The Best Hotels to Book Near the National Theater, Richmond

Get from the front of the queue to the front row of the National when you stay at Hilton, just a block from the theater. Go ahead, ignore the clock and hang out in this historic hotel – you couldn’t be late to the show if you tried. Sip your way through wines at La Grotta, munch on small plates at 1885 Cafe and Market, or have a glass of beer at Thirst and Fifth Bar before curtain call.

Return to the gracious era of the 1800s with a stay in the former row houses that are now the Linden Row Inn. Modern luxuries like spa-style granite bathrooms contrast the period decor of the Parlour Suites, letting you soak while surrounded by history. If you choose a Garden Room, stare out the window and envision a youthful Edgar Allan Poe playing in the garden long before dark poetry consumed his life.

Get your arts and culture fix at Richmond’s Quirk Hotel. Not even a mile away from National Theater, Quirk’s on-site art gallery showcases the city’s emerging and established artists. Cocktails and Coffee is a chill spot where you may run into a local artist, but it’s up on the Q rooftop bar where you’ll find inspiration while gazing at the skyline. Let the vibrant visions of the Visual Arts Center artists continue to stimulate your stay in one of the Quirk Mural Artist Rooms.

Staring straight at the Virginia State Capitol, the site that houses the Commonwealth has a long history of redesign and rebirth. Today, their suites still embody the spirit of Virginia’s big dreamers, containing Virginia Artesian bottled water, Carytown Coffee and wall-to-wall furnishings and decor made by local creatives. Those who are inked up will be happy to find their suite door tattooed with their name – and if you’d like to go under the needle gun, the concierge will point you to a parlor serving the country’s third most-tattooed city.

Foodies, consider the Berkeley Hotel as your guide to the best eats in Richmond. An oversized appetite dictates the oversized junior suite with more than enough room to loosen your belt after gorging on the great plates nearby. Urban Farmhouse Cafe, the Tobacco Co Restaurant and Sam Miller’s are just some of the Berkeley’s neighbors. The cobblestone streets of Shockoe Slip will lead you back to your solid cherry-furnished suite when you’re good and full.

Surround yourself in the lively Shockoe Slip when you sleep at Courtyard by Marriott. This downtown Richmond hotel sits side-by-side with monuments, museums and whatever you feel like munching on. You don’t even need to leave the hotel to step into River City’s history – the Valentine First Freedom Center calls Courtyard’s east wing home. Want to go further into the RVA’s past? Grab lunch and a coffee at the Bistro before hopping over to the Richmond Main Street Station, just one block away.

The Jefferson Hotel has a history as rich as its opulent appearance, though we should note that a few things have changed since 1895. Naturally, the running water in each room, electric lighting and elevators are still standard – but you’ll notice that the Nespresso coffee maker and high-speed internet are from the present century. The menu at LeMaire still uses local ingredients, but with a New American twist. As for the alligators in the fountain, they’re merely decorative these days.

The Graduate believes that you should graduate to a higher quality hotel. Skip the roadside motel like an early morning math class and spend the night in one of their spunky suites. Preppy plaids and a small workstation in the suites are reminiscent of your dorm days, but the undergrad utilities stop at the ping pong table in the lobby. The rooftop pool is where you’ll find the cool upperclassmen and bar bites that are far from microwavable noodles.