Categories: Local & Entertainment; Eat & Drink

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Hip Meets Class in The Fan (Richmond, VA)

By leigh
updated 3 months ago

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Known for its modern culture, popular restaurants, active nightlife and Victorian architecture, The Fan is one of Richmond's most desirable neighborhoods for young professionals.

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A Brief History

Named for its fan-shaped layout as it spreads westward, The Fan was first developed as a residential neighborhood at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The Fan is an architectural and sculptural celebration of Richmond’s storied past, where spaces between homes are filled with towering trees, grassy spaces and narrow, quiet roads.

Branch House

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Contains the Virginia Center for Architecture

Popular Streets

Monument Avenue

Aptly named, Monument Avenue is characterized by a number of historical monuments and statues that help to illuminate the city’s rich cultural heritage. This street holds some of the most expensive homes in the neighborhood. A wide median separates the two directions of traffic, giving the impression of a slow-moving town in the heart of the city. The easternmost blocks of Monument Ave., which cut right through the western side of The Fan, contain monuments to Civil War figures.

Drive along Monument Avenue

The image is a little shaky, but this gives a feel for the general atmosphere along Monument Ave. and throughout The Fan.

Main Street

Between Boulevard and Lombardy, in The Fan, Main Street is filled with boutique shops, restaurants and bars. This area springs to life as night falls, especially during Friday and Saturday nights as college students and the general workforce head out to unwind with friends and a few drinks.

Restaurants and Bars along Main Street

Sticky Rice

2232 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220

One of those places you head to for the feel of it, Sticky Rice is a sushi bar that combines American fare with Asian dining. It gets quite loud at night as the bar crowd, composed largely of college students, filters in.

One of those places you head to for the feel of it, Sticky Rice is a sushi bar that combines American fare with Asian dining. It gets quite loud at night as the bar crowd, composed largely of college students, filters in.

See Menu

Sticky Rice

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Vivid images and booth seats line the walls of Sticky Rice.

3 Monkey's Bar & Grill

2525 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220

Grab a meal at 3 Monkeys Bar and Grill before really starting off the weekend. Menu choices include pizzas, sandwiches and more filling entrees. As the night begins and crowds begin to fill the building, stick around for drinks or continue down to one of the many other bars that line the street.

Grab a meal at 3 Monkeys Bar and Grill before really starting off the weekend. Menu choices include pizzas, sandwiches and more filling entrees. As the night begins and crowds begin to fill the building, stick around for drinks or continue down to one of the many other bars that line the street.

3 Monkeys Bar and Grill

deLux

2229 W MAIN ST RICHMOND, VA 23220

A newcomer to the area, deLux Diner’s two stories serve as both a restaurant and a bar. The food is nice diner fare, with a range of burgers, sandwiches and meat-based entrees. Two full bars keep service smooth and the scene active well into the night.

deLux

Bacchus

2 N Meadow St, Richmond, VA 23220

Drawing a wealthier patronage, Bacchus is one of The Fan’s most popular restaurants. It’s recommended that guests make reservations, even for weekday dinners. The fare is predominantly Italian, with dishes like “veal scalloppini with brown butter, lemon, capers and artichoke hearts” and “saute of duck breast with portobellas and port wine reduction.”

Drawing a wealthier patronage, Bacchus is one of The Fan’s most popular restaurants. It’s recommended that guests make reservations, even for weekday dinners. The fare is predominantly Italian, with dishes like “veal scalloppini with brown butter, lemon, capers and artichoke hearts” and “saute of duck breast with portobellas and port wine reduction.”

See Menu

Bacchus

Martini Kitchen & Bubbles Bar

1911 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220

A decent selection of American cuisine serves as the culinary grounding of Martini Kitchen & Bubbles Bar, an establishment better known for its extensive martini and champagne cocktail menu. A cozy lounge atmosphere is accented by live music and a sizable cigar bar.

A decent selection of American cuisine serves as the culinary grounding of Martini Kitchen & Bubbles Bar, an establishment better known for its extensive martini and champagne cocktail menu. A cozy lounge atmosphere is accented by live music and a sizable cigar bar.

Martini Kitchen & Bubbles Bar

Statues along Monument Avenue

Robert E. Lee Monument

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at Monument and Allen

Jefferson Davis Monument

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at Monument and Davis

Stonewall Jackson

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at Monument and Boulevard

Nearby Cultural Attractions

Aside from its varied architecture and towering monuments, The Fan holds and abuts a number of sites of cultural interest.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

200 N Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220

A state-funded art museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts holds a sizable collection of works drawn from around the...
A state-funded art museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts holds a sizable collection of works drawn from around the world and throughout the millenia. Its holdings, consisting of over 20,000 pieces, have an especially strong focus in areas including Modern American art, Art Deco, South American art and Asian art. One of the museums in Richmond's Museum District, other nearby attractions include the Science Museum of Virginia and the historic statues along Monument Avenue.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

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Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives Trust

1109 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220

Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives

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Note the Greek Revival exterior

 

What are the boundaries?

The Fan is bordered by Boulevard on the west, Belvedere on the east, Broad Street on the north and Main Street on the south.

What is Housing Like in The Fan?

Much of The Fan’s original Victorian architecture survives. Rows of spacious condos rest amidst large old houses, which are often divided into smaller units and rented out.

House in The Fan

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Two-condo building

Lower Fan vs. Upper Fan

The eastern portion of The Fan holds the Monroe campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. As a result, housing prices in the eastern part of the neighborhood (Lower Fan) tend to be lower and attract a younger, college-aged crowd. The Upper Fan, which is the western part of the neighborhood, tends to draw young professionals.

Fan District Hub

Created as a community blog, this website aggregates all kinds of goings-on in the neighborhood with useful information about area businesses, restaurants, schools and more.

Nearby Neighborhoods

A look at what else is close to The Fan.

The Museum District

Located west of The Fan, The Museum District holds many of the larger educational museums of the city. There is little residential opportunity within The Museum District itself.

Carytown

In Carytown, just a few blocks further to the northwest along Cary Street, upscale restaurants and shopping abound. This is the place to head for a nicer, quieter meal and shopping experience than can be had in The Fan.

Monroe Ward

Set directly east of The Fan and encompassing part of the Monroe campus of VCU, the inhabitants of Monroe Ward are largely college students. Despite this generally lower-rent housing market, the famous Jefferson Hotel, Richmond’s most luxurious hotel, is also contained within Monroe Ward.

Where Locals Head for Lunch

While the majority of The Fan’s restaurants and bars are located along Main Street, other neighborhood restaurants attract a dedicated local crowd. These places tend to be a bit quieter than their Main Street counterparts, and less likely to serve up an active nighttime bar scene.

Ipanema Cafe

917 W GRACE ST RICHMOND, VA 23220

Located beneath a tattoo shop, Ipanema Cafe is easy to miss, but this little restaurant, complete with a full bar, serves up the best vegetarian food in the city. Cozy booths line the walls of this little establishment, where the menu is written on a chalkboard and constantly changing.

Ipanema Cafe

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Ipanema’s darkened interior belies its fabulous eclectic vegetarian menu.

Kuba Kuba

1601 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23220

Specializing in Cuban fare, Kuba Kuba has a fresh, funky atmosphere. It attracts workers and nearby residents with large, well-made meals and is open for both lunch and dinner.

Specializing in Cuban fare, Kuba Kuba has a fresh, funky atmosphere. It attracts workers and nearby residents with large, well-made meals and is open for both lunch and dinner.

Kuba Kuba

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Bright colors and a friendly atmosphere are predominant inside Kuba Kuba.

Strawberry Street Cafe

421 Strawberry St, Richmond, VA 23220

Famous for its bathtub salad bar, Strawberry Street Cafe is a Fan tradition. A wide menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas and more are complimented by fair prices and excellent service.

Famous for its bathtub salad bar, Strawberry Street Cafe is a Fan tradition. A wide menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas and more are complimented by fair prices and excellent service.

Strawbery Street Cafe

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Strawberry Street Cafe’s unique bathtub salad bar.

Dine and Drink in The Fan

Goods and Services

Kroger

901 N Lombardy St, Richmond, VA 23220

Located on Broad Street just blocks from The Fan, Kroger is a decently priced, well-stocked grocery store, ideal for day-to-day shopping needs.

Located on Broad Street just blocks from The Fan, Kroger is a decently priced, well-stocked grocery store, ideal for day-to-day shopping needs.

Ukrop's Super Markets Inc

500 N Harrison St, Richmond, VA 23220

Higher grocery prices mean better service and more expensive goods, making Ukrops better suited to providing items for special meals. The meat and cheese selection is definitely superior, though the store is closed on Sundays.

Higher grocery prices mean better service and more expensive goods, making Ukrops better suited to providing items for special meals. The meat and cheese selection is definitely superior, though the store is closed on Sundays.

Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Store of Central Richmond

1640 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

Lowe’s offers all the home improvement supplies you could possibly need, from lumber and nails to gallons of paint to wall fixtures.

Lowe’s offers all the home improvement supplies you could possibly need, from lumber and nails to gallons of paint to wall fixtures.

Closest Goods and Services

Education

Three primary public schools serve families in The Fan.

William Fox Elem.

2300 Hanover Ave, Richmond, VA 23220

William Fox Elementary School

Binford Middle

1701 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23220

Binford Middle School

Thomas Jefferson High

4100 W Grace St, Richmond, VA 23230

Thomas Jefferson High School

Schools Serving The Fan

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