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The Best Bars in Richmond

Richmond pours plenty of local drink, from Scott's Addition, which the tourism board calls the city's beverage district, to Virginia beers and cider on cocktail bar menus. The best bars in Richmond spread from Scott's Addition along Broad Street to Shockoe Bottom and the rooftops over downtown. On West Broad Street, Fanboy pairs cocktails with a vinyl listening room, with drinks built on molecular techniques such as a peanut-washed bourbon, a scratch kitchen, a non-alcoholic list of house shrubs and vinyl DJs three nights a week. In Scott's Addition, Goldwing pairs cocktails and desserts with live jazz trios and quartets. Behind a bookstore facade on East Main Street, Grandstaff & Stein calls itself the oldest speakeasy in Shockoe Bottom and posts its changing password online. For views, Solaire Rooftop looks over the James River from the twentieth floor, and Q Rooftop Bar tops the Quirk hotel in the downtown arts district. Goldwing and Solaire take no reservations; Solaire also asks for business casual or better. These are the bars we would start with.

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  1. Fanboy
    Cocktail Bar

    Fanboy

    An intimate cocktail bar and vinyl listening room on West Broad Street. The cocktail program twists classic drinks with techniques drawn from molecular gastronomy, next to a new wave wine list and an alcohol free menu of house shrubs and mocktails. A rotating dinner menu is made from scratch in house, and the bar is 21 and over.

    2713 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220Tue-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 5pm-12am, Mon closed
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  2. Goldwing
    Cocktail Bar

    Goldwing

    A Scott's Addition cocktail bar built around three things: cocktails, live music and desserts. Jazz is a regular part of the program, and the room centers on a long wood bar with high backed leather stools. It opens five nights a week, from Wednesday to Sunday.

    910 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VAWed-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am
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  3. Solaire Rooftop
    Rooftop Bar

    Solaire Rooftop

    A 20th floor rooftop bar above the James River and downtown Richmond, with an outdoor bar and terrace seating plus an indoor lounge for cold or rainy days. The drinks list centers on signature cocktails, served with a short menu of light bites. A business casual dress code applies.

    700 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219Wed-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 2pm-12am, Sun 2pm-8pm, Mon-Tue closed
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  4. Grandstaff & Stein
    Speakeasy

    Grandstaff & Stein

    A speakeasy on East Main Street entered through a bookcase, which the venue calls Richmond's original speakeasy. It pairs elevated cocktails with a full food menu that changes with the seasons, and guests can book ahead. A password system and regular events are run through the venue's own site.

    2113 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23223Sun-Thu 4pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-1am
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  5. Q Rooftop Bar
    Rooftop Bar

    Q Rooftop Bar

    The open air rooftop bar of Quirk Hotel Richmond on West Broad Street, with skyline views over the city. It serves a curated drinks list with small plates and street food style bites, and is open to hotel guests and the public alike. Happy hour runs daily from 5pm to 7pm, and the terrace is reached by elevator.

    201 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220Daily 5pm-11pm
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These bars are the starting point. The full BarMagazine directory covers every listed bar in Richmond, with a map, filters by bar type, and new openings as we verify them.

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