Maggie’s Guide to Cville!
eat//drink
The Alley Light
108 2nd St SWUpscale food and cocktails
Intimate ambiance for Spanish tapas, perfect for a date night or dinner with girlfriends.
160 locals recommend
Mas
904 Monticello RdIntimate ambiance for Spanish tapas, perfect for a date night or dinner with girlfriends.
Casual Cajun eats and flawless New Orleans cocktails.
13 locals recommend
Southern Crescent Galley and Bar
814 Hinton AveCasual Cajun eats and flawless New Orleans cocktails.
Oakhurst Inn Cafe and Espresso Bar
1616 Jefferson Park AveBest kept secret for brunch!
Sexy speakeasy with the best cocktails and the perfect vibe to end a night.
7 locals recommend
Lost Saint
333 W Main StSexy speakeasy with the best cocktails and the perfect vibe to end a night.
Bizou
119 W Main StThis is the best lunch on the mall— made better with gorgeous weather.
Casual Thai food near downtown, awesome patio vibes. Order the sundried beef! Walk to chaps after for ice cream.
31 locals recommend
Monsoon Siam
113 W Market StCasual Thai food near downtown, awesome patio vibes. Order the sundried beef! Walk to chaps after for ice cream.
A must have when in Charlottesville. The line moves faster than you think, don’t lose heart!
143 locals recommend
Bodo's Bagels
505 Preston AveA must have when in Charlottesville. The line moves faster than you think, don’t lose heart!
Brazos Tacos
925 2nd St SECasual taco vibes, perfect for breakfast or lunch.
Tavola
826 Hinton AveBest Italian- if you can get a reservation!
Sleeper best sichuan takeout in Charlottesville when you want a night in. Get the spicy dried fried eggplant.
7 locals recommend
Taste of China
612 Albemarle SquareSleeper best sichuan takeout in Charlottesville when you want a night in. Get the spicy dried fried eggplant.
Favorite special meal out on a nice day— takes about 40 minutes to get there. Best to pair it with a trip to Veritas or another nearby winery.
358 locals recommend
Blue Mountain Brewery
9519 Critzer Shop RdFavorite special meal out on a nice day— takes about 40 minutes to get there. Best to pair it with a trip to Veritas or another nearby winery.
Beer hall with a brunch that you’ll keep talking about. Also has bocce!
62 locals recommend
Kardinal Hall
722 Preston AveBeer hall with a brunch that you’ll keep talking about. Also has bocce!
Stop here and buy all your picnic grabs for your day at the wineries. Luxury foods in the cutest shop. A local favorite!
48 locals recommend
Feast
416 W Main StStop here and buy all your picnic grabs for your day at the wineries. Luxury foods in the cutest shop. A local favorite!
The sandwich shop at this gas station is the best kept secret in town. Stop on your way out for an afternoon at the vineyards- they also have the potato chip selection of dreams.
17 locals recommend
The Market at Bellair
2401 Ivy RdThe sandwich shop at this gas station is the best kept secret in town. Stop on your way out for an afternoon at the vineyards- they also have the potato chip selection of dreams.
Shops and huge food court, go here with a big group who can’t decide on where to go!
39 locals recommend
Dairy Market Charlottesville
946 Grady AvenueShops and huge food court, go here with a big group who can’t decide on where to go!
Throwing this in because it’s about 2 minutes from our house and sometimes you just need something close by.
31 locals recommend
Timberwood Grill
3311 Worth CrossingThrowing this in because it’s about 2 minutes from our house and sometimes you just need something close by.
go//do
Awesome moderate hike, perfect for a morning with a very satisfying view at the end.
203 locals recommend
Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge ParkwayAwesome moderate hike, perfect for a morning with a very satisfying view at the end.
Great museum to entertain kids, especially if weather is bad out.
36 locals recommend
Virginia Discovery Museum
524 E Main StGreat museum to entertain kids, especially if weather is bad out.
Simply a must-do. Pro tip, there’s a lovely two-mile hike up to Monticello if you’d rather do that than drive, it’s called the Saunders-Monticello trail. Budget at least a half day.
635 locals recommend
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwySimply a must-do. Pro tip, there’s a lovely two-mile hike up to Monticello if you’d rather do that than drive, it’s called the Saunders-Monticello trail. Budget at least a half day.
Veritas Vineyards and Winery
151 Veritas LnA staple.
Favorite bookshop to get lost in. Been around for 100 years. They host reading nights frequently with local poets and authors.
9 locals recommend
New Dominion Bookshop
404 E Main StFavorite bookshop to get lost in. Been around for 100 years. They host reading nights frequently with local poets and authors.
Caspari Retail Showcase
100 W Main StBest boutique shopping, the stuff coastal grandma dreams are made of.
Lee's Nails
305 Rivanna Plaza DriveBest nail place on the north side of town.
An all day hike for those with something to prove lol— this one is hard.
102 locals recommend
Old Rag Mountain
An all day hike for those with something to prove lol— this one is hard.
Greenleaf Park
1598 Rose Hill DrFavorite hidden playground and splash pad for summer playing.
Awesome dog friendly hiking and mountain biking just ten minutes north of us.
30 locals recommend
Preddy Creek Trail Park
3690 Burnley Station RdAwesome dog friendly hiking and mountain biking just ten minutes north of us.
King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland FarmA must visit.
Best dog park on a lake with easy hiking loop. You better clean them up though before you bring them back in the house!
25 locals recommend
Chris Green Lake Park
4748 Chris Greene Lake RdBest dog park on a lake with easy hiking loop. You better clean them up though before you bring them back in the house!
Boar's Head Resort
200 Ednam DrBest spa in town.
Early Mountain Vineyards
6109 Wolftown-Hood RdAward winning vineyard minutes from the house.
Super fun skate park to take your kids (or you!) with their bmx, skateboards, or scooters.
8 locals recommend
Charlottesville Skate Park
425 US-250 BYPSuper fun skate park to take your kids (or you!) with their bmx, skateboards, or scooters.
The observatory goes really cool space observation events at night and, by day, has gorgeous dog-friendly hiking right in the middle of town. Looked for parked cars to find the trail head.
Leander McCormick Observatory
600 McCormick RdThe observatory goes really cool space observation events at night and, by day, has gorgeous dog-friendly hiking right in the middle of town. Looked for parked cars to find the trail head.
Historic and beautiful grounds— it’s worth a stroll, bring a picnic (see picnic recs in the eat category of my guide), or sign up for a tour!
251 locals recommend
University of Virginia
918 Emmet St NHistoric and beautiful grounds— it’s worth a stroll, bring a picnic (see picnic recs in the eat category of my guide), or sign up for a tour!
So much fun to hang out here after a tough hike and mingle with folks taking a break from the Appalachian Trail— about an hour from the house so plan it as part of a day trip.
326 locals recommend
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub
200 Mosbys RunSo much fun to hang out here after a tough hike and mingle with folks taking a break from the Appalachian Trail— about an hour from the house so plan it as part of a day trip.
Whiskey tasting, delicious cocktails, views for miles, and the sweetest labrador named Cooper.
27 locals recommend
Ragged Branch Distillery
1015 Taylors Gap RdWhiskey tasting, delicious cocktails, views for miles, and the sweetest labrador named Cooper.