Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in Richmond

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in Richmond? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Wine Whisperer

5.0

5 (200)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Henrico

About the restaurant

The Wine Whisperer is a wine shop and bistro located in Richmond's Short Pump neighborhood. We speak wine and are passionate about sharing your new favorite bottle or glass with you!

Our wine bar is designed to offer an immersive experience to our guests. Let our knowledgeable staff help you learn about your palate and curate a flight of wine just for you! Look for a rotating by the glass list, craft beers, more whiskey than you imagined, and an expansive food menu built for wine pairing. The intimate dining room is a perfect spot for a casual glass with friends or that special occasion date. Look for weekly wine tastings, monthly classes, and other special events that are uniquely Whisperer!

No reservations available? Give us a call or stop by; we save a number of tables each night for walk-in guests. For questions or to make a reservation for a larger party, please call or send a message.

Top review

Myron

Dined 1 day ago

We received great help from our server. He was able to provide great wine pairings based on our meal selection our individual taste preferences. The food selections were fantastic, as well. We will make a visit to The Whisper a routine habit.

Discover more

Experience

Stump the Somm Dinner: The Rematch

L'Opossum

4.9

4.9 (3186)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Richmond

About the restaurant

L'Opossum offers dinner Tuesday-Saturday for parties of one to a maximum of six guests. Multiple reservations booked on the same night to form a group larger than six guests are not permitted and will be canceled. Reservations for parties of one to four guests are allotted 2 hours. Parties of five to six guests are allotted 2.5 hours. Please be courteous to your fellow diners by arriving and leaving on time. L'Opossum patrons paying with cash, enjoy a 4% savings off menu prices. To view a sample menu, visit www.lopossum.com - Thank you!

Top review

Sukie

Dined 1 day ago

Always an excellent experience in fine dining with a quirky twist in atmosphere and decor. Best restaurant soundtracks ever. Talented bartender with great range of cocktails. Servers are well trained and knowledgeable.

Discover more

Popular dish

French Onion Dip Florentine

Popular dish

Lavender-limoncello

Stock Bistro & Bar

4.8

4.8 (62)

$31 to $50

Nordic

Richmond

About the restaurant

Stock Is a Nordic Bistro and bar inviting you to dine differently. Our restaurant is located in a lovingly restored railroad freight terminal that is also home to our stylish modern furniture gallery – Txtur. The indoor and outdoor space invites you to lounge and enjoy a meal like no other whether taking time with friends or celebrating a special event.

Whether you take your meal or cocktails in our beautiful “drafting room” dining space, the spacious main gallery, or our covered and shaded patio, Stock culinary craft and special hospitality experience is sure to please.

Craft food, drinks all in an unparalleled space – Stock is here to welcome you.

We have ample on-site parking too!

Top review

Julie

Dined 1 day ago

Great spot for lunch. The food was delicious. Flavorful pairings and everything was very super fresh. Swedish meatball sandwich was our fav. We ate in the showroom which was a unique experience, dining in the middle of a showroom filled with beautiful furniture. It was very comfortable and welcoming. We checked out the dining room as we were leaving and it was stylish and looked great as well. We will definitely be back. Great dining experience.

Bookbinder's Seafood and Steakhouse

4.8

4.8 (5721)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Richmond

About the restaurant

Bookbinder’s is a locally family owned Seafood & Steakhouse and is unique to Richmond. Bookbinder’s offers the perfect combination of rich history and atmosphere. Close to the James River in historic Tobacco Row, steak and seafood lovers will enjoy the ambiance of exposed beams and brick walls in this refurbished tobacco warehouse. From steak to lobster to seafood, each dish is intricately prepared and beautifully presented. We look forward to seeing you soon!! We are honored to have been selected as one of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2018, as Voted by Open Table Diners, (based on an analysis of twelve-million reviews of more than 26,000 restaurants across the country)!

Top review

JoanVIP

Dined 4 days ago

This is a wonderful dining experience. Whenever we are in town we have dinner here. It’s exceptional.

Discover more

Metzger Bar and Butchery

4.7

4.7 (1095)

$31 to $50

Contemporary German

Richmond

About the restaurant

Nestled in historic Union Hill, we specialize in contemporary German food from Chef de Cuisine, Emma Taylor, and overseen by award winning chef Brittanny Anderson. Expect to see inspirations from classic German, French, Italian, Austrian & European cuisine, using local products. We specialize in German and Austrian wine from small producers, organic, and natural wines. Our cocktails are unique and approachable, featuring house made ingredients. We have a large German beer selection mixed with some local drafts. Our atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, great for special occasions or weekday date nights. We offer a private dining room and full restaurant buyouts. Come see us for dinner Tue-Sat, and Sunday brunch, and for happy hour at the bar Tue-Fri 5pm-7pm.

Top review

Jeff

Dined 6 days ago

A special restaurant. Several visits and the food never fails to surprise in an excellent way.

Discover more

Popular dish

Chicken Schnitzel and Gravy

4.7

4.7 (177)

$31 to $50

Global, International

Richmond

About the restaurant

Welcome to Floris at VMFA!

~ We've expanded our menu to offer a la carte offerings each day from 2:30 - 4:00pm, no reservations needed~

Our high tea menu and tea service is offered daily from 11:30 am - 2:30pm priced at $55 per guest, not inclusive of tax and service. We kindly require each guest's participation.

Floris invites you to immerse yourself in a culturally enriching tearoom experience at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Nestled in the beautiful surroundings of the Robins Sculpture Garden, Floris is a community gathering space located in VMFA’s Pauley Center.

Take a mid-day escape and indulge in delightful pleasures for the palate, including expertly crafted blends from guest tea makers. Chef Chainey Kuykendall’s use of fresh ingredients from local vendors and importers further enhances Floris’s celebration of cultures and community.

Reservations for our high tea are encouraged, as seating is limited. Questions can be directed to 804-340-5785 or floris@vmfa.museum

Top review

JeffVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Floris at the VMFA is a lovely overall experience. The savory and sweet items they provide with your choice of tea are beautiful to look at and tasty to eat. The service is attentive and responsive but somewhat leisurely. A great experience for the holidays or other special occasion.

Portico Restaurant - Richmond

4.7

4.7 (3387)

$30 and under

Italian

Richmond

About the restaurant

Italian inspired cuisine in a charming and beautiful country setting with outdoor dining all summer and a covered heated tent in the winter. Our stone terrace with large fireplace nestled between aromatic herb and flower gardens makes for a beautiful setting year around.

Upon booking, please select either an indoor or outdoor table. "Standard" refers to an indoor table. If an outdoor table is not listed, the patio may be booked at that time. Please call us directly if your preference is not listed.

Our tent is down for the summer! Tables on the patio are covered by umbrellas for protection from sun and in the case of rain. In the case of inclement weather, we will do our best to accommodate outdoor bookings indoors based on availability.

Take out from 4:30pm to 8:00pm daily and can be ordered by calling us at (804) 741-4800.

We are unable to accomadate parties of more than 6. We are unable to separate parties into multiple tables.

Top review

Marilyn

Dined 2 days ago

Portico never fails to deliver! Delicious food, good service, decent wine and a very good bar selection.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (2159)

$30 and under

Italian

Richmond

About the restaurant

Seldom can you take a few steps in the South and find yourself completely transported to another continent. Yet, this is the experience of La Grotta. Take one step inside the door and you’re suddenly in Northern Italy. Smell the roasted garlic and savor the rich flavors of innovative Italian cuisine paired with one of the fine wines that earned La Grotta the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Whether it’s a quiet romantic anniversary or a business meeting, La Grotta isn’t just dinner. It’s a destination.

Exclusive private rentals can be arranged for up to 137 guests. We also offer 2 private rooms that can hold up to 37 people each or can be combined to hold a larger party. From Corporate meetings to Bridal Showers or Rehearsal Dinners, La Grotta will make your event special!

Please Note: La Grotta does not offer outdoor seating.

Top review

Russ

Dined 3 days ago

Definitely a top-shelf experience in RVA. Our meal was outstanding and the best service in town! Highly recommended!

Discover more

Popular dish

Fettuccine alla Papalina

Stella's - Richmond

4.9

4.9 (2975)

$30 and under

Greek

Richmond

About the restaurant

Stella’s honors rustic & modern Greek cuisine, bringing the freshest ingredients & Mediterranean fare table side.

Top review

Suzanne

Dined 5 days ago

Great as always, a wonderful experience! Food and service were fabulous!

Discover more

Chez Max - Richmond VA

4.9

4.9 (1373)

$31 to $50

French

Richmond

About the restaurant

Bienvenue Chez Max!

Savory aromas drift from the kitchen as one enters the front door, giving a hint of culinary delights to come. The casual and comfortable, yet elegant interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting. A large stone fireplace adorns a corner in the main dining room, casting a soft glow around the room.

We are Richmond’s premier French dining experience. Our menu is a collection of dishes cultivated by a Master French chef. We offer an array of fine wines from around the world, 23 are poured by the glass. Our mixologist boasts an impressive range of signature crafted cocktails and guest favorites.

As we are often fully seated on Fridays and Saturdays, we can only hold a reservation for 15 minutes without advanced notice. We allocate 2 hours for parties of 2 to 5, 2 ½ hours for parties of 6 or more.

Top review

brianVIP

Dined 1 day ago

It was a great dining experience. We will definitely go back

Explore Diners' Choice best of Richmond

Explore more Diners' Choice lists