Staunton After Dark

---

You’ve filled your day with all Staunton has to offer, but what do you do after the sun goes down? Whether you’re looking for an after-hours snack, a craft cocktail, or the sounds of a local band, Staunton has your ideal late-night eatery, watering hole, or place to gather. Small-town evenings can pack a big punch, even after 9 pm: here’s your guide to Staunton after dark!

Baja Bean Co.

Cantina Hours:

• Sunday – Thursday: midnight
• Friday – Saturday: 2 am
• Happy hour: 4-7 pm

Baja Bean Co. is where the Staunton night owls hang out after everyone else has headed home to roost. Plan to connect with all your friends as you eat Tex-Mex, craft beer, and cocktails. Check Facebook for scheduled live music, and don’t miss fun Thursday night trivia competitions, like tonight’s Taylor Swift/Shakespeare mashup!

Bricks Restaurant and Pub

Open until:

• Kitchen closes at 1 am
• Last call at 1:30 am
• Happy hour from 5-8 pm

Is your night ending late? Bricks is a cool, downtown place to get a drink, a pizza, and play pool even after many establishments have already closed. You’ll love the homemade pizza dough, the rotating taps list, and the selection of wine and cider. Brownie bites and donuts with dipping sauce are on the menu for dessert. Stop in for Monday night trivia with prizes for the top three teams. Winners earn a $30 gift card! Bricks shows the big games and also hosts fun events like Thursday night karaoke, pool and beer pong tournaments, DJ nights, open mic nights, and metal nights.

Queen City Bistro

Open until:

• Tuesday – Thursday: 9 pm
• Friday – Saturday: 1 am (Late night menu only after 9)

Casual diners and foodies alike praise the food at Queen City Bistro for its depth of flavor and quality. The bar serves craft beer, wines by the glass or bottle, and an inspired menu of craft cocktails. You’ll enjoy the attentive service, the Italian and Southern-influenced dishes on the menu, and the live music (jazz every Thursday night until Jazz in the Park season). 

The Green Room

Open until:

• Sunday – Monday and Wednesday – Thursday: 9 pm
• Friday – Saturday: midnight

You don’t have to end the conversation early when you meet your friends for beverages and shareable snacks at the Green Room. There’s a nice selection of wine, beers, sandwiches, customizable cheese boards, and loaded tots. Stop in before or after a show at the Blackfriars. The Green Room participates in the Shop and Dine Out Downtown program, so you can enjoy the spring air after dark.

Accordia 

Open until:

• Monday – Tuesday: 9 pm
• Thursday – Saturday: 11 pm
• Sunday: 8 pm

Tasting wine and snacking is an event when you come to Accordia Wine Bar & Bistro. The space offers over 600 wines, beers, and ciders, but Accordia’s mission is not only to help you choose an amazing beverage, but also to help you pair it with foods that highlight the unique flavors (and help you recognize and describe those flavors). Inspired by international culture, the atmosphere is relaxed and the food includes sandwiches, shareables, small plates and bar-style snacks like tapas and pintxos. Stop by on Tuesday or Friday evenings for guided wine tastings that focus on global “organic and low-intervention wines.” The tastings go in-depth about wine production, flavor and sensory analysis, and more. See the schedule for upcoming mini master classes and chances to enjoy tastings with wine producers.

The Junction

Open until:

• Thursday: 10 pm
• Friday – Saturday: 11 pm

If you’re looking for a stylish but comfy place to kick back with your besties after hours, you’ll love The Junction, where the atmosphere is equal parts laid-back and fancy. The beautiful space is saturated with color, softly lit, and invites guests to sink back in cushy sofas or conversation-inviting arrangements of plush armchairs. There’s even an area set up for board game activity. Pick from a menu of handcrafted cocktails, beer, and wine. You can also indulge in specialty non-alcoholic cocktails and share appetizers or entrees from the Depot menu.

Byers Street Bistro

Open until:

• Sunday – Thursday: 10 pm
• Friday – Saturday: 11 pm

Tucked into a historic warehouse space, the Byers Street Bistro makes a fine destination to savor a nightcap after a movie or play. Choose your seat at the bar, high-topped table, booth, or table on the patio, and get ready to bond with your buds. The restaurant serves pizza, burgers, handhelds, and shareable apps like the Southern-style fried pickles. Order your favorite cocktail, or try one of the new spring cocktails like the Butterfly 75, made with butterfly pea flower infused gin. 

Ciders from Mars

Open until:

• Wednesday – Saturday: 10 pm
• Sunday: 8 pm

No need to wait for a spaceship when you can visit Mars in downtown Staunton and enjoy all the craft cider and cider cocktails you want. Ciders from Mars makes single-varietals and blends from Virginia apples and ferments them onsite, a process you can see from the taproom. If you’d rather sit outside, the space has a big deck that overlooks the Staunton wharf, perfect for people watching. Ciders from Mars hosts regular live music along with art markets and various pop-up events.

Marino’s Lunch

Open until:

• Tuesday – Saturday: 10 pm
• Jam Sessions are Tuesday & Friday 7:30 pm
• Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday: 3:30 – 5:30 pm

Marino’s Lunch is a Staunton institution. Updated and under new ownership, the century-old restaurant and bar has the same down-to-Earth vibe locals have been calling home for years. Don’t skip the bluegrass jam sessions, which are a great way to listen to live, spontaneous sounds and to meet the musicians who make them. The patio is open for the season. Look for a full bar, a specialty drink menu, and a big menu of casual fare like burgers, handhelds, and blue-plate specials.

Redbeard Brewing

Open until 10 pm

You won’t sit staring glumly into your beer when you order one at Redbeard Brewing Company. Partly, this is because the craft beer is so good, made in small batches with high quality malts and hops, but also because there’s always something going on in the taproom. From live music on Fridays and Saturday, to book discussions, bad movie screenings, karaoke, and D&D nights, we promise you’ll have fun.

Put down the remote and don’t change into your pajamas just yet. You have plenty of options when it comes to fun in Staunton after dark.