Sai Kulkarni '23
Production Editor
Last year, I wrote an article with a few other writers on this paper about each Bar Review location. I absolutely stand by that, as it was a well-written article. But I wanted to discuss some of the lesser-known spots in the city. There are, of course, a lot of great places for food, but there are also some great places to grab a drink with a friend or two. Of course, this being a small town, there are only a few bars anyways, so you have likely heard about these places if you are a 2L or 3L. But these are places I didn’t know about during my 1L year, and I hope that by talking about them, I can encourage the newer students to give these places a chance and get away from the usual Corner, Kardi, Miller’s, and Rapture circuit. As a note, because of state laws, there are not really any pure bars in Virginia that do not also serve food, so just remember that as we go through. Some of these places are also known as good eateries.
Downtown
These are some of the more well-known spots, but I want to give a shoutout to them anyways. The first is a classic: the Whiskey Jar. This spot provides a lot of types of its titular drink but also provides a wide range of beers and mixed drinks. Half indoors and half outdoors, it’s a nice sit-down spot during the week. During the weekends, you can get your usual “stand at the bar” ambiance, with much less waiting time for drinks. It’s definitely an older crowd, but that’s what you go here for.
The next stop is the newest addition to the Downtown Mall, Cville Brightside (right next to Whiskey Jar). This upstairs bar has a limited number of tables, but it is the ideal spot to go to for a Miami Vice. I went there with a large group of 3Ls at the start of the semester, but they were very accommodating. While the décor could use some work, the drinks and accompanying bar food are fantastic.
A bit of a newer favorite for me is Umma’s, which is just off of the Downtown Mall. This place has a nice, covered outside bar, with a standard uncovered section and an inside section with plenty of space. The real draw is that on Saturday evenings, it doubles as a gay bar. It’s nice that there is some degree of diversity here in town.
Just over from Umma’s is South Street Brewery. Another relatively well-known spot, this is the ideal location for watching sports—especially now that the Champion Grill near Trader Joe’s has shut down. South Street Brewery has, as the name suggests, a large selection of beers—just the ideal sports bar location.
Pictured: The Quirk Hotel Rooftop.
Picture Credit: Quirk Hotels.
Main Street
There are plenty of great places to eat and drink on Main Street. Obviously, the most well-known is the Quirk rooftop. This bar provides a great view, top tier ambience, and a wide range of mixed drinks to make any Instagram story pop off. But there are some other great places nearby. Tavern & Grocery is a great dinner spot with a fantastic Sunday brunch option. The real winner, though, is the speakeasy in the basement: Lost Saint. I don’t want to say too much, so I will just recommend that you take the chance and head down there; it’s worth it. Blue Moon Diner provides the ideal location for some “hair of the dog” on Saturday, with greasy food and drinks to hold you over. Both Oakheart Social and Little Star are far more restaurants than they are drinking spots, but I would absolutely recommend them if you are looking for high-class cocktails and excellent food.
Miscellaneous
All of us spend plenty of time at Kardinal Hall—it’s the unofficial Law School bar at this point. But if you are in the neighborhood, make sure to check out Random Row next door. It’s a much smaller spot, but with a few craft beers and an outside area, it is a bar worth enjoying, at least while it isn’t snowing. In the same neighborhood is Dairy Market. I’m sure all of you have taken a trip there, but don’t miss out on the brewery tucked away inside. As my friend Alayna Choo ’23 will tell you, it's a great place to get some work done while having a nice drink.
Finally, I can’t write this whole article without talking about the dirtiest dive bar in the city and the one place you can guarantee you will find me partying at (other than Co-Executive Editor Jon Peterson ’23’s house), Dürty Nelly’s. I would prefer if swarms of 1Ls didn’t show up there. I would prefer to keep it a secret forever. But it is my duty to pass it down to the years to come. The drinks are perfectly matched with the vibe. It is absolutely a bar for locals, with a very homey atmosphere. The bouncers are friendly, and the bartenders are quick. If you are looking for a place to relax during your time at the Law School, consider DN. But just stay away on Wednesdays. Those nights belong to me.
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omk6cg@virginia.edu