The Charlottesville Dining Guide
For a small city, Charlottesville has a BIG food scene. In fact, Charlottesville ranks on par with New York and San Francisco in terms of restaurants per capita. In this Charlottesville dining guide, you will find a wide range of sure-to-be favorites, ranging from long time ‘institutions’ to new eateries that are shaking things up in delicious ways. Enjoy, and don’t forget to tell them The Scout Guide sent you!
Coffee, Breakfast + Sweet Treats
MarieBette & Petite MarieBette | 700 Rose Hill Dr. & 105 E Water St. – European-Inspired Fare. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee and baked goods at two locations. A Charlottesville favorite!
Quirk Cafe |501 W Main St. – This bright, modern cafe in front of the Quirk Hotel serves locally-roasted coffee and bites to get and keep your day going.
Oakhurst Inn Café | 1616 Jefferson Park Ave. – Neighborhood eatery serving up seasonally influenced dishes just steps from the University of Virginia. Fresh takes on Southern classics for breakfast, lunch & weekend brunch.
Bodo’s Bagels | 505 Preston Ave, 1609 University Ave. – Bagels so fresh they don’t need toasting. Serving over 6,000 people a day, Bodo’s is a Charlottesville institution.
Bowerbird Bakeshop | 120 10th St. NW – An eclectic and creative collection of European-inspired pastries. Don’t miss their macarons!
Cou Cou Rachou | 917 Preston Ave. – Tucked away in the back of an unassuming shopping center, Cou Cou Rachou is another jewel of European pastries. Cou Cou Rachou pastries are also available at The Workshop at The Wool Factory.
Corner Juice | 1509 University Ave & 201 E Main St. Suite A – Nutrient-dense raw juices, smoothies, bowls, toasts & more to start your day off strong.
Mudhouse Coffee | 213 W Main St. & 116 10th St. NW – Roasting sweet & clean coffee in Charlottesville for over 20 years.
Cake Bloom | 705 W Main St. – Cake & champagne bar offering cake-by-the-slice, sparkling wine flights & special pairing events.
Lunch
Dairy Market Food Hall | 946 Grady Ave. – Your next foodie obsession starts at the Dairy Market. The Food Hall is open Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 9pm and Friday and Saturday from 8am to 10pm, offering multiple options for breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert that are sure to please everyone in your group or family.
Feast! | 416 W Main St. – Charlottesville’s Best Specialty Food Store since 2002 serving a variety of sandwiches, salads & soups in their cafe, Monday through Saturday from 11am – 3pm.
Take It Away | UVA Corner at 115 Elliewood Ave. & in the Dairy Market – A UVA Tradition since 1992, known for its famous house dressing and delicious sandwiches.
Ivy Provisions | 2206 Ivy Rd. – Local deli and retail food shop offering fresh, housemade breakfast and lunch all day.
Brazos Tacos | 925 2nd St. SE & coming soon to Barrack’s Road Shopping Center – Casual hot spot serving creative premium tacos.
Chickadee | 313 2nd St. SE – “Chef-adjacent” sandwich restaurant serving breakfast & lunch, alongside a full bar.
Sultan Kebab | 333 2nd St. SE – Turkish restaurant featuring kebabs & sandwiches in a low-key environment close to the Downtown Mall.
Guajiros Miami Eatery | 817 W Main St. – Serving Central and South American fare, Inspired by the flavors and culture of Miami for breakfast & lunch.
Dinner
Downtown Mall
C&O Restaurant | 515 E Water St. – Charlottesville’s flagship fine dining restaurant attracting regulars to the downtown mall for decades.
Petit Pois | 201 E Main St. – Locally sourced French dishes paired with wine in a charming downtown Bistro.
Zocalo | 201 E Main St. – Tastes of Spain, Mexico & South America infuse the menu of this Charlottesville fixture.
Ten | 120 E Main St. – Chill Japanese eatery serving sushi, sake & more in a contemporary setting.
The Alley Light | 108 2nd St. SW – Tucked away in a side street of The Downtown Mall, the Alley Light offers classic French shared plates, craft cocktails and small grower wines in a casually elegant setting.
West Main Street
The Pink Grouse | 499 W Main St. – Rustic yet refined game-forward menu, paired with a curated wine list from across Virginia and Europe in the fun setting of Quirk Charlottesville.
Oakhart Social | 511 W Main St. – Eclectic flavors & a shared experience. The menu is focused on small plates intended for sharing.
Public Fish & Oyster | 513 W Main St. – East coast seafood & raw bar, join craft cocktails & microbrews in a rustic-chic space. One of the best happy hours in town.
Black Cow Chophouse | 420 W Main St. – Quality meat cooked over a wood-fired hearth.
Smyrna | 707 W Main St. – Mediterranean-Aegean cuisine expressed in simple, locally sourced dishes.
Continental Divide | 811 W Main St. – Southwestern food & the best margaritas in town served in cozy cantina quarters.
The Ridley | 1106 W Main St – As one of Charlottesville’s Black-owned restaurants, The Ridley pays homage to Dr. Walter Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from UVA and celebrates modern Southern cuisine in a space designed around the idea of inclusivity.
Birdhouse | 711 Henry Ave. – Farm-to-table food, simply prepared, in the coziest dining room in town.
Belmont
Tavola | 826 Hinton Ave. – Inspired, rustic Italian food with wine and music to pair.
Mas Tapas | 904 Monticello Rd. – Iconic Spanish tapas bar emphasizing simple, well-made ingredients served in a casual neighborhood setting.
Conmole | 816 Hinton Ave – A different perspective on Mexican food with traditional Oaxacan family recipes.
Lampo | 205 Monticello Rd. – Traditional Neapolitan pizza & more that leaves you questioning how something so simple can taste so good.
Surrounding Areas
Marigold at Keswick Hall | 701 Club Dr. – Marigold by Jean-Georges serves fresh, local and organic ingredients – much of it grown at their own nearby farm – in a rustic-chic setting at the luxurious Keswick Hall. A dining experience not to be missed!
Duner’s | 4372 Ivy Rd. – Serving a fresh seasonal menu of creative New American fare to Charlottesville diners since 1983.
The Ivy Inn Restaurant | 2244 Old Ivy Rd. – Refined American fare served in an early 19th-century home with an Old Virginia feel.
1799 Restaurant at The Clifton Inn | 1296 Clifton Inn Dr. – Savor seasonal dishes & local wine in one of the most romantic restaurants in Charlottesville.
Broadcloth | At The Wool Factory – 1837 Broadway St. – Set in a historic textile mill, this elegant dining experience reflects Virginia’s freshest seasonal offerings.
For additional recommendations for where to shop, where to stay, and what to do in Charlottesville, browse or buy a copy of The Scout Guide Charlottesville and follow TSG Charlottesville on Instagram.
