The Jefferson Hotel
Richmond, Va.
What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
We offer last-minute babysitting and group children sitting for weddings and reunions. Pet sitting and pet walking are other great services we provide. We have also found that having great relationships with many local vendors has proved invaluable with last-minute guest requests. A prime example was when a guest called needing a specific type of shoe before his 9 a.m. meeting. By having a great working relationship with a well-known men’s store in town, we were able to transport him to the store so that he could find the perfect fit and shoe.
What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Our very own Lemaire restaurant is made up of several private dining rooms that can accommodate six to 60 guests. The dining experience is recognized as one of the finest in town, with great menu creations by our award-winning chef, Walter Bundy. Outside the hotel, Bookbinders is known for its seafood and steaks, while The Tobacco Company Restaurant offers American cuisine and La Grotta Ristorante showcases Northern Italian. These restaurants are located in our Historic District, known as The Shockoe Slip area.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
TJ’s lounge in our hotel is the casual complement to Lemaire. Guests can enjoy 30 wines by the glass and fine cigars while taking in the sweeping view of the Rotunda, home to our Grand Staircase. Historic Richmond offers many great places to unwind, like the Cuban-themed Havana 59, and Sine, a very popular Irish bar.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
I recommend Monument Avenue, an area that is the home to statues of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Arthur Ashe, and many turn-of-the-century mansions. A walk along the canal near the Tredegar Iron Works is relaxing and also educational. Hollywood Cemetery is also a fascinating and unique historic site in our town. This cemetery overlooks the beautiful James River and provides an amazing view. It is also the resting place for three presidents.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
I would visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum, the Fire House Museum and Plant Zero Art Center and Cafe.
If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
Drive down Monument Avenue to our spectacular Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson. Then, proceed to St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech: “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.” I would then drive down Main Street, passing the Farmers’ Market and finish at Tredegar Iron Works.
What is an unusual request from a group?
When you have one guest in need of a suit or tuxedo, it’s not a problem. However, when several high-profile guests all need tuxedos for an event happening that evening, it puts your sewing skills and relationships with tailors to the test. There was no room for error, but all of our dignitaries were ready on time and looking their best.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
Our Library Room in Lemaire, which is an elegant private room with rich mahogany finishings, can accommodate a group of this size. It also features The Soap Bubbles painting by Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau, which overlooks the table.
What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
There have been so many since I began working at The Jefferson, but perhaps the one that stands out was the Fortune 500 meeting that included Mikhail Gorbachev and a variety of African royalty who arrived wearing full dress and entourages leading the way.