5 Dive Bars to Visit in The Fan
As the birthplace of canned beer, Richmond and beer have a long, rich history spanning generations of beer-loving families. Most recently, our beloved city has made a name for itself in the beer world by boasting over 30 breweries across the region and a top-notch Beer Trail. But if you’re like me, sometimes the fancy sours and perfectly decorated barrel rooms just don’t fit the bill, and a hole-in-the-wall dive bar better satisfies the evening’s objective.
I recently had a friend come into town for a visit, and he had one request: Take me to a dive bar — defined, in his terms, as a locally-owned, laid back, unique space with lively vibes. There’s no shortage of those in our town, many of which have been keeping Fan residents happy for decades. There’s a reason there are black and white photos of your great grandparents hung in the bathroom hallway. Good bars stick around. So, enjoy this deep dive of my favorite dive bars in the Fan. Cheers!
— by Andrew Knight, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind RVA James River Fishing Report. Follow him @rvajamesriverfishreport!)
Helen’s Restaurant
A Richmond classic, Helen’s exudes warmth and social vibes all in one, with lots of outdoor seating and a vibrant inside area that often includes live music and dance floor jam sessions on the late-night weekends. Helen’s is probably most known for its delicious Sunday brunch, typically serving most customers after they’ve had a late night out the evening before. But Richmonders should take advantage of the drinks and evening vibes and not overlook this historic establishment.
If cocktails are your vibe, Helen’s has no shortage of options. The Casablanca (gin + lavender + lemon), Easy Life (japanese whisky + elderflower liqueur + lemon prosecco) and Almost Famous (madre mezcal + poblano liquor + peach + lime) are some favorites, while $3 PBRs are always waiting, along with my go-to Bingo Beer Lager!
While you’re sipping your high-brow cocktail or throwing back a cheap lager, you can think about all the people that have come before you in this historic space. Helen’s is actually the second oldest restaurant in RVA, and the building opened in 1912 as a pharmacy called Fletcher’s, which also served as a “social hub,” according to the restaurant’s social media. I’m still having trouble envisioning sick people socializing with other sick people at a pharmacy for fun, but maybe there is another side to that story.
Anyways, Helen’s is worth a visit, especially during the holiday season. The owners have a massive collection of holiday lights and holiday-inspired drinks that will put the Merry in Christmas.
Location: 2527 W Main St
Hours: Found here
3 Monkeys Bar & Grill
Located right next door to Helen’s, 3 Monkeys is where the college crowd meets the young professionals and then the people just feeding off a combination of those two group’s energy. Nothing screams fun like a monkey-themed drink hanger. And yes, they do actually hang small plastic monkeys on your drink. Pictures of Curious George line the walls, and folks tend to congregate at 3 Monkeys to kick off their evening out in the Fan.
Their drink selection is marked by the celebrated classic limeade and a bunch of other monkey-themed drinks, including the Monkey Punch (bourbon + vodka + lime + amaretto + orange + pineapple) and the Caribbean Monkey (coconut rum + midori + créme de banana + pineapple juice). I’m not someone who typically goes crazy with a drink with more than a few ingredients, so don’t worry if you’re a simple person and just prefer a delicious mojito like me. They do those well, too.
3 Monkeys has a warm ambience that invites conversation and casual first dates. The open-air porch is a great option on those cooler summer evenings, and the inside has a great bar space and booth seating option. When it comes to grabbing a bite to eat, 3 Monkeys knows how to whip up a wonderful spinach and artichoke dip, along with a buffalo chicken wrap. See for yourself, and send us a picture of you and your Monkeys drink.
Location: 2525 W Main St
Hours: Found here
Curbside Cafe
Ever wondered if that place in the Fan with a gigantic red arrow is any good? That place is called Curbside, and it lives up to the high-dollar signage.
Located just down the road from Helen’s, Curbside is another watering hole full of good vibes, fun drinks and one of my friend’s favorite burgers in Richmond, “BY FAR,” he claims. Not every dive bar has top-tier food, so Curbside checks a lot of boxes for folks needing a hearty meal to keep their evening going strong. I had to do some research on what makes their burger so special, and according to their website, part of the credit is due to the burgers being cooked over a very large flame. Still not sure what that means, but I support the final product.
Curbside seems to attract a similar crowd to Helen’s, although maybe toned down a bit from Helen’s late-night energy (although people may disagree with me on this one). I haven’t personally indulged in many of their cocktails but do know their draft beer list full of the local faves. The chalkboard-special soups are always a viable option for the soon-to-be fall weather. Overall, I like to describe Curbside as your balanced, all-around bar, suitable for most groups, post-work gatherings or a casual first date. Bring your parents for dinner or celebrate a birthday, Curbside will accommodate.
As a bonus, and like a lot of the bars on the list, there’s plenty of outdoor space nestled right along Hanover, so swing by and see for yourself.
Location: 2525 Hanover Ave
Hours: Found here
Joe’s Inn
Okay, Joe’s Inn is not complete “dive bar” material, as it boasts some of the best spaghetti on this planet, but its cozy bar, dotted with permanent white Christmas lights, and eclectic crowd signal for this classic Richmond establishment to be included on my list. Plus—Joe’s Inn is my personal favorite restaurant in the entire city and where I decided to take my friend looking for the dive-bar experience.
What I love most about Joe’s Inn is the nostalgia. I could be sitting in the same booth my parents sat in 30 years ago, and I’m 99% sure the view, table, decorations, silverware and experience would mirror theirs back in the day. And I’m 100% sure the Spaghetti a la Joe recipe remains the same. Fair warning: you will be unable to get out of your chair if you successfully eat a full serving of their spaghetti, so save it for leftovers or bring a partner to split it down the middle.
Where else in Richmond can you get grilled cheese and PBR for under $12? Nowhere.
Joe’s Inn is where classy and hip come together to form the perfect pairing, and if you go any night of the week, you’ll see the rest of the city agrees. There’s always a line out the door, and there’s always a restaurant full of laughter and smiles. I feel like Joe’s Inn is in a constant state of joy and is always
Not much else needs to be said about this fan-favorite bar and restaurant. I love sipping their house white wine or $4 PBR. Check it out, and holler if you come across any problems.
Oh, and one more thing. The plain ole’ white bread that comes with a spaghetti meal is out of this world. Bring home the extra slices and have yourself french toast in the morning. Cheers!
Location: 205 N Shields Ave
Hours: Found here
Sticky Rice
Of all the bars on my list, Sticky Rice might be the best representation of a true “dive bar” experience. As the night goes on, that becomes even more true. While 3 Monkeys serves as a typical starting point for a bar crawl, Sticky Rice usually marks the end of the crawl, and you’ll see what I mean if you can stay out until close (2 a.m. every night of the week).
Aside from being a late-night move, this sushi-based bar provides Richmonders with a place to finally let their inner Taylor Swift shine, as karaoke nights are not uncommon or frowned upon on any night of the week.
I don’t personally spend a lot of time frequenting Sticky Rice, but appreciate its role in the Richmond bar ecosystem, mainly serving as an outlet for VCU students to escape after a hard week of class or working professionals who finally survived a week of meetings. Sticky Rice has a legendary happy hour, offering $2 PBR, $5 glasses of wine and half-priced sake. So, you shouldn’t need a better excuse to get off work early and start your weekend.
Sunday trivia is also a signature offering, along with specialty cocktails, such as the Dark & Stormy (Gosling’s Black Seal rum + Gosling’s Ginger beer), and Janice’s Day Off.
(Hornitos Plata + Aperol) and the Pear & Fig Moscow Mule (Mule + pear + fig). Lastly, according to their website, kids eat free every Thursday! I think the last time I saw this type of promotion was when Moe’s was still a big deal. Take the kids for a night out this week, and let us know how much you enjoy the vibes.
Location: 2232 W Main St
Hours: Found here
For more to eat & sip:
