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Basic City Beer

4.5 (46 reviews)
Open 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Basic City Beer Photos

BASIC CITY BEER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Basic City Beer

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Kathleen D.

Basic City is such a great neighborhood haunt in Manchester. Owners Sara and Curtis are great people, so it's easy to want to support them! They offer a nice variety of beers and non-alcoholic options, and they're starting to include guest taps, which is great. I prefer their sours. They also offer a nice private room that can be used for events or markets. I've attended more than a few events at BCB over the years since they took over the space and they've all been well put together. Prices are affordable and the vibes are good. I wouldn't hesitate to return.

Gianna S.

Basic city beer co is one of my favorite beer halls in Richmond. The space has a cool vibe, and lots of seating and they are extremely inclusive. They always have a lot of fun nonalcoholic options, my favorite is the Orange Dream they recently added to the selection. The pizzas are delicious, and service is quick! They also host awesome events and vendor markets for local businesses. I highly recommend going to visit during one of the markets!

Hip Hop in RVA
Cherry F.

The service was great! Friendly and informative bar tender. I appreciate his composure during my questions about the different brewery items I saw. It's like an adult history. I enjoyed the local flavor of chips and the meeting of new friends. There is an area for shows( which I attended). There was plenty of table space, dance room, and a beer pong table. This area was perfect for this Saturday night event. The sound system gave each artist life with no seen difficulties. The parking outside was sufficient out front and there was also off street parking as well. I love the transformation of a old warehouse into businesses. You won't be disappointed because it's definitely diversity in RVA and this represented well. See you soon

Pamela K.

Being semi new to the area it's always great to find a place you feel welcomed. Basic city has been that place for us! We took our dogs to the farmers market and then looked for a few places after but it was just scorching out. Basic city welcomes in your pups with open arms (and treats!) and they are allowed to be inside with you! We were having our house worked on and had to be out for 4 hours with the dogs another night and thought what better place to go so we head back got some good beer! The Tart Up is definitely my favorite at the moment but I will happily try all the new one they come out with. We enjoyed trivia, charcuterie and a ricotta and mushroom pizza! Highly recommend! It's a casual environment, there's tables, high tops, shuffleboard, corn hole! Something for everyone!

Haley Alyssa J.

I'm always happy to find another casual place to spend time with friends and enjoy a good beer. Basic City Beer definitely fits the bill! Tucked away in Manchester, the brewery is large with a taproom and outdoor patio with lots of seating on one side and a game room on the other. There is a decent amount of private parking behind the building as well as free street parking on the surrounding blocks. The atmosphere is very laid back and it was relatively quiet when I visited the taproom on a slow Saturday afternoon. There were small groups of friends like my own hanging out and chatting, and there were even dogs allowed inside. I loved the very industrial, almost steampunk-esque decor. The exposed brick walls and cement floors show the history of the building, and there are old pieces of machinery and gears, mannequins, abstract art, and other quirky, sculptural objects that give the space character. The staff is friendly, down-to-earth, and helpful when deciding on what beer you want. I've tried their DIPA, a lager, and a locally brewed coffee-infused stout and all were really enjoyable and reasonably priced. I will definitely be back.

Klara C.

Chill environment, there is a parking lot for the establishments in this area. I ordered a flight of 4. Katherine Kolsch - Super light and refreshing. Easy to drink and great for a hot day. Probably my favorite out of the 4. Thresh Hefeweizen - interesting aftertaste, not sure if I care for it. Slightly heavier than a normal hefeweizen. N&W Porter- you get the coffee notes in the smell but not too much in the taste. Definitely a Roasted flavor but not as dark as anticipated. Pretty good Porter. The Hornig Lager - not too much a flavor but it is easy to drink. Easy going music and staff.

Pepperoni Pizza
John T.

December 2022. What's goood babes. My friend and I visited this place for his birthday - and it's a gem. Recs are at the bottom. He's been here before so we ordered a pizza and quickly headed over to the ping pong tables hidden in the back. They do have some paddles available (not pro grade or anything, just for casual play - bring your own if you have some) and Jenga. From the entrance, you wouldn't know that there's a hidden play room in the back, so I do encourage you to check it out if you've been here before. A good place for friends and families too - if you have kids. We did come on a Thursday, so I can't recommend what days to come, however, I would assume they'd be more busier on weekends. We ordered a pepperoni pizza and it was fire. We played a couple of games and it was super chill. The staff who served us pizza was friendly and made some good conversation. Will definitely come back!! Recs: - Pepperoni Pizza - Drinks - Playing ping pong - Bringing friends

Here with JR
Emily B.

We went to basic city beer because they were having a great rainbow glow market with a punch of pop up vendors. The space is really cool and they had vendors inside and out. We also got a few beers! I enjoyed their sour. They also had cocktails if I remember correctly.

Arcade area
Andrew D.

It was another Wednesday night and I was finishing up work. My wife has been binge watching Friends for the first time and the prospect of going home only to watch her laugh hysterically as Ross frantically screams at Rachel that they were "On a break" loomed over me. I knew I needed to come up with an activity and quick. I began looking up trivia and saw that Basic City Beer had trivia from 7-9 which is that sweet spot of getting done at the perfect time so i could be home and asleep at a reasonable hour. Despite Basic City Beer being out in Manchester, it was not a bad drive at all. They have a full parking lot with plenty of spots. After exiting my car I walked up to the very large barn style door and pulled with all of my might only to realize that it was not in fact the main door and wasn't intended to be opened. After trying this several other times I was finally able to locate the main door (located in the center). Upon entry, I saw it was a good sized space with some industrial equipment still inside from it's previous life as a factory. There were board games available, TVs, couches, and plenty of tables. They had a good beer selection and I ultimately chose a dark raspberry beer that was delicious. The raspberry was not overpowering in the slightest and really accented the chocolate notes and other flavors. After grabbing my beer I began to explore a little bit and walked into one of the adjoining rooms to find an arcade with pinball machines, ping pong, pool, cornhole, skeeball, among various other arcade games and a large projection screen tv. Ping pong was free to play and the other games were very affordable. While they did not offer food while I was there, they were opening up an mexican restaurant in the space that should currently be serving food and I am anxious to try it. My only complaint was that there was only 1 bathroom and I can imagine that it may get a line as it gets more crowded. I will definitely be going back

Bar, vibe, architecture
Zach F.

Love the vibe, though Legends, much larger is just up the block, Basic is more of a beer nerd destination...chill, enjoy, bring the dog, more architecture/history here...

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Watch your credit cards here.. my card was used to close others accounts..their toast system credited my purchases to others accounts too

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Good beer, good atmosphere, great employees. Offered pizza and a game room. Now featuring TWO bathrooms.Nice place for a cozy evening.

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Brookfield

Brookfield

(2 reviews)

Downtown

Ordered a vanilla latte with almond milk. I always order this at any coffee shop. It tastes like…read morecardboard to me. I'm not sure what they did differently than what other coffee shops do, but it just didn't taste like what I ordered. Also, it's difficult to do work here since the music is extremely loud, overpowering the music I want to listen to on my headphones. So it's a great place to socialize and hang out! They have a few games in the back room. But if you're here to study or work, I wouldn't recommend it. The employees are super nice and kind, so I give an extra star for their hospitality.

Located downtown Richmond in the art district, Brookfield is the Bar/Restaurant/Cafe/Communal…read more gathering spot at the Graduate Hotel. It's a trendy and welcoming place for all. Mostly bar food on the menu, yet some intriguing and tasty options I saw. Like the avocado toast and crab cake sandwich. For me it was a Cowboy burger and wine night. Came out perfectly cooked to order at medium with deliciously crunchy fries. Malbec wine went great with the burger. They offer happy hour specials of $2 off beer selection. They serve until 11 pm. Also if staying in the hotel the coffee and tea are offered here. This is to encourage everyone to come down and take part in the communal environment. If you're Downtown come check this spot out, and most definitely if you're staying at the hotel, enjoy a happy hour special and make some friends!

Mekong - Pho Sate

Mekong

(754 reviews)

$$

My friend and I stopped for late lunch on Monday, and this place blew my mind! I was told…read morebeforehand that this place has huge selection of beer, and it was true. I wasn't feeling drinks, so I only got food food. We shared an order of Fresh Spring Rolls and each got a bowl of Pho. I typically get Bun Bo Hue at a Vietnamese restaurant, but they didn't have it. I settled with Pho Sate after looking through Yelp pictures, and it did not disappoint! I finished every drop of the broth as it was hitting so hard. The broth is both flavorful and spicy, which I love :) The service was pretty great. I wish they gave me more napkins because I was crying with my nose eating Pho Sate. I love the decorations and how the restaurant is set up. I'd love to be back here next time I visit Richmond.

I had heard a lot of this place and finally got to try it while in Richmond. The menu is very…read moreextensive so it's hard to pick what you want with so many options. This is what we got: Crispy Spring Roll: perfectly cooked classic spring roll. Pan fried Pork Dumplings: these were average. They were fried properly and felt they were pre-made and warmed in the microwave Chim Cut Quay: whenever i see quail on the menu i get it. The portion size was good but the quail was very tough to eat. Typically quail is tender and juicy but this was dry and tough. Bo Xao Thap Cam: This was your typical Beef with Vegetables. It was decent and the sauce was flavorful. Overall it's an average place. Definitely not worth going out of the way.

Westham Tavern - Roasted Lamb rack on a bed of sweet potato puree, buttered romanesco, arugula, chimchurri ...

Westham Tavern

(13 reviews)

Downtown

After a long day of flying, I really just wanted to order room service and relax. Westham Tavern…read moreabsolutely delivered -- literally and figuratively. This is the restaurant in the lobby of the Omni, and their room service menu has a really solid variety. Appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, fish, chicken, steak, seafood, other meat options, plus plenty of sides and desserts. There's something for whatever mood you're in. For my appetizer I ordered the fried green tomatoes. I'm very picky about fried green tomatoes because if they're not done right, they can be greasy and heavy. These were not. They were thick wedges of firm green tomatoes in a light batter, stacked with a spread of pimento cheese and finished with a drizzle of honey. The balance of savory and sweet worked really well, and the texture was exactly what I look for -- crisp outside, tender yet firm inside. For my entrée I chose the roasted lamb rack. It came as two double ribs over a sweet potato purée that had a subtle hint of cinnamon -- really nice flavor without being overpowering. The lamb was cooked to the right temperature, juicy and tender, with a light chimichurri and vegetables alongside. I also ordered the grilled corn succotash as a side -- corn, beans, and tomato. It was fresh and bright and complemented the richness of the lamb perfectly. This is my second time dining here. The first time I had breakfast out on the Westham Porch, and both experiences have been very pleasant. The service has been consistent, the food is thoughtfully prepared, and it's a great option whether you're dining downstairs or ordering up to your room.

I had the best meal from beginning to end!! To start, I had a Manhattan. It was great! The house…read moresalad was a beautiful mix of veggies. Instead of the buttermilk popcorn dressing, I had the Avocado Caesar - just delicious! I had the Cast Iron Rockfish, which came with succotash, forbidden rice, and a beurre blanc sauce. This fish had a great sear. The nuttiness of the forbidden rice was delightful. The succotash was a great twist. For dessert, I had the River City S'more. It was excellent!! Myriah was my server and she did a great job of answering questions and checking on me. They have bar seating, along with some tables. I was able to eat and watch football - a win, win!

Thirsty Joes Draft House - WiFi password: zzaam.com

Thirsty Joes Draft House

(14 reviews)

$$

Carytown

RVA Draft Room is a pretty cool concept! All of their offerings are self-pour​ and you pay by the…read moreounce. They have a variety of glassware on hand in different sizes, so it's easy to create your own flight or to just pour a full pint. I had never visited a similar establishment in the past, so I had about 20 questions on how to operate everything. Here's the rundown: 1) Walk up to the cashier and give them your credit card. They will swipe it, give it back, and provide a card to access the taps. 2) Check the TV screen for the full digital listing of their available taps, or walk right up to the taps and read each individually. You can click on the beer name for a full description, including style, price per ounce, and abv. 3) Pick a glass, place the access card in the little slot, be sure you're on the main screen, and then pull the tap handle that corresponds to​ the beer. Each screen has two, with the taps beneath. Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle unless you're pouring cider, in which case it doesn't really matter. 4) Take your card, pick a seat or stand, and drink your beer. Repeat. 5) When you're ready to leave, walk back up to the cashier, choose your method of payment (I chose to just leave it on the same card...easy), select a tip, sign, and you're good to go. I tried six samples during my time there -- all about 3-4 ounces or less -- and paid $12 pre-tip. This is an excellent place to try a variety of beers. I imagine most names are recognizable...they carry stuff from Ardent and Isley, among other local and regional spots, but others aren't the easiest to find, such as Funky Buddha. RVA Draft Room is in the same open-format building as Zzaam, a tea place I forget the name of, and Sweet & Sassy BBQ. It's also centrally situated in Carytown. I didn't like the seating...I found it really uncomfortable. I think they need to invest in purse hooks and perhaps some stools with backs. I had to keep standing up to avoid hurting my back. Beyond the subpar seating, everything else was nice, and I think it's cool that they offer free tasting events as well. I'm sure I'll return at some point!

If you are looking for casual food options but also want a drink... this is probably your spot…read more There is Zzaam where you can get Korean food and then Sweet and Saucy if you want BBQ.... there is also a drink/dessert spot Kokee Tea where you can get bubble tea, or ice cream in a puffle cone. Basically you can sit at any of the spots each little restaurant gives you a number if you ordered anything and they deliver to your table. If you want beer you will need to see the attendant and get a card so you can self serve yourself beer, cider or wine. Supposedly they cap you at 64 oz but as long as you are not wasted of anything they say they can override it if you get to that point. As far as the spot goes.... it's very family friendly. Though I wish it was bigger than what it is. I also don't get why a lot of beer places are going for bar chairs and table tops instead of regular height tables and chairs. That would be my only complaint not the most comfortable. Though where the food options are there are normal tables and chairs but limited. Plus if you get there around noon half the tables are difficult to sit at due to the incredible sun that comes through... it would probably be better if they get some blinds. The draft room has games you can rent it seems like since the attendant oversees it. We brought our own since we weren't sure if they had anything to occupy our three and a half year old. As both my husband are beer, wine and cider drinkers you would think this would be heaven.... but we were both kind of disappointed with the selection. We drink just about all beer, wine and cider but we felt like the selection kind of lacked. Just to give you an idea of our favorite RVA breweries/cideries.... Strangeways, Hardywood, The Answer, Busky are probably our top places. I feel like if you are expecting something like any of the four I mentioned you may come out pretty disappointed. Though because of the food options and how it's casual, both my husband and I said we would be back since it's pretty family friendly. It's nice that it's not just one food truck option like most breweries or no options for food. So if you are hungry and are wanting to do some tastings definitely check it out. On another note... parking is kind of a pain since it's in Carytown... definitely stinks in the winter. My bet is when it gets nicer, traffic will really pick up since it looks like they have some nice outdoor seating!

Basic City Beer - beerbar - Updated May 2026

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