Bottoms Up Pizza offers a unique atmosphere alongside the Virginia Capital Trail and the James River, and beneath the train tracks. Famous for their deep dish pizza, Bottoms Up offers not only a dog-friendly patio but a multitude of mouth-water pizza combinations.
Available parking –
7. C’est Le Vin – 15 N. 17th St.
Richmond’s popular wine bar, C’est Le Vin is located in the center of Shockoe Bottom offering a warm ambiance and an art gallery on the inside. With a wide selection of global wines and more sophisticated dishes, C’est Le Vin offers spacious outdoor eating in the plaza, across the street from 17th Street Farmers Market.
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8. Boulevard Burger & Brew – 1300 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
Offering boozy shakes, craft beers and delicious food, Boulevard Burger & Brew shakes up the patio eating experience with front patio picnic tables for patrons’ dining experience. As a burger joint dedicated to keeping their burgers and other products NON-GMO Project certified, their patio space offers a lively and casual atmosphere on the eastern edge of Scott’s Addition.
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9. Station 2 – 2016 E. Main St.
This former firehouse is completed by their patio tucked away at the side of the building. Their sweet potato tots, gourmet burgers and delicious milkshakes are great for every member of the family. It’s inventive burger creations are just as unique as the firehouse location. For days when the Richmond weather is just right, enjoy your burger out on the patio.
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10. Café Beignet – 3 N 17th St.
This beignet slingin’ cafe started as a food truck traveling around Richmond and has now found its perfect spot in Shockoe Bottom. You can pop by for a sweet sweet beignet and hot latte or dive into the full New Orleans experience with homestyle cajun food. Their patio facing the 17th Street Marketing is great for slurping up gumbo or eating powdered sugared covered pastries.
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Find Your Richmond, VA Parking Today
While these are our current top 10 places for outdoor patio seating in Richmond, VA, there is so much to explore around the River City. Regardless of what type of event or activity you may be looking for, there’s something for everyone.
Check out all of our parking locations across the city to find your next best parking destination! CityParking, Inc. makes it easy to find safe and secure parking in Richmond, VA, no matter your travels and adventures. Curious about our parking lots? Contact us today!