Richmond’s top picks: 2025 RICtoday’s Best winners
Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the RICtoday’s Best nominees. | Graphic by 6AM City
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
First place: Malvern Manor Apartments Runners Up: Hydro + The Locks Apartments
📚 Book Store
First place: Fountain Bookstore Inc Runners Up: ILYSM Books + Shelf Life Books
🍺 Breweries and Distilleries
First place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - Richmond Runners Up: Triple Crossing Beer - Fulton + Fine Creek Brewing Company
🥞 Brunch
First place: SB’s Lakeside Love Shack Runners Up: Moore Street Cafe + Lulu’s
Cinco de Mayo Rooftop Salsa | 5-9 p.m. | Casa Del Barco - Short Pump | Price of purchase, RSVP recommended | Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to turn up the heat this holiday, head to Casa’s rooftop + lounge for salsa dancing, live DJ sets, and flavorful drinks.
After Hours Cinco de Mayo | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Second Bottle | $50, RSVP | Join Second Bottle and Old World Winery to celebrate this holiday with tunes, tacos, and fresh wine + ciders.
Tuesday, May 6
Native Plants Talk and Tour | 10-11:30 a.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $22 | Join a talk exploring the environmental benefits of native plants, followed by a guided tour of the grounds.
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo | 8 p.m. | Altria Theater | $70 | You can still grab tickets for this powerhouse show featuring vocal and guitar performances from legendary music icons.
Thursday, May 8
80th Annual Book & Author Event | 6-9 p.m. | John Marshall Ballrooms | $20+ | This highly anticipated annual event brings six authors to Richmond to discuss their new books and celebrate the art of reading and writing.
Saturday, May 17
HistoryFest | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture | $75+ | Dive into history with 20+ interactive presentations covering musical revolutions, U.S. presidents, and key events that shaped generations at this all-day festival and conference.*
‘Tis the season for personal property taxes. Keep an eye on your mail + manage your online accounts so you don’t miss a payment and get hit with additional fees. Editor Elise: I just got my tax bill in the mail last week, and it looks like I’m not the only one relating to this feeling.
Real Estate
Manchester’s latest townhome development is in underway. Led by The WVS Companies, this 40-unit building is under construction on Decatur Street, just a block east of Hull Street. Two floor plans are available for pre-sale, ranging from 1,500 to 2,100 sqft. (Richmond BizSense)
This Week Is
Teacher Appreciation Week. Richmond-area educators can visit any Gelati Celesti location this week for a free scoop of ice cream with a school ID or email. Businesses, parents, and administrators can also buy catering boxes at 20% off this week so folks can treat the teachers in their lives. Read more.
Community
Shop plants, meet RACC’s adoptable pups, and donate pantry items at this collaborative community event hosted on Saturday, May 10 + Sunday, May 11. Want to donate greenery ahead of time? Bring seedlings, cuttings, plants, and seed packets to Shelf Life Books during business hours — just send RFFP a message to let them know what you’re contributing.
Ranked
Richmond earned a spot on Livability’s 100 Best Places to Live is the US list, and we wholeheartedly agree. From our outdoor havens and small business scene to the next-door neighbors passing recipes + stories with care, we think Richmond is pretty special.(Remember this sentiment the next time you’re stuck in I-95 traffic.)
Mansion Monday
Want to see what a premier spot on historic Hanover Avenue looks like? This 2,864-sqft home is now on the market in the Fan, giving folks an insider look at this coveted neighborhood. See inside the 1910 home featuring five fireplaces, antiquated French doors + latticed windows, a private patio, and more.
Travel
From hiking, tubing, and ziplining to rooftop cocktails and afternoons at the spa, there’s a metro mountain adventure for everyone in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Ready for a weekend escape to the mountains? Steal our itinerary.*
Wellness
Discover your biological age with a single blood test taken at home. Starting at $499, TruAge gives you a personalized longevity plan — save 20% with code WELLNESS20.*
Announced
While spots in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide are closed ahead of Mother’s Day, we have a few more available in time for Father’s Day. Hurry — save 20% with code PGG2025 when you secure your spot now.
Category
Now Open
RVA’s bagel scene is on the rise
Don’t forget to grab a Recluse Roasting Project coffee while you’re there. | Photo by RICtoday
What once began as a Saturday-only popup in Chuch Hill has evolved into many Richmonders’ new go-to bagel destination.
Julio’s Bagel Shop opened its doors in the Brookland Park neighborhood last week, and we stopped by to give you a first-hand look. Owned by Ashley Patino of Pizza Bones, Julio’s intends to satisfy your craving for the perfect bagel — crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and complemented with house-made spreads + seasonal toppings.
Editor Elise’s create-your-own pick: plain bagel, house-made Herby Cream Cheese, red onions, radishes, and greens | Photo by RICtoday
We’re so excited to have Julio’s join Richmond’s bagel ranks, and we know we’re not the only ones. Editor Elise: There was a full house when I stopped by (but I barely waited five minutes.)
Grab a bite at 114 W Brookland Park Blvd., and send us a picture of your perfect bagel pick.
Did you know it’s possible to shop small on Amazon? Support small businesses and artisans across the country when you shop Amazon Handmade. We love these five items that can be personalized with your name or message:
When I first moved to Richmond, I thought, “Man,I really hope there’s an unreasonable amount of chicken-wing bones on the streets,” and I have to say, I was not disappointed. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’ll start noticing the phenomenon now.
If it were up to us, we’d prefer that everyone dispose of their scraps properly. (Yes, we’re bolding that for emphasis.) Alas, it’s hard to deny that street wings, like fallen angels on the city sidewalks, have become a facet of Richmond lore. We even highlighted it in our recent “where my lore started” post.
What else makes Richmond... uniquely Richmond? Let us know.
Note: I passed this timely monument on my lunch break and felt inspired to really wing it with today’s Wrap — definitely my lengthiest one yet. Love ya, Richmond.
Answered
Answered
🛼 Vote for your favorite Richmond-themed roller derby name.
68%: Belle Isle Bruiser 20%: Scuffletown Sue 8%: The Diamond Diva 4%: P-Henry’s Ghost
Scuffletown Sue was our first pick, but Belle Isle Bruiser is an undeniable classic.
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