Richmond, Virginia

Where Urban Edginess Meets Southern Charm

Richmond Skyline
Richmond Skyline
Richmond Downtown
Richmond Downtown
Riverfront Canal Walk
Riverfront Canal Walk
Richmond Folk Festival
Richmond Folk Festival

232,055

Population

Sunny Days: 262
95100 Affordability
75100 Schools
60100 Diversity
95100 Safety

LookyLOO Review of Richmond

Let’s go…The food and brewery scene.

Interesting Richmond restaurants continue to pop up each year, making this Virginia city a growing foodie destination! Any day of the week, Richmonders love to experience the finer side of dining. Oysters on the Half Shell and Seafood Paella at Rappahannock. Chicken Schnitzel or Boar Shank at Metzger Bar & Butchery. Creative breakfast classics with the Wavy Gravy at The Fancy Biscuit. Lump Crab and Scrambled Egg Enchilada at Millie’s Diner. We could go on and on after you’re done dining. Locals like to finish things off with a Pumpkin and Salted Caramel Pie from Proper Pie Company.

Also, Richmond = Breweries. Richmonders can’t get enough of the 30 Breweries, all with very distinct vibes. Stopping in at just one or two is enough to see why Richmond is one of America’s top beer destinations. Grab a Bourbon Barrel GPS at Richmond Brew House & Tap Room or enjoy the diverse selection of IPAs, Hefeweissens, and more at The Veil Brewing Co. Sip on a Fresh Pair of Sambas or a Frozen Papaya Colada at The Answer Brewpub. Do you prefer hard ciders to beer? Sample varieties of apple ciders at Blue Bee Cider.

Virginia is home to America’s original contradiction – the peculiar juxtaposition of slavery and freedom. As the former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond has tried to move from its past while still preserving its history. 2020 brought protests on Monument Avenue and the subsequent removal of Confederate statues. The city is embracing being a progressive leader on racial, social, and economic issues.

Lifestyle

In the city’s historic districts or the far West End neighborhoods

Richmond ranked #5 in the US Hipster Index. Hipsters are a subculture of 20- to 30-somethings who position themselves as non-mainstream pioneers; free-thinkers and non-conformist conformists. The city districts that give off that vibe are Scott’s Edition, Shockoe Bottom, The Fan and Church Hill. Each has their own unique qualities that people are drawn to. The Far West End, the most suburban area of Richmond, and the farther west you go, sidewalks and tight neighborhoods give way to sprawling newer developments that require residents to drive rather than walk to neighborhood amenities.

If you want to see what's happening in Richmond check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Richmond and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Why You Should Move Here Now?

The rising star of the south

Richmond is known for a lot of things -- the amazing views of the city from the James River, the rich history, the local cuisine, and the growing job market. The city was ranked at number 24 on the top 25 best places to live in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report. Top employers in the area include Capital One Financial Corp., VCU Health System Authority and the HCA Virginia Health System.

Richmond is a vibrant Southern city with a multitude of livable, walkable neighborhoods; a thriving foodie scene with amazing restaurants; an arts scene that will soon include a combination boutique hotel/art gallery; and a city landscape that includes numerous parks and locations for outdoor physical activities – hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, among others.

Reviews of Richmond from Locals

The uneasy marriage of new liberalism and historic racism

eziam
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

RVA is a great small/medium-sized city. Here is what we do have:

Pros: We have a nice wild river that runs through the city. I say wild because there is no true commercial development on it. People go rafting on it (we have some class 4s rapids), swim in it, or sunbathe on it. There is some good restaurants that are local and not a chain, no traffic, two hours from the beach or mountains, the city is walkable, very historic parts, weed is almost legal here, and if you like BEER…boy you are in luck.

Cons: There isn't much of a sports or music scene. We have a baseball team and soccer in crabby stadiums. The big music acts either do Raleigh or D.C. to play. The school system isn't the greatest, crime is rising, people are bitching more, and it's humid in the summer.

For more reviews of what living in Richmond is like from locals, check out The Reviews.

Neighborhoods in Richmond

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Monroe Ward

Young Professionals

Monroe Ward is an incredible option for young professionals in the Richmond’s Downtown district. Amazing apartments and condos filled with a mix of students, young professionals, and families, it is perfectly walkable to tons of restaurants, bars and clubs. An added benefit is the ability to walk to work if you work in the downtown area. Just west of Monroe Ward is The Fan District. Home to VCU, with plenty of cheap and high-end food options, tons of bars and coffee shops and great live-music venues. The Fan District is a really interesting mix of young professionals, college students, and families living in the stunning 19th and early 20th-century homes.

  • Monroe Ward
  • The Fan District