It’s been a very long time since I took the time to visit Richmond. My first visit to this charming city was with my good friend Jessica, who at the time found out she was pregnant so we were limited with the bar hopping situation lol. I was def excited to be back to do some much-needed exploring.
The Graduate hotel is so cute! The minute I arrived the staff was super friendly and I fell in love with the cool and classy atmosphere of their lobby area.
The Room: My room was spacious, with minimalist decor and a touch of Mid-Century modern! Big and comfy bed with a good-sized desk to catch up on work. No big windows, but I enjoyed the cozy vibes. The bathroom was actually one of my favorite parts. I wish I took a photo of their wallpaper, it was wild and fun one!
What We Loved: The hotel has a really cool rooftop name: The Byrd House. You can catch amazing views of Richmond while sipping on your favorite cocktail. It was a bit cold when I visited, but I’m sure that during the summer months this rooftop is a full house. For lunch or a nightcap you can visit their hotel restaurant, Brookfield.
Things to do in Richmond:
Sabai: If Thai is your type of cuisine, look no further than Sabai! The portions they serve here are pretty big, too, so you can def share. The decor inside the restaurant is also very cool: there’s benches that swing along with an awesome chandelier.
Laura Lee’s: I wanted to have a fancy night out, and to my great surprise we were visiting Richmond during their restaurant week so we scored a reservation at one of their most coveted restaurants. Laura Lee’s menu was delicious, with a great selection of wine bottles. Don’t leave without trying one of their homemade desserts. My fave was their chocolate chess pie.
LuLu’s: We had a fun brunch at Lulu’s with a great Bloody Mary (or two) in tow. Expect casual vibes in this centrally-located spot.
The Gardens at Maymont: If you feel like doing something outdoors, def visit this zen paradise. I fell in love with their Japanese garden where you can spot a few goldfish swimming in the pond. They also have a petting zoo that we did not have time to visit but heard great things about it.
Richmond is also full of unique vintage stores! I did a little shopping and found some awesome gems at Circle Thrift. The city is very artsy so you will also stumble upon quirky and colorful murals all around! Two days wasn’t enough to explore Virginia’s capital city but plan to come back soon. On my to-do list next time: visiting the classic Jefferson Hotel, eating at upscale fish spot Alewife, and grabbing a drink at Jasper. Make sure to follow my travel adventures via IG @spicycandydc.
