What makes a first date location amazing? Much of it depends on your preferences, but a cozy and quiet ambiance is certainly ideal: talking one-on-one with a romantic interest is difficult enough without having to yell over music (I'm looking at you, Hibachi Box). And, of course, affordability and accessibility (for me, that means travelable without a car) is a must.
Here are 10 great places near VCU to take someone on a first date, in no particular order of value. Some of them are restaurants and cafes, others are shops, and some are cute (and free) areas to walk around!
1. Harrison Street Café
Good eats. No meats. Harrison Street Café is a vegan and vegetarian breakfast and lunch restaurant with a great selection of coffees, lattes, and teas. They used to be part-bookshop, and they still have that homey atmosphere about them. There are plenty of cozy two-person tables and booths available, and just enough noise to talk at a comfortable volume but avoid those extra-silent awkward silences. You can find their full menu here.
2. Lamplighter Coffee Roasters
Lamplighter has 3 locations in Richmond, the closest to VCU being their Morris Street location (it's less than a 10-minute walk from the Commons or Cabell). This location has an adorable (and spacious) patio in addition to its indoor seating. In addition to all of their coffee, lattes, and free water, they have a selection of pastries. Visit their website here.
3. Hollywood Cemetery
This is definitely an option for those of us trying to impress goth girls. It may sound spooky, but Hollywood Cemetery and its surrounding neighborhoods are beautiful places to wander around aimlessly. If you really want to up the spooky factor, you can stop by Rest in Pieces, a taxidermy, oddities, and occult store, which is only 2 blocks away. Hollywood Cemetery is open on 7 days a week from 8am-5pm, and it's free!
4. The Lab by Alchemy Coffee
VCUArts students should be familiar with this one--it's located right next to the Arts Depot on Broad Street! They have a quiet, sunny, and airy atmosphere and an extensive menu of coffee, tea, and lattes. Last time I visited, I drank one of the best chai tea lattes I've ever had. Given its location, you could grab your coffee and head to Number #5 on this list: Richmond Book Shop.
5. Richmond Book Shop
This business is also located on busy Broad Street, and is old, having been at their current location for 50 years. The atmosphere is cozy and dusty, and the service is friendly. They sell books, posters, records, and a mishmash of other things, all for thrift-shop-level prices. This is the type of place one could go to avoid intense, one-on-one conversation, and instead have a more casual, walking date.
6. Carytown
Carytown is a great place to wander around and stop by all the storefronts. The only downside is that, as a VCU student, it's a bit of a hike from the dorms. But if you can manage to get down there, you'll find places like Tokyo Market, Byrd Theater, various boutiques and vintage consignment shops, and a multitude of restaurants ranging from Asian fusion to gourmet burgers to Carytown Cupcakes. Incidentally, Carytown is right by the VMFA, another great place for a date.
7. The VMFA
The Virginia Museum of Fine Art is a great way to spend a few hours--and it's free! You may decide to pay for special exhibits or for a meal at their restaurant or cafe, but permanent collection is free and open to the public. It's definitely a more romantic option, though some might consider it a bit dry. There's a small sculpture garden and the surrounding neighborhoods are historic and beautiful, so they make for a great place to walk.
8. Various Bubble Tea Cafés
There are quite a few bubble tea cafes around VCU and throughout Richmond. Some include TT Lounge (by Cary and Belvidere Dorms), Kung Fu Tea (near the Walmart Express), and Gigi Tea Time (on Broad Street, across the street from Kroger). For first dates, TT Lounge is my favorite because it has a comfy couch, a TV that often plays music videos, and various decks of cards and checkerboards for customer use.
9. Non-Cabell Starbucks
The Starbucks in Cabell isn't terrible, but to me, it isn't ideal for a first date: it's a little too busy and loud. Depending on the time of day, it might take 30 minutes or more to wait in line, order, and wait for your drink to be ready. However, the Starbucks in Cary and Belvidere has a much different vibe: it's relatively quiet, sunny, and uncrowded. Starbucks, in general, are an easy option for first dates!
10. Don't overthink it: your apartment or dining hall is fine!
A convenient and affordable option is to invite someone to join you doing something you normally do: chilling with friends and watching TV, making food at home, or using your swipes at a dining hall. Maybe you could shake it up and go to Jonah's instead of Shafer, but the concept is the same: a first date is about developing a relationship with a new person, so all you need is them!
