12 Underrated Things to Enjoy in the Richmond AreA for Under $15(ish)
Unfortunately, the price of eggs just isn’t making its way back down, so while we all find new and creative ways to save up some extra cash for our at-home egg-and-spoon races, we’ve scoped out some other things in the city that won’t run you more than 15 bucks when you want to be out and about.
What to eat
City Dogs
Everything on the City Dogs food menu comes in under $15, so we say order two of the piled-with-toppings dogs — we’d go with at least the Richmond Original (all the way, with chili, mustard, and onions) — and you’ll still have some change left over for, say, a side of Chili Cheese Fries.
Location: 1309 W Main St #4851 (The Fan)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Lemon Cuisine of India
Lemon has a plenty expansive menu with quite a few options that’ll keep your belly full and your wallet in tact. We’re just spit-ballin’ here, but how about an order of the Chicken Tikka Platter, which gets you tandoori roasted chicken tikka, sautéed vegetables, and an aromatic masala makhni, plus a side soup or salad, and some nan to go with it?
Location: 3215 W Broad St (Museum District)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Pupuseria El Salvadoreño
This spot boasts “the best pupusas in Richmond,” and each of the six options comes in under three bucks, too. That means you could be getting a FULL plate of deliciousness — and maybe even some to-go pupusas while you’re at it.
Location: 6025 Midlothian Tpke (Midlothian)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
BTW, if you want even more inexpensive options, check out 7 LOCAL RESTAURANTS FOR A $10(ISH) LUNCH.
What to drink
Cobra Cobana
Affordability is in the name for some of this spot’s drink menu items. For five bucks, all day, order the Penny Pincher — a $3 beer and a rail shot — or just about any other option on the Combos menu; they’re almost all under 10 bones!
Location: 901 W Marshall St (Carver)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
GWARbar
As they put it, GWARbar is “a more twisted place to eat” — but it’s a twisted place to get twisted, too. (Like, responsibly, ofc.) The spot brought back the Happy Meal years ago, and it’s one of the least expensive, and most Richmond, drink orders in the city: a PBR and bourbon shot for “a very reasonable price.”
Location: 217 W Clay St (Jackson Ward)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
T Caf Salon de Thé
If you’re in the mood to cozy up with a book or a deadline (or nothing at all but time), do so with a $6.50 pot of tea here. T Caf has handfuls of premium loose-leaf tea selections, which are always changing and sourced from small farms and artisans.
Location: 2943 W Marshall St (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
BTW, if you want even more inexpensive options, check out YOUR GUIDE TO RVA HAPPY HOUR, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
What to see
The Branch Museum of Architecture & Design
If you ask us, Richmond’s museum game is some of the best in the biz, and we quite literally can’t believe the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is free to enter. But if you want another incredible option (for a $5 suggested cost of admission), soak in the stunning construction of The Branch Museum of Architecture & Design, and definitely bring a book or some work along to thumb through in the exceptionally beautiful reading room.
Location: 2501 Monument Ave (Museum District)
Hours: Found here
Library of Virginia
All the libraries in the city are worth a visit, but if you’re looking for the ultimate collection of books and official records, head to Library of Virginia. It’s one of the oldest state libraries and archives in the nation, making it an excellent free resource for exploring Virginia’s history, culture, and government.
Location: 800 E Broad St (Downtown)
Hours: Found here
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site Virginia
History puts the RICH in Richmond — like, it’s everywhere here, we mean, lol. The Maggie L Walker National Historic Site Virginia is just one of the many affordable ways you can boost your education about it. As the site’s site itself puts it, “Maggie Lena Walker devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women.” Her Richmond home is preserved in honor of her legacy, and you can take a no-expense tour of it at the top of every hour, from 10 am to 3 pm (with the exception of 12 pm), Tuesday through Saturday.
Location: 600 N 2nd St (Jackson Ward)
Hours: Found here
What to do
Belle Isle Dry Rocks
You can enjoy all of the James River Park System for free, which is a blessing for us Richmonders in general, but some of our favorite hidden gems are the dry rocks on Belle Isle. Not only can you up the ante of the experience by walking along the Belle Isle Pedestrian Bridge — and stopping to take in the incredible views — but you can pitstop all throughout Belle Isle as you mosey about, taking in more amazing sights of the city, Hollywood Cemetery, and the river itself.
Location: 1701 Riverside Dr (Belle Isle)
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
DawnStar Starcade
If it’s indoor hanging you’re looking for, DawnStar is a fan favorite in the gaming space, and for $10 Sunday through Friday (and $15 on Saturday), you can enjoy freeplay on the games in the spot’s StarCade, which features an ever-growing selection of arcade and rhythm games, including Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mario Kart GP 2, and Theaterhythm Final Fantasy. Peep the full list here.
Location: 3007 W Clay St # A (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Disc Golf at Bryan Park
Truly, there’s quite literally no shortage of outdoor adventures you can take in and around Richmond, but one that gamifies the experience well is the disc golf course at Bryan Park. If you’re down to play, you’ve got a wide-open space featuring 18 holes to enjoy, but if you’re just wanting to walk around with the players in your crew (our move, often), the course’s 5,935 feet of terrain still gets you a thorough workout while you watch your friends play.
Location: 4308 Hermitage Rd (Bryan Park)
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelsey is RVAx co-owner and editor-in-chief. She moved to Richmond in 2018, settling(ish) first in Scott's Addition, then in Church Hill, before finding a suburban spot that gives her and her family just a bit more room to grow. You can usually find her reading yet another thriller or rewatching whatever Friends episode she rewatched least recently.
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