Breakfast to Brews: A Day Of Dining in Staunton 

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Staunton is one of the Shenandoah Valley’s leading food destinations, and we’ve developed a flavor-packed roadmap highlighting its hotspots. Here’s how food tourists, weekend day-trippers, and even locals can sink their teeth into a Staunton itinerary stuffed with cozy cafés, sidewalk patios, and white-linen fine dining. We promise to keep you well fed from breakfast to brews on your day of dining in Staunton.

Breakfast

Quick: Gear up for the day in The By & By, a cozy coffee shop beloved by college students and theater-goers that’s known for its fair-trade coffee, fruit smoothies, and bagel breakfast sandwiches. Great for a quiet morning start or a grab-and-go bite with your dog in the pet-friendly beer garden.

• Recommended dish: Everything bagel with cream cheese + iced latte.

Casual: Bright and welcoming, Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery, a gluten-free restaurant, serves wholesome breakfast wraps, quiche, sandwiches, and smoothies. Getting a late start? No worries–breakfast is served until 5 pm!

• Recommended dish: Oatmeal Supreme (oatmeal, dried fruits, walnuts, your choice of whole, almond, or oat milk + Staunton Coffee Company coffee.

Fancy: Latin Soul Staunton is a colorful Salvadoran café offering globally inspired breakfasts in a cheerful space. There’s a big, covered patio to enjoy your food on pretty mornings.

• Recommended dish: Salvadoran breakfast (eggs, fried plantains, cheese, refried beans, sour cream, sausage, avocado, tortillas)

Lunch

Quick: Chicano Boy Taco is a local favorite for fast-casual burritos and tacos with bold, scratch-made flavors.

• Recommended dish: sweet potato and black bean bowl with tomatillo, cilantro, lime salsa + Mexican Coke + cocoa ancho cake.

Casual: Byers Street Bistro is close to the action in the historic Wharf district. This lively spot features a patio, comfort food, and solid Southern lunch offerings.

• Recommended dish: fried oyster po’boy made with Southern fried oysters with lettuce, tomato, and remoulade on focaccia + a peach fizz summer cocktail

Fancy: Zynodoa is an elegant, farm-to-table restaurant that offers seasonally inspired Southern cuisine in a sleek, metropolitan atmosphere. While Zynodoa doesn’t serve lunch during the week, it is open for weekend brunch from 10 am–2 pm.

• Recommended dish: rock shrimp & grits made with Farm & Sparrow tuxpeno grits, bell peppers & onions, Autumn Olive Farm sausage, and cajun tomato broth + a classic (or spicy) bloody mary

Afternoon Snack

Bijou is an elegant bistro that serves a small menu of seasonal soups and creative sweets with coffee, beer, or wine by the glass or bottle. 

• Recommended dish: Summer Thyme Sin – vanilla ice cream, navel orange olive oil, apricot white balsamic, fresh thyme, and flaky salt.

Stop into the inviting Green Room for relaxed live music, trivia, or just good conversation and cocktails.

• Recommended dish: Season’s Yield Soft Pretzel + Loaded Tater Tots

Meet your friends at Accordia, a chic, family-friendly wine bar that’s perfect for midafternoon grazing, sipping, and learning about your food and wine.

• Recommended dish: Charcuterie board + salmon tapas + glass of dry rosé.

Dinner

Casual: Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia favorite Remedy Burger is a burger joint with a casual vibe and high-quality ingredients. They specialize in crispy, juicy smash burgers, kids’ trays, and beer, wine, and cocktails.

• Recommended dish: Beverley Blue Burger with blue cheese, mango chutney, red onion, and arugula + truffle fries + Staunton mule.

Fancy: Chop House Tavern is a polished but cozy steakhouse featuring seasonal menus of locally sourced ingredients and delicious steaks.

• Recommended dish: Tavern Crab Dip + 12 oz ribeye with Duck Fat Fries and house-made peach ketchup.

Special Occasion: Maude & the Bear’s modern, seasonal 4 or 7-course tasting menus with optional hand-selected wine pairings emphasize local ingredients, unexpected pairings, and exquisite flavors and presentation. For an even more intimate experience, try the Kitchen Table experience, where chef and staff guide you through the meal and discuss inspiration and process.

• Recommended dish: Whatever is on the chef’s seven-course menu that night!

Dessert

Cold: The Split Banana is Staunton’s award-winning downtown gelato shop known for its creative rotating flavors.

• Recommended dish: chocolate hazelnut + coffee toffee in a waffle cone.

Warm: Wright’s Dairy Rite is a Staunton classic, full of 1950s charm and comfort food, which you can enjoy in the restaurant or in your car, since it was recently named one of the top ten original drive-in restaurants in the country.

• Recommended dish: Wright’s Wheelie, a warm glazed donut topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and your choice of toppings.

After-Dinner Drinks

Quick: Marino’s Lunch is known for its casual and welcoming atmosphere, comfort food, bar with specialty drinks, and regular live music. Check out the bluegrass jam sessions on Tuesday and Friday nights.

• Recommended drink: Marino’s Punch (Bacardi and Myers rum, pineapple, orange, and lime juices, and grenadine).

Casual: Along with a delicious menu of fresh seafood, Blu Point Seafood serves oyster shooters, regional craft beer and ciders, wine, and classic cocktails with local twists.

• Recommended drink: BLU Berry Lemonade (Absolut Vodka, St-Germaine Elderflower blueberry puree, fresh squeezed lemon)

Upscale: The Junction is a stylish space located in the historic Staunton train station that invites visitors to relax in comfortable plush chairs and sofas arranged in intimate conversation groupings. The Junction offers handcrafted cocktails, curated wines, imported craft beers, and even specialty non-alcoholic options.

• Recommended drink: Cherry Bourbon Smash (Makers Mark Kentucky Bourbon Whisky, tart cherry juice, sour).

We’ve listed a few here, but be sure to check out all of our restaurants, lounges, wine bars and breweries. Staunton serves up a dining experience as rich and varied as its history. Let your tastebuds lead the way, and make plans to visit again the next time you’re hungry!