Highest-rated cafes in the Richmond area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Richmond area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Richmond were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#30. pizza bones
- Rating: 4.2/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2314 Jefferson Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, Coffee & Tea
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#29. Perk!
- Rating: 4.2/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2620 Buford Road Bon Air, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Cafes
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#28. Capital One Caf茅
- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2933 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Banks & Credit Unions, Coffee & Tea
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#27. Caffespresso
- Rating: 4.2/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1127 Gaskins Road Henrico, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Italian
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#26. Whisk
- Rating: 4.2/5 (401 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2100 East Main St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#25. WPA Bakery
- Rating: 4.3/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3414 Semmes Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
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#24. Blanchard's Caf茅
- Rating: 4.3/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3121 West Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#23. Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1242 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 North Lombardy St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Burgers
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#22. Harrison Street Caf茅
- Rating: 4.4/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 402 North Harrison St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Vegetarian
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#21. The Lab by Alchemy Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 814 West Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts
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#20. Chewy's Bagels
- Rating: 4.4/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3138 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
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#19. Ironclad Coffee Roasters & Baking Co
- Rating: 4.4/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1805 East Grace St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Sandwiches
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#18. Fuel Pump
- Rating: 4.4/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 3200 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
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#17. Riverbend Roastery
- Rating: 4.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Address: 2623 East Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#16. Early Bird Biscuit Company
- Rating: 4.4/5 (415 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 119 North Robinson St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#15. Greenbriar Cafe & Coffeehouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1211 West Main St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
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#14. Cafe Zata
- Rating: 4.5/5 (80 reviews)
- Address: 700 Bainbridge St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#13. Sugar & Twine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (294 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2928 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Sandwiches
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#12. Stir Crazy Cafe RVA
- Rating: 4.5/5 (191 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4015 MacArthur Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#11. Bell Greek Village
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 7011 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Greek, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
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#10. Rostov's Coffee & Tea
- Rating: 4.6/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1618 West Main St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#9. Sub Rosa Bakery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (574 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 620 North 25th St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#8. Brick Road Coffee Company
- Rating: 4.6/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 8055 Shrader Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#7. Scoop
- Rating: 4.6/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 403 Strawberry St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
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#6. Brewer's Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (304 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1125 Bainbridge St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#5. Urban Hang Suite
- Rating: 4.7/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 304 East Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#4. Minglewood Bake Shop
- Rating: 4.7/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3337 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Vegan, Coffee & Tea
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#3. Surrounding Counties
- Rating: 4.7/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8801 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#2. 88 Street Food
- Rating: 4.7/5 (140 reviews)
- Address: 5905 West Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Tapas/Small Plates, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#1. The Local Cup
- Rating: 4.7/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9502 Chamberlayne Road Mechanicsville, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
