Michie Tavern
683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, Virginia
A Virginia Historic Landmark, Michie Tavern has offered food, drink, and lodging for more than 200 years—and hasn't changed much since it first opened in 1784. Inside, servers wear period outfits to serve Southern Midday Fare and invite you to the tavern's oldest structures to learn about its history.
The tavern is just down the road from Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, and makes an ideal stop for lunch before or after seeing the National Historic Landmark. Inside, the main dining room flanks a bar room serving drinks and sitting areas: the Public Room, with period furnishing and 18th-century games, and the Porch with top views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can grab a bite and collect mementos at the Tavern Shop and General Store on your way out.
The tavern dining room is wheelchair accessible via a ramp; the 1784 Pub and the Tavern Shop are not. Gluten-free options are limited to baked chicken and a few side dishes. The tavern offers discounts for military personnel, Virginia residents, and visitors with admission tickets to Monticello, James Monroe’s Highland, or James Madison’s Montpelier.
Michie Tavern is less than one mile (1.6 kilometers) from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello on State Route 53 and about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of central Charlottesville along State Route 20 and State Route 53. Public transport will get you only as far as Lakeside—your best bet is driving.
Visit from 11:30am to 3pm daily for the Midday Fare lunch—the tavern doesn't serve dinner. The 18th-century style 1784 Pub serves Virginia wines, beers, hard ciders, and light bar fare on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 3:30pm to 7pm. During the Christmas Holiday evenings, the tavern opens for special Yuletide dinners.
Michie Tavern isn't the only Old Virginia establishment in Charlottesville. If you’re looking for more meals and drinks in historic buildings, you can try the locavore fare served in the Ivy Inn Restaurant's 19th-century dining room or grab a bite at The Virginian, among the oldest restaurants in Charlottesville.
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