What’s the night scene like in Richmond, VA?

go to the Gwarbar

Downtown is kinda dead at night. Not too many people actually live downtown and so when 5PM rolls around there isn't much that stays open.

However, there's a couple of rooftop bars in the downtown area, the Quirk Hotel, The Graduate Hotel, and Kabana at the Hampton Inn (I think). All three spots would be busy on a weekend night. If you are in town this Friday you can go hit up First Fridays in the downtown area. The local businesses stay open late and some turn into art galleries. The Quirk Hotel is pretty much right in the middle of First Fridays, and GWARbar is three blocks from the heart of the action. Saison is also a really good place for food and drinks. Kobra Kabana is closeby as well (near VCU) and is a nicer GWARbar.

Scott's Addition is the super popular place in Richmond. It's about a $7 Uber ride or a couple of minutes on the Pulse bus. Talking about 10 breweries, cideries, distilleries, and a meadery (The Veil, Bingo, Vasen, Ardent, Three Notched, Isley, Strangeways), adult shuffleborad (Tang & Biscuit), very good food options (ZZQ, Lunch & Dinner, En Sua Boca, Bingo, Don't Look Back, Brenner Pass). There's a rooftop bar called The Hof that always has some loud DJ on weekends.

Just down from downtown is Shockoe Bottom (or "The Bottoms"). THis is where you will find the clubs. Unless you are of college age or really like that scene, I'd stay away. It's one of the spots where you can encounter criminal activity. The Fan has lots of great dive bars and good food spots. Manchester is right across the James River and is an up-and-coming place.

There's a couple of posters on here live in Richmond or know some things about the city that could provide more info. I lived downtown and knew my spots, but there are so many more that cater to different crowds. If you want anything else let me know.

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Downtown is kinda dead at night. Not too many people actually live downtown and so when 5PM rolls around there isn't much that stays open.

However, there's a couple of rooftop bars in the downtown area, the Quirk Hotel, The Graduate Hotel, and Kabana at the Hampton Inn (I think). All three spots would be busy on a weekend night. If you are in town this Friday you can go hit up First Fridays in the downtown area. The local businesses stay open late and some turn into art galleries. The Quirk Hotel is pretty much right in the middle of First Fridays, and GWARbar is three blocks from the heart of the action. Saison is also a really good place for food and drinks. Kobra Kabana is closeby as well (near VCU) and is a nicer GWARbar.

Scott's Addition is the super popular place in Richmond. It's about a $7 Uber ride or a couple of minutes on the Pulse bus. Talking about 10 breweries, cideries, distilleries, and a meadery (The Veil, Bingo, Vasen, Ardent, Three Notched, Isley, Strangeways), adult shuffleborad (Tang & Biscuit), very good food options (ZZQ, Lunch & Dinner, En Sua Boca, Bingo, Don't Look Back, Brenner Pass). There's a rooftop bar called The Hof that always has some loud DJ on weekends.

Just down from downtown is Shockoe Bottom (or "The Bottoms"). THis is where you will find the clubs. Unless you are of college age or really like that scene, I'd stay away. It's one of the spots where you can encounter criminal activity. The Fan has lots of great dive bars and good food spots. Manchester is right across the James River and is an up-and-coming place.

There's a couple of posters on here live in Richmond or know some things about the city that could provide more info. I lived downtown and knew my spots, but there are so many more that cater to different crowds. If you want anything else let me know.

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To add to this, the Fan neighborhood is the traditional nightlife center of the city. Very young crowd (20s through early 30s) in dive bars, basically. It's a great area if that's your scene. It can be a little grittier than Scott's Addition, so depends what you're into.

Scott's Addition places mentioned above or barhopping in the Fan would be my recommendation.

Downtown and Shockoe Bottom are fine, but don't wander too much, especially to the north and east. Pretty significant crime problems that direction.