Start your weekend early and give yourself time to relax and explore the area before the main event.
Check in: The 10th Street Bed and Breakfast
The 10th Street Bed and Breakfast is Black-owned and centrally located, making it a great homebase for exploring Monticello, the Downtown Mall, and a number of other great spots on this list. Plus, it's cozy -- giving you that perfect home away from home feeling for the weekend.
Afternoon: Explore the Downtown Mall
Spend an afternoon exploring the Downtown Mall, browsing locally owned shops like Rock Paper Scissors. Purchase some unique stationery, gifts, and keepsakes before heading over to Stella’s Cuisine for lunch. This cozy soul food restaurant serves up favorites like fried chicken, rich sides, and generous portions. Stella's is located inside York Place, a building with its own Black-owned legacy on the Mall.
Dinner: Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen
Kick off the weekend with dinner at Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen on Emmet Street North, known for comforting dishes like chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits in a warm, welcoming setting.
This is the day the whole trip is built around. Here's how to fill it with history, nature, and good food.
Brunch: MarieBette Cafe & Bakery
Start the morning with coffee and pastries (or a full brunch) at MarieBette in the Rose Hill neighborhood. The croissants alone are worth the trip!
Late Morning: Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Open Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center is a meaningful way to ground your day in the history and legacy of Charlottesville's Black community. Take your time with the permanent exhibit and whatever's on in the rotating gallery, then stop by the museum gift shop before you go. When you're ready for a bite, Order Up! is onsite serving up local favorites like their award-winning cheesesteak and the original Cville Dog.
Afternoon: A Day Trip to Scottsville
About 25 minutes south of Charlottesville, Scottsville makes for an easy, worthwhile afternoon. Start at We Grow, a Black woman-owned flower and plant shop on Valley Street. Browse fresh floral arrangements and houseplants.
Then take some time to wander the town's quaint downtown shops. Get out on the James River for kayaking, tubing, and canoeing, or if you'd rather stay on land, the Totier Creek Reservoir trail is a gentle, scenic hike with plenty of views.
An Elevated Evening: Dinner at The Ridley
Close out the day with an upscale dinner at The Ridley, inside The Draftsman hotel on West Main Street. The restaurant pays homage to Dr. Walter Ridley, the first Black student to earn a doctoral degree from UVA and serves Southern-inspired fare with a seafood-forward menu in a polished, modern setting.
Ease into your last day before heading home.
Morning Coffee: Shenandoah Joe's
Start the morning with coffee and a pastry at Shenandoah Joe's before you check out.
Afternoon: Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA
Take a quiet, unhurried stop at the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers on UVA's Grounds. It's free and open around the clock, and honors the roughly 4,000 enslaved people who built and sustained the university.
Lunch: Royalty Eats
Close out the weekend with lunch at Royalty Eats, soul food that's worth the wait until they open at noon. From there, it's up to you, one more stroll down the Mall or browse the many shopping centers before you head home!