It’s no secret that one of the fastest growing areas in Richmond is Scott’s Addition. In 1927, the area was zoned for industrial use and began to house dozens of factories and plants, which is why so many of the businesses there today have a sleek, modern vibe. In 2005, Scott’s Addition was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The affordability of buildings combined with the location and large spaces is what makes Scott’s Addition a breeding ground for breweries, restaurants, businesses, and apartments.

Today, there is so much to do in Scott’s Addition that it’s almost overwhelming. While I don’t live in the area, I have explored a lot of Scott’s Addition and I now have my favorite spots that I like to try and visit on the weekends. What I like so much about it is how easy it is to hop from place to place. Walk into Veil and see it’s busy? Go to Väsen. Spend all your tokens at The Circuit? Grab a popsicle at King of Pops. There’s a lot to do in Scott’s Addition and by no means have I done it all, but here are some of my favorite places in the neighborhood.

Isley Brewing Company 

I’m not a huge beer person, but I really enjoy the selection of drinks at Isley. They often have different events going on each night, from trivia to live music, and most times have a food truck outside. It’s a great place to drop in, grab a drink, and play one of the many board games Isley keeps on their shelves.

Tip: Before going, check what’s happening at Isley that day because you might not be into showing up in the middle of karaoke or trivia.

The Circuit 

The Circuit is a bar and an arcade… a barcade, if you will. The barcade deals out a heavy dose of nostalgia with 80s themed decor and classic arcade games. The Circuit has a self-service beer wall featuring a variety of beers, cider, and wine, local drinks included, which means you can taste test as many drinks as you want and you have full control over the amount you drink. Twenty tokens cost $5 and because most of the games are two or three tokens, it will last you a while. Just be warned; the people who play Dance Dance Revolution get pretty intense.

Tip: The Circuit gets pretty crowded, which means long lines waiting to play skee-ball or Mrs. Pac-Man. Go on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to avoid crowds and get more playing time. If the line happens to be long when you arrive, pop over somewhere else for a bit and come back in an hour.

Gelati Celesti

If I stopped eating ice cream, I would lose 20 pounds. Gelati Celesti is a staple in the West End, where I grew up, and now they have a location in Scott’s Addition. Go on an early spring day and most likely they’ll have the giant, industrial garage door open, letting in a cool breeze. Their flavors are original and so tasty and the waffle cones taste as good as they smell.

Tip: You can get more than one flavor if you order a small or larger! My favorites include, but are not limited it, Oreo, Chocolate Decadence, Rainbow Cookie (yes, the Ukrops cookies), and Just Ask (seriously, just ask).

Bow Tie Theater 

On the other side of Boulevard, right across from Scott’s Addition, is the iconic Bow Tie Theater A.K.A. Movieland at Boulevard. While the Bow Tie certainly isn’t new, or technically even in Scott’s Addition, it’s still a great place to see movies, especially because they often do special screenings of cult classics or limited engagements. I’ll never forget the first time I went to the Bow Tie. I was a junior in high school and my friends coerced me into going to a midnight showing of The Room, a movie I had never seen before. My life changed forever that night.

Tip: Go on Tuesdays! Movies cost $7.

Buskey Cider

Once again, I’m not a huge beer person; I’m more of a cider gal. While I like Blue Bee Cidery a lot, I think I like Buskey more. They have a lot of original flavors of cider, so even if you’re not a cider person, you’ll probably find a drink that you enjoy. They also have board games to play while you sit and sip on your drink.

Tip: They have seasonal drinks, like most breweries, and if you happen to be there when the watermelon rosemary cider is available, get it.

ZZQ 

For a while, my friends and I would walk past ZZQ and say, “Man, that looks good. We should go there some time.” We got there eventually, on Cinco de Mayo actually, and boy, it did not disappoint. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, I ordered a brisket taco and a jalapeño margarita. Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds. ZZQ has all the classics you’d expect at a barbeque joint and you will not leave hungry.

Tip: ZZQ is “back-door” neighbors with Ardent and the two are connected outside. Eat your food on the ZZQ patio and when you’re ready, head over to Ardent for a beer. The ZZQ patio is also a prime location for dog watching.

Väsen Brewing Company 

One more brewery, just because. So far, whenever I’ve been to Väsen, it hasn’t been too terribly crowded. It made this list because my friends and I often end up there after leaving somewhere else that’s packed. Väsen also has a wide variety of beer, so it’s a great spot for a group of people that have different tastes. The indoor space is huge and even it gets a bit crowded inside, there’s plenty of room outside as well.

Tip: If you go in the late afternoon or early evening, there’s a good chance most of the outdoor space will be in the shade because of the shadow the sun casts on the building. It sure beats baking in the sun at the outdoor spaces at other breweries.

Scott’s Addition To-Do List

There’s only so many hours in the day! Here are the spots in Scott’s Addition I’ve yet to hit, but I plan on doing so very soon.

River City Roll 

River City Roll opened only a few months ago, so there’s plenty of time in the future to bowl and eat amazing food.

Fat Dragon 

All my friends keep saying how great Fat Dragon is but I’ve just never made my way over there.

Lunch & Supper 

Every time I’ve gone, there’s been an astronomical wait. One day, Lunch & Supper, one day!

Don’t Look Back 

I would argue that Don’t Look Back has some of the best tacos in Richmond. I have yet to eat at the new location on Broad Street, but I’m sure the food will be just as tasty.

Lamplighter 

Because I don’t live in the area, I’m not getting my coffee from any local coffee shops. One of my friends was a barista at Lamplighter for a while, and maybe she’s biased, but says the coffee is some of the best in Richmond.

I hope this helps narrow down the wide array of things to do in Scott’s Addition. Of course, my favorite spots might not be yours, but that’s why Scott’s Addition is so popular; there’s something there for everyone. Did I leave out your favorite brewery or restaurant? Leave a comment below with your favorite places to frequent and maybe I’ll add it to my Scott’s Addition To Do list.

 

Research gathered from:

https://wtvr.com/2016/02/22/scotts-addition-breweries-flock-to-area/,

https://www.scottsaddition.com/about-scotts-addition/history/