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.
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 →Law Firms / Abingdon
Law Firms
An Abingdon law practice working with family-law matters and estate-planning documents. Prospective clients can contact the firm about its services, consultation arrangements and whether it can assist with their particular matter.
Best of Abingdon 2026 — Law Firm winner (Visit Abingdon).
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 →Shopping Centers / Virginia Beach
Shopping Centers
A Virginia Beach shopping district combining boutiques, specialty stores and restaurants. It offers a place to put together several errands or a shopping-and-lunch outing; individual businesses set their own hours.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Shopping Center/Mall (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
Details & contact information →Personal Training / Abingdon
Personal Training
An Abingdon fitness business offering personal-training options, including in-home sessions. A consultation lets customers discuss their goals, available equipment and the structure of a program before committing.
Best of Abingdon 2026 — Fitness Center/Gym winner (Visit Abingdon).
Details & contact information →Pick-Your-Own Farms / Bluemont
Pick-Your-Own Farms
A Loudoun County farm combining seasonal picking, a farm market and family activities. What is ready to harvest changes through the year, so use the farm’s picking updates and admission calendar to plan a visit.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Pick-Your-Own Farm or Orchard.
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 →Magic Shows / Williamsburg
Magic Shows
A dedicated Williamsburg magic theater with an intimate auditorium. The small setting brings the audience close to the performance; check the show calendar and ticket availability before planning an evening around a visit.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Attraction, Nightlife and Performing Arts Organization (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
Details & contact information →Auto Repair / Abingdon
Auto Repair
An Abingdon auto-service business offering maintenance, diagnostics and repairs. Listed services include brakes, tires, transmission work and inspections; discuss the vehicle and requested work when arranging an appointment.
Best of Abingdon 2026 — Auto Service Center winner (Visit Abingdon).
Details & contact information →Bridal Shops / Fairfax
Bridal Shops
An Old Town Fairfax boutique for bridal gowns and special-occasion clothing. The shop operates by appointment, giving customers time to explore silhouettes and fittings; arrange a visit before traveling to the store.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Bridal Shop.
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 →Children’s Museums / Harrisonburg
Children’s Museums
A hands-on children’s museum built around play and discovery. Interactive learning experiences make it a family-focused downtown stop; check admission, accessibility programs and age-specific activities before visiting.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, second place, Museum (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Aquariums / Virginia Beach
Aquariums
Marine exhibits, animal-care learning and optional boat experiences make this a substantial family outing. Start with the aquarium’s admission information, then check separate availability for tours and activities that extend beyond the galleries.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Family-Friendly Attraction and Science Museum (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
Details & contact information →Real Estate Agencies / Abingdon
Real Estate Agencies
An Abingdon-based real-estate brokerage serving Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Its property search covers communities across the region, with buying and selling resources and individual agents available for inquiries.
Best of Abingdon 2026 — Real Estate Company winner (Visit Abingdon).
Details & contact information →Lingerie & Bra Fitting / Vienna
Lingerie & Bra Fitting
A Vienna lingerie shop specializing in professional bra fitting. Its selection includes everyday, sports and occasion styles along with sleepwear, making a fitting appointment or in-store consultation central to the experience.
Northern Virginia Magazine, Best of NoVA 2026 — Lingerie.
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 →Art Gallery / Harrisonburg
Art Gallery
An artist cooperative selling work by local makers in downtown Harrisonburg. Fine art and contemporary craft share the gallery, offering a way to find a locally made gift while learning about the region’s artists.
Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2026 — Shenandoah Valley, second place, Art Gallery (reported by Harrisonburg Tourism).
Details & contact information →Art Gallery / Virginia Beach
Art Gallery
A place to see local artists’ work and make some art yourself. The center combines changing exhibitions with resident studios, art classes and pottery facilities; check the class calendar for age ranges and registration.
Recognized in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards: Art Gallery/Art Museum (reported by Virginia Beach Visitors Guide).
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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