The Charlottesville 29
If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?
Below is the 2025 The Charlottesville 29, answering: if there we just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29? Further background is here. The guide for each restaurant explains why it was selected, and includes ordering tips from the restaurant’s chef/owner and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where other chefs or personalities have named a dish from that restaurant as one of the best in town. To be eligible, a restaurant must have been open since January 1, 2024, and must have a Charlottesville postal address. (Top openings of 2024 are recognized as finalists for Best New Restaurant.)
Where and what to eat in Charlottesville:
The 29
Al Carbon
With rotisserie chickens and Mexican street food, one of the best values in town
Guide
Photo by Tom McGovern
The Alley Light
A grown-up lounge and James Beard semifinalist for nation’s best new restaurant
Guide
Beer Run
A beer bar, store, and eatery, Charlottesville’s quintessential family restaurant
Guide
Belle
A café, sandwich shop and bakery, the Shanesy brothers’ homage to their love of food
Guide
Birdhouse
Farm-to-table food, simply prepared, in the coziest room in town
Guide
Bizou
Gussied-up comfort food and sophisticated specials in a diner-like setting
Guide
Bodo’s Bagels
Feeding 6,000 people per day, Charlottesville’s signature restaurant
Guide • Full Article
C&O
The heart of Charlottesville dining, in Dean Maupin’s expert hands
Guide
Conmole
With traditional family recipes, an escape to Oaxaca in Belmont
Guide
Crushpad / Luce
Charlottesville’s wine Mecca, with world class pasta
Guide
Duner’s
An old-school institution back on its feet, with rich, classic, delicious fare
Guide
Fleurie
Brian Helleberg’s serene downtown temple of sophisticated French cuisine
Guide
Guajiros Miami Eatery
A family’s joy expressed through their Miami eatery
Guide
Högwaller Brewing
Smashing burgers and beers down by the river
Guide
The Ivy Inn Restaurant
The Vangelopoulos’ unsurpassed fine dining experience
Guide
Photo by Tom McGovern
Lampo
Outstanding Neapolitan pizza, panuozzi, and well-sourced Italian
Guide
Photo by Tom McGovern
Milan
The most refined Indian restaurant experience in town
Guide
Mockingbird
Soulful Southern cuisine from decorated chef Melissa Close-Hart
Guide
Oakhart Social
Charlottesville’s exemplar of the new generation of great urban restaurants
Guide
Pad Thai
Mom-and-pop serving up real homestyle Thai cooking
Guide
Petit Pois
The closest thing in Charlottesville to a French bistro
Guide
Public Fish & Oyster
A spot-on coastal oyster house, right here in Charlottesville
Guide
Revolutionary Soup
Counter-service joint with great soups, and even better sandwiches
Guide
Smyrna
Refined Anatolian cuisine applying modern techniques to local ingredients
Guide
Sultan Kebab
Real, delicious Turkish cuisine from hummus to manti to kebabs
Guide
Photo by Tom McGovern
Taste of China
Strip-mall industry favorite with faithful renditions of Szechuan cuisine
Guide
Tavola
Warm Belmont storefront serving ingredient-driven Italian fare
Guide
Ten
Sleek, serene, and transporting, Charlottesville’s luxurious escape for sushi
Guide
Zocalo
Consistently excellent Latin-infused cuisine centrally located on the Downtown Mall
Guide
Worth the Drive
Nearby restaurants without a Charlottesville postal address, and therefore not eligible for The Charlottesville 29, but that are still worth the drive.
BBQ Exchange
Gordonsville
World class barbeque and attention to detail from world class chef Craig Hartman
Guide
Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie
North Garden
Where food is love, with more than just the best American style pizza in the area
Guide
Marigold
Keswick
At a spectacular resort, stunning outpost for celebrity chef Jean-Georges
Guide
Pippin Hill
North Garden
Superb food served in a breathtaking vineyard setting
Guide
