Clever Comfort at Richmond's Quirk Hotel

Cozy yet posh, creative yet stately, like the town it calls home, Quirk Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, boasts it all. Nestled in the heart of Richmond's exploding arts and design district, Quirk takes all of the hip originality and aesthetic of the surrounding galleries and pairs it perfectly with clever and comprehensive design, smart amenities and top-notch food and drink.

Under the Destination Hotels banner, Quirk Hotel's local owners include Ted and Katie Ukrop. Katie is the owner of the Quirk Gallery, an inspiration for the hotel. The gallery, formerly a few doors down from the current hotel location, moved to the first floor of the Quirk Hotel upon opening. That sense of modernity and imagination can be found everywhere at Quirk, from the pieces that hang in the rooms to the cool yet majestic design of the lobby.

Art and form are king at Quirk. Rooms feature pieces by local and global artists, and all have a sense of the hip and neoteric. Downstairs, off the stunning lobby complete with vaulted ceilings and chic yet cozy furniture, is the Quirk Gallery. The gallery represents local artists and those far spun who work in mediums ranging from paint to jewelry design to sculpture. And, for those looking to take a piece of Richmond home, the gallery also features a gift shop selling small works.

You don't have to go far at all for a lovely cocktail, quick yummy bite, or an expertly crafted meal at Quirk. Both the lobby bar and the Q Rooftop Bar at Quirk have a smart and well-curated cocktail menu and the staff with the knowledge and panache to whip them up right.

Cocktails are balanced and beautiful, often featuring local spirits from the burgeoning beverage scene in Richmond. Wine and beer selections are tight but well thought out, including local and global selections.

Under the eye of Chef David Dunlap, Maple and Pine (the on-site restaurant) plays with the ideas of traditional southern food and continental cuisine while ramping it up with local and seasonal ingredients and contemporary technique and flavor combinations.

From the caffeine bar in all of the rooms to the Nest bath products stocking the bright and modern bathrooms, Quirk's amenities are complete without being overbearing. Rooms feature loads of cleverly designed storage, minibars stocked with interesting local treats and tipples as well as standards. For transportation needs, the hotel offers bike rentals and Tesla charging stations.

Although you may be tempted to cloister yourself in the smooth comfort of the Quirk, venturing out is more than manageable. The hotel is steps away from countless art galleries and myriad restaurants and coffee shops. It's also a short drive away from The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Carytown shopping district, and Scott's Addition neighborhood (an up-and-coming neighborhood once dominated by warehouses now bursting with craft breweries, small-batch distilleries and a cidery).

Packed with creativity, inclusion, diversity and warmth, Richmond is a hotbed of art, food and drink that makes for the perfect weekend getaway. Quirk Hotel is a perfect mirror of the city it calls home.