Although not the largest city in Virginia, the historic capital Richmond has a population of more than 200,000 and a metropolitan population of more than 1.2 million. A thriving commercial and government center with an abundance of exceptional museums, several trendy neighborhoods for shops and restaurants, and a growing GLBT population, this lively city on the James River has a handful of popular gay bars, as well as some popular spots with very Strong followers in the community.
There is no specific gay neighborhood in Richmond, although funky Carytown is the area where you are most likely to meet GLBT people while shopping, dining, or bar hopping. As you continue east, through The Fan and Downtown, you will find some of the best gay clubs in the city. And while the bustling entertainment areas known as the River District, Shockoe Slip, and Shockoe Bottom also have quite a few notable bars and restaurants, they are more heterogeneous in terms of nightlife.
Richmond Gay Bars & Clubs
The fairly popular downtown establishment Godfrey’s (308 E. Grace St., 804-648-3957) is both a gay nightclub and a restaurant, and is one of the best places in the state among clubbers, students from many area colleges and other social butterflies Godfrey’s hosts a fun disy drag brunch at 11am on Sundays and also hosts several featured weekly parties (Freaky Fridays, College Hump Nights, drag dinner shows, etc.). The crowd is a gay community, very racially mixed and welcoming with men and women of all ages.
And the staff is quite friendly. Half of the space is a dance floor, and the other section is a less noisy bar and restaurant.
Just a couple of blocks east of Godfrey’s, the lively gay bar and restaurant Barcode (6 E. Grace St., 804-648-2040) draws many of the same revelers. This pleasant spot with a long bar and dining room with tables and tables is a fun spot for karaoke on Sundays, after-work martini craze on Thursdays, and general conversation, light cruises, and mixing. It is usually more of an “early night” gathering place than Godfrey’s. Both bars are close to the city’s convention center and close to many downtown hotels and attractions.
A little west of downtown, near the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) campus, you’ll find one of the largest gay nightclubs, Colors (536 N. Harrison St., 804-353-9776), which is open only in On Saturdays, but with large crowds of men and women (it is open until 3 am) and draws a racially diverse crowd. There is a very large dance floor.
Carytown’s West End neighborhood, sometimes called the “Style Mile” along its main drag, West Cary Street, is home to some great places with a mostly mixed following. There’s the reliably fun, lesbian-focused (but cozy) Babes of Carytown bar and restaurant that’s open for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, and late-night drinks – it has dancing, drag king shows, a tennis court. volleyball, and a generally friendly crowd). And a couple of blocks away you will find the modern and elegant Secco Wine Bar (2933 W.
Cary St., 804-353-0670), a delightful place to meet for distinctive wines (over 30 offered by the glass), and delicious cheese and charcuterie dishes, as well as other great sandwiches.
In trendy and lively Shockoe Bottom, you’ll find festive spots like McCormack’s Irish Pub (12 N. 18th St.), and Urban Farmhouse Cafe and Bistro (1217 E. Cary St.) are great places to enjoy drinks. or dinner
If you plan to visit the progressive and historic college town of Charlottesville, take a look at the Guide to Gay Bars and Restaurants in Charlottesville.
