DINING AND OVERNIGHT INFORMATION TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR FALL ART TOUR WEEKEND!
And a couple new October events!
This year’s Tour is November 4-5, 2023, and if you’ve been considering staying over in the County and making it a weekend, this weekend fills up early and time is running out to make your reservations!
While Saturday night might be booked already in some places, another option is to come out Friday or stay over Sunday night!
Now is the time, too, to plan your meals while you’re in Rappahannock County for the Tour. Below you’ll find a list of all the dining options, from casual to formal, sure to fit into your weekend experience.
Self-guided tours will take visitors through the scenic Piedmont countryside and charming villages of Rappahannock County en route to their favorite studios and galleries. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, instead of heading home, to head to dinner at one of our amazing location restaurants, and then stay over in one of our delightful inns, bed & breakfasts, or Airbnb’s?
The Inn at Little Washington
Of course, the famed Inn at Little Washington is the most recognizable lodging and dining option in Rappahannock County, VA.
In 2019, The Inn at Little Washington became the first and only 3 Star Michelin restaurant in the Washington DC metropolitan area (and has retained this distinction every year since). The Inn is also the longest tenured Forbes 5 Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the world.
If you’re looking for a truly spectacular weekend experience, you can’t go wrong with the Inn.
Once again, the Inn has generously donated a Dinner for Two to the Fall Art Tour! Sign up for a free raffle ticket HERE, and increase your chances to win by making a donation to the Tour for an additional ticket (all proceeds from the Tour go to support the Claudia Mitchell Art Fund.
Rappahannock County has many other notable and award-winning beautiful Inns well worth a visit!
Here’s a quick list to check out, all of which include amazing gourmet breakfasts, first-class amenities, internet, and more. Included below are additional special amenities:
Belle Meade Bed & Breakfast (outside Sperryville; working farm & school)
The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn (in Flint Hill; restaurant & bar on site)
Blue Rock Inn (in between Sperryville & Washington, restaurant & tasting room on site)
Fairlea Farm Bed & Breakfast (outside Washington, working sheep & cattle farm)
Foster Harris House (in Washington; Tesla charging station)
Gay Street Inn (in Washington; complimentary cocktails)
Glen Gordon Manor (outside Flint Hill; restaurant & spa on site)
Hopkins Ordinary Bed & Breakfast (in Sperryville; local brewery on site)
The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm (outside Sperryville; amazing views)
Middleton Inn (in Washington, complimentary wine & cheese receptions on weekends)
Sharp Rock Vineyards (outside Sperryville, stay on the grounds of the winery)
White Moose Inn (in Washington, daily happy hour)
In addition to the above, there are many Airbnb rentals throughout the County! From luxurious to rustic, there are so many options for lodging from 2 to 12 people or more!
Get a group of friends together and rent a luxurious home or cottage. Here are a few unique options:
LeFay Cottage (beautiful and romantic cottage outside Washington, VA)
The Meadows at Castleton (multiple luxury homes on a 500-acre historic estate in Castleton)
Skyline Inn (chateau adjacent to Little Washington Winery & Brewery, disc golf)
Blue Rock Inn
Inn at Mount Vernon
LeFay Cottage
Hopkins Ordinary
Glen Gordon Manor
Foster Harris House
Blue Door Inn & Kitchen
Middleton Inn
Whether you come for the day or the weekend, you’ll want to take advantage of our many dining options. From casual to fancy, our locally-owned restaurants have you covered!
Reservations are recommended (required for some venues) for this busy weekend, though many only take reservations for larger parties.
Just Coffee:
Central Coffee Roasters (outside Sperryville, open all day)
Open for breakfast and lunch:
Before & After Coffee Shop (Sperryville)
Off the Grid (outside Sperryville, Tesla charging stations)
The Base at Blue Ridge (outside Sperryville)
Skyward Cafe (Flint Hill)
Open for lunch and dinner:
The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn (Flint Hill)
Dark Horse Irish Pub (formerly Griffin Tavern) (Flint Hill)
Paddy O’s (Washington)
Ours Noir (Washington)
The Tasting Room at the Blue Rock Inn (between Washington & Sperryville)
Corner Store (Sperryville)
Country Cafe Pit Stop (Sperryville, closed Sundays)
The Black Twig (formerly Headmasters Pub) (Sperryville)
Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen (Sperryville)
Sumac (limited time, check website) (at Pen Druid Brewery, Sperryville)
Open for dinner only:
Reservations required; often booked far in advance
Houndstooth Restaurant at Glen Gordon Manor (outside Flint Hill)
The Inn at Little Washington (Washington)
The Blue Rock Inn (between Washington & Sperryville)
Three Blacksmiths (Sperryville; closed Sundays)
Libations:
The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn (Flint Hill)
Dark Horse Irish Pub (formerly Griffin Tavern) (Flint Hill)
The Tasting Room at the Blue Rock Inn (between Washington & Sperryville)
Francis (Sperryville)
The Blag Twig (formerly Headmasters Pub) (Sperryille)
If you’re staying overnight, you might also like to visit some of our award-winning wineries, distilleries, and micro-breweries!
Remember, the Tour is free this year! The online map, which debuted in 2021, allows visitors to plan ahead, and the freedom to begin the Tour from any part of the County – and from any studio or gallery, to optimize your time in Rappahannock County. The map will be available online and in local businesses in mid-to-late October – sign up for our newsletter for notice when it’s available!
OCTOBER EVENTS
RUTHIE WINDSOR-MANN
October 7, 2023
5:00 pm
Little Washington Theatre
291 Gay Street, Washington, VA
Creative to Creative: an exploratory dialogue about the process of creating what isn’t already here. Expect the unexpected arising from deep humor and unflinching originality, when accomplished stage and screen actress Betsy Brantley collaborates and collides with the irreplaceable Rappahannock painter Ruthie Windsor-Mann. Environmentalist, painter, writer and former Rappahannock resident Ruth Anna Stolk will moderate the laughs, memories and insights.
This program is free.
GAY STREET GALLERY
October 21, 2023 – January 9, 2024
Opening Reception: October 21, 2023, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
337 Gay St, Washington, VA 22747
Gay Street Gallery’s new exhibition opens on Saturday, October 21, with a reception from 4-6p featuring Rappahannock artist Jason Goldman and his fabulous wood creations. New work by Kevin Adams (including paintings of both Virginia and Cape Cod) and a new series of sculptural paintings by returning guest artist Paul Rutz also are featured. The show continues through January 9th. The Gallery is open Friday-Monday 10a-5p and by appointment.
