Coffee at the Virginian Hotel

The Virginian Hotel is unlike any other place in Lynchburg. Come here for an unforgettable cup of coffee!

Description: A vintage coffee shop set within a historic hotel

Price: $2-4

Great For: Coffee dates

Why it's a treasure: Incredible ambiance

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Elegant seating within the hotel's coffee bar

The Virginian Hotel was originally built in 1913, where it served as luxury lodging for Lynchburg visitors. Pictures from the era suggest that the Virginian proudly stood in a state of sophisticated bustle— black buggies lined Church Street, guests donned tuxedos and evening gowns, elegant chandeliers shimmered in the lobby. Sadly, the hotel came upon financial hardship and was forced to close in the '70s. The hotel was even repurposed for subsidized housing in the '80s. It seemed the grandeur of the hotel was forever lost.

But in 2017, Hilton acquired the property of the Virginian. The hotel was in dire need of renovation, so contractors slowly began to restore the Virginian to its original purpose. They kept an iconic staircase and wall detailing as original elements of the venue, while modernizing the space to become absolutely breathtaking. The finished product makes you feel transported back into the glitz and the glamor of the 20's, a truly singular experience in the city.

It's a delight to walk around the hotel and take in the sophistication of it all. It makes you feel oddly nostalgic for a time you've never even experienced. My favorite part of the Virginian though, is the charming little coffee shop near the main entrance. There are beautiful tiled floors, the kind that make you want to wear high-heels just so you can hear yourself parading around. Sweeping chandeliers and big bay windows illuminate the space with elegance, while jazz music quietly fills the room. Oh yes, and marble seems to be the building's most loved material. I spend much of my time here just gawking at the hotel's beauty.

The coffee shop itself serves a wide array of delicious local (and inexpensive!) goodies. Huge, gooey, probably-should-only-eat-half-cookies are sold for only a dollar, as are rows and rows of muffins. Their coffee is also excellent, though I've only had the Americano....it's so good, I can't bring myself to try anything else.

A modern twist on a classic venue

The Virginian is unlike any other coffee spot in Lynchburg. Laptops and headphones seem to be the plague of most shops in the city; it is rare to find a space where people come to actually connect with another person or to read a book with actual pages and texture. But the Virginian is different. I've made a quiet resolve to resist bringing any schoolwork here, simply because I don't want to spoil its elegance. Perhaps the marble and chandeliers aren't really what makes the Virginian feel so timeless. Maybe it's the long forgotten beauty of being present in a moment, of getting a cup of coffee simply to enjoy it, of delighting in a good conversation. Let's keep those whispers of a time before us within the Virginian.

Check here for pictures of the original Virginian Hotel: https://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/photos-the-virginian-hotel/collection_d629a7d4-ee8d-11e7-8841-47cb1c8fbeb7.html#42