Charlottesville Insider's Guide to Wineries, Hotels, Events, Shops, and Restaurants

Charlottesville has wonderfully unique things to do.

Not every town has unparalleled vistas, a Cab Franc made at the hands of the same person pouring it, or Dave Matthews and John Grisham walking by as you enjoy lunch at a café on its historic pedestrian mall—but Charlottesville does.

It’s urban and bucolic, historic yet modern. There are boundless hiking trails, wedding venues, wineries, breweries, boutique retail shops, and theaters (not to mention more restaurant seats than there are people to fill them). It’s for the limitless adventurer, the wine-taster, the music-seeker, and the family searching for a new experience..

At Charlottesville Insider, our goal is simple: to showcase Charlottesville by curating our ideas about what makes it unique. Follow our insiders to see what’s new, find exclusive deals, or simply figure out how to spend your day in our favorite city.

Get the Guide

12 Truly Unique Things to do Around Charlottesville

Show your love with a romantic date night in Charlottesville.

Charlottesville Insider

Explore the top vegan-friendly restaurants and cafes in Charlottesville with our comprehensive guide. From delicious plant-based meals to vegan desserts, we have you covered! Whether you're a vegan or just looking to try something new, our guide will help you find the best vegan options in Charlottesville.

Charlottesville Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants that you will love

Charlottesville's only fully vegan restaurant located on the downtown mall, Botanical believes that the future is plant-based. Don't miss their customer favorite, the Crunchy Cauliflower Bowl!

A one-of-a-kind family-friendly restaurant and game room featuring a full Vegan section on their menu with starters, sandwiches, and salads. Don't miss Trivia and Bingo night!

Located in the Stonefield shopping center, this Mediterranean grill is a quick and healthy option with a full Vegan ingredient list. Create your own bowl with made-from-scratch ingredients.

A healthy and quick option on the UVA Corner, this is a favorite amongst students and locals alike. Order ahead for quick pick up!

Grn Burger is a welcome addition to the burgeoning vegan food scene in Charlottesville, Virginia. With its diverse menu of delectable plant-based burgers, sides, and desserts, this eatery is sure to impress vegans and non-vegans alike. If you're in Charlottesville and looking for a satisfying, guilt-free meal, be sure to pay Grn Burger a visit.

Located inside the historic Jefferson School City Center in the heart of Charlottesville, Pearl Island shares authentic Caribbean foods, with vegan options always available.

This cozy eatery specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, offering an array of delicious, plant-based dishes that are packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. The star of the menu is their vegan noodle bowls, which feature delicate rice noodles, vibrant vegetables, and savory tofu or seitan, all tossed in a delectable, aromatic sauce. In addition to their mouthwatering noodles, Vu Noodles also offers vegan-friendly appetizers, such as spring rolls and crispy tofu bites, providing a well-rounded dining experience that showcases the versatility and appeal of plant-based Vietnamese cuisine.

Iron Paffles is a foodie's paradise, especially for those who follow a vegan lifestyle. This unique eatery has been garnering attention for its innovative approach to traditional Belgian waffles and savory puff pastries, which they have dubbed "paffles." With an extensive selection of mouthwatering vegan options, Iron Paffles has quickly become a go-to destination for the ever-growing vegan community in Charlottesville and beyond.

Bang! is Charlottesville's original small plate venue located two blocks off the Historic downtown mall. Owners/chefs Vincent Derquenne and Tim Burgess use their talents to create a menu rooted in the cuisines of the Pacific Rim, creating dishes with Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences. Open nightly for inside and patio dining, Bang offers convenient Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Vegan menu sections. Complementing the food is a full Martini menu, punctuated with intense, lively flavored drinks which live up to the restaurant's name.

Charlottesville Vegan Friendly Restaurants

Where to brunch in Charlottesville

Charlottesville has a serious food scene, and the town’s brunch offerings don’t disappoint- though they can get a little crowded. Read on for some local picks that are guaranteed to fuel you up for a day out-- or an afternoon in.

Our food is inspired by the flavors and culture of Miami and South Florida. Strong influences in Cuban dishes with Central and South American fares.

Set in a refurbished 1820’s building that housed a true tavern, grocery, and boarding house until the 1970’s, T&G’s farm-to-table style, rustic interior, and lavish cocktail menu make it a Charlottesville favorite for a boozy brunch. Their brunch menu is short, so don’t expect a smorgasbord, but every dish is worth eating. Try the 62-degree eggs and kick off your Sunday with a Death in the Afternoon-- then come back in the evening to check out the speakeasy below the Tavern, open when the green light is on.

Unfortunately, their brunch seatings are limited to Sundays, so get a reservation- especially if you have a group.

Hot coffee, cold bubbly, canelés, and the flakiest croissants in the city- that’s Marie Bette. The bustling, sunlit French café offers takeaway coffees and pastries from their front counter, but you’ll want to head to the back room, order a ginger-passion fruit Bellini, and feast. Seating is first come, first serve, and super limited, so save this one for your more intimate brunches.

Two words: 1. Brunch. 2. Buffet. For four hours every Sunday, you and your friends can head to Fitzroy and bask in heavenly, all-you-can-swallow southern offerings from shrimp & grits to homestyle sausage gravy. Reservations aren’t accepted unless you have 8 or more people, so assemble the team and head downtown. With an $18 price tag and plenty of gluten-sensitive options, it’s hard for anyone to back out of this one.

French name, American food, Charlottesville ambiance- that’s Bizou in a nutshell. They have the most robust brunch menu on this list, guaranteeing a good time for the pickiest eaters (yes, even that one friend doing Keto.) 20% off bubbly bottles, comfortable outdoor seating, and a prime downtown location make Bizou one of the best places in town to launch your Sunday. Like Petit Pois, they do limit their brunch menu to Sundays, but their lunch menu suits for a late Saturday brunch.

Just a short walk from either UVA or the Downtown Mall, Farm Bell Kitchen servers a delicious brunch menu.

WHERE TO BRUNCH IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

CHEAP SUMMER THRILLS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

Want to get out of the house and have some fun with your friends, your honey or the whole family? No need to drop wads of cash with these tips for how to have fun in Charlottesville without breaking the bank.

CHEAP SUMMER THRILLS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

More Stories

Charlottesville Vegan Friendly Restaurants

WHERE TO BRUNCH IN CHARLOTTESVILLE