Cavalier Cottage Guidebook
Food scene
Cville staple! 17-minute walk just past the Rotunda, 3-minute drive.
41 locals recommend
Bodo's Bagel Bakery - UVA "Corner"
1609 University AveCville staple! 17-minute walk just past the Rotunda, 3-minute drive.
Our favorite fine-dining in Cville, just 2-3 minute drive! Heated patio seating available or sit inside beautiful historic house. Chef Angelo is amazing. Make reservations!
30 locals recommend
The Ivy Inn Restaurant
2244 Old Ivy RdOur favorite fine-dining in Cville, just 2-3 minute drive! Heated patio seating available or sit inside beautiful historic house. Chef Angelo is amazing. Make reservations!
Under 20-minute walk to "Corner" location. Also on downtown mall and 29N.
9 locals recommend
Marco & Luca Dumplings
112 West Main StreetUnder 20-minute walk to "Corner" location. Also on downtown mall and 29N.
Neighborhood restaurant. 20-minute walk (UVA's Scott Stadium is on the way), 3 minute drive. Individual pizzas. Indoor-outdoor bar in warm weather. Patio seating.
36 locals recommend
Fry's Spring Station
2115 Jefferson Park AveNeighborhood restaurant. 20-minute walk (UVA's Scott Stadium is on the way), 3 minute drive. Individual pizzas. Indoor-outdoor bar in warm weather. Patio seating.
Classic, quality burgers and southern fare less than 20-minute walk on "The Corner."
28 locals recommend
The Virginian
1521 University AveClassic, quality burgers and southern fare less than 20-minute walk on "The Corner."
Just outside our neighborhood, doesn't look like much, but very good, authentic food! Welcoming staff.
6 locals recommend
Afghan Kabob Cville
400 Emmet St NJust outside our neighborhood, doesn't look like much, but very good, authentic food! Welcoming staff.
Main Street Market
418 W Main St30-minute walk, 5-minute drive. Boutique grocery and deli.
Small Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall. Creative menu. Red-hot-blue nachos with some "Wait-a-minute" sauce! Small, loud. Margaritas. It just says "Get in here" on the sign.
50 locals recommend
Continental Divide
811 W Main StSmall Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall. Creative menu. Red-hot-blue nachos with some "Wait-a-minute" sauce! Small, loud. Margaritas. It just says "Get in here" on the sign.
Our favorite coffee shop -- roasted in-house by Dave. Single origins and blends. Pourovers, drip, and espresso drinks. Killer hot chocolate "for the kids."
Preston Avenue location is a 4-5 minute drive.
The Ivy Road location (nice short-cut walk from our house shown on google maps walking directions) is open until 3pm Mon-Fri, not weekends as of Jan 2022.
52 locals recommend
Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters
945 Preston AveOur favorite coffee shop -- roasted in-house by Dave. Single origins and blends. Pourovers, drip, and espresso drinks. Killer hot chocolate "for the kids."
Preston Avenue location is a 4-5 minute drive.
The Ivy Road location (nice short-cut walk from our house shown on google maps walking directions) is open until 3pm Mon-Fri, not weekends as of Jan 2022.
50's style ice cream shop -- homemade ice cream on the downtown mall.
17 locals recommend
Chaps Ice Cream
223 E Main St50's style ice cream shop -- homemade ice cream on the downtown mall.
Our favorite local pizza -- gourmet by-the-slice or whole pies, as well as the basics (cheese, etc.). We think their Margherita pizza (tomato-basil-mozzerella) is the best of it's kind. One of the downtown mall and another hole-in-the-wall joint on "The Corner."
42 locals recommend
Christian's Pizza
100 14th St NWOur favorite local pizza -- gourmet by-the-slice or whole pies, as well as the basics (cheese, etc.). We think their Margherita pizza (tomato-basil-mozzerella) is the best of it's kind. One of the downtown mall and another hole-in-the-wall joint on "The Corner."
You may get lucky a couple days before, but get reservations early! Heated patio available. $$$
54 locals recommend
Public Fish & Oyster
513 W Main StYou may get lucky a couple days before, but get reservations early! Heated patio available. $$$
Either location 10-min drive -- great for take-out. Nothin' fancy, but they make "just getting chicken" worth your while in their Peruvian oven. Plantains, green rice, and churros for dessert are a must, to go with your quarter-chicken, half-chicken, or chicken tacos!
18 locals recommend
Al Carbon Chicken
1875 Seminole TrailEither location 10-min drive -- great for take-out. Nothin' fancy, but they make "just getting chicken" worth your while in their Peruvian oven. Plantains, green rice, and churros for dessert are a must, to go with your quarter-chicken, half-chicken, or chicken tacos!
Gourmet grocery, deli (yummy sandwiches), and Chap's ice cream just outside our neighborhood. Walk or drive. Cville staple!
29 locals recommend
Foods of All Nations
2121 Ivy RdGourmet grocery, deli (yummy sandwiches), and Chap's ice cream just outside our neighborhood. Walk or drive. Cville staple!
Creative, gourmet breakfast and sandwich shop just outside our neighborhood. Salads, cheeses, pasta sides, coffee, etc. as well.
18 locals recommend
Ivy Provisions
2206 Ivy RdCreative, gourmet breakfast and sandwich shop just outside our neighborhood. Salads, cheeses, pasta sides, coffee, etc. as well.
Classic Italian restaurant just outside our neighborhood. Heated patio seating available. 2-minute drive.
20 locals recommend
Vivace
2244 Ivy RdClassic Italian restaurant just outside our neighborhood. Heated patio seating available. 2-minute drive.
College bar and burgers. Loud and crazy on weekend nights, but good locally-sourced burgers and sandwiches. Lots of TVs and sports on, but family-friendly much of the time.
11 locals recommend
Boylan Heights
102 14th St NWCollege bar and burgers. Loud and crazy on weekend nights, but good locally-sourced burgers and sandwiches. Lots of TVs and sports on, but family-friendly much of the time.
Silk Thai Restaurant
2210 Fontaine Ave Ext20-minute walk, 3-4 minute drive (pass Scott Stadium on the way).
New York-style pizza just down the street. Looks and feels like 1960 (I think the jukebox is still there), but sometimes New York style pizza hits the spot. Get it to go or enjoy going back in time.
Anna's Pizza No 5
115 Maury AveNew York-style pizza just down the street. Looks and feels like 1960 (I think the jukebox is still there), but sometimes New York style pizza hits the spot. Get it to go or enjoy going back in time.
Healthy, hearty, yummy salads and bowls. El Jefe is the most popular bowl. Lots of good ones. On "The Corner."
28 locals recommend
Roots Natural Kitchen
1329 W Main StHealthy, hearty, yummy salads and bowls. El Jefe is the most popular bowl. Lots of good ones. On "The Corner."
Favorite restaurants on the mall (40-minute walk. 8-minute drive) .. . .
The Whiskey Jar - southern fare, burgers, salads, live music in the evenings. Some heated outdoor seating. Great vibe and food.
Christian's Pizza, Bizou ($$-$$$), Maru Korean (Dolsat Bibimbop), Chap's Ice Cream.
Other good ones: Ten & Now and Zen (sushi), Cafe Frank ($$$), Zocalo ($$$), Petit Pois ($$-$$$), Brasserie Saison ($$$), Citizen Burger ($$).
291 locals recommend
Downtown Mall
Favorite restaurants on the mall (40-minute walk. 8-minute drive) .. . .
The Whiskey Jar - southern fare, burgers, salads, live music in the evenings. Some heated outdoor seating. Great vibe and food.
Christian's Pizza, Bizou ($$-$$$), Maru Korean (Dolsat Bibimbop), Chap's Ice Cream.
Other good ones: Ten & Now and Zen (sushi), Cafe Frank ($$$), Zocalo ($$$), Petit Pois ($$-$$$), Brasserie Saison ($$$), Citizen Burger ($$).
Yes, I mentioned this under "downtown mall," but Whiskey Jar deserves it's own recommendation. Southern fare, the fried chicken salad, the Crunch Burger, salads, live music in the evenings. Quality, if not the healthiest, ingredients. Some heated outdoor seating. Great vibe and food. Whiskey Sour is their most popular drink. Margaritas. Lots of local beers.
80 locals recommend
The Whiskey Jar
227 W Main StYes, I mentioned this under "downtown mall," but Whiskey Jar deserves it's own recommendation. Southern fare, the fried chicken salad, the Crunch Burger, salads, live music in the evenings. Quality, if not the healthiest, ingredients. Some heated outdoor seating. Great vibe and food. Whiskey Sour is their most popular drink. Margaritas. Lots of local beers.
Beer Run
156 Carlton RdCreative menu ($$). They had a heated patio -- call to confirm.
Our experience was as good as any restaurant in Cville -- we had the Rockfish. Indoor and outdoor dining.
38 locals recommend
Maya
633 W Main StOur experience was as good as any restaurant in Cville -- we had the Rockfish. Indoor and outdoor dining.
Monsoon Siam
113 W Market StBest Thai in Cville just off the Downtown Mall!
Sightseeing
Wildrock Adventures Playscape and Trails in Crozet, west of town (33 mins) - Reservations Required.
13 locals recommend
Wildrock
6600 Blackwells Hollow RdWildrock Adventures Playscape and Trails in Crozet, west of town (33 mins) - Reservations Required.
"Blue Ridge Tunnel: Hike Through a Historic Train Tunnel Under Rockfish Gap" -- Bring a flashlight/headlamp!
https://gohikevirginia.com/blue-ridge-tunnel-hike/
57 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail, East Trailhead
215 Afton Depot Ln"Blue Ridge Tunnel: Hike Through a Historic Train Tunnel Under Rockfish Gap" -- Bring a flashlight/headlamp!
https://gohikevirginia.com/blue-ridge-tunnel-hike/
When you're checking out UVA's Lawn and Rotunda, be sure to stop by Poe's room (glass door for viewing) for an audio history!
Edgar Allan Poe Room
13 E RangeWhen you're checking out UVA's Lawn and Rotunda, be sure to stop by Poe's room (glass door for viewing) for an audio history!
The Rotunda
1826 University AveMust see if you haven't. 15-minute walk.
If you go to Monticello or Carter's Mountain, check out Michie Tavern for lunch. Or just hit Michie Tavern.
78 locals recommend
Michie Tavern
683 Thomas Jefferson PkwyIf you go to Monticello or Carter's Mountain, check out Michie Tavern for lunch. Or just hit Michie Tavern.
Corn maze open in the Fall. Make reservations! Great stop on the way from DC area. Less than 40 minutes from us.
18 locals recommend
Liberty Mills Farm
9166 Liberty Mills RdCorn maze open in the Fall. Make reservations! Great stop on the way from DC area. Less than 40 minutes from us.
Cville's staple hike. Steep, but only half-mile trail, and only 25-minute drive. 180-270 degree views at the top. Lots of people take their kids, but keep them close-by for safety at the top. Blue Mountain Brewery for outdoor dining just a few minutes away (they also have indoor dining, but the outdoor setting has beautiful views with cornhole and room for kids to run around).
203 locals recommend
Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge ParkwayCville's staple hike. Steep, but only half-mile trail, and only 25-minute drive. 180-270 degree views at the top. Lots of people take their kids, but keep them close-by for safety at the top. Blue Mountain Brewery for outdoor dining just a few minutes away (they also have indoor dining, but the outdoor setting has beautiful views with cornhole and room for kids to run around).
15-minute walk from our house. Just past the Rotunda and across from "The Corner."
MEMORIAL TO ENSLAVED LABORERS
15-minute walk from our house. Just past the Rotunda and across from "The Corner."
Our kids loved this growing up. Less than 40-minute drive, it's worth it. Head to Wright's Dairy Rite afterwards: "Old-school drive-in turning out sandwiches & shakes in retro booth seating or delivered to the car."
113 locals recommend
Frontier Culture Museum
1290 Richmond AveOur kids loved this growing up. Less than 40-minute drive, it's worth it. Head to Wright's Dairy Rite afterwards: "Old-school drive-in turning out sandwiches & shakes in retro booth seating or delivered to the car."
Just a few minutes away (10-min drive max) . You'll feel a million miles away. Great hiking.
51 locals recommend
Ragged Mountain Natural Area
1730 Reservoir RdJust a few minutes away (10-min drive max) . You'll feel a million miles away. Great hiking.
Saunders-Monticello Trail
Fairly easy stroll.
Half-an-hour drive. Great hike. Swimming in summer. https://gohikevirginia.com/sugar-hollow-reservoir/
48 locals recommend
Sugar Hollow Trail to Blue Hole
6796 Sugar Hollow RdHalf-an-hour drive. Great hike. Swimming in summer. https://gohikevirginia.com/sugar-hollow-reservoir/
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain TrailApple-picking and apple cider donuts. Great views.
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdFood menu in the Tasting Room!
Our daughter was married here, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Beautiful place!
259 locals recommend
King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland FarmOur daughter was married here, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Beautiful place!
Neighborhoods
Belmont neighborhood is on the other side of the Downtown Mall. Cool little section with Tavola (high-end Italian), Mas tapas (hmmm), and The Local. All good.
25 locals recommend
Belmont
Belmont neighborhood is on the other side of the Downtown Mall. Cool little section with Tavola (high-end Italian), Mas tapas (hmmm), and The Local. All good.