With a hot restaurant scene, stylish indie boutiques and a fabulous art scene, Richmond is the perfect place for a celebratory bachelorette weekend with all your best girls. From your arrival to check-out, we’ve packed in nonstop fun for your girls get-together.
—FRIDAY—
3 p.m. Check into The Graduate
This hip, new boutique hotel in Downtown Richmond is the perfect home base for you and your posse. The stunning contemporary-meets-preppy interior gives nod to The River City’s great tennis pro Arthur Ashe. When making your reservations, be sure to request a king suite so you and your pals can bunk together. Upon arrival, drop your bags at your room, change into your swim suits and head to Byrd House, the hotel’s rooftop pool and beer garden to get the party started.
6 p.m. Happy hour at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Get gussied up for your big night out and make your first stop at VMFA for their signature Friday night happy hour. Enjoy a bottle of wine picnic-style in the Sculpture Garden, or head upstairs to Amuse for fancy cocktails and snacks.
8 p.m. Dinner at L’opossum This French-inspired fine dining restaurant will wow when you walk through the door with its dimly lit atmosphere and eccentric decor. Start with one of the divine cocktails, escargot ham biscuits an,d deviled eggs topped with caviar, dill-cured salmon, and Champagne Jell-o jigglers. You really can’t go wrong on the menu.
10 p.m. Drinks at Quirk Rooftop Bar. Enjoy views of Downtown Richmond from this restaurant’s rooftop bar!
—SATURDAY—
9 a.m. Brunch at Perly’s For breakfast, walk a few blocks over to Perly’s, a Jewish delicatessen with a groovy retro-inspired interior. Fuel up for your day of adventure with one of their delicious specials. We recommend the Benny Goodman — latkes topped with smoked salmon, poached eggs, dill, hollandaise and salmon roe.
10:30 a.m. Shopping in Carytown
Spend your morning visiting the indie boutiques on this half-mile stretch of shops. Hit up Ashby and Clementine for stylish thrift, Need Supply Co. and Roan for contemporary classics, and Creme de la Creme for stylish housewares.
12 p.m. Manicures and pedicures at Fusion Nail Spa After a morning of retail therapy, mosey into Carytown’s Fusion Nail Spa for a relaxing manicure and pedicure. Be sure to call ahead to make an appointment for all the girls!
1 p.m. Lunch snack at Can Can Brasserie
Dine at this Carytown eatery that is decorated like an authentic Parisian bistro. To start, split the demi plateau of oysters, shrimp, clam and mussels. Don’t fill up on too much food, because a food-forward event awaits you.
2 p.m. Eat and walk on a Real Richmond Food Tour Discover the city’s food scene on this 2.5-hour walking tour. Each Saturday afternoon is a tour of a different neighborhood — from Church Hill to the West End — showcasing the best eateries.
4:30 p.m. Head back to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner.
8 p.m. Dinner at Brenner Pass This posh new Alpine-inspired restaurant serves a mix of Swiss and Italian dishes. Start with a fancy cocktail and order the fondue and tinned seafood platter to split as appetizers. After dinner, end your meal with one of their delectable desserts made by their in-house pastry chef.
9:30 p.m. Bar hop around Scott's Addition to sample some of the best cocktails in the city.
—SUNDAY—
8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Whisk Rise and shine early so you can squeeze in a few sites before heading out of town. Grab a cup of coffee and pastry at this tasty Shockoe Botton bakery before driving to Charles City for your next big adventure.
10 p.m. Get peddling on a Historic Capital Trail Bike Ride + Wine Lunch
Head to Upper Shirley Vineyards, a 30-minute drive from downtown, for a last hoorah before heading out of town. Enjoy an easy 14-mile guided bike ride along historic Route 5 with friends. Afterward, unwind with a wine tasting and farm-to-table lunch at the winery.
3 p.m. Say your goodbyes before hitting the road out of Richmond!