A Guide to Richmond Coffee Shops
fyi – this post was last updated february 2025!
Curious about the best coffee shops in the River City? Look no further!
You should know: I'm not a coffee connoisseur by any means. I judge places more on ambience than on their actual coffee, and I've been known to get many a chai latte instead of a good old cup of joe too.
Here are a whole bunch of coffeeshops I’ve visited over the last few years since originally posting this guide (back in 2015!) -- I’m constantly updating this but be sure to double check info before planning a visit, just in case something has changed!
let this be your guide to all things Richmond coffee!
want to browse by area of town?
abi’s books and brews
A cozy café that blends books and coffee
their website // location: 1212 1/2 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220
my thoughts: y’all, i did not have a good experience here. to be fair, i went on the soft opening day where they were still working out a lot of kinks in their process, but i ultimately waited nearly an hour for my iced lavender latte and it was… probably the worst thing i’ve ever drank. the vibes are really fun, with shelves of used books all around, but the curation wasn’t great, unfortunately. it did have a cute area for kids, and a decent amount of tables, but i’ll need to give it another shot and have some redemption before this can be a spot i recommend.
afterglow coffee cooperative
Cozy, worker-owned coffee roaster and cafe offering breakfast and single-origin beans, plus beer, and wine.
their website // location: 1719 Summit Ave, Richmond, VA 23230
my thoughts: this is a great scott’s addition spot for a cozy cup — there are tons of tables of different sizes, great drink options, it’s worker-owned (and the staff is awesome), and many fun local events are hosted here, too.
Black Hand Coffee Company
Cozy, brick-lined cafe roasts its own beans daily & offers chai, bagels & bulk coffee.
their website // location: 3101 Patterson Ave, Richmond, VA 23221
my thoughts: Black Hand is tucked away on a corner in the Fan, and it wasn't at all what I was expecting. There are only a few tables inside, and it’s mostly a great spot for neighborhood dwellers to pop in for a quick latte and bagel before they hit the road. There is a patio outside with some picnic tables if the weather is nice!
blanchard’s coffee roasting company
Cozy hangout serving caffeinated beverages such as lattes and quick bites with gluten-free options.
their website // location: 3121 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230
my thoughts: trendy and modern, minimalist and cool, this spot is just such a vibe. the menu is on the smaller side, and it’s a pretty tight space with a lot of tables packed in, but it’s a favorite for me (and many).
foxtail coffee co.
A cozy and modern coffee shop with rustic charm, offering artisanal brews in the heart of West Broad Village.
their website // location: 2240 Old Brick Rd suite a1, Glen Allen, VA 23060
my thoughts: short pump needed a good coffee shop, and this delivers! it’s a beautiful naturally-lit space with a robust menu (tons of food! vgf options! great pastries! gelato!!! etc!) and a large outdoor patio, too. it’s a chain based out of florida, but this is the only VA location!
Lift Coffee Shop & Cafe
Cute, canopied cafe with sidewalk seats serving breakfast fare, sandwiches, salads & box lunches.
their website // location: 18 W Broad St Richmond, Va 23220
my thoughts: I wasn't stoked on this spot, sadly. It was hard to park (parallel parking on a busy Main Street) and the barista when I went was pretty grumpy. My soy chai was pretty good, but I'm not a fan of to-go cups when I'm there to stay for a bit. There was good seating but it wasn't particularly cozy or anything. it gets the job done, but without a lot of character or comfort.
reviresco coffee company
Cozy micro-roastery and coffee shop offering pastries and gluten-free options in a casual atmosphere.
their website // location: 710 Lafayette St, Richmond, VA 23221
my thoughts: this is a cute, quaint local spot with just a few small tables, tons of local art, and the friendliest owners. it’s a hidden gem and a hole in the wall kind of vibe, and i really enjoyed it!
Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream
Funky breakfast-through-dinner cafe serving simple American fare, desserts & craft beer.
their website // location: 3600 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23225
my thoughts: I stopped here before going to my FAVE farmer's market (South of the James) one Saturday morning and it was quite the happening place! We just got straight up coffee and chose our kinds from all the carafes they had lining the shelf, which was fun. I would definitely go back, though, because it tons of tables and a great, quirky vibe. ps-- they often have live music in the evenings, so be sure to check out their upcoming events, as it's a great spot to chill and hear some tunes!
their website // location: 2622 Buford Rd, Bon Air, VA 23235
my thoughts: This was a solo Saturday stop, and I LOVED the feel of it. It was in a random strip mall (totally not what I expected) but they had GREAT food (I got a vegan/gluten-free sandwich) and good coffee too. The weaving you see in that picture was a collaborative art installation with strips of fabric in buckets for customers to add. How cool is that?! If I'm ever over in Bon Air again (rare, but possible), I'll definitely come again!
their website // location: 2928 W. Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221
my thoughts: This little spot in the heart of Carytown is such a gem -- amazing pastries (look at them!), great coffee, in my FAVORITE part of town, beautiful aesthetic, and a newly renovated nextdoor space adding even more real estate! now both the full cafe and the to-go window are in operation, which is awesome.
Lamplighter coffee roasters
Coffee drinks, pastries & daytime cafe fare consumed in no-frills digs or delivered by bike.
their website // location: 116 S. Addison St., Richmond, VA 23230
my thoughts: This has long been one of my go-to coffee spots, even more so now that I'm less than a ten minute walk away! It's a tiny little corner coffeeshop, but there's an extra whole room of tables to the side of the main cafe area, and it's warm out there even in the winter! You can't go wrong with any of the Lamplighter locations -- their coffee is top notch, their menu is EXCELLENT (with many gluten free and vegan options!), and they really know their stuff. Sometimes the music here is a little heavy in my opinion, so it's not always the most peaceful vibe.
roastology coffee
Cool coffee shop in a warehouselike space with house-roasted beans, sandwiches & outdoor seating.
their website // location: 3015 W Clay St, Richmond, VA 23230
my thoughts: the old location on cary was so much better. 😭 it’s now located in scott’s addition, with a very industrial, cold, minimalist feel, and far less seating. if you’re in the area, it’s fine, but not a place great for lingering, unfortunately. didn’t notice much food on the menu either, tbh!
The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe
Fresh roasts & local, organic brunch fare in a sunny cafe with high-ceilings & cushy armchairs.
their website // location: 1217 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219
my thoughts: This is my second favorite UF location (the first being Scott's Addition, mentioned above!) -- it's down in the cobblestone area of Shockoe Slip, and the huge windows are often open to the street on nice days, so it's a really beautiful place to be. I've heard great live music here on more than a few occasions, which is a big perk for me. This location is slightly smaller than the SA one, but still has a great variety of tables and a few couches, as well as a few outdoor tables too.
paix coffee
Casual cafe and roastery known for its espresso drinks and craft roasts, as well as seasonal offerings.
their website // location: 407 Cleveland St, Richmond, VA 23221
my thoughts: super tiny but SUPER cool and delicious! it’s connected to an awesome vintage shop as well, giving this place the quintessential rva hipster vibe. big fan.
Cafe Zata
Relaxed cafe offering breakfast, sandwiches, and pastries, plus beer and wine.
their website // location: 5047 Forest Hill Ave., Richmond, VA
my thoughts: I stopped by this one after hitting up the South of the James Farmer's Market (it's just about a mile or so down the road!) but was super unimpressed. It's a HUGE open space, with a second layer over part of it, I believe, but it just felt too massive and not cozy at all. The service wasn't great and I wasn't thrilled by the menu, but I did like that nobody was near me and I could get work done and read for a while without anyone needing my table. If you're over across the river, I'd recommend Perk! over this spot any day.
Whisk
Snug, casual bakeshop for French-inspired pastries, bread, espresso, coffee & sandwiches, pus wine.
their website // location: 2100 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23233
my thoughts: I absolutely love this little spot (it is little!) -- it's more in the Church Hill area of town, and it's beautiful! Their menu isn't huge, but they've got an impressive selection of baked goods I wished I could eat (seriously, SO MANY) and great coffee. The aesthetic here is A plus, if that matters to you, but it's definitely more of a spot to grab a quick bite than it is to linger and work.
Stir Crazy Cafe rva
Relaxed cafe & coffeehouse offering light American bites, baked goods, espresso & outdoor tables.
their website // location: 4015 MacArthur Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227
my thoughts: the best northside coffee spot -- it's roomy, delicious, cozy, and has a great vibe. There are great food choices on the menu (even for gluten-free folks or vegans!) and really awesome coffee. There are lots of different kinds of seating options too, which I love!
Caffespresso
Coffee shop serving breakfast and panini, plus a selection of coffee, beer, and wine.
their website // location: 1127 Gaskins Rd, Henrico, VA 23238
my thoughts: This one is out in the West End, which isn't an area I frequent often these days, but it's a fun little stop! There's a GREAT wall of books and games, lots of tables, and several comfy couches. Be warned though-- you will smell STRONGLY of grease from their open grill/panini making, and it's not great. The coffee here is always awesome though, so maybe it's worth it?
Capital One Cafe
offers handcrafted coffees, snacks, and space to work or relax with free Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets.
their website // location: 2933 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23211
my thoughts: I didn't know what to expect from this spot -- was it a bank? a cafe? a cafe just for people who use Capital One as their bank? it definitely wasn't a cozy vibe, but it's actually pretty cool, and they handed us free coupons when we walked in which was obviously a nice bonus! they serve Peet's Coffee and made a great iced vegan matcha for me, so that won me over. it looked to have a lot of seating and would make for a great meeting spot, but felt more like your average Starbucks (with banking people and ATMs and such around...) than anything else.
ironclad coffee roasters & baking co.
Cafe serving house-roasted coffee and baked goods in a relaxed setting with live music.
their website // location: 1805 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23223
my thoughts: I absolutely LOVED this spot. Seriously, it takes the spot for #1 most fave RVA coffeeshop for me! I had the best dirty chai latte with oat milk that I have ever, ever had. The vibes were amazing — it’s in an old firehouse and just was super cool. The stairs in the front were full of plants (amazing) and the upper level overlooking down to the coffee bar was great, with ample seating and tons of natural light. I couldn’t love this place more or rave about it enough!
coffee shops that have closed:
(just in case you’re researching and/or curious)
shockoe espresso and roastery
captain buzzy’s beanery
lamplighter on suffolk
daily grind
urban farmhouse market and cafe
