A variety of new options for dining, lodging, shopping and more are adding to the colorful tapestry of this historic destination
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA–MARCH 2024–This historic town was established in 1778 and played a role in America’s fight for independence. Today, its historic character is a huge part of Abingdon, Virginia’s, charm but there is a balance of old and new that continues to add variety to this vibrant destination. Only 10 minutes north of Bristol, Tennessee, and two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, Abingdon is just off I-81 and easily accessible by air, Interstate and state routes.
Abingdon is well known for its collection of local restaurants. There are more than 30 in all, combining for an amazing mix of culinary offerings that has consistently garnered votes as one of the Best Small Town Food Scenes in the Country by USA Today’s 10Best. The newest of these are creating an even bigger buzz.
Summers Roof & Cellar (102 Court Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-477-1517) is two dining experiences in one of Abingdon’s classic downtown buildings. The limestone wine cellar masterfully combines a menu of regionally sourced and homegrown ingredients with a specially curated wine list with offerings from around the world. Rooftop dining is combined with a view overlooking historic Abingdon and the Blue Ridge Highlands. A full bar featuring original cocktails accompanies the creative dinner menu. Summers’ menus include brick-fired bread, fresh seafood and mouth-watering dry-aged cuts of meat. This is more than a dining venue, it’s a dream come true for native Charlie Berg, sommelier and owner. The project offered him an opportunity to come home and build a dream with his two brothers. “We’ve enjoyed the creative process of designing and launching a rooftop and wine cellar hospitality venue in Abingdon’s turn-of-the-century Summers Building,” he notes. “We began collaborating on a vision for food and wine service that would pair fine dining with a sense of home.” They invited award-winning chef Nic Jones, trained at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, to join them, and the result has become one of the most successful elements of Abingdon’s recent spate of new concepts adding life to historic places.
Another of those is Abingdon Commons (238 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210), a new social hub located in the historic Abingdon Motor Hall Co. on Main Street designed for dining and indulging in craft beverages as well as for shopping. Brazen Raven Coffee Roasters is a haven for coffee enthusiasts, serving small batch brews from beans roasted on-site, alongside scratch-made pastries. The shop is another family business venture undertaken by the daughter of The Girl & The Raven (380 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-698-3333) proprietor. This popular downtown café is known for its made-from-scratch, locally sourced menu and its promotion of local art and artists and the Brazen Raven carries on that tradition. At Platter & Pour (238 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-967-9329) guests experience a new level of the fine art of curated pairings of charcuterie and cheeses with an exquisite wine selection. The Hen House (931-982-8726) Pop-Up Restaurant was born of a food truck with a talented chef at the wheel. (Chef Nic Jones from Summers.) At the Hen House, he and his wife served fixed and seasonal menus that are inspired by locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Soon Tumbling Creek Cidery Co. (276-451-5901) will be joining the Commons. Its cider varieties are made from Southwest Virginia apples, pressed in-house and fermented on-site. Rise Bakeshop, a small-batch artisan bread bakery, and artisan food center Blue Hills Community Market round out the culinary offerings at Abingdon Commons.
Nearby at The Spring House (112 Court Street NE, Abingdon, Virginia 24210), another of Abingdon’s historic structures, Wolf Hills Coffee (276-477-7444) and The Book Cellar combine to create a comfortable setting for enjoying coffee, teas and pastries while perusing an eclectic collection of pre-owned books and unique gifts. Mama Mia Italian Restaurant (134 Wall Street SW, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-525-1144) has added a lively dining venue to yet another downtown location. Its pizza, pasta, strombolis and sandwiches have been a tasty and welcome addition to this ever-growing culinary landscape.
Lodging options in Abingdon are growing, too. There are a variety of hotels, including the stately Martha Washington Inn and Spa (150 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-3161), which has been meticulously preserved for over a century and a half. New rental properties are joining the mix, as well.
The Fountain Inn on Main (142 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 919-434-9757) is a historic home carefully appointed with modern amenities. The property has been a preeminent element of the downtown landscape for decades and now includes four bedrooms and an adjacent carriage house for short vacation rentals. A Tailor’s Lodging (119 Park Street SE, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-7119) is an 1840s home located in the heart of the Historic District. Guests can make themselves comfortable in one of three bedrooms, each with a fireplace and private bath, or on the home’s spacious porches.
The eclectic mix of retail shops throughout Abingdon offers more options than ever. Coal Miner’s Daughter Mercantile (252 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210) is a great place to start any shopping excursion. The aisles are filled with vendor goods including candies, furniture, unique antiques, clothing and much more. From the Love & Light Specialty Boutique (266 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-608-1516) for women to Peddling Jack’s Men’s Specialty Shop (152 East Main Street, Suite 2E, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-356-5890) there are clothing and gifts for every taste.
And speaking of taste: any stroll along Main Street should include a stop at Shaked (284 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-274-8509)–home of couture milkshakes–if only to ogle the beautiful creations–but of course, tasting them is an even better idea.
The work of local artists is represented here, too. The Arts Depot (314 Depot Square, Abingdon, Virginia 34210; 276-628-9091) includes three large galleries and seven resident artist studios housed in a 19th century freight station. The nearby Holston Mountain Artisans is one of the oldest local craft cooperatives in the country, started in 1971. Its artists’ work showcases the best in both traditional and contemporary art and crafts of the region. And, of course the region’s premier visual arts venue, the William King Museum of Art (415 Academy Drive, Abingdon, Virginia 24212; 276-628-5005) always has amazing works on display. Its six galleries and frequently changing exhibits are joined by the Art Lab, where students, makers and the public can connect and hone their skills in the painting, drawing, printmaking and clay studios, a darkroom and a digital and 3D lab.
A visit to Abingdon’s visitor center, located at the Historic 1860 Fields Penn House (208 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-258-7122) offers the perfect introduction to all there is to experience throughout this multifaceted destination. Staff offer information on businesses and attractions, old and new, as well as on regional and state attractions.
If you go
Not-to-be-missed attractions in Abingdon include:
A visit to the famous Barter Theatre (127 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-3991), where professional performances are offered on two stages in the historic 500-seat venue. This is the nation’s longest-running professional theatre.
Abingdon is “Mile 0” on the famed Virginia Creeper Trail (Abingdon Trailhead: 300 Green Spring Road, Abingdon, Virginia 24210). The Hall of Fame trail offers options from an easy two-hour ride to an all-day, 68-mile round trip.
The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace (1 Heartwood Circle, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-492-2400) showcases the music, crafts, foods and attractions of the region throughout its galleries.