By Margaret Long
What was once a sleepy, industrial ghost town, Scott’s Addition is now one of the fastest growing and trendiest areas in the City of Richmond. As one of the city’s most sought after neighborhoods, Scott’s Addition is home to an ever-expanding array of restaurants, breweries, and shops—offering both locals and tourists alike the opportunity to indulge in a seemingly endless variety of leisurely pursuits.
Ardent Craft Ales
Tuesday - Thursday | 4:00 - 9:00pm
Friday | 3:00 - 10:00pm
Saturday | Noon - 10:00pm
Sunday | 1:00 - 8:00pm
$$
3200 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va 23230
Considered one of Scott’s Addition’s pioneer breweries, Ardent Craft Ales is one of the neighborhood’s most popular and well-respected institutions. Boasting its own brewery, taproom, and beer garden, Ardent Craft Ales is the perfect spot for beer aficionados and casual drinkers alike. In addition to their nationally recognized, award-winning in-house Saison, Ardent serves a variety of craft beers on tap, as well as various unique seasonal and barrel-aged brews.
A major contributor to Ardent’s appeal is its relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Ardent’s expansive beer garden resembles a community get-together during the warmer months, as patrons get to enjoy the company of their peers, the company of their dogs, and delicious food courtesy of Ardent’s regular lineup of local food trucks. When the weather is less than ideal, Ardent’s impressive taproom allows for easy mingling and the chance to chat with Ardent’s knowledgeable and friendly crew about all things craft beer.
Whether you are a beer connoisseur in search of your new favorite craft brew, a curious tourist, or a Richmond native attempting to explore more of your own city, Ardent Craft Ales can be trusted to provide visitors with one of the most authentic and enjoyable experiences that Scott’s Addition has to offer. Much like Scott’s Addition itself, there is no room for pretense at Ardent. Rather, the good folks at Ardent Craft Ales are focused on three things: good people, good times, and—most importantly—good beer.
The Circuit Arcade Bar
Monday | CLOSED
Tuesday - Thursday | 5:00 - 11:00pm
Friday | 4:00pm - 1:00am
Saturday | 1:00pm - 1:00am
Sunday | 1:00 - 11:00pm
$$
3121 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23230
One of the most unique experiences Scott’s Addition has to offer is the Circuit Arcade Bar. Claiming to be Richmond’s “ultimate blast to the past”, this “barcade” is the ideal mix of innocent childhood fun and
the perks of being a legal, ID-wielding adult. Circuit is home to nearly seventy arcade, pinball and classic console games, with the building’s entire left wing dedicated solely to the likes of Pac Man, Skee Ball, and Dance Dance Revolution. Regardless of age (that is, over 21 of course), it is nearly impossible for patrons to resist being transported back to the simpler times of their youth. The Circuit Arcade Bar offers adults a momentary escape from reality that is increasingly difficult to find these days.
Following an intense game of pinball, patrons can quench their thirst with over 50 varieties of craft beer, cider, and wine on tap that line Circuit’s entire back wall. The wall is self-serve and utilizes a pay-per-ounce system. Upon entry, customers receive a special card to digitally keep track of drinks consumed—making payments an easy, one-step process prior to leaving.
The Circuit Arcade Bar is not only a guaranteed crowd pleaser, but also a spirit booster. While Scott’s Addition offers a plethora of breweries and bars to choose from, the Circuit is truly one-of-a-kind and not to be missed.
River City Roll
Monday - Wednesday | 5:00pm - 12:00am
Thursday - Friday | 5:00pm - 2:00am
Saturday | 11:00am - 2:00am
Sunday | 11:00am - 12:00am
$$
939 Meyers Street, Richmond, VA 23230
The newest place of business to take Scott’s Addition by storm is the boutique bowling alley River City Roll. Boasting an impressive 1,800 square foot outdoor patio, an 80-seat restaurant, 30-seat bar, and 20 immaculately furnished lanes, River City Roll is not your typical bowling alley. With an emphasis on food and beverage over bowling, River City Roll is—to quote co-owner Rob Long—“a badass bar and restaurant”
with bowling simply an added bonus. Gone are the days of fluorescent overhead lighting, greasy plastic furniture, and lukewarm nachos. River City Roll is flipping the script on the traditional bowling experience, giving the sport the breath of fresh air it so desperately needed.
At River City Roll, bowling itself isn’t so much the focus as is crafting a memorable social experience. In addition to custom leather and reclaimed wood furnishings, each of River City Roll’s 20 lanes includes
“in-lane” food and beverage service—with River City Roll’s menu showcasing an array of mouthwatering dishes, such as slow-roasted pork tacos, Wagyu-beef burgers, and brick-oven pizza. Expertly crafted cocktails and an impressive list of wine and local craft beers round out the menu. With a stage for live music, a dog-friendly outdoor patio, and a menu that holds its own against the neighborhood’s hottest restaurants, River City Roll has truly redefined the bowling experience. River City Roll has taken the fun of bowling and combined it with high quality furnishings, food, cocktails and entertainment—giving the beloved pastime a refreshingly sophisticated twist.
Lunch.Supper!
Lunch.
Sunday - Thursday | 9am - 9pm
Friday - Saturday | 9am - 10pm
Supper!
Monday - Friday | 11am - 12am
Saturday - Sunday | 9am - 12am
$-$$
1213 - 1215 Summit Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230
Perhaps the quirkiest restaurant in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition is the beloved Lunch.Supper!. Described as a "Classic Southern Smokehouse tucked away in Richmond’s latest up and coming neighborhood,” Lunch.Supper! encapsulates the cultural renaissance currently taking place in the storied Southern city. Much like Richmond itself, Lunch.Supper! respects and cherishes its Southern culture—but also acknowledges the need for change and reinvention in order to stay fresh and relevant.
Technically two separate restaurants, Lunch. and Supper!, the eateries’ menus showcase a wide
variety of distinctly Southern cuisine and comfort food favorites ranging from shrimp and grits to fried green tomatoes. While the food at Lunch.Supper! is undoubtedly Southern at its core, the restaurants’ owners are not afraid to experiment with beloved classics, often utilizing fresh local produce and encouraging culinary creativity—thereby infusing each dish with a deliciously inventive twist.
Having found the balance between tradition and modernity, Lunch.Supper! has earned its reputation as a modern-day Southern institution. Lunch.Supper! guarantees diners the comfort
that only Southern food can provide while simultaneously expanding culinary horizons. Lunch.Supper! is the paradigm of not just modern Southern cuisine, but also of the newly revived South—a region steadfastly and unapologetically rooted in tradition, yet simultaneously unafraid of change.
Honorable Mention
The Veil Brewing Co
Monday | Closed
Tuesday - thursday | 4pm - 9pm
Friday | 4pm - 10pm
Saturday | 12pm - 10pm
Sunday | 12pm - 6pm
$$
1301 Roseneath Road, Richmond, VA 23230
The Veil Brewing Co. is likely the most popular spot in Scott’s Addition—and for good reason. Less than a year after its grand opening in April 2016, the Veil Brewing Co. was ranked the third best new craft brewery in the world, in addition to being named the state of Virginia’s number one best new brewery. Due to the Veil’s impressive list of accolades, there is almost always a daunting line to get in, which may not be suitable for time-crunched tourists. However, should you find yourself in Scott’s Addition with time to spare, the wait in line is most definitely worth it.
