Seth's Guidebook for Charlottesville
Entertainment & Activities
Sprint Pavilion
700 E Main StOutdoor concerts and events
The Paramount Theater
215 E Main StConcerts, plays, shows, and comedians
Live Arts
123 E Water StForging theater and community in Charlottesville, VA.
Check-out Polo Matches on Sundays. King Family -> Veritas -> Pippin Hill
259 locals recommend
King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland FarmCheck-out Polo Matches on Sundays. King Family -> Veritas -> Pippin Hill
They have a bed and breakfast with Fixed Plate meals anyone can reserve. Non-Covid world they have a summer concernt series. My favorite vineyard loops is -- King Family -> Veritas -> Pippin Hill
262 locals recommend
Veritas Vineyards and Winery
151 Veritas LnThey have a bed and breakfast with Fixed Plate meals anyone can reserve. Non-Covid world they have a summer concernt series. My favorite vineyard loops is -- King Family -> Veritas -> Pippin Hill
Favorite or 2nd Favorite Vineyard in town. Grab a snack and relax at the end of your vineyard tour day.
207 locals recommend
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdFavorite or 2nd Favorite Vineyard in town. Grab a snack and relax at the end of your vineyard tour day.
Essentials
Market Street Market
400 E Market StDowntown grocery store within walking distance of the house.
Market Street Market
400 E Market StWine shop within walking distance of the house.
Historic Walking Tours - just three blocks away
https://albemarlehistory.org/programs/tours/
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwyHome of Thomas Jefferson.
Check out the Rotunda (must go up in the dome!!), check out the basement. Stroll down the lawn, take a right at the bottom and go past the outdoor ampitheater. If you have kids go to the whispering wall, then head out past the Berlin Wall exhibit and then across the street back to Edgar Allen Poe's dorm room. Spend some extra time seeng the grounds or go grab a bite on "the corner" where students like to hang-out. Fast casual you have to try "Roots", but several good restaurants.
251 locals recommend
University of Virginia
918 Emmet St NCheck out the Rotunda (must go up in the dome!!), check out the basement. Stroll down the lawn, take a right at the bottom and go past the outdoor ampitheater. If you have kids go to the whispering wall, then head out past the Berlin Wall exhibit and then across the street back to Edgar Allen Poe's dorm room. Spend some extra time seeng the grounds or go grab a bite on "the corner" where students like to hang-out. Fast casual you have to try "Roots", but several good restaurants.
Easy, close. View of Charlottesville. Faces sunsets. Apples and Pumpkins from the mountain. Bold Rock tasting room.
214 locals recommend
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain TrailEasy, close. View of Charlottesville. Faces sunsets. Apples and Pumpkins from the mountain. Bold Rock tasting room.
Food Scene
Tucked away in the side streets of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, The Alley Light offers classic French shared plates, craft cocktails and small grower wines in a casually elegant atmosphere. Or rather, a comfortable place to have a well made drink and bite to eat.
109 locals recommend
The Alley Light
108 2nd St SWTucked away in the side streets of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, The Alley Light offers classic French shared plates, craft cocktails and small grower wines in a casually elegant atmosphere. Or rather, a comfortable place to have a well made drink and bite to eat.
Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria
205 Monticello RoadBest gourmet pizza
Tavola
826 Hinton AveBest Italian (though I prefer Sal's)
My favorite restaurnat. Buzzy Spanish eatery offering tapas & wine in an industrial-chic setting with a lively bar & patio.
160 locals recommend
Mas
904 Monticello RdMy favorite restaurnat. Buzzy Spanish eatery offering tapas & wine in an industrial-chic setting with a lively bar & patio.
Lunch/brunch. Turns into a busy bar at night. Cheapest decent quality sitdown restaurant on the mall.
42 locals recommend
The Fitzroy
120 E Main StLunch/brunch. Turns into a busy bar at night. Cheapest decent quality sitdown restaurant on the mall.
Splendora's Gelato
2050 Bond StreetCoffee and gelato.
One of the best brunches. They do smoke/make their own meats. People love the bacon.
11 locals recommend
Tavern & Grocery
333 W Main StOne of the best brunches. They do smoke/make their own meats. People love the bacon.
Roots Natural Kitchen
1329 W Main StFast, healthy and amazing lunch
Check out the lunch - same food, better price. AND read the menu at Hamilton's next door before you decide
28 locals recommend
The Petit Pois Restaurant
201 E Main StCheck out the lunch - same food, better price. AND read the menu at Hamilton's next door before you decide
Himalayan Fusion
520 E Main StYou can sit outside and listen to concerts at the Sprint Pavilion
Asian Fusion - great for sharing. Nice back patio (in my top 5, I like to share food)
41 locals recommend
Bang!
213 2nd St SWAsian Fusion - great for sharing. Nice back patio (in my top 5, I like to share food)
Local Favorite - great for vegetarian, vegan, allergies. Hidden away
26 locals recommend
Revolutionary Soup
108 2nd St SWLocal Favorite - great for vegetarian, vegan, allergies. Hidden away
Brasserie Saison
111 E Main StInnovative Menu, nice place but the sure do make great fries!
French inspired - my favorite of the three french restaurants and the most casual. They also own Bang, which is also in my top 5
45 locals recommend
Bizou
119 W Main StFrench inspired - my favorite of the three french restaurants and the most casual. They also own Bang, which is also in my top 5
The "End" of the 151 Beer Trail. Starts at Blue Mountain Brewery. About a dozen breweries, cideries (check out Bold Rock), wineries, and distilleries. My two highlights are Devil's Backbone and Bold Rock
326 locals recommend
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub
200 Mosbys RunThe "End" of the 151 Beer Trail. Starts at Blue Mountain Brewery. About a dozen breweries, cideries (check out Bold Rock), wineries, and distilleries. My two highlights are Devil's Backbone and Bold Rock
Best "new" restaurant. Spanish Style Tapas. Great for vegetarians as well.
19 locals recommend
COMALCVILLE
816 Hinton AveBest "new" restaurant. Spanish Style Tapas. Great for vegetarians as well.
Arts & Culture
McGuffey Art Center is one of the oldest artist-run cooperative art centers in the country. They have over 150 members - artists who have studios in and out of the building, who show in the galleries at the art center, host workshops, teach classes, give free tours to groups of students, participate in art camps in the summer, and put time and care into committee work.
60 locals recommend
McGuffey Art Center
201 2nd St NWMcGuffey Art Center is one of the oldest artist-run cooperative art centers in the country. They have over 150 members - artists who have studios in and out of the building, who show in the galleries at the art center, host workshops, teach classes, give free tours to groups of students, participate in art camps in the summer, and put time and care into committee work.
Parks & Nature
This is a nice walking trail. They have walkways built up, so it is handicapped accessible and stroller friendly. Nice little pond as well.
74 locals recommend
Saunders-Monticello Trail
This is a nice walking trail. They have walkways built up, so it is handicapped accessible and stroller friendly. Nice little pond as well.
Rivanna River Company
1520 E High StEasy tube and kayak trips
City advice
Don't miss
Things to do in Charlottesville
We are known for food, history and vineyard/breweries tours. Monticello and the Rotunda are a must, but from there get outdoors! Check out Polo at King Family vineyard on Sundays. The vineyard scene is sorta divided into three areas. The south east, south west, and the north. Also to the west is Shenandoah National Park as well as the 151 Beer Trail (about a dozen breweries, wineries and distilleries). From the house you can walk to the downtown mall and visit most of the restaurants I mentioned. However, Belmont is the neighborhood that houses MAS as well as a couple other great restaurants.