When to Visit - Arts and Events

One of Richmond's great claims to American fame is that it was at St. John's Church that Patrick Henry declared "...give me liberty, or give me death!" Apart from that and, of course, its rich vein of Civil War history, it is worth noting that the people of Richmond tend to identify themselves by neighborhood. These are fairly well defined within the city, but probably the most famous is the Fan, block after block of historic houses, bordered by Monument Avenue. Other neighborhoods include Shockoe Slip with its many shops and Shockoe Bottom, a nightlife and restaurant district.

Richmond Dining

Virginia is a state historically known for the fine quality of its food and Richmond is no exception. The city has an extraordinary variety of restaurants, so there's a choice of cuisine for every meal of the day. From a burger in a traditional diner, to first-rate, new "fusion" cuisine in one of the East Coast's top restaurants, Richmond will undoubtedly have it. Indeed the city is renowned for its impressive number of good restaurants and among these there are a few great ones. The coast is not far away, so seafood can be well worth trying, depending on what's in season. Local delicacies include delicious morsels such as "shad roe" and "soft-shell crabs".

Richmond Tipping Advice

Restaurants in Richmond don't usually add gratuities to the bill, so tipping is recommended; from 10 per cent where the food and service have been acceptable, through to 20 per cent in cases where you've rated the meal as excellent. Tips in taxis should be paid along similar lines. The recommended rate for doormen, parking attendants and valets is one US dollar.