Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the RICtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Richmond a better place to live.
From high-level dining experiences and accommodations to places to hang with your friends — here are your top choices in each of our categories.
🏠 Apartment Complexes
From resort-style amenities to sleek modern designs, these communities make Richmond feel like home.
First place: Malvern Manor Apartments
Runners Up: Hydro + The Locks Apartments
Honorees:
- East 51
- Ashton Creek Apartments
📚 Book Store
Nothing beats a cozy bookstore. Whether you’re into fiction, memoirs, or local zines, these spots have your next great read.
First place: Fountain Bookstore Inc
Runners Up: ILYSM Books + Shelf Life Books
Honorees:
- Abi’s Books & Brews
- BBGB Books
- Book People
- Small Friend Records and Books
- Agony Books
🍺 Breweries and Distilleries
Pour decisions encouraged. These local spots wowed you with their craft brews, inventive cocktails, and chill vibes.
First place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - Richmond
Runners Up: Triple Crossing Beer - Fulton + Fine Creek Brewing Company
Honorees:
- Väsen Brewing Company
- Final Gravity Brewing Co.
- Ardent Craft Ales
- Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop
- Bingo Beer Co
- Strangeways Brewing RVA-Scott’s Addition
- Reservoir Distillery
🥞 Brunch
From classic comfort food to new twists on the brunch game, these picks are your go-to weekend hangouts.
First place: SB’s Lakeside Love Shack
Runners Up: Moore Street Cafe + Lulu’s
Honorees:
- Can Can Brasserie
- Toast, New American Gastropub at The Village
- Eat 33
- New York Deli
- Gold Lion Community Cafe
- Tiny Vegan
☕ Coffee Shop
The bean scene is strong in Richmond — and these cafes delivered top-tier coffee, atmosphere, and community.
First place: Blanchard’s Coffee
Runners Up: Stir Crazy Cafe RVA + Sugar & Twine
Honorees:
- Ironclad Coffee Roasters & Baking Co.
- Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
- Riverbend Roastery
- Lamplighter Coffee Roasters - Addison St
- Sefton Coffee
- Grit Coffee - Scott’s Addition
- Fuel Pump
🧑💻 Coworking Location
Remote work never looked so good. These coworking spaces are where productivity meets cool Richmond vibes.
First place: Main Library - Richmond Public Library
Runners Up: Capital One Café + Common House Richmond
Honorees:
- Gather Arts District
- Gather Scott’s Addition
- Gather Midlothian
- headquarters (hq)
- Gather Short Pump
- Office Alternatives
- Ours
🍽️ Fine Dining
These restaurants took upscale cuisine to the next level with refined flavors, ambiance, and top-notch service.
First place: Edo’s Squid
Runners Up: L’Opossum + Lillie Pearl
Honorees:
- Buckheads
- Blue Atlas Restaurant and Market
- The Roosevelt
- Grisette
- Lost Letter
- Shagbark
- Restaurant Adarra
- Beaucoup
🚚 Food Trucks
RIC eats on wheels — these food trucks served up bold flavors and earned your votes.
First place: 1115 Mobile Kitchen
Runners Up: Fireside Pizza + TBT El Gallo
Honorees:
- TAQUERIA Y ANTOJITOS EL CHIDO #2
- Auntie Ning’s
- Curry in a Hurry (Food Truck)
- Hibachi Mobile
- Latin Quarter
- JC Desserts
⛳ Golf Course
Fore. These golf courses are the ones you ranked best for beauty, challenge, and playability.
First place: Willow Oaks Country Club
Runners Up: The Country Club of Virginia - Westhampton + Lakeside Park Club
Honorees:
- Hanover Golf CLUB
- Richmond Country Club
- Magnolia Green Golf Club
💪 Gym and Fitness Centers
Whether you’re lifting, spinning, or stretching — these gyms stood out for empowering our community to stay active.
First place: ACAC Fitness & Wellness Short Pump
Runners Up: SoulShine Studios + Peak Experiences - Richmond
Honorees:
- Midtown Yoga
- Tequila & Deadlifts
- TAOU Studio
- BOHO Cycle Studio
- Niche Pilates Studio
- Humble Haven Yoga
- RVA Iron Gym
- Body Arc
🍹 Happy Hour
Cheers to these local faves that made post-work hangouts memorable with great deals and even better vibes.
First place: The Jasper
Runners Up: Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar + Liberty Public House
Honorees:
- The Emerald Lounge
- Hogsheads Cafe
- Social52 Kitchen & Craft Bar
- Revel Market and Bar
- Fighting Fish Scott’s Addition
- Main St. Dragon
- Goldwing
🔧 Home Service Providers
Reliable, trustworthy, and highly recommended — these pros helped keep your home running smoothly.
First place: Tredegar Construction
Runners Up: Junk Shot Junk Removal + AKB Kitchen, Bath & More
Honorees:
- Karnage Construction LLC
- Stable Foundations
📸 Local Influencer + Celebrities
These local personalities made an impact — both online and IRL — and you crowned them your favorites.
First place: @miss_elaine_neous
Runners Up: The Byrd Theatre + NBC12 Richmond
Honorees:
- The VA Foodies
- Venture Richmond
- Black Rabbit Tattoo - Carytown
- @kittspata Youphoria Studios
- Floricane LLC
💚 Local Nonprofit
Organizations that make a difference — these nonprofits inspired you with their mission and impact.
First place: Henrico CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Runners Up: Richmond Animal Care & Control + Diversity Thrift
Honorees:
- Feed More
- International Rescue Committee in Richmond
- MaymontJames River Association
- Little Hands Virginia
- Health Brigade
- CancerLINC
- Art Works Inc
🥗 Lunch Spot
Midday eats done right — these lunch spots became your go-to for quick bites, client meetings, and casual hangs.
First place: Joe’s Inn the Fan
Runners Up: Stella’s Grocery - Scott’s Addition + Union Market
Honorees:
- Garnett’sKuba Kuba
- Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint Richmond
- Beauvine Burger Concept
- 821 Cafe
- City Dogs
- Charlotte’s Southern Deli
🏥 Medical Center
When care matters most, these medical centers deliver excellence, compassion, and trust.
First place: Virginia Women’s Center
Runners Up: VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavilion + Glen Forest Dental Co
Honorees:
- Commonwealth Primary Care - Ridgefield
- Virginia Eye Institute - Huguenot Bridge
- Seven Hills Family Medicine
- Resolve Bodyworks
- HeartMind Resiliency Psychotherapy & Wellness
- Rêvée Aesthetics
- Center for Neurorehabilitation Services
- Reddy Plastic Surgery
🖼️ Museum
Richmond’s creative and cultural pulse is alive in these institutions filled with history, art, and innovation.
First place: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Runners Up: Maymont + Science Museum of Virginia
Honorees:
- Virginia Museum of History & Culture
- Poe Museum
- Crossroads Art Center
- Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
- Agecroft Hall
- Amuse Restaurant VMFA
🎶 Music Venue
Whether you’re catching live bands or big names, these venues rocked your world — literally.
First place: The National
Runners Up: Brown’s Island + Reveler
Honorees:
- The Broadberry
- Beacon Theatre
- The Camel
- Friday Cheers
- Get Tight Lounge
- Cobra Cabana
- Richmond Music Hall
🍴 Outdoor Dining
Richmond’s food scene is unmatched. These patios and rooftops made your meals extra memorable.
First place: Blue Atlas Restaurant and Market
Runners Up: The Lilly Pad + Portico Restaurant
Honorees:
- Island Shrimp Co. Rocketts Landing
- Legend Brewing Co
- Casa Del Barco - Canal Walk
- Sen Organic Small Plate
- The Patio Thai Restaurant
🎊 Party Venue
Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or just because — these venues brought the celebration energy.
First place: Common House Richmond
Runners Up: The Brickhouse RVA + Gather & Hem Lounge and Eatery
Honorees:
- Bangers and Dinks Indoor Pickleball
- Dinner Party
- Copper Hall RVA
- Creatives Playground RVA |Event & Content Studio
- The Hidden Oaks
- 3030 the Venue
- The Bold Host
🐶 Pet-Friendly Venue
Your furry friends gave two paws up to these pet-welcoming favorites around the city.
First place: Brambly Park
Runners Up: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - West Creek + LUNCH.SUPPER!
Honorees:
- Ruff Canine Club
- The Smoky Mug
- Basic City Beer Co. Southside RVA
- Casa Del Barco - Canal Walk
- Chester Dog Park
- Bar Solita
- Riverside Tavern
- Amelia B. Photography Studio
📸 Photographer
Capturing Richmond, one frame at a time. These photographers stood out for their creativity and skill.
First place: Nick Davis Corporate & Commercial Photography
Runners Up: By Jacqui Photography + EmmiClaire Photography
Honorees:
- Amelia B. Photography Studio
- Dwayne Morris Photography
- J. Cameron Photography
- Photography by Anne Weston
- Truxton.Made
- Logan Peregoy Photography
- Absolute Photographs
- Photography by Nicole Johnson
🏡 Real Estate Agent + Group
You trusted them with your home search — and these local experts delivered big time.
First place: Call Carly Real Estate
Runners Up: Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville + River Fox Realty, Alexandria Troupe
Honorees:
- Nest Realty Richmond
- Shana Bloom
- Rock Realty RVA at Providence Hill Real Estate
- River Fox Realty, Nafis Narsinghani
- CapCenter Realty
💅 Spas and Salons
Self-care starts here. These salons and spas helped Richmond unwind and refresh.
First place: Cassie Lane Aesthetics
Runners Up: ATiR Natural Nail Care Clinic + Resolve Bodyworks
Honorees:
- Luminary Hair Co.
- Skin. by HC
- Habit Med Spa + Facial Bar
- ANABELLE NAIL CAFÉ
- Hungry Heart
- Bondi Blonde Hair Studio & Spa
- Melt Parlor
🍻 Sports Bar
Big screens, big games, and bigger energy — these bars were the MVPs of game day.
First place: Wood & Iron Gameday Restaurant and Bar
Runners Up: Sports Page Bar & Grill + Home Team Grill
Honorees:
- Buddy’s Place
- Uptown Alley Richmond
- Ram’s House
- Buffalo Wild Wings
🍺 Tap Rooms
Flavor, flight, and friends — these taprooms turned beer tasting into a top-tier experience.
First place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - West Creek
Runners Up: The Veil Brewing Co. - Scott’s Addition + Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop
Honorees:
- Stone Brewing Tap Room - Richmond
- Crazy Rooster Brewing Company
- Richbrau Brewing
- Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery
- Southern Railway Taphouse
- Benchtop Brewing
- Anytime Beer Company
- Three Leg Run
🎭 Theater + Performance Venue
Drama, comedy, music, and more — these venues made every night out unforgettable.
First place: Altria Theater
Runners Up: Brown’s Island + Virginia Repertory Theatre
Honorees:
- Dominion Energy Center
- Richmond Triangle Players
- Agecroft Hall
- 5th Wall Theatre
- Firehouse Theatre
- Coalition Theater
- Swift Creek Mill Theatre
🍷 Winery or Wine Bar
Sip happens — and these wine bars proved they’re the best place to unwind with a glass in hand.
First place: James River Cellars Winery
Runners Up: Penny’s Wine Shop + Jardin
Honorees:
- Brambly Park
- Upper Shirley Vineyards
- NAPA Kitchen and Wine
- Ashton Creek Vineyard
- The Wine Whisperer
- Celladora Wines
- OXFORD CELLARS
