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Media Information from the Virginia Tourism Corporation

Where to Eat & Drink in Virginia 2026

Last Updated August 26, 2026

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Where to Eat & Drink

Central and Southern Virginia

  • Morty’s Market & Deli in Richmond is expanding with a new open-air patio and dining space expected to open in late 2026. Inspired by a European piazza, this “spritz garden” will provide additional seating and create a vibrant gathering space in the city’s Northside neighborhood.
  • Crispy Cones, an Idaho-based dessert chain inspired by traditional Czech pastries, opened in July 2026 in Richmond’s Carytown. The shop serves rotisserie-grilled dough cones filled with soft-serve ice cream, spreads, and toppings, bringing its customizable signature treat to its first Richmond-area location.
  • Expected to reopen later in 2026, Asado Wing & Taco Co. is returning to its original Broad Street location in Richmond after a six-year absence. The popular Tex-Mex restaurant will revive its signature tacos, smoked wings, and margaritas in the renovated historic building where the concept first launched.
  • Kickshaws Bakery opened its first Richmond location in the Bellevue neighborhood in July 2026. The Fredericksburg-based bakery specializes in gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-friendly baked goods, along with breakfast and lunch sandwiches, espresso, and fresh-baked pastries.
  • Sarah & Co. Café opened in Richmond’s Church Hill North neighborhood in June 2026, serving specialty coffee, breakfast, and lunch while honoring the legacy of Dr. Sarah Garland Jones, Virginia’s first Black woman physician. The café also showcases local art and serves as a welcoming community gathering space.
  • Rock N Roll Sushi, a Florida-based restaurant chain known for combining American-style sushi with a rock-and-roll atmosphere, opened a Midlothian location in July 2026. They are known for serving signature sushi rolls, hibachi dishes, and other Japanese-inspired favorites in a high-energy setting.
  • Trolley Car Sweets and Treats opened in July 2026 in Richmond’s Fan District. The shop specializes in Swedish candy and other European varieties including gummies and licorice.
  • Hang opened in Richmond’s Scott Addition neighborhood in June 2026. This beer and taco joint by the owners of Lunch.Supper features cheap eats and inventive cocktails like a dill pickle moonshine margarita.
  • Pour Baker opened in Charlottesville in spring 2026 and features fresh biscuits served with fried chicken, country ham, and bacon, egg, and cheese. Founded by former pharmacist Cammy Jones, the menu also features pies, fresh-baked cookies, and signature baking mixes to take home.
  • Benny’s Pizza opened a second Richmond location in Scott’s Addition in June 2026, bringing its signature 28-inch pizzas and oversized slices to one of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods. The Blacksburg-born restaurant also offers indoor and outdoor seating and late-night dining.
  • Richmond International Airport will add several new dining options later this year, including concepts from local brands The Beet Box and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and national names like Wolfgang Puck.
  • A new sushi concept from the owners of Nami Japanese Restaurant is expected to open in fall 2026 in Richmond. Ren Japanese Dining will have an emphasis on omakase, a personalized multi-course meal prepared by a chef.
  • North End Juice Co. in Richmond’s Museum District reopened in June 2026 as “North End” under the new ownership of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery co-founder Patrick Murtaugh and wife Stephanie Murtaugh. The shop serves a menu of light fare including smoothies, juices, açaí bowls, and coffee.
  • The Honey Hole has transformed the former Holly Grove Marina into a lively new destination on Lake Gaston, offering lakefront dining, a full-service bar, fuel dock services, ice cream, and signature frozen cocktails. With scenic waterfront views and a family-friendly atmosphere, the reimagined venue is quickly becoming a favorite stop for boaters and visitors exploring Southern Virginia.
  • Popular Richmond dessert shop Shyndigz opened a 24/7 vending machine outside its Cary Street storefront in summer 2026 filled with slices of their signature cakes and pies.
  • Downtown Boydton welcomed Kitty Vaughns Tea & Thyme Café in May 2026. Located at 129 Bank Street, the café serves specialty hot and cold beverages, fresh pastries, sandwiches, and salads for breakfast and lunch. The new eatery offers visitors and locals a cozy gathering spot in the heart of town.
  • This year, Ashton Creek Vineyard became the first vineyard in Virginia to earn Certified Regenified status, recognizing their leadership in regenerative agriculture and sustainable winegrowing practices. The certification highlights measurable improvements in soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem stewardship, reinforcing the vineyard’s commitment to producing high-quality wines while protecting the land for future generations.
  • Afton’s Veritas Vineyards & Winery is entering a new era with a transition in ownership. Acclaimed Head Winemaker Emily Hodson will remain in her leadership role, ensuring continuity in the award-winning wines and visitor experience that have made Veritas one of Virginia’s premiere wine destinations.
  • Popular Virginia restaurant group The Fishin’ Pig is expanding to Clarksville, with a Summer 2026 opening planned at 71 Commerce Drive. Known for its unique combination of slow-smoked barbecue, fresh seafood, and lively atmosphere, the restaurant is expected to feature a full-service bar, late-night hours, and live entertainment.
  • Clarksville native Sarah Roberts opened Roberts Market earlier this year at 216 Virginia Avenue, bringing new life to the building that once housed the beloved Roberts Grill founded by her great-grandfather and grandfather. The specialty food and sandwich shop offers handcrafted sandwiches and gourmet selections while honoring a longstanding family tradition.
  • Waters Edge Winery and Bistro is set to open in Midlothian in late 2026. A franchise location of the national winery and bistro brand, Waters Edge will offer wines crafted in-house as well as appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
  • A new dining option has arrived in downtown Chase City. Shawarma Empire, located at 126 W. 2nd Street, serves authentic Mediterranean cuisine and café offerings in the heart of town. Visitors can enjoy traditional shawarma, fresh ingredients, and flavorful dishes in a welcoming atmosphere that adds to Chase City’s growing culinary scene.
  • Richmond soul food staple Mama J’s opened Mama J’s Market in February 2026 to sell grab-and-go versions of menu favorites as well as pantry staples.
  • The former 7th Street Bakery has reopened as The Village Eatery at 307 Virginia Avenue in Clarksville. Open Monday through Saturday, the hometown bakery and café offers cakes, pastries, pies, cookies, breads, quiche, and other savory specialties. Guests can also enjoy specialty coffee drinks, including lattes and frappes, in a comfortable café setting.
  • Lillie Pearl relocated to a larger new home in Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood in February 2026. The acclaimed Southern-inspired restaurant now occupies a prominent space overlooking the Maggie L. Walker Memorial Plaza on Broad Street.
  • R Kohls Winery will open in Stanardsville in September 2026. The family-grown winery plans to utilize grape varietals including Albarino and Chardonnay.
  • Visitors will be able to sip wines from the new tasting room at 7 Lady Vineyards in late 2026. The on-ground winery at Dover Hall in Goochland will feature expansive outdoor seating.

Coastal Virginia – Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore

  • Crudo Nudo, a Spanish tapas restaurant in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood, reopened in February 2026 after being closed for more than a year following a fire. The restaurant serves tapas, house-made pastas, seafood dishes, brunch, and specialty cocktails, including a popular happy hour program.
  • My Mama’s Kitchen reopened in a larger Virginia Beach location in May 2026 after closing its original Shore Drive restaurant in 2023. The family-owned restaurant serves Southern comfort food, including chicken and waffles, fried green tomatoes, barbecue ribs, catfish, and weekend brunch favorites.
  • Blackeyed Peas Restaurant relocated from Virginia Beach to downtown Norfolk, where it celebrated its grand opening in June 2026. The restaurant serves Southern comfort food and soul food specialties, including seafood boils, macaroni and cheese, oxtails, chicken and dumplings, and other homestyle favorites, along with a full-service bar.
  • Junes Daytime opened in Virginia Beach in June 2026. The counter-service brunch spot is a partnership between The Coop Food Truck and Hearth Wood Fired Cuisine. The cafe serves house-baked pastries, breakfast and lunch favorites, and offers vegetarian and gluten-free options.
  • Smithfield-based Cockeyed Rooster Cafe is expanding to Newport News, with plans to open a second location in fall 2026. The restaurant will offer many of the same popular breakfast and lunch favorites as its Smithfield location, along with new beverage options, including orange crushes and bloody marys.
  • Brewed Awakening Café opened in Gloucester in July 2026, serving all-day breakfast, lunch, specialty coffee, and fresh baked goods made with natural and organic ingredients. The new Main Street café will also offer catering and event space, adding another locally owned dining destination to Gloucester’s growing restaurant scene.
  • Pembroke Square in Virginia Beach welcomed several major new attractions in 2026, including Fogo de Chão, the Brazilian steakhouse’s first Virginia coastal location, and a relocated Funny Bone Comedy Club and DraftCade entertainment complex.
  • The Hampton Social opened at Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park in June 2026, bringing its coastal-inspired dining experience, seafood-forward menu, and surf-lagoon views to the city’s newest oceanfront entertainment district.
  • Rose’s opened in Virginia Beach’s ViBe Creative District in May 2026, introducing the region’s first hi-fi listening bar and restaurant, where chef-driven cuisine, craft cocktails, and immersive vinyl-based music experiences come together in a stylish indoor-outdoor setting.
  • Two new dining concepts opened this spring at The Inn at Warner Hall in Gloucester. At Tavern 1642 guests can imbibe on elevated cocktails and refined whiskies while gathering on plush leather couches, next to one of Virginia’s largest wood-burning fireplaces. Austin’s brings refined seasonal American cuisine to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, with dishes such as Braised Pork with Stone Ground Grits and Dijon Apple Cider Reduction, all set against scenic waterfront views on the Severn River.
  • As part of the Virginia Beer Company’s 10th anniversary, the brewery opened a Yorktown brewpub, The Kitchen, in January 2026. An outdoor beer garden and patio are expected to open as part of the project later this year.
  • Aloha Cravings continues to bring island flavors to Isle of Wight after expanding from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
  • El Soul opened in spring 2026 in Cape Charles with a menu featuring homemade Mexican food and margaritas.
  • Originally a Williamsburg food truck, Don Chido opened its brick-and-mortar restaurant in March 2026 with an offering of elevated tacos, shareable tapas, and cocktails.
  • Aloha Tiki Hawaiian Kitchen opened in Williamsburg’s New Town district in spring 2026 with a menu featuring favorites such as kalua pork, loco moco, musubi, and huli huli chicken.
  • Mil Amores Taqueria opened this spring in Williamsburg. The taco shop brings a wallet-friendly dining option to the Historic Triangle.
  • Regional barbecue chain Q Daddy’s opened its Yorktown location in March 2026. This is the third location of the family-owned second generation pitmaster barbecue joint.
  • Geno’s Steaks, the first Virginia location of the iconic Philadelphia cheesesteak brand founded in 1966, recently opened in January at Power Plant Hampton Roads. Geno’s brings its classic cheesesteaks, Italian hoagies, and more to the region plus a full‑service bar, family‑friendly arcade games, and a scenic waterfront patio.
  • Bread & Butter is a new Onancock restaurant by Executive Chef and Owner Shannon Andes, a classically trained chef with nearly two decades of experience. The restaurant opened in February 2026 bringing internationally inspired cuisine to the Eastern Shore, offering globally influenced dishes rooted in thoughtful, elevated cooking.
  • Wiseguy Pizza opened in late January in Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park, bringing its award-winning, wood-fired pies to the Oceanfront.

Northern Virginia

  • Chin Xi’An Style Restaurant plans to open its third location in Fairfax City in August 2026, bringing authentic cuisine from China’s Shaanxi province to Northern Virginia. Located inside 99 Ranch Market, the restaurant specializes in house-made hand-ripped noodles, liangpi, and traditional Xi’an dishes inspired by home-style recipes and regional flavors.
  • Kinship Wine + Wares opened in July 2026 at Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza, offering a curated selection of wines and vintage home décor. The shop combines wine retail, tastings, and thoughtfully sourced housewares in a warm, living room-inspired setting.
  • Clarity, the award-winning Vienna restaurant, opened its second location in July 2026 in Reston Town Center. The New American restaurant features favorites such as French onion soup, foie gras, and steaks.
  • Dogfish Head Alehouse returns to Virginia in fall 2026 with a new location at Reston Town Center. This will be the craft beer brand’s first Virginia outpost since its previous locations closed in 2023.
  • Takumi opened in summer 2026 in Pentagon City, bringing an izakaya-style Japanese dining experience featuring sushi, sashimi, ramen, hibachi, small plates, sake, and craft cocktails.
  • Honeygrow opened its first Prince William County location at Virginia Gateway in Gainesville in July 2026. The fast-casual restaurant serves made-to-order stir-fries, salads, and desserts, and marks the Philadelphia-based chain’s eighth Virginia location and 80th restaurant nationwide.
  • Chelsea Market & Deli opened a second Arlington location in June 2026 combining New York-style deli favorites with Asian-inspired offerings, including sushi, ramen, Korean wings, and bento boxes.
  • Altitude, a new wine bar and restaurant in Crystal City, opened in June 2026 with a Northern Italian-inspired menu, curated global wine selection, and aviation-themed design. The concept features an on-site sommelier, vinyl listening room, and atmosphere inspired by the golden age of air travel.
  • Elephant Nest Thai & Sushi Bar opened at the Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre in June 2026, serving authentic Thai cuisine alongside fresh sushi, sashimi, specialty rolls, curries, noodle dishes, and other Asian-inspired favorites.
  • Piazza di Gogo’s opened in downtown Leesburg in July 2026, bringing an Italian-inspired aperitivo bar experience with house-made small plates, gelato, cocktails, wine, and beer. The evening concept shares space with Buford’s Biscuits, transforming the restaurant into a lively Italian-style gathering place after dark.
  • Little Birdie opened in June 2026 in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. The restaurant from the team behind Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar, serves chicken-focused comfort food made with locally and regionally sourced ingredients.
  • Tatte Bakery & Café opened its seventh Virginia location in Ashburn in June 2026. The chain features a menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches in addition to pastries and handcrafted coffees, teas, and juices.
  • Laziz Kabob expanded to Woodbridge with its second location, bringing its high-quality, authentic Afghan cuisine to the community. The restaurant opened in May 2026.
  • Mezeh Mediterranean Grill opened in Stafford in July 2026, bringing its fast-casual Mediterranean concept to the region with customizable bowls, wraps, salads, and house-made dips.
  • Duke’s Burgers, the fast-casual concept from D.C.-based Duke’s Grocery, opened its first Virginia location in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood in July 2026. The kiosk serves the brand’s signature burgers, sandwiches, wings, fish and chips, and other favorites, with alcoholic beverages planned shortly after opening.
  • Cielo opened in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood in June 2026. The “heaven and hell” themed concept boasts a tequila-forward cocktail menu and dishes with Latin flair including Venezuelan-style short ribs.
  • The Burger Factory opened its first Virginia location in Sterling in June 2026, serving customizable burgers, signature Juicy Lucy creations, chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, fries, shakes, and other fast-casual favorites. The Canadian burger chain brings its popular made-to-order menu to Loudoun County’s Clock Tower Center.
  • Nido Coffee Shop opened in Middleburg in late spring 2026, serving specialty coffee, fresh pastries, baked goods, and light café fare in the heart of the historic downtown. The cozy café offers breakfast items and handcrafted espresso drinks, adding a new stop for coffee lovers visiting Virginia’s horse and wine country.
  • Anjappar turned up the heat with authentic South Indian and Chettinad cuisine when it opened in Herndon in May 2026.
  • Clyde’s opened a location in Dulles International Airport in June 2026 featuring its signature menu of burgers, sandwiches, and other American comfort foods.
  • Popular DC-based bagel and coffee joint Call Your Mother Deli opened an Arlington location in July 2026. Fan favorites include babka muffins, house-made cookies and bagel sandwiches.
  • Another Broken Egg Café opened an Ashburn outpost in June 2026, marking its fourth Virginia location. The café is known for menu items including shrimp & grits, chicken & waffles, and creative Benedicts along with brunch cocktails and spiked cold brew.
  • The Angie, an upscale American-French bistro, opened in June 2026 in Arlington. The restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining, a full-service bar, lounge, barista bar, and private dining space. Experience dishes like ricotta ravioli and lobster frites.
  • Arlington-based Bakeshop opened its Vienna location in June, making it the bakery and café’s third Virginia outpost. Known for its cupcakes, cakes, macarons, and breakfast sandwiches, Bakeshop plans to expand its menu to include savory lunch items as well.
  • Kin Espresso Bar has opened in Vienna in July 2026, bringing Japanese-inspired coffeehouse culture to Church Street. The café serves specialty coffee, ceremonial matcha, and desserts in a welcoming, hospitality-focused setting.
  • Expected to open in November 2026, Milk & Honey will bring its popular Southern-inspired brunch, comfort food, and craft cocktails to Tysons Corner Center. The new restaurant marks the brand’s first location in Tysons and continues its rapid expansion across Northern Virginia.
  • Wonder continues its Northern Virginia expansion with two openings planned in Woodbridge and Falls Church in the second half of 2026. The food delivery app allows customers to order from more than two dozen restaurant concepts from a single location.
  • Noer Vineyards, a 200-acre family-owned operation in Verona, begun limited sales earlier this year and is expected to become one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest vineyards. Known for a unique underground winemaking facility and early award-winning wines, the vineyard is currently offering online and pickup sales. A tasting room overlooking the Blue Ridge is planned for a late 2027 opening.
  • Northern Virginia’s ice cream scene is keeping things cool with a mix of new openings and spots on the way. Coming soon, Dumont Creamery & Cafe in Fairfax will mark its first Virginia location, while Kilwins in Leesburg is slated to open later this summer or early fall. Now open, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream has arrived in Sterling, and Leesburg’s GVino Wine Bar now pairs Italian gelato with a speakeasy-style cocktail program. Moo Thru has debuted its seventh Virginia location in Burke, and The Meadows Original Frozen Custard has reopened in Reston with its signature rotating flavors. In Arlington, The Scoop N Scootery is drawing crowds with its over-the-top desserts, while Van Leeuwen has expanded with a trio of shops in Ashburn, Alexandria, and Arlington. Rounding out the list, Whistler’s Ice Cream Extraordinaire in Vienna is scooping ultra-premium French custard just in time for summer.
  • In other frozen treat news, Alexandria’s Old Town Books launched a new brand this summer. Fabled Ice Cream will do weekly drops of literary-inspired flavors including a Brontë-esque brown butter “Wuthering Bites” made with “Heath(cliff)” toffee, a “Jane Eyre Grey” with Earl Grey and lavender, and a “Charlotte’s Web”-inspired “Wilbur’s Blue Ribbon.”
  • Northern Virginia is staying caffeinated with multiple new cafés opening or on the horizon. Recent additions include Cherry on Top, Life Alive Organic Café, and Mudhouse Coffee Roasters in Alexandria, Haraz Coffee House in Sterling, and Underdog Coffee and Bread in Bailey’s Crossroads, while Cuppi Coffee (Springfield, Shotted’s first drive-thru café (Falls Church), and Weird Brothers Coffee (Vienna) are all expected to open later in 2026.
  • Goodstone Inn in Middleburg opened Grayson’s in June 2026. Named after the resident llama, this new signature restaurant offers a farm-to-table dining experience rooted in the seasonal bounty of its on-site farm and the surrounding Virginia countryside. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch, the menu features pork belly, seafood, and farm-raised beef paired with garden greens and vegetables.
  • Silver Diner is expected to open later this year in Gainesville. Known for all-day breakfast and classic American fare, this restaurant will be the Rockville, Maryland-based chain’s 25th location.
  • Falcon and Fig opened in May 2026 in Leesburg and features a Mediterranean-inspired wine and tapas menu with shareable bites like patatas bravas and charcuterie.
  • A newly renovated Hunter’s Head reopened in March 2026 with elevated British pub fare. New owner and master sommelier Jarad Slipp refocuses the Middleburg favorite on top-tier classic pub dishes. Think exceptional fish and chips and bangers and mash with an expertly curated wine list.
  • The former head chef of The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is opening a new restaurant, farm, and eight-room boutique inn. Waverly Springs will situate diners inside a cozy, 1600s stone farmhouse to enjoy true farm-to-table fare sourced from the surrounding 17-acre farm.
  • C. Italian institution Floriana plans to open its first Northern Virginia location in Old Town Alexandria in late summer 2026. The restaurant will serve Northern Italian cuisine along with breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, pizza, and raw bar offerings.
  • Pentagon City in Arlington will see the opening of Ember in late summer 2026. Touted as an elegant experience with a warm, welcoming environment with Eurofusion fare.
  • DC’s world famous Old Ebbitt Grill is expanding for the first time ever with Ebbitt House in Reston Station, adjacent to the new JW Marriott hotel. The restaurant, slated to open in fall 2026, will have 12,000 square feet of space, a 300-seat dining room and 125-seat patio with an outdoor bar.
  • Mosaic District in Fairfax County continues to expand its dining scene with new additions in 2026. Pura Vida Miami, a Miami-based wellness café, is now open, serving all-day breakfast, bowls, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and specialty beverages. The district is also preparing to welcome The Salty, a Miami-born artisanal doughnut shop known for its handcrafted doughnuts and coffee.
  • Chef Victor Albisu will open Electric Bull, a boutique South American steakhouse, in Vienna in summer 2026.
  • DC-based wine boutique DCanter opened in Alexandria in March 2026. The 875 square-foot shop is home to a thoughtfully curated selection of organic and sustainably made wines.
  • Creative seafood and steak concept Finn & Fire opened in spring 2026 in Old Town Alexandria and will feature signature dishes like crab cake sandwiches and a firecracker shrimp salad.

Shenandoah Valley

  • Stone Ledge Cider will introduce a new tasting room on the grounds of its 20-acre farm in Augusta County in 2027. The on-site Cider House Bed and Breakfast is currently welcoming guests as the tasting room is in development.
  • The Inn at Vaucluse Spring is reopening after a renovation in mid-2026. A highlight of the new offerings will be the culinary program led by Chef Proprietor Jan Van Haute, who will bring a farm-to-table approach to the Stephens City inn.

Virginia Mountains

  • Roanoke’s dining scene continues to expand with three new concepts debuting this year. Frank’s Hi-Fi, the upstairs lounge at Dorothy, will pair a late-night menu of dumplings and handheld snacks with a hi-fi listening experience and vinyl collection curated by the owner. Suerte, a Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar at The Promissory Hotel opened in July 2026, and Woodshed Appalachian Café, which will showcase regional specialties such as vinegar pie, is on the horizon.
  • The Roanoke Foodshed Network launched the Roanoke Region Food & Farm Trail website in May 2026. The website connects people to locally owned farms and producers. Website users can search for local farms and farmers markets, as well as food, beverage, and retail experiences throughout the Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge–including some farm tours.
  • Beale’s Brewery in Bedford reopened in May 2026 under new ownership, after being closed for almost a year.

Southwest Virginia – Blue Ridge Highlands and Heart of Appalachia

  • Steal away to the basement of The Millwald Theatre in Wytheville to enjoy a drink at Ghost Light Bourbon Bar. The new speakeasy opened earlier this year and has a secret entrance, requires a password, and welcomes performing artists monthly.
  • Great Wilderness Brewing opened in downtown Pulaski in February 2026. With a diverse selection of brews and an adaptable outdoor event space, the brewery has something for everyone to enjoy.