An ever-expanding list of local spots that we think make Hampton Roads a worthwhile place to live in and visit.

Norfolk | Ghent

Yorgo’s | They know us there. We are addicted to this ‘bageldashery.’ The bagels will satisfy New Yorkers, vegans and everyone in between. Inside you’re likely to spot Norfolk’s finest, its firefighters, old folks, teens, hipsters and businesspeople. As well as AltDaily’s resident vegan, PETA’s Christine Dore. And us.

The Ten Top | The best sandwich shop around. It’s a great lunch spot; small and sunny. The pizzas and soups are comforting, and they carry Sprecher root beer. Bonus: they’ve started doing little (and legit) art shows. Don Lester (the young, tattooed and bearded guy who often mans the counter) is one local business owner we’re really rooting for.

Elliot’s Fair Grounds | Pretty much a local landmark at this point. We–Hannah and Jesse–met at this coffeeshop. And now, it’s pretty much our office. In fact it’s where many of Norfolk’s writers, intellectuals, artists, bohemians and (to Elliot’s chagrin) a couple of crazies tend to congregate. The baristas are all cool girls. (Check out this article, by barista Diana Ray, about the connections she’s made from behind the coffeeshop counter.) And the owner, Elliot Juren, is a really decent man. The best part: all the coffee is fair trade.

East Coast Bicycles | The owner of the shop, Mike Shipp, is true blue: He regularly goes on 100-mile bike rides, he will fill your tires up for free if you ask nice, and he’s a certified Star Wars fanatic on top of it all. At East Coast they’re snobby enough that you trust everything they say about gears and frames and whatever else, but not snobby enough to make you feel bad about your lack of knowledge. Just an awesome local shop.

The Naro Cinema | Another local institution. This independent movie theater, owned by Tench Philips and Thom Vourlach, has been showing art house cinema, indie flicks, and film festivals to Hampton Roads audiences for 25 years and counting. The jewel in Ghent’s crown, and arguably the reason why it is the neighborhood that it is.

The Space Above Yoga | Not to be a yoga snob, but not all yoga classes are created equal. At The Space Above, it’s not about picking up the cute little yogi on the next mat, or about getting a better butt (though yoga does help shape and firm the tuckus). It’s a physical/spiritual/communal experience with instructors who genuinely care.

Organic Food Depot | The real deal. This area is fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe’s, a Fresh Market, and a really good chain of Farm Freshes (all of which do carry organic food), but Organic Food Depot is the true health junkie’s paradise. It’s a co-op market, and they carry tons of vegan and vegetarian food.

The Boot | In the evenings, it’s good Italian food made from local, seasonal ingredients; an amazing local beer and wine selection; and an elegant atmosphere. At night, it’s an indie/rock music venue and sometime dancefloor. The owners, Dave Hausmann and Josh Wright, sadly weren’t able to keep up their brutally hip and totally forward for this area record shop, Relative Theory Records. But it’s all for the better, since we got The Boot in its stead.

The Taphouse | It’s our Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name. The guys who own, manage and tend bar at Tap House also make up the rockabilly/blues band, Rylo–which should tell you a little something about the place. It’s laidback; burgers and beers, billiards, a great patio, and friends. Plus, it’s a perfect place to catch a show: live music every Saturday night.

Cogan’s Pizza | We’re pretty sure that we like Cogan’s a lot more than they like us (thanks, Jerome), but that doesn’t stop us from going. Fantastic pizza ($5 off any pie on Sunday nights!). Amazing beer selection. Probably the least corporate vibe of any bar in Norfolk. Plus they have air hockey. (Air hockey!) We also hear they have one of the best karaoke nights in the area…we just haven’t had the guts to try it yet.

Welcome to 5 Points Community Farm Market | 5 Points represents so many of our values: green living; supporting local businesses; healthy living; using existing buildings in interesting ways (rather than tearing down and starting fresh); a connection to real old-fashioned values, like carrying about where your food comes from; education; good neighbors who know your name; artist spaces… I could go on and on. A trip to 5 Points doesn’t just fill your belly: it is a straight-up soul infusion.

Norfolk | Downtown

Empire | Our personal favorite. We live in Freemason, so we walk to Granby Street when we want to get a late beer. While we dig the thriving nightlife scene, Empire is one of the only places downtown where you can have a quiet drink and a conversation. The tapas are excellent; they offer nightly-changing flavors of butter (heaven); and the liquor selection is on point.

The Gym Downtown | Working out at The Gym Downtown makes you feel like you’re connected to the very energy of the city. Judge us if you want, but looking out over Granby Street doing curls just feels cool. Plus it has great facilities, a kind, non-meathead staff, and a welcoming vibe. All the discounts you get to other downtown businesses doesn’t hurt, either.

aLatte Cafe | This is the downtown coffee shop. Its customers are a great mix of students from The Governor’s School, actors from the Virginia Stage Company, businessmen and women, and some straight-up crazies mixed in for good measure. It’s also a mom-and-pop shop run by Missy and Neil, who we love. (They smile genuinely when you compliment their place, and they’ll make a change when you make a compliant.) Countless AltDaily stories have been posted from aLatte, and they will continue to be.

Norfolk | General

Tortilla West | Located in West Ghent, this spot is beloved for four very important reasons: a great bar (with lots of nice tequilas), an awesome billiards room in the back, a killer build-your-own Bloody Mary bar on Sundays, and 75-cent tacos on Monday and Tuesday nights. For the extra raucous nights with friends, you can even stumble out and head over to Cruzer’s (kitty corner to T-West) for some drunken karaoke.

Doumar’s | A drive-up burger and cones place, legendary amongst locals.

Thrift Store USA | There’s a smattering of really great thrift stores around the area (we don’t know how lucky we are in this regard), but if you only have time for one, go to Thrift Store USA. It’s practically a department store, with long racks of clothes for everyone and every occasion, plus furniture, housewares and everything else under the sun.

The Attucks Theatre | Home of the Discovery Music Series, which brings blues and indie acts to Norfolk (last season, Camera Obscura!), the Attucks is one place that we hope more locals will stand up and notice. In its day, the Attucks has hosted performances by Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Mamie Smith, Nat King Cole, Redd Foxx, among many, many others. A rich part of Norfolk’s history that should not be forgotten.

Portsmouth

Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas | There’s a fantastic, speakeasy vibe, fantastic food, and friendly service. Truly one of the culinary gems of Hampton Roads. Here is Hannah’s review.

Bier Garden | As its website proudly proclaims, the Bier Garden is family-owned and boasts the largest selection of beers in Virginia. Not sure if that second part’s true, but we wouldn’t doubt it.

Chesapeake

aLoft | The place to stay when you’re visiting Chesapeake, or if you’re just trying to get away from home for the weekend. In a strip full of hotels that make you feel like you could be in Des Moines, Toledo, or anyplace else in homogenized America, aLoft is a splash of color, life, and personality. And they’ve got a cool bar, and cooler parties.

Chesapeake Pizza | A bright star in a sky full of suburb and strip mall. According to our photographer Doug Nicholson (who at 21 is all earnestness and enthusiasm): “There are very few reasons to come to [his hometown of] Chesapeake other than for Chesapeake Pizza.” Read Hannah’s review to find out why this place is so revered by locals.

Suffolk

We need to go to Suffolk more.

Newport News

Aroma’s Coffee House | Says our good friend Liz McClendon: “Anywhere that brings together coffee, beer, and good music naturally tends to bring together good people. I was honestly a little depressed about moving back to Newport News until I stumbled upon the intelligent, talented, and unexpected scene Aromas cultivated.”

Virginia Beach | Hilltop

Freedom Surf | Between us we’ve lived in Hawaii, San Diego, South Florida, and Cape Town, so we know a good surf shop when we see one. Freedom Surf is a good surf shop. Again it’s a place where they know their stuff but they don’t make you feel like a jerk for being a newbie. There’s a much chiller, more organic vibe there that you’re not gonna get at, ahem, some of the other, more prominent surf shops down at the beach. Plus Freedom has maybe the coolest clothing selection in the area, for surfers or otherwise.

Just Cupcakes | These cupcakes are just good, good, good. Just Cupcakes is the kind of boutique establishment that would do well in New York City or Paris (no hyperbole). We are lucky to have them. Here’s our story on them.

Squirrel’s Bakery | Delicious, homemade cookies from a really nice couple. Here’s our story on them.

Virginia Beach | Oceanfront

Jewish Mother | Kinda dingy but still a welcoming family place that somehow pulls off also being a great music venue. Jew Mom, as its known to locals, has seen some rough times, but it’s weathered the storm and emerged on top. It’s also home to Fantastic Planet, a monthly party that rocks Hampton Roads socks off.

Hampton

The American Theater | This little theater, located in Phoebus just a stone’s throw from Buckroe Beach, brings a ton of talent to the Peninsula. But the reason it means so much to us, specifically, is because of its tradition of hosting Tibetan Buddhist monks in weeklong residencies every summer. A cultural highlight.

Check back frequently to see what other local businesses we recommend. We’ll be updating this often.