THE VIRGINIAN GUIDE · 2026
The places you love.
The people you count on.
Find a table for tonight, a trusted local service, or somewhere new for the weekend. Explore 116 profiles across 112 categories, with practical details and recognition from established local and statewide awards.
Restaurants / Alexandria
Restaurant · Lunch, dinner & weekend brunch
Plan an Alexandria meal around lunch, dinner or weekend brunch at Ada’s. The restaurant offers vegetarian and gluten-free options and welcomes leashed dogs on its outdoor patio. Consult the current menu and reservation page when planning a visit; seasonal offerings and seating availability can change.
Restaurant of the Year · VRLTA 2026 Ordinary Awards
Details & contact information →Restaurants / Harrisonburg
Pizza · Italian · Seasonal cooking
Wood-fired pizza anchors the menu at this downtown Harrisonburg restaurant in the historic Livery Building. Handmade pasta, seasonal salads and sandwiches broaden the choices, while the bar serves local beer and cider alongside wine and cocktails. The open kitchen makes the pizza oven part of the dining room experience.
First place, Pizzeria · Virginia Living Best of Virginia 2026, Shenandoah Valley (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism)
Details & contact information →Winery / Barboursville
Winery
An estate winery in Orange County that pairs Virginia wine with tastings, a restaurant and overnight stays. Its inn and cottages make it possible to build a countryside weekend around the vineyard rather than a single tasting-room stop.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Winery
Details & contact information →Breakfast & Brunch / Virginia Beach
Breakfast & Brunch
A Virginia Beach restaurant group with a coastal Southern approach to breakfast, brunch and lunch. Its three local branches offer different starting points for a beach-day meal; select the location before checking the menu or booking a group.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Breakfast/Brunch and Lunch (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
Details & contact information →Chinese Restaurants / Fairfax
Chinese Restaurants
Chinese cooking is the focus at this Fairfax restaurant, with lunch and dinner service and a weekend dim sum offering. Consult the current menus for a family meal or a chance to explore dishes beyond a standard takeout order.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Chinese.
Details & contact information →Distillery / Richmond
Distillery
Richmond-made vodka is the focus at this Summit Avenue distillery. The company specializes in a potato-based spirit, with its local production story offering a different perspective on the city’s drinks scene.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Distillery
Details & contact information →Breakfast & Brunch / Harrisonburg
Breakfast & Brunch
A former tire-service building has become a neighborhood diner serving seasonal breakfast and lunch. An in-house bakery contributes breads and pastries, giving a quick coffee stop and a sit-down meal their own appeal.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, first place, Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant / Charlottesville
Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant
A Charlottesville bagel institution with multiple local shops. The menu centers on bagels and made-to-order sandwiches, making it a practical breakfast or lunch stop before exploring the city.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant
Details & contact information →Indian Restaurants / Ashburn
Indian Restaurants
Chef Rupa Vira’s Ashburn restaurant brings a contemporary approach to regional Indian cooking. Dine-in service, a brunch program and catering offer several ways to explore the menu, including listed vegan choices.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Indian.
Details & contact information →Brewery / Richmond area
Brewery
An independent Richmond-area brewery with two taprooms and a changing beer selection. Visit the brewery’s calendar when planning a meet-up: the experience varies by location, release and event.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Brewery
Details & contact information →Italian Restaurant / Harrisonburg
Italian Restaurant
A Harrisonburg restaurant offering Italian favorites in a family-oriented setting. Outdoor dining and catering add options beyond a regular table reservation; check the menu and service details for the occasion you have in mind.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, first place, Italian Restaurant; second place, Pizzeria (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Sushi Restaurants / Arlington
Sushi Restaurants
An Arlington Japanese restaurant with seasonal sushi, a sushi counter and a small cocktail bar. Its dining room and seasonal patio offer different settings; check reservations and the current menu when planning a meal.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Sushi.
Details & contact information →Cocktails / Richmond
Cocktails
A Carytown cocktail bar for a drinks-focused evening. The menu and setting make it a different kind of stop from a brewery tasting room; check the current cocktail list and opening schedule before making plans.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Cocktails
Details & contact information →Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare / Harrisonburg
Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare
A Harrisonburg restaurant drawing on comfort-food traditions from several parts of the world. Its menu includes choices for different dietary preferences; consult current ingredients and speak with the staff about specific dietary requirements.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, first place, Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Distillery / Virginia Beach
Distillery
A distillery at the Virginia Beach oceanfront offering spirits, tours and tastings. Book through its current tour calendar and check age requirements when adding a distillery visit to a coastal weekend.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Distillery (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
Details & contact information →Thai Restaurants / Ashburn
Thai Restaurants
Southern Thai flavors guide the cooking at Sense of Thai, including seafood, herbs and spice-forward dishes. Its Ashburn restaurant combines a full food menu with cocktails; consult the individual location’s information when reserving.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Thai.
Details & contact information →Ice Cream Shop / Richmond area
Ice Cream Shop
Handmade ice cream is the draw at this Virginia shop group, with locations in Richmond and Hampton Roads. Browse the current flavors and location list to find a nearby scoop shop or arrange an order.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Ice Cream Shop
Details & contact information →Cidery / Harrisonburg
Cidery
A Harrisonburg cider stop with a taproom, food and a changing program of art and events. The setting allows visitors to make a local cider tasting part of a wider downtown outing; check the current drinks and food menus.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, first place, Cidery (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Coffee Shop or Roaster / Richmond area
Coffee Shop or Roaster
A Richmond coffee roaster supplying beans and café drinks. It is a useful stop for discovering a new roast, buying beans for home or making coffee part of a neighborhood outing.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Coffee Shop or Roaster
Details & contact information →Specialty Food Shops / Harrisonburg
Specialty Food Shops
A community-owned grocery in downtown Harrisonburg, with local products and a calendar of tastings and activities. It is useful for stocking a picnic, shopping for the week or discovering producers from the Shenandoah Valley.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, second place, Specialty/Gourmet Food Shop (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare / Richmond
Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare
Mediterranean cooking meets Scott’s Addition at Pinky’s, where an indoor dining room opens to a garden patio. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch; consult the menu for current plant-based and gluten-free choices.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Plant-Based or Gluten-Free Fare
Details & contact information →Outdoor Dining / Richmond
Outdoor Dining
An Italian-influenced restaurant in a cottage on River Road. Its outdoor dining setting and wine selection make it a useful option when the atmosphere matters as much as choosing a meal.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Outdoor Dining
Details & contact information →Steakhouse / Richmond
Steakhouse
A Patterson Avenue steakhouse with a long-running Richmond presence. Steaks are the central draw; consult the current dinner menu and reservation options when planning a special evening.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Steakhouse
Details & contact information →Burger Joint / Charlottesville and Richmond
Burger Joint
Burgers and craft beer anchor this restaurant group, which has Virginia locations including Charlottesville and Richmond. Check the individual location’s menu and hours when choosing a casual meal or a place to meet friends.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Central Virginia, first place: Burger Joint
Details & contact information →
Best of
Our autumn shortlist pairs mountain views, a lakeside stop and Potomac overlooks with practical planning links.
Sep 25, 2026Our directory brings together independently researched profiles and recognition from regional and statewide awards. Each profile links to its source and identifies the original award, year and category. A regional award is not a statewide ranking. Businesses can appear in more than one category. Payment does not determine editorial selections. Check current hours, services and availability directly with each business.
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