10 Fantastic And Affordable First Date Locations On VCU's Campus | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 Fantastic And Affordable First Date Locations On VCU's Campus

You don't have to pay to get to know someone!

124
10 Fantastic And Affordable First Date Locations On VCU's Campus
Wikipedia Commons

What makes a first date location amazing? Much of it depends on your preferences, but a cozy and quiet ambiance is certainly ideal: talking one-on-one with a romantic interest is difficult enough without having to yell over music (I'm looking at you, Hibachi Box). And, of course, affordability and accessibility (for me, that means travelable without a car) is a must.

Here are 10 great places near VCU to take someone on a first date, in no particular order of value. Some of them are restaurants and cafes, others are shops, and some are cute (and free) areas to walk around!

1. Harrison Street Café

Good eats. No meats. Harrison Street Café is a vegan and vegetarian breakfast and lunch restaurant with a great selection of coffees, lattes, and teas. They used to be part-bookshop, and they still have that homey atmosphere about them. There are plenty of cozy two-person tables and booths available, and just enough noise to talk at a comfortable volume but avoid those extra-silent awkward silences. You can find their full menu here.

2. Lamplighter Coffee Roasters

Lamplighter has 3 locations in Richmond, the closest to VCU being their Morris Street location (it's less than a 10-minute walk from the Commons or Cabell). This location has an adorable (and spacious) patio in addition to its indoor seating. In addition to all of their coffee, lattes, and free water, they have a selection of pastries. Visit their website here.

3. Hollywood Cemetery

This is definitely an option for those of us trying to impress goth girls. It may sound spooky, but Hollywood Cemetery and its surrounding neighborhoods are beautiful places to wander around aimlessly. If you really want to up the spooky factor, you can stop by Rest in Pieces, a taxidermy, oddities, and occult store, which is only 2 blocks away. Hollywood Cemetery is open on 7 days a week from 8am-5pm, and it's free!

4. The Lab by Alchemy Coffee

VCUArts students should be familiar with this one--it's located right next to the Arts Depot on Broad Street! They have a quiet, sunny, and airy atmosphere and an extensive menu of coffee, tea, and lattes. Last time I visited, I drank one of the best chai tea lattes I've ever had. Given its location, you could grab your coffee and head to Number #5 on this list: Richmond Book Shop.

5. Richmond Book Shop

This business is also located on busy Broad Street, and is old, having been at their current location for 50 years. The atmosphere is cozy and dusty, and the service is friendly. They sell books, posters, records, and a mishmash of other things, all for thrift-shop-level prices. This is the type of place one could go to avoid intense, one-on-one conversation, and instead have a more casual, walking date.

6. Carytown

Carytown is a great place to wander around and stop by all the storefronts. The only downside is that, as a VCU student, it's a bit of a hike from the dorms. But if you can manage to get down there, you'll find places like Tokyo Market, Byrd Theater, various boutiques and vintage consignment shops, and a multitude of restaurants ranging from Asian fusion to gourmet burgers to Carytown Cupcakes. Incidentally, Carytown is right by the VMFA, another great place for a date.

7. The VMFA

The Virginia Museum of Fine Art is a great way to spend a few hours--and it's free! You may decide to pay for special exhibits or for a meal at their restaurant or cafe, but permanent collection is free and open to the public. It's definitely a more romantic option, though some might consider it a bit dry. There's a small sculpture garden and the surrounding neighborhoods are historic and beautiful, so they make for a great place to walk.

8. Various Bubble Tea Cafés

There are quite a few bubble tea cafes around VCU and throughout Richmond. Some include TT Lounge (by Cary and Belvidere Dorms), Kung Fu Tea (near the Walmart Express), and Gigi Tea Time (on Broad Street, across the street from Kroger). For first dates, TT Lounge is my favorite because it has a comfy couch, a TV that often plays music videos, and various decks of cards and checkerboards for customer use.

9. Non-Cabell Starbucks

The Starbucks in Cabell isn't terrible, but to me, it isn't ideal for a first date: it's a little too busy and loud. Depending on the time of day, it might take 30 minutes or more to wait in line, order, and wait for your drink to be ready. However, the Starbucks in Cary and Belvidere has a much different vibe: it's relatively quiet, sunny, and uncrowded. Starbucks, in general, are an easy option for first dates!

10. Don't overthink it: your apartment or dining hall is fine!

A convenient and affordable option is to invite someone to join you doing something you normally do: chilling with friends and watching TV, making food at home, or using your swipes at a dining hall. Maybe you could shake it up and go to Jonah's instead of Shafer, but the concept is the same: a first date is about developing a relationship with a new person, so all you need is them!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196604
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18669
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460729
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28231
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments