One of the most beautifully creative gift shop in Roanoke, Sugar Magnolia seems to amaze me every…read moretime I visit it. Today, Black Friday, I was fortunate enough to meet the owners of the place, a husband and wife team who came up with the idea of this store and very successfully have made it come true. The husband deals with the numbers, while the wife is the creative mind and buyer of all the one of a kind interesting gifts displayed in the store. This store has so many categories of gifts that it would be impossible to mention them all in this review, but take a look of the photographs accompanying the review and you will be able to get an idea of them all. After all, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Two of the main categories are Chocolates and Ice Cream. I went there today to purchase a box of hand picked chocolates which I myself selected and one of the friendly employees arranged very neatly inside the box. Some other categories of gifts include very lovely, quality Greeting Cards, very nice Souvenirs of the Star City of Roanoke, Stuffed Animals, Magnets with Quotes that touch the heart, Pottery such as mugs, plates, pitchers, cookies jars, and during this special time of the year, Nutcracker, Christmas decorations and ornaments, and other festive items that celebrate the Holiday Season time of the year. There is also an area with Purses, Jewelry, scarfs, soaps, incense, and a diverse variety of other beautiful items, that the wife and co-owner of the store has hand selected on her trips as Buyer. But if all this seems amazing and spectacular, what is even greater are the hand picked and well trained employees of the store. Immediately after you enter the store they make eye contact and greet you with a smile, making you feel comfortable and at home. They help you with any questions you might have and in locating that perfect gift for a family member or a best friend. They serve you that special ice cream behind the counter, for you to enjoy while sitting at one of the small tables or while browsing around the store. The customer service they provide is absolutely amazing, and they are key in providing the ambiance that make this store so special. I highly recommend this store to all. Go in and browse around. Enjoy the beauty of the store and the diverse gift items in stock. I am certain that it won't take long for you to find a gift for that special person in your life, for your best friend, or maybe even a gift to get for yourself.

Great staff, amazing ice cream and adorable shop. My brother and I shared a banana split and my…read moredaughter got some of the chocolate truffles out of the case.

The carrot cake is massive. I was gifted one and wow. One slice is too much for both of us. It's…read moregoing to be a feat to finish it. I would say it's a good 10 pounds or more. Super dense and moist. Definitely not too sweet as most carrot cakes are. I wish they came in different sizes. $130 for a cake is very high. At the same time, they are huge and can easily feed a dozen people in one sitting.

Today is the last time I'm purchasing Bubblecake. I ordered 2 raspberry cheesecake and 2 lemonade…read morecup cakes. Neither came with a raspberry or lemon topper as displayed in front window case. My order was boxed without me being able to see what I was getting until I opened the box after leaving store. I placed an on line order months ago for 6 each of the same flavors and maybe 3 contained a raspberry on top. You charge the same price for all-deceptive marketing!

The Candy Store is conveniently located in the bottom floor of the Center in the Square, in the…read moreheart of Downtown Roanoke. This is in the same building where the Mill Mountain Theatre is located as well as the Roanoke Pinball Museum. The store specializes in regionally crafted artisan chocolates, vintage candies, and unique confections from around the world, and has an surprisingly large selection of known candies and chocolates as well as never before seen ones. It also contains toys and many gift items. The store itself is very clean and organized and the owner and employees are very friendly and helpful. If you like chocolates and sweets I would highly recommend you give them a visit. It's a great place to go for sweets and to get a gift for family or friends.

After a fun two hours in the Roanoke Pinball Museum…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/roanoke-pinball-museum-roanoke?hrid=_aVRvVUx4AoYrhkv-k-7Cw, the Candy Store is practically their gift shop. I bought way too much here. Fortunately, they do the bulk candy pretty well with both gloves *and* scoops so that not only are you not touching the candy, you're not even touching the thing that touches the candy. I'll take it on faith that no one put their hands in the candy bowls. The candies are separated by type, which is helpful. I filled three bags, one with sours, one with chocolates and a third one (that was mine) with chocolate covered nuts. All are priced by weight. The shop also has some mass produced bars and boxes and even a few games. Neat, tidy, masks required to enter. [Review 13800 overall, 1121 of 2020, number 1234 in Virginia.]

Welcoming atmosphere with comfortable seating inside and out. Yummy baked goods ( danish, mini…read morequiche, scones,...) and other treats house made. Coffee and tea was very good.

Sweet Donkey was amazing for a Friday early morning coffee date. I got a hot mocha and my date got…read morethe drip coffee. Both drinks were excellent and got us moving for the day. I like getting hot mochas and have tried over 30 cafes. This one was good since it wasn't too sweet, but I wish more chocolate notes came through. At $7, I also thought it was on the higher end of the cafe price ranges.

They had a huge 30 year anniversary banner hanging. I didn't see any specials or deals but I am…read moreimpressed they've been around this long. Friendly staff. Nice selection of flavors. Today was a little cleaner than usual. The tables and chairs were not sticky and the napkins well stocked. The prices were reasonable. I wish they offered a lower sugar option. I love ice cream but theirs is among the highest ranked for sugar used and on the bottom for having low carb options

A cute little ice cream shop - featuring Hersheys Ice Cream - and a small selection of chocolates…read more Our favorite chocolates are the lemon cream and cherry cordials. The young ladies working the counters have always been friendly.

Delicious ice cream and cookies. I had a flight of 4 small scoops of ice cream and a cookie. I…read morehad Maple Pecan, blue Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie & ??? (lol I forgot the 4th one) with a snicker doodle cookie. Every one of the ice creams were so flavorful and delicious. The cookie was great! Nice and chewy. The inside is a bit dirty, the bench cushions look like it has seen some kids with ice cream drippings. It wasn't unsanitary however. Service was great. The girl behind the counter was very nice and pleasant to speak with. I highly recommend giving Rookies a try.

I first reviewed Rookie's (Handcrafted Ice Cream Sandwiches) when it opened at the Patrick Henry…read moreHistoric building in Downtown Roanoke; just across the street from the Social Security building and the Roanoke Public Library - Downtown Branch. I did so after having visited it several times, having had their ice-cream and homemade cookies, and having talked to and interviewed their store employees as well as their truck driver who brings their ice-cream and cookie dough from Lynchburg, Virginia. Now that Rookie's has relocated from their Downtown Roanoke store to Cave Springs, at 3549 Electric Rd, Suite D, I have decided to visit their new location, and write an update review. I urge all the readers to this review to also go back and read my first review and accompanied photographs to learn more about the history of the company. For Rookie's is more than just an Ice Cream Parlor. It's a place where desserts and friends meet to create something memorable. Their employees are encouraged to establish conversations with their customers and answer questions about their company and their products. And their comfortable ambiance and seating area contribute to the enjoyment and extraordinary sweet dining experience while people socialize with family and friends, and share quality time with them. The new location is more family-friendly and has more parking than their previous location. The residents of Cave Springs have welcomed Rookie's with open arms and have become steady customers in a relatively short period of time. I was impressed to find out that it is located in thr same Shopping Center as Cafe Asia 2 Restaurant, one of my favorites Asian Restaurants. Rookie's continues to offer different flavors of cookies, homemade ice cream, and signature ice cream sandwiches, in a clean and simple interior design relaxing environment, and with excellent customer service from their warm, knowledgeable, and friendly staff. Today I visited the new location with a friend and both of us interacted with the servers and had ice-cream sandwiches. Mine was Mint Chocolate Chip cookies with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. The combination of the two made the perfect sweet snack or dessert. During the time we were there chatting and enjoying our ice-cream sandwich, we saw many other customers come in and do the same. It seems that Rookie's made a great strategic move for a win win situation between the company and its customers. A quote from the owner of the community I feel best describes it best: "We believe that community is built on a foundation of celebrating something good and we believe our handcrafted ice cream sandwiches. Ice cream, cookies & milk will bring you together! We're all about the memories made and the nostalgia we hope you feel whenever you tuck in to a treat with friends and family." All of Rookie's ice cream is handcrafted in Lynchburg, and they offer vegan and gluten-free options. Rookie's hopes to continue expanding to other locations, with some customers even asking for a location in North Carolina. I highly recommend this business and its products, and consider it one of the City of Roanoke's gem.

On a hot summer day this place is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What better…read morethan a smooth, fruit-flavored frozen dessert made from water, sugar, and real fruit juices or purees. Simple things in life like this refreshing product are what bring the best joys to our lives. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Jersey Water Ice, located in the Northwest of Roanoke, Virginia is a perfect example. Today I was finally able to meet the enthusiastic entrepreneur who came up with the idea of starting this business for the benefit of all those in his community and those who find out about it like I did searching for cold, refreshing items that will help me keep cool in these hot summer days. Darren Wiggins, a friendly Atlantic City, New Jersey native with a strong love and affection for the City of Roanoke is the sole owner of Jersey Water Ice and the person who had the vision of starting this business in his neighborhood to uplift the people of his community and bring them the joy that only refreshing water ice and comfort food can bring. He came to Roanoke in 2009 and started JWI in 2018 operating out of a van he turned into a foodtruck serving what he saw as a need in his community: a lite flavorful icy delight. Most famously known and sold as "Italian ice," in most parts of the US, however traditionally called water ice by residents in Philadelphia and South Jersey. Having a granular but silky texture that sits between a slushy and a firm sorbet. At first I had trouble finding the little eatery located on 622 11th Street NW, but I gave the owner a call and he gave me clear directions how to find it and even though he was about to close for the day he was graciously enough to wait for me so that I could try his amazing and refreshing product. When I arrived he greeted me with a warm welcome. The eatery was small but very clean and cozy with beautiful hardwood floors and a couple of lovely hand-made benches. All the food was put away since he was about to close but I put my attention to the display freezer where the water ice were stored. He had flavors such as Lemon, Mango, Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Cotton Candy, and Pina Colada, among others. I ordered a small cup of the Pina Colada. It was so soft, creamy, and refreshing, as well as very tasty. After he closed the eatery and we were outside still talking, a car with one of his loyal customers stopped to see if the place was open. He chatted with him and invited him to come back the next day. We talked about his ideas for expansion and then we said goodbye and he drove off in his Cadillac as I stayed a while longer finishing my water ice. In conclusion I highly recommend this place when you feel like eating comfort food and refreshing water ice. The owner is very welcoming and positive, and has a wonderful personality and from looking at the menu, great food and cold, refreshing treats.

Kind service, a friendly face and amazingly tasty and refreshing treat. I love everything about…read morethis establishment. . highly recommend to anyone looking for a sweet refreshing treat.

If you don't want to fuss with parking downtown but still want a more upscale menu, Montano's is…read morethe place! Their seafood dishes are my favorite like the shrimp alla rios over angel hair pasta or their crab and shrimp dip appetizer. Their avocado caesar salad dressing is also a must. You can tell they make everything from scratch which is incredible considering the large selection they offer! Bonus points too from my husband too for allowing you to choose either draft beer from the bar or a specialty can from their shop out front. His philly cheesesteak paired nicely with a beer from one of his favorite breweries, The Alchemist. Service is also friendly every time. The atmosphere is unique since you enter by the bakery and gelato counter, pass the small wine and beer shop and then reach the hostess stand for the restaurant. The decor may also be a bit dated but, trust me, these things are easily overlooked when you taste your meal! Going out to eat is expensive these days but Montano's offers a good value for exceptional quality.

Recently visited Montano's for the second time and I've enjoyed both of my meals here. Came here…read morewith my family for a meal and everyone enjoyed what they had (with the exception of the oyster salad). I loved the pimento cheese bread I started with and my shrimp and salmon with pasta was very tasty. Standout here was the fried artichoke appetizer...that was delicious. Service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Overall, a very nice evening at Montano's. They handle big parties well (there were six of us) and everyone left happy and with leftovers!

For some time now I would walk by a place called CRAFTERIA on Church Ave in Downtown Roanoke,…read morewondering what was inside. Until one day, looking for a new Puertorican Restaurant named "Delicias Boricuas," I had a reason to go inside. And I'm so glad I did. When one walks in, one is greeted by a very friendly young man who is seated at a desk and who is in charge of taking care of you if you need to buy any of the arts and crafts items displayed in any of the booths inside. Then, the first store there is the Little Green Hive which is a Coffee, bakery, and sandwich shop. There is also the Puertorican Restaurant which is literally a hole in the wall where one orders their food and then goes to sit on marble tables and chairs that are all around to enjoy their food.Besides these two restaurants, there are a couple of beauty salons, and a vinyl record shop. As one walks around looking at all the beautiful arts and crafts displayed, there is music playing in the background. I would definitely recommend to those visting Downtown Roanoke to come by this place. Who knows you might discover a new place to hangout with family or friends and enjoy some coffee, shop for that special one of a kind gift, or discover the delicious flavor of the Puertorican Cuisine.

As tourists in Roanoke, we stumbled upon Crafteria while doing a self-initiated walking tour of the…read moredowntown area. We're so pleased that we did, as it was an interesting place to wander with its eclectic set of stalls with interesting and high-quality crafts, candles, vintage records, various foods, and more for sale. We were tempted by the Puerto Rican food stall, and just HAD TO take some empanadas and other savory snacks back to our hotel. I was also tempted to buy one of the absolutely gorgeous wooden charcuterie boards -- and, would have, had we not been walking. I did, however, take the craftsman's business card! A steady stream of customers were visiting while we were there.