Usually when we say a hotel has a lot of quirks, we don’t mean that in a good way — like there are unusual elements that don’t make sense. Quirk Hotel Richmond is the opposite: a place to stay where you’re delighted instead of perplexed. Where all the elements make sense, whether aesthetic or systemic.
One of the owners of Quirk Hotel was first the founder of an art gallery down the street and she clearly has a good eye for design. Walking from the entrance to the main floor restaurant and bar to the rooms, you pass plenty of places to smile.
No matter which direction you look on the main level of this restored building, you see a unique design element that’s clearly not from a hotel chain catalog. Like the string lights and curtains softening the metal staircase, the pink piano tucked over to one side, or the playful ceramic animals perched by the windows.
Then when you get into one of the elevators, you get to view different custom-painted murals during the ride.
Located on Broad Street in Richmond near the famous Jefferson Hotel and close to VCU, this boutique hotel is also within walking distance to good restaurants and the convention center. It’s a quick jaunt to local attractions like the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia History Museum. The Civil War Museum and the Hollywood Cemetery — where two former presidents are buried — are within biking distance.
The hotel hasn’t dropped its art history either: there’s a gallery adjoining the lobby with rotating exhibits. There’s also an outdoor courtyard area and a gym downstairs.
Dining and Drinking at The Quirk Hotel
While there are plenty of bar and restaurant options nearby, this hotel can hold its own in comparison, and you’ll be happy if you get stuck here on a rainy day. To start the day, you order breakfast from a counter in the open main level, where they’ll make you a cappuccino, send a menu order back to the kitchen, or hand you one of the baked goods. Then you choose a seat, and they’ll bring it out to you.
The first day, I got a filling egg and bacon brioche sandwich with a coffee that wasn’t meant to be photogenic. My other day’s order was a different story, though, a French Toast plate that tasted as good as it looked.
There’s a roof terrace with a bar at the Quirk Hotel that has a nice view of the surrounding area, but it’s only open in the warm months, so I could only take a peek when I was there in March.
There’s a happy hour in the early evening at the lobby bar, though, open all year, when most of the seats are filled with people socializing or discussing business. You can get a local beer, Virginia wine, or a well-made cocktail.
The European-inspired space is inviting, and the spaced-out tables under high ceilings ensure that you can actually hear each other talk, even when it’s crowded.
I had dinner at the Quirk Hotel one night, starting out with a delicious Old Fashioned cocktail and a burrata and beets salad that was close to perfect. The creative menu has snacks and items to share, plus main dishes like Virginia crab and chips, a bourbon-glazed pork chop, and potato ravioli.
Rooms and Suites at a Richmond Art Hotel
The website tagline is “Rooms and Suites to Remember,” and for once, that’s backed up by reality. You certainly won’t feel like this is some corporate conglomerate’s clumsy attempt to appeal to the cool kids and artsy types.
Original windows with two kinds of shades have a better view as you go higher, but what’s in the rooms is certainly pleasing to the eye, with carefully chosen furniture, a funky pink retro mini fridge, and art prints meant to provide a chuckle. Outlets are conveniently placed, the lighting is good, and bathrooms have refillable bottles in the shower with print that you can actually read without glasses. Floors are the original wood and can be a tad creaky, but that’s part of the charm.
I slept quite well in the quality bed with good pillows, and there were no issues with the hot water or climate control. The blackout curtains worked well, and with a room on the sixth floor, there wasn’t much exterior noise.
Amenities are numerous, with capsule coffee makers, desks, safes, fast included Wi-Fi, irons, and daily housekeeping all standard. Rooms get larger as you go up in the categories, and some have a bathtub. The Balcony King option has some furnished outdoor space to enjoy, while the Loft Suites are duplexes on two levels.
One key inclusion I wish more hotels would offer: each floor has a purified-water refilling station (which also dispenses ice) and a glass bottle in the room for use with it. No plastic needed.
Booking a Stay
With just 73 rooms, Quirk Hotel can fill up when there’s an event or a big convention in town. Or when it’s a key weekend for parents at Virginia Commonwealth University. Plan ahead so you don’t get disappointed. Rates generally run $229 to $549 nightly, varying by accommodation category and demand. Valet parking starts at $30 per night.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
See more information and book directly at the official website, where you’ll find plenty of room photos, descriptions, and background. Otherwise, you’ll find the hotel available on typical booking platforms.
Check rates for Quirk Hotel Richmond online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, or Hotels.com.
Review and photos by travel writer Tim Leffel, who grew up down the road in Virginia. He was hosted at the property while speaking at a Visit Richmond VA event and exploring sights in the region.
