Whether you’re looking to cool off under the summer sun or warm yourself from the inside out, a unique cocktail can really hit the spot. The challenge can sometimes be finding which venue has what you’re looking for when there are so many unique places to choose from. Custom ice cubes? Bougie garnish? A solid mocktail? RVA has them all! We’ve compiled a list of 5 places that hold some of the best cocktails –and mocktails the River City has to offer.

Barrio Taqueria + Tequila

Set up like your neighborhood Taqueria spot, Barrio has an atmosphere like no other. Visitors enjoy a wrap-around bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and floor-to-ceiling garage doors that let in the perfect amount of light and city life. Their menu is filled with fresh and exciting food items and an array of cocktails to choose from.

Cocktail Recommendation: the soft-serve margarita- it’s like a giant ice cream swirl as big as your face.

Bar Solita

Embrace the vacay vibes as soon as you step into Bar Solita. Designed with Greece, France, Northern Africa, and the Middle East in mind, the restaurant offers up all the Mediterranean feels and flavors. Their menu is stocked full of wood-fired pizzas, pasta, wines, and original cocktails.

Cocktail Recommendation: It just wouldn’t be right to recommend anything other than The Pink Colada, a seasonal favorite that is garnished with (we kid you not) a tiny mermaid.

Can Can Brasserie

Richmond’s Carytown staple Can Can Brasserie is a French brasserie and bakery in the Cary Court Shopping Center. Designed to make guests feel like they’ve stepped right into a Paris café, one can enjoy fresh pastries, bread, beer, and cocktails that are inspired by the French city. Can Can’s cocktails rotate seasonally, so there’s no shame in becoming a regular at the bar to sample everything available throughout the year.

Cocktail Recommendation: Lean into the Parisian feel with something bubbly in a delicate stemmed glass!

Heritage

No stranger to the restaurant scene, Chef Joe Sparatta has cultivated an impressive restaurant (from kitchen to bar counter) with Heritage. Don’t be alarmed if you get your cocktail and want to frame it instead of drink it. Their spirits are known to be some of the most eye-catching in all of Richmond.

Cocktail Recommendation: With fun names like “Does This Spark Joy” and garnishes like local Sunchokes, your best bet is to just order what sparks joy for you— or what would shine bright on your Instagram!

The Jasper

What happens when three locally-famous bar owners get together? They create one of the most elevated yet approachable bar programs in Richmond. The Jasper, a lounge with a funky nostalgic vibe, has been named one of the South’s best bars in Southern Living and Garden & Gun. If you’re around over the holidays, visit their annual pop-up, with a theme that changes each year.

Cocktail Recommendation: The Jasper has mocktail lovers top of mind with thoughtful and complex non-alcoholic options clearly marked on the menu.