Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Virginia

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Virginia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Press 626 Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (132)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Norfolk

About the restaurant

Press 626 Wine Bar is a hidden gem in Norfolk, located in a charming 1906 Victorian home. Experience a unique blend of old-world charm and modern elegance, perfect for romantic evenings, friendly gatherings, or solo escapes with a good book and a glass of wine. Our extensive wine list, curated by experts, ensures you'll find the ideal pairing for your meal. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a novice, our knowledgeable staff is here to help. Enjoy elevated comfort food and small plates made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including Chef Leeroi Fonterela's delicious charcuterie board and grilled cheese. Don't forget to try our expertly crafted cocktails, which complement any dish. At Press 626, we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy friendly service alongside delicious food and wine. Come as you are and make lasting memories with us.

Top review

DonnaGold

Dined 2 days ago

Consistently good! Their Award Winning Grilled Cheese is amazing. The wine list is great and the service excellent. My favorite place for a nice lunch.

Stock Bistro & Bar

4.9

4.9 (65)

$31 to $50

Nordic

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Stock is a Nordic Bistro and Bar inviting you to dine differently. Located inside Roanoke’s historic Fire Station One — now home to our showroom, bistro, and boutique hotel — Stock offers an elevated yet welcoming dining experience.

Lounge at the bar, gather around our bistro tables, or enjoy your meal on our comfortable showroom sofas and chairs. For a hidden gem, step out to our spacious patio tucked away in the heart of Downtown Roanoke.

With thoughtful food, craft drinks, and unmatched atmosphere, Stock is here to welcome you! Convenient parking is available just next door in the parking garage, Market Parking Garage.

Top review

Martin

Dined on Oct 23, 2026

Amazing food. The elk was perfectly prepared with no gaminess. The rabbit and squash was delicious. The cocktails hit perfectly with the ambience.

The Farmhouse at Veritas

4.9

4.9 (1187)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Please inform us of any allergies or dietary restrictions at least 48 hours prior to reservation time.
No children or pets allowed for any reservations

DINNER: Plan to arrive at 6:15 pm for a glass of bubbly and be seated for dinner at 6:30 pm. Dinner is four courses, each one paired with wine. The cost is $140 (plus taxes and fees) per person prix fixe.

RIDE SHARE COMPANIES ARE NOT A RELIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IN OUR AREA EVEN IF SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE.

PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS IN ADVANCE WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY OR PARTY FOR A SAFE RIDE HOME FROM DINNER.

Top review

CarlaGold

Dined on Oct 21, 2026

The whole evening was just perfect! The food was sublime and all of the servers worked as a perfection orchestrated team. Would totally do this again!

L'Opossum

4.9

4.9 (3775)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Richmond

About the restaurant

L'Opossum offers dinner Tuesday-Saturday for parties of one to a maximum of six guests. Multiple reservations booked on the same night to form a group larger than six guests are not permitted and will be canceled. Reservations for parties of one to four guests are allotted 2 hours. Parties of five to six guests are allotted 2.5 hours. Please be courteous to your fellow diners by arriving and leaving on time. To view a sample menu, visit www.lopossum.com - Thank you!

Top review

Natalie

Dined 2 days ago

We came to celebrate our anniversary and had a great time! The food, service, and ambiance were top notch. We will definitely be back

Stock Bistro & Bar

4.9

4.9 (277)

$31 to $50

Nordic

Richmond

About the restaurant

Stock Is a Nordic Bistro and bar inviting you to dine differently. Our restaurant is located in a lovingly restored railroad freight terminal that is also home to our stylish modern furniture gallery – Txtur. The indoor and outdoor space invites you to lounge and enjoy a meal like no other whether taking time with friends or celebrating a special event.

Whether you take your meal or cocktails in our beautiful “drafting room” dining space, the spacious main gallery, or our covered and shaded patio, Stock culinary craft and special hospitality experience is sure to please.

Craft food, drinks all in an unparalleled space – Stock is here to welcome you.

We have ample on-site parking too!

Top review

Myra Anne

Dined on Oct 24, 2026

Our first time there and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The soup and halibut I chose from the restaurant week were both exceptional. I loved the inside environment.

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5.0

5 (357)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Henrico

About the restaurant

The Wine Whisperer is a wine shop and bistro in Richmond’s Short Pump neighborhood, built for people who love wine—and those who are still figuring out what they love.

Our intimate wine bar offers a more personal way to drink, dine, and discover. Settle in with a glass, explore our rotating wine list, or let one of The Whisperers curate a flight around your palate. You’ll also find craft beer, more whiskey than you might expect, and an expansive food menu designed with wine pairing in mind.

Whether you’re stopping in for a casual glass with friends, planning a memorable date night, or celebrating something special, we can’t wait to host you. We offer weekly tastings, wine classes, and private dining as well. Come see why we're consistently ranked as a Diner's Choice restaurant.

Don’t see a reservation? Give us a call or stop by—we save several tables each evening for walk-in guests. For larger parties or private events, please call or send us a message.

Top review

KaraGold

Dined on Oct 22, 2026

An amazing wine dinner with a wine maker. The wines were beautiful and the chef did an amazing job with the food pairing. A lovely evening.

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Experience

Winesday Tastings at Whisperer

C&O

4.9

4.9 (1135)

$50 and over

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Dinner is served in our mezzanine, bistro and upstairs dining rooms, Tuesday through Saturday.
Reservations are for dinner only, please. Bar seats operate on a first come, first serve basis, and cannot be reserved.
We cannot accommodate parties larger than 10. Due to the layout of our restaurant, we are unable to accommodate pets on our patio.

Top review

James Jackson

Dined 6 days ago

We've heard of C&O for years, in the same hushed tones reserved for family secrets and arcane initiations. It's a must, a Charlottesville icon. It's dark and glorious and defies definition or explanation. Go, you Charlottesvillian. Don't ask or argue. Just go. Having been for our first time, I can safely say: we get it now. My fiancee and I had reservations Halloween night. We were ushered past gas lamps and a thick door into a dreamscape of candles, oak paneling, and thoughtful, talented staff (all in coordinated ghostly wedding apparel). We were given a corner table in a downstairs bar teeming with delicious smells and happy regulars. This place is clearly redolent in happy memories and good history. We split house bread, superb cocktails in last-century coupe glasses, steak chinois and duck confit gnocchi that was delicious beyond worss. C&O felt transportive, something special, magical, and meaningful, like a church or hidden garden. The place it holds in the hearts of Charlottesville makes complete sense now. I cannot recommend C&O more highly.

Austin's

4.7

4.7 (76)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Gloucester

About the restaurant

George Washington wrote of dining at his ancestral home. Now, Warner Hall invites all to do the same in its restaurant, Austin’s. Named for Augustine Warner, who was known to those closest to him as Austin, this dining experience is defined by history, refinement, and the lasting pleasure of gathering with those who matter most.

Set along the Severn River just beyond Virginia’s Historic Triangle, Austin’s offers sweeping waterfront views, spectacular sunsets, and seasonal cuisine that blends timeless Southern traditions with refined techniques showcasing the rich culinary traditions of Virginia's Tidewater region.

Reservations for dinner service, Thursday through Sunday, are strongly recommended and may now be secured via OpenTable or by contacting the Inn at 800.331.2720.

Top review

AntoinetteGold

Dined 6 days ago

Romantic ambience inside a historical home. Attentive service and excellent food. I ordered the risotto wild mushrooms and Parmesan. The rice was tender, creamy, and filling, while the mushrooms and cheese added complexity, earthiness, and saltiness. Austin’s is more than a restaurant. It is an experience.

Haywood's

4.8

4.8 (836)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Haywood’s offers a casual, lively dining experience with locally sourced seasonal cuisine, full bar, live piano jazz Friday and Saturday evenings, and a jazz combo Sunday evenings. Named in memory of a man who liked to eat well, loved Dixieland, jazz and big swing music, never met a stranger, and never saw a piano bar he didn’t like, Haywood’s is a great place to gather with family and friends.

Top review

JimmyGold

Dined 6 days ago

Our server Eric was great, the martinis were awesome, the food was delicious and the piano player was terrific, he made our night!

The Veranda

4.9

4.9 (219)

$31 to $50

Italian

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Veranda Trattoria, where the warm embrace of traditional Italian hospitality meets the sun-kissed shores of Virginia Beach. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant coastal city, our trattoria invites you on a culinary journey that combines the richness of Italian flavors with the laid-back charm of beachside living
The atmosphere is a perfect blend of rustic elegance and coastal comfort, creating a welcoming space for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings.
The Veranda Trattoria is not just a restaurant; it's a place where friends and family come together to savor exceptional food, share stories, and create lasting memories. Whether you're seeking a romantic date, a family celebration, or a casual dinner with friends, our trattoria is the perfect setting for every occasion

Top review

Mariella

Dined 4 days ago

One of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever been to in Virginia Beach. The servers are very pleasant. The ambiance is great. I highly recommend Veranda.

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