Explore Church Hill

Church Hill is the ultimate neighborhood: walkable to great shops and restaurants, home to a food scene that punches way above its weight, and with views of the Richmond skyline that you honestly just have to see for yourself. Neighbors know each other and wave on the sidewalk, and supporting our small business community

A decorative fountain with multiple tiers in a park, framed by overhanging tree branches, with a person sitting nearby using a phone and greenery extending into the distance.

Photo by Lindsay Biggs

And Church Hill proper is really just the starting point. The greater Church Hill area includes neighborhoods like Union Hill, Fairmount, Chimborazo, and more — each with its own personality and history, but all connected by the same strong sense of community. The CHA is proud to represent and serve all of it.

If you live here, you already know all this. If you're visiting, welcome — explore the streets, grab a bite, and see what makes this area so special. We think you'll get it pretty quickly.

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A church steeple with a cross on top is seen behind trees with red and orange leaves, on a sunny autumn day with a clear blue sky.

Our History

Photo by Lindsay Biggs

A vintage photograph of Libby Hill Park in Richmond, Virginia, with people walking along a paved path, surrounded by trees and grass, and the Robert E. Lee Monument visible in the background.

Richmond began in Church Hill: when the city was founded in 1737, it was named “Richmond” because the view of the James River from Libby Hill is nearly identical to the view of the Thames from Richmond Hill, London. After this, the city grid was laid out and the first church in town was constructed—St. John’s Church, completed in 1741, whose striking white steeple you’ll see as you come up Broad from Downtown. In 1775, Patrick Henry gave his famous “Liberty or death” speech during a Second Virginia Convention meeting in the church. From this central point, Church Hill grew. It’s the oldest residential neighborhood in the city that still survives, and was the first area in Richmond to be named an Old and Historic District (1957).

Of course, there is way too much that's happened in Church Hill during the past 285 years to encapsulate here, so we'll let some of these deeper resources speak for themselves:

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A peaceful park scene during sunset with a winding stone pathway, leafless trees, people sitting and enjoying the scenery, and a large house in the background with cars parked nearby.

Our Architecture

Photo by Lindsay Biggs

The 28-block grid of the town of Richmond that became Church Hill was originally laid out for William Byrd II in 1737 was difficult to access because of the hill’s steep grade and lack of cobbled roads, resulting in a lack of development for years. Steady residential development didn’t begin in earnest until the early 19th century. Even then, growth was slow across a large span of time, which speaks to the variety of styles of homes in Church Hill ranging from Art Deco to Colonial Revival.

In 1956, the Historic Richmond Foundation was formed, working to restore many of the houses that had fallen into disrepair and assist the city in adopting a historic zoning ordinance the following year.

Here are some additional resources on the unique architecture you can see all over the neighborhood:

A yellow multi-story building with bay windows and a corner entrance, located on a street corner. Several pedestrians walk along the sidewalk in front of the building, and there are street signs and trees nearby.

Our Businesses

Photo by Lindsay Biggs

With over scores of restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and other storefronts in the Church Hill and counting, there are endless ways enjoy the neighborhood while supporting small businesses.

For the classic Church Hill experience, head for The Hill Café, Millie's Diner, or Patrick Henry’s Pub. For fine dining, try Grisette, Alewife, or The Roosevelt, whose chef was just named a James Beard Award semifinalist. Pizza tonight? Pizza Bones and Secret Squares — sourdough and Detroit-style, respectively — have some of the best in the city. For good coffee and baked goods, it'll be award-winning Sub Rosa Bakery, Riverbend Roastery, Fat Rabbit, or Whisk. Craving barbecue? Find it at Frontier or Inner City Blues. An all vegan taqueria? We’ve got that too with Taco Vegana. Tiki bar? Emerald Lounge. New Zealand style hand pies? Proper Pie Co. New England style ice cream? Spotty Dog. And if you're just looking for a spacious patio to set up camp on, you can try most of the places already mentioned plus Union Market or Kahlo's. But there are many more!