Landing in Roanoke is a great preview of the regional wilderness. Bushy mountains and rich forestry go on for miles in all directions. But with the thick forest being the first impression, the vibrant metropolitan heart of Roanoke is a pleasant surprise. The city is perhaps best known for its Star, but in recent years, many up-and-coming chefs and restaurateurs have been opening collaborative ventures across the city. From large communal breweries to farm-to-table cuisine and craft cocktail bars, there is something for everyone.
The growing culinary scene, coupled with the city’s unique location and historic attractions, make the quaint yet vibrant town of Roanoke is quickly becoming a must-visit destination.
Located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR), Western Virginia, Roanoke is the largest city along the Appalachian Trail. The city is nestled in the Roanoke Valley, surrounded by thousands of miles of outdoor adventure, which makes it an ideal stop along the Shenandoah Valley road trip or before your visit to Mountain Lake Lodge (Dirty Dancing filming location).
This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This trip was hosted by the Virginia Tourism Board who did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol
What to see & Do in Roanoke
For many years, Roanoke was a refugee settlement city, so naturally, it is still very diverse with nearly a hundred languages spoken in schools. This diversity is reflected in the city’s attractions and architecture. In the heart of the downtown, for example, is Century Plaza, where intricately decorated columns represent Roanoke’s sister cities, showcasing the rich cultural connections the city established with the world.
In Downtown Roanoke, everything in Roanoke is 5-15 minutes away, so exploring the city on foot is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. The architecture in the city is mostly low-rise and historic, with colourful brick and old-school signage. Along the way, you will come across family-owned and small designer shops, antique markets, and the Historic Roanoke City Market, one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States. This walk can easily become an outdoor gallery experience if you choose to follow the Downtown Mural Project map.
Downtown Roanoke is home to nine museums, quite a few of which are located inside the Center in the Square. Some of the museums are full-blown family attractions where you could easily spend hours (Science Museum of Western Virginia, The Don and Barbara Smith Children’s Museum and the two arcades: Pinball Museum and Roanoke STARcade). Others are cultural and educational facilities committed to the preservation of local and national history (Harrison Museum of African American Culture, Virginia Museum of Transportation, and Taubman Museum of Art, worth a stop just for the architecture). A lot of the city’s rapid growth can be attributed to its location on the Norfolk & Western Railway, and much of this history is shared in the O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum.
The biggest attraction in the city, quite literally, is the Mill Mountain Star, or the Roanoke Star. Built in 1949 by local merchants, it was originally a Christmas decoration that became a permanent attraction. The star is 88.5 feet tall, surrounded by lush greenery like an overcoat, overlooks the surrounding valley and mountains 1,045 feet above sea level. The Star is formed by 2,000 feet of neon tubing and was illuminated for the first time on November 23, 1949.
Where to eat & Drink in Roanoke
For a smaller city, Roanoke packs a punch when it comes to culinary offerings. In addition to the wealth of homegrown chefs, the city has welcomed those looking for a quieter lifestyle, opening up new hot spots or taking over family legacies. The culinary community of Roanoke is collaborative, with chefs working with each other and nearby farmers, shining a spotlight on local seasonal ingredients and traditional recipes.
Between the restaurants are craft cocktail bars focusing on interesting new techniques and the classics, each with its own unique vibe. And then there are, of course, a few breweries, most of which are destinations in their own right. Needless to say, this culinary scene is surprising, and one could easily spend an entire weekend in Roanoke eating and drinking their way through the downtown.
The local breakfast and lunch favourites by far are Bread Craft and Scratch Biscuit Co.. Bread Craft is a traditional bakery with a French cafe influence serving coffee, baked goods, and fresh sandwiches. Scratch Biscuit Co., on the other hand, is where you come for a classic Southern meal to set you up for the day (think biscuits and gravy, egg and bacon sandwiches, and French toast).
Peamento cheese sandwich at the Crystal Spring Grocery Co., Roanoke, Virginia. The Blue Ridge Bucha beverage in the background is made by a local company as well.
A short drive from the city centre is Crystal Spring Grocery Co., as the name suggests, it’s a shop and a cafe. The shop was originally Tinnell’s Finer Foods, which was famous for pimento sandwiches. The ownership has changed, but Chef Matt Lintz kept the pimento on the menu using the original Tinnell’s recipe, to honour the tradition and not upset the neighbours. The market is connected to the Yard Bull Meats butchershop and is steps away from an award-winning restaurant, The River and Rail Restaurant. With an afternoon visit to the Roanoke Star to split up the eating, this corner of the city can easily take up your entire day.
Stock Bistro & Bar is one of the newest restaurants in Downtown Roanoke. Set at the back of the showroom at the Fire Station One Boutique Hotel, this modern restaurant has an open kitchen and a semi-private terrace. Led by Chef Jeff Farmer, the restaurant serves Nordic cuisine with a few regional classics. The menu is unique, to say the least, offering items like Svamptoast (mushroom parfait, wild chanterelles, pickled celery), duck and pork meatballs with lingonberry barbecue sauce, and of course, Virginia Oysters served with horseradish, mignonette, and fried saltines. The Stock beverage program is a strong match to their food menu with a robust listing of speciality and classic cocktails, local spirits and beers, and a deep wine list.
Mid-afternoon snack at the Stock Bustro & Bar: Fried Gouda and Virginia Oysters served with a pomegranate mignonette.
Below: Interior decor of the Stock Bustro & Bar.
The Vault at The Liberty Trust Hotel is another upscale dining destination. The building, which dates back to 1910, was originally First National Bank and was considered “A Temple of Finance”. Today, it is a four-star hotel and restaurant. The original high sealings, marble columns and door trims, and the metal furnishings are eye-catching from first glance. At the back of a bar is an open vault, used as a dining room, the heavy door of which naturally draws plenty of attention. The menu at The Vault is a selection of shareable world classics paired with speciality cocktails.
The Vault at The Liberty Trust Hotel, some of the high-top tables are built with elements from the old, lower-level vault.
Below: Cocktails from The Vault and Sidecar.
Sidecar also has an impressive food menu, from oysters to Bavarian pretzel (with mustard and beer cheese), and Empanada Criolla (with house chorizo), but among locals, this was the top recommendation for cocktails, rivalling only Lucky. Sidecar is a busy spot with loud music, energetic patrons and an old-world spirits and cocktail menu. Between classic and house features, some cocktails come with a bit of a show, torch-fired table-side. Lucky’s, on the other hand, is a smaller spot serving comfort food and craft cocktails. It’s the bar other bartenders go to, and even if you only come for the drinks, the fresh daily menu will likely inspire an appetite.
For more casual meals, consider Cedar’s Lebanese, Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Fortunato, and Three Notch’d Brewing Company. Texas Tavern and Martin’s Downtown are also fun options for an easy meal or a quick snack. Martin’s is also where you go for live music and late-night shenanigans with the locals.
Blindhouse Beer Company, Roanoke, Virginia.
Golden Cactus Brewing beer flight on the left, arcade games in the middle, and the terrace mural on the left.
Roanoke has quite a few breweries, and three of them are located within spitting distance from one another. Golden Cactus Brewing and Blindhouse Beer Company are nearly next door, while Big Lick Brewing Company sits across the street, framed by its large patio. Golden Cactus is a large, open warehouse space that turns into a market once a week. The brewery has a very fun and welcoming decor with a row of classic arcade games lined up against the back wall. Their beer selection is similarly cheeky and often seasonally available for a limited time.
Blindhouse Beer Company is a smaller spot, with a few reclaimed couches and tables in the tap room, garage door open to let in the sun, and only a handful of tables by the bar. Described by casual bar patrons as the “fancier place where you get beer in stemmed glasses,” Blindhouse’s only fancy is their beer serve: cold, crisp, with a trophy-worthy foam head.
Where to stay in Roanoke, Virginia
The city’s newest boutique hotel is a beautiful historic property, Fire Station One Boutique Hotel. The building is an old fire station, refurbished to house only a few rooms, each one is unique. The main floor of the building is shared between a furniture and home decor showroom and Stock Restaurant & Bistro. The shared space also includes a large event room with multiple sitting areas and original firehouse cabinets. Read the full review here.
The Liberty Trust Hotel is another classic with rich history and one-of-a-kind decor from window trims to lighting fixtures. The rooms are King and Queen suites with a lovely view of the city. On the ground floor is one of the city’s favourite restaurants, The Vault.
One of the city’s oldest and most notable hotels is The Hotel Roanoke (Curio Collection by Hilton). The property has an old castle feel, full amenities including pool, spa, gym, and multiple restaurants. Connected to the city by an enclosed pedestrian bridge, this is the biggest hotel in Roanoke.
Fire Station One Boutique Hotel, Roanoke, Virginia.
Make it a road trip or a hiking adventure
Aside from adding Roanoke to your Shenandoah Valley road trip or Mountain Lake Lodge visit, there are many other single and multi-day road trip and hiking alternatives nearby.
Roaring Run is a great option for an easy morning hike. The trail is 1.2 miles round trip and leads to a cascading waterfall. It’s an easy and beautiful nature walk open 24/7. AllTrails directions, and here are a few other nearby hiking trails.
The Roanoke Appalachian Trail is perhaps one of the most scenic hiking trails in the world and has a few access points from the Roanoke Valley. The trail is about 2,200 miles with many breathtaking viewpoints, including Mount Katahdin as the northern trailhead and Springer Mountain South.
Blue Ridge Parkway is the larger area surrounding the city. The parkway includes 240+ miles of the Appalachian Trail, 260+ miles of blueways, and 700+ miles of trails for hiking. Along the way, you will come across ancient caverns, Virginia’s natural gravitational anomaly, Mystery Hill, Charlottesville and the Albemarle County wine region, and many other points of interest. Find itinerary ideas on the Blue Ridge Parkway website.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail is a version of the above trail but focused specifically on local breweries and distilleries. Break this itinerary up into a few daytrips or a single looping road trip. Find the full itinerary here.
Roaring Run Trail, 45 minutes away from Downtown Roanoke, Virginia.
Getting to & Around Roanoke
Downtown Roanoke is very walkable, and most things are within a 5-15 minute distance. There are also two old school trolley routes operating in the city connecting the Downtown to the Crystal Spring Neigbourhood, if you are interested in visiting Crystal Spring Grocery Co. and nearby restaurants. Find more information on the Star Trolley line here. Uber and Lyft are also available rideshare options.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the local airport with routes connecting Roanoke to most major cities in the US. Roanoke is also a stop on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional route. If driving, the city is accessible from Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
