5 Coolest Coffee Shops in Richmond

It’s no surprise that the Dogwood team runs on coffee, and when we heard that Richmond was #56 on ApartmentGuide’s “Cities for Coffee Lovers,” we knew we had to share five of the coolest spots in the capital, especially with International Coffee Day on the horizon.

Not only do these five places have great coffee, but they have great food and atmospheres as well, and make great spots to work remotely from.

We know there’s more than five great coffee spots in Richmond, and we’d love to hear about your favorite spots too! Did we miss a really cool spot? Email [email protected] or [email protected] and let us know!

Alchemy

Back in 2016, Alchemy brought a little bit of Stars Hollow to Richmond, when they hosted a pop-up in celebration of the Gilmore Girls revival and “rebranded” themselves as the infamous Luke’s. That’s not what makes this place cool, however. Their brick-and-mortar shop, also dubbed “The Lab,” is fairly close to Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus. Alchemy’s website states that “people’s relationship to coffee is personal and intimate: it’s where function and emotion intersect.” We’d have to agree with them there!

Blanchard’s

Blanchard’s will be hosting the preliminary rounds for the US Coffee Championships on Oct. 7-9, and that’s cool as heck. They also have three locations in Richmond: Forest Hill, Broad Street, and on Morris St., making it super quick and easy to pick up coffee on-the-go, or to relax in a nice environment. They’re one of the few places you can get a 64 oz. bag of iced coffee (and iced oat milk lattes!), for those days when you need a little pep in your step. They also have different bean blends, in case you’re someone who likes to grind and brew your own coffee. You can “explore the journey through coffee” with the Blanchard’s crew thanks to their Handshake Quarterly guides.

Lamplighter

Admittedly, Lamplighter has a place in Meghin’s heart as a cool coffee shop, just because it was the first Richmond coffee shop she was introduced to thanks to her very cool younger brother (and she’s a big fan of their lavender lattes). Their heated lounge features comfy seating and a giant chalkboard wall, and they’ve recently opened their very cozy cafe space back up to indoor dining, which is something people have missed in the recent pandemic era.

Roastology

Not only is Roastology great for cool coffee lovers, but it’s also a great spot for folks who are really into those ~autumnal vibes~ right now. Their current seasonal blend, Fall Equinox, might just have a touch of magic to it. Why? They’ve found a blend of small-batch roasted beans that somehow taste of a spiced sweet potato pie, that pairs nicely next to a crackling fire, or would be the perfect complementary drink on a cold, rainy morning when you’re cooped up with a good book. Not only do they have great coffee, but they’ve got some great food to fuel your (remote) workday.

Sugar and Twine

Nestled in Carytown, the fine folks at Sugar and Twine believe that your “caffeine fix should come with a side of deliciousness.” Their handmade pastries do just that! They also feature some delicious vegan and gluten-free pastries as well. While they don’t roast their own coffee, they do serve espresso from Blanchard’s, along with locally coffee from various rotating shops including Blanchard’s, Roastology, Recluse Roasting Project, and Trager Brothers Coffee. Now that fall is here, their vegan pumpkin muffins are back on the menu, along with their infamous Harvest Latte–their take on the Starbucks PSL.