Guidebook for Roanoke
Food Scene
Best parfait in town -- yogurt made in house.
Simple breakfast menu but delicious.
Huge, high-quality salads for a great price.
22 locals recommend
Bread Craft
24 Church Ave SWBest parfait in town -- yogurt made in house.
Simple breakfast menu but delicious.
Huge, high-quality salads for a great price.
Gorgeous ambience when you want to feel like you're celebrating a special occasion. Outstanding Italian food, house-made ginger beer, and great cocktails.
30 locals recommend
Fortunato
104 Kirk Ave SWGorgeous ambience when you want to feel like you're celebrating a special occasion. Outstanding Italian food, house-made ginger beer, and great cocktails.
Italian & Venezuelan cuisine that is super affordable yet with a high class vibe. Good wine selection. Sometimes you can catch a Salsa dance night here with Salsa Noke.
6 locals recommend
Leonore Restaurant
128 Campbell Ave SWItalian & Venezuelan cuisine that is super affordable yet with a high class vibe. Good wine selection. Sometimes you can catch a Salsa dance night here with Salsa Noke.
Great deals on weekdays, killer American food for hungry people, and awesome drink selection. This is a place where locals hang out. Converts into a popular club by night.
43 locals recommend
Martin's Downtown
413 1st St SWGreat deals on weekdays, killer American food for hungry people, and awesome drink selection. This is a place where locals hang out. Converts into a popular club by night.
Cheapest food in town. I don't think the prices have changed since maybe the 80s! It's definitely an experience to have, for better or worse. It seats only 10 people at a time and is open 24/7. It has its own code language: A "bowl" is chili. A "bowl with" has diced onions added. "Sissy sauce" is ketchup. Busiest time is right when the clubs close, around 2am.
26 locals recommend
Texas Tavern
114 Church Ave SWCheapest food in town. I don't think the prices have changed since maybe the 80s! It's definitely an experience to have, for better or worse. It seats only 10 people at a time and is open 24/7. It has its own code language: A "bowl" is chili. A "bowl with" has diced onions added. "Sissy sauce" is ketchup. Busiest time is right when the clubs close, around 2am.
Local Roots
1314 Grandin Rd SWAn upscale option for foodies and socially conscious travelers.
BUSHI
1 Campbell Avenue Southwestbecause POKE BOWLS and SUSHI BURRITOS!!!
The Green Goat is dog-friendly! It's right off the Roanoke River Greenway if you're in the mood for a stroll, and there is park all around. This is a local favorite. There's also a raft and bike rental place right there. Great food for very reasonable prices.
34 locals recommend
The Green Goat
802 Wiley Dr SWThe Green Goat is dog-friendly! It's right off the Roanoke River Greenway if you're in the mood for a stroll, and there is park all around. This is a local favorite. There's also a raft and bike rental place right there. Great food for very reasonable prices.
Want to catch the game? This is the nearest place to go that does NOT have a greasy dive-bar feel. Reasonable prices with all the American favorites, burgers to quesadillas. Great weekday deals. Good beer and whiskey selection. On the classy side of sports bars. You might catch a live performance. Cool part of town in Grandin Village: take a stroll to the Roanoke Co-op or infamous Black Dog Salvage, or catch an indie movie at Grandin Theater.
11 locals recommend
Village Grill
1802 Memorial Ave SWWant to catch the game? This is the nearest place to go that does NOT have a greasy dive-bar feel. Reasonable prices with all the American favorites, burgers to quesadillas. Great weekday deals. Good beer and whiskey selection. On the classy side of sports bars. You might catch a live performance. Cool part of town in Grandin Village: take a stroll to the Roanoke Co-op or infamous Black Dog Salvage, or catch an indie movie at Grandin Theater.
Shopping
Jon, the host, manages this store. He carries on-the-go snacks and food items if you want to take some on a hike or picnic. Also, great fruit slushies, cheap/delicious coffee, and more. Wonderful drink selection for beer & wine to-go (and priced competitively) and great cocktail mixers and tons of other drinks.
16 locals recommend
Downtown Roanoke, Inc.
213 Market St SEJon, the host, manages this store. He carries on-the-go snacks and food items if you want to take some on a hike or picnic. Also, great fruit slushies, cheap/delicious coffee, and more. Wonderful drink selection for beer & wine to-go (and priced competitively) and great cocktail mixers and tons of other drinks.
Hit up the downtown Market, especially on a Saturday morning. Always bustling with artisans, local boutiques, and yummy food!
9 locals recommend
Market Square Southeast
Market Square SoutheastHit up the downtown Market, especially on a Saturday morning. Always bustling with artisans, local boutiques, and yummy food!
Lakeside Plaza
141-179 Electric RdThis is the closest large grocery store (Kroger) with the most offerings.
Drinks & Nightlife
Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
41 locals recommend
Parkway Brewing Company
739 Kessler Mill Rd Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
54 locals recommend
Big Lick Brewing Company
409 Salem Ave SW Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
14 locals recommend
Soaring Ridge Craft Brewery
Check closing time on all breweries. Only food is from food trucks... which, we have some pretty awesome ones in Roanoke.
Best late-night selection of fantastic beer. Upscale vibe and food always available.
24 locals recommend
Blue 5 Restaurant
312 2nd St SWBest late-night selection of fantastic beer. Upscale vibe and food always available.
Word-of-mouth-only speakeasy. Hands down best craft cocktails in town, and prices not as high as you'd expect. It's right beside the restaurant, Fortunato.
6 locals recommend
Stellina
104 Kirk Ave SWWord-of-mouth-only speakeasy. Hands down best craft cocktails in town, and prices not as high as you'd expect. It's right beside the restaurant, Fortunato.
Arts & Culture
Great for the family... aquariums, museums (even an interactive pinball museum!), and butterfly garden. Affordable or free, depending on the activity. Also home of Mill Mountain Theater...check out when their next performance is! You can also go to the rooftop and find one of the best views in town. Yoga on the rooftop on Wednesday mornings.
47 locals recommend
Center in the Square
1 Market Square SEGreat for the family... aquariums, museums (even an interactive pinball museum!), and butterfly garden. Affordable or free, depending on the activity. Also home of Mill Mountain Theater...check out when their next performance is! You can also go to the rooftop and find one of the best views in town. Yoga on the rooftop on Wednesday mornings.
It's beautiful, free to enter, has a cute cafe, and there are always interesting events for both education and leisure. Sometimes there are free movies, even. Check out their Facebook page for the latest.
100 locals recommend
Taubman Museum of Art
110 Salem Ave SEIt's beautiful, free to enter, has a cute cafe, and there are always interesting events for both education and leisure. Sometimes there are free movies, even. Check out their Facebook page for the latest.
Find slam poetry / spoken word at Soul Sessions at 7:30pm on Wednesday nights. 16 West Marketplace also boasts an eclectic mix of shops and food.
16 West Marketplace
16 Church Ave SWFind slam poetry / spoken word at Soul Sessions at 7:30pm on Wednesday nights. 16 West Marketplace also boasts an eclectic mix of shops and food.
Essentials
Dollar General
3323 Melrose Ave NWForget something? Get it here. It's like a block away.
Parks & Nature
Most popular in the area -- 4 hours round trip and about 15 minutes away.
116 locals recommend
McAfee Knob
Appalachian National Scenic TrailMost popular in the area -- 4 hours round trip and about 15 minutes away.
The Roanoke River Greenway has many access points that are nearby: Bridge Street, Memorial Ave (near the famous Black Dog Salvage), Wasena Ave (near Green Goat Restaurant and Wasena Tap Room), and several others. Walk, bike, skate or skip along the Roanoke River, or have a picnic at an adjacent park.
18 locals recommend
Roanoke River Greenway
Roanoke River GreenwayThe Roanoke River Greenway has many access points that are nearby: Bridge Street, Memorial Ave (near the famous Black Dog Salvage), Wasena Ave (near Green Goat Restaurant and Wasena Tap Room), and several others. Walk, bike, skate or skip along the Roanoke River, or have a picnic at an adjacent park.
Sightseeing
The Mill Mountain Star is the inspiration for names of many businesses and organizations, and why we're nicknamed the "Star City." Hike or drive to the top, and behold one of the best views in town of the whole city and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
181 locals recommend
Mill Mountain Star
2000 J B Fishburn PkwyThe Mill Mountain Star is the inspiration for names of many businesses and organizations, and why we're nicknamed the "Star City." Hike or drive to the top, and behold one of the best views in town of the whole city and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Elmwood Park is home to the Roanoke Art Walk -- makes for a nice stroll through town and is very close to the market area of Downtown Roanoke. There's also a playground for children and our main city library nestled beside it that was recently renovated. During the summer there is some event going on here nearly every weekend -- which may be fun to jump in on, or you may need to purchase tickets in advance. Check downtownroanoke.org.
19 locals recommend
Elmwood Park
505 S Jefferson StElmwood Park is home to the Roanoke Art Walk -- makes for a nice stroll through town and is very close to the market area of Downtown Roanoke. There's also a playground for children and our main city library nestled beside it that was recently renovated. During the summer there is some event going on here nearly every weekend -- which may be fun to jump in on, or you may need to purchase tickets in advance. Check downtownroanoke.org.