A Taste of Miami Making A Home In Richmond
Richmond’s nightlife scene has certainly gotten plenty of attention lately, both locally and beyond. And with new venues and restaurants popping up throughout our beloved River City, the scene continues to grow. Papi’s Restaurant and Bar is one of the newer venues in town— bringing a special flair to Shockoe Bottom in their Miami-inspired space.
Photo credit: Adrienne Londoños
Papi’s is described as “a sexy Miami-esque Bar/Restaurant/Nightclub catering to the LGBTQIA+ Community.” As such, owners and married couple, Adrienne and Carlos Londoños, felt compelled to make their opening night in June— on the last day of Pride month. They want to be clear –Papi's is not a bar/restaurant that is LGBTQIA+ friendly, it is a gay bar/restaurant that welcomes everyone else. “I personally don’t know the gay experience, but I have witnessed what my friends go through and how the world treats the queer community,” said Adrienne. The Londoños pride themselves on having an extremely diverse staff (comprised of many different races, gender identities, and sexual orientations), which they believe helps everyone to feel welcome.
Papi’s is the fourth restaurant concept owned by the Londoños. They also own Casa Fiesta, as well as La Bodega, and Margaritas Cantina. Each one of their restaurants has its own vibe, which distinguishes them from the others. Papi's is very an energetic, vibrant venue with a more Miami feel versus the Latin feel of their other venues.
The Londoños are lovers of all things Miami. Adrienne is always looking for a reason to visit the Southern city, whether it’s for a girls’ trip or with family. “My favorite thing about Miami is the people - I think that is why I fell in love with it. Everyone is so beautiful, yet they are all so different. There are so many nationalities that have come together in this one place and every one of them is beautiful,” Adrienne said. They wanted to mirror that same experience for visitors to Papi's— people who wouldn’t usually cross paths all hanging out together, laughing, dancing, drinking, and enjoying life, without judgement. Everything in Papi’s is big, loud, and over-the-top, just how Adrienne and Carlos designed for it to be. Guests can sign the walls, enjoy the near-daily theme nights and happy hour, play drag bingo, and order fun cocktails such as The Peacock and Mermaid Water.
Visitors to Papi’s should arrive with the expectation of having an unforgettable evening full of exciting themes such as Karaoke night (a fan-favorite), colorful lights, unique food and drinks, and meeting a new friend or two.