The Jasper ★ 4.6
The Jasper on West Cary in Carytown is Richmond's no-pretense cocktail bar. Mattias Hagglund, Thomas Leggett, Brandon Peck and Kevin Liu opened it January 2018.
Signature drink: Bartender's choice cocktails
Food: Bar snacks
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Richmond for grown-ups.
Where to drink
Cobra Cabana ★ 4.3
Cobra Cabana on West Marshall in Scott's Addition is the late-night cocktail dive with strong vegan options. Tiki specials, plant plates, until 2 am.
Signature drink: Tiki cocktails and outrageous specials
Food: Vegan and meat plates
GWAR Bar ★ 4.2
GWAR Bar on Clay in Scott's Addition is the bar of Richmond's heavy-metal band GWAR. Fake-blood-splattered room, vegan and meat menu, late nights.
Signature drink: GWAR-themed cocktails
Food: Vegan and meat pub fare
Penny Lane Pub ★ 4.3
Penny Lane Pub on East Franklin is downtown Richmond's British pub. Boddingtons on tap, fish-and-chips, English Premier League broadcasts on weekends.
Signature drink: Boddingtons pint and English pub fare
Food: Fish and chips, shepherd's pie, English pub menu
Galley ★ 4.2
Galley on Hathaway is the Forest Hill craft beer bar with an American brunch menu. Tight rotating tap list, weekend mornings draw South Side crowds.
Signature drink: Craft beer flight and house cocktails
Food: Breakfast brunch and American snacks
Joe's Inn ★ 4.2
Joe's Inn's bar in the Fan has poured for regulars since 1952. Bar runs through midnight; the seat-mix is VCU faculty and Shields-Avenue regulars.
Signature drink: Cold beer and pours, longtime regulars
Food: Italian Greek American food
Rappahannock ★ 4.4
Rappahannock's bar on Grace pours Virginia sparkling and East Coast whites with Croxton family oysters. Marble counter, no reservation needed.
Signature drink: Virginia sparkling, oyster shooter
Food: Oysters, crab cake, crudo
Sticky Rice ★ 4.2
Sticky Rice on Main runs Richmond's late-night sushi bar program until 2 am. Sake, Japanese whisky flights; bucket of tots is the appetizer.
Signature drink: Japanese whisky flight, sake list
Food: Sushi rolls and tot specials
Galaxy Diner ★ 4.0
Galaxy Diner in Carytown runs a small bar program alongside diner food. Open through midnight; the back booth fills with post-Byrd Theatre crowds.
Signature drink: Cocktails and beer with diner food
Food: Burgers, milkshakes, all-day breakfast
Metzger Bar ★ 4.4
Metzger's bar in Church Hill pours German pilsner and Mosel rieslings alongside Brittanny Anderson's charcuterie. Open Tuesday to Sunday, evenings only.
Signature drink: German pilsner pour, riesling
Food: House charcuterie, schnitzel snacks
Lemaire Bar ★ 4.4
Lemaire's hotel bar inside the Jefferson is the city's grand-lobby cocktail room. Classic stirred drinks, Virginia sparkling, polished service.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails in the Jefferson Hotel lobby
Food: Bar snacks from Lemaire kitchen