Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) is one of the most architecturally intact small cities in Virginia. It punches well above its weight for restaurants, theater, and historic sites. Here's how to spend a day — or a weekend — well.
Top things to do
- Catch a play at the Blackfriars Playhouse (American Shakespeare Center).
- Walk Beverley Street and the Wharf district.
- Tour the Frontier Culture Museum's living-history farms.
- Visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.
- Drive 10 minutes south to Rockfish Gap and Skyline Drive.
Where to eat
- Zynodoa — Southern fine dining, the special-occasion pick.
- The Shack — chef Ian Boden's small-plate restaurant, frequent James Beard nominee.
- Cranberry's — best breakfast/brunch downtown.
- Newtown Bakery — coffee, pastries, lunch sandwiches.
- Réunion Bakery + Espresso — laminated pastries done right.
Where to stay
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel is the classic downtown stay, perfectly walkable to dinner and the Blackfriars. Hotel 24 South is a smaller, design-forward alternative. For B&Bs, the Frederick House is a Staunton institution.
Frequently asked
What is Staunton, VA famous for?
Staunton is best known for its unusually well-preserved 19th-century architecture, the Blackfriars Playhouse (the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theater), the Frontier Culture Museum, and being the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson.
How do you pronounce Staunton?
STAN-ton — the 'u' is silent. Saying 'Stawn-ton' is a giveaway you're not from there.
Is Staunton VA worth visiting?
Yes — for a town of 25,000 it has a remarkable concentration of theater, restaurants, museums, and intact 1800s architecture. It's one of the best small-town day trips in Virginia.
