The Charlottesville 29

It’s almost time for the release of The 2026 Charlottesville 29, this year’s answer to the question: if there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29? To be eligible, a restaurant must have been open before January 1, 2025.

But restaurants that opened in 2025 also deserve recognition, and they are in the running for Best New Restaurant. Among last year’s openings, the winner will be announced on April 1. The finalists:

• A Squared Pizza
• Ciaccia
• El Tako Nako
• Mint Kitchen
• Noble
• The Jervey