The Corner, a seven-block merchant district on University Avenue across the street from the University of Virginia, has long been at the heart of student life in Charlottesville. It’s the perfect first stop on a visit to this college town. The walkable brick-lined district has bars, coffee shops, boutiques, and of course, Mincer’s, every UVA fan’s go-to stop for university-branded T-shirts, coffee mugs, and garden flags.
Over the years, the Corner has evolved by adding a beloved Bodo’s Bagels on the north end and making over a Red Roof Inn into a chic 134-room Graduate Charlottesville hotel on the south end.
There are walking food tours, too, courtesy of Food Tours by Charlottesville Guide, which help visitors understand the fuss over Bodo’s housemade bagels and The Spot’s storied Gus Burger (a cheeseburger topped with a fried egg).
There have been changes, but for Cheryl Tan, an Oakton native and UVA alum who now has two sons attending the school, “The vibe is still the same. Every time I go onto the campus itself, it still feels the same.” Now a more frequent visitor, Tan likes to make stops at those favorite haunts she had as a student, including Crozet Pizza at Buddhist Biker Bar.
Beyond the Corner, Charlottesville has grown, flowing north along Route 29, adding new shops and restaurants. To the south, look for trendy new eateries, such as Black Cow Chophouse on West Main Street and Basta Pasta in the Dairy Market, a food hall concept on Grady Avenue with multiple farm-to-fork vendors.
Charlottesville’s wine scene has matured, and the Monticello Wine Trail boasts 40 wineries. Among them is the award-winning Jefferson Vineyards, which took home multiple medals at this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition.
Charlottesville is replete with history. At Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, take a mansion tour or walk the gardens. At Michie Tavern, a historic landmark that dates to 1784, try Southern favorites like fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and cornbread, which are part of their daily lunch buffet.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Shenandoah National Park is a short drive, about 25 minutes from campus, allowing convenient access to scenic hikes like Blackrock Summit and Turk Mountain.
In fact, Tan suggests that students step out of their dorms and “just get away and hike.” Post-hike, head to the Downtown Mall, a pedestrian entertainment and shopping district that spans eight blocks and has more than 150 restaurants, bars, bookstores, and boutiques, as well as an open-air concert pavilion.
Feature image courtesy visitcharlottesville.com
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This story originally ran in our August issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
