The Wool Factory

A revitalised industrial complex on the Rivanna River east of the city, reopened in 2017 as a combined restaurant, brewery, café, coffee roastery, and event venue. The site sat on land once owned by Thomas Jefferson, and from 1790 to 1960 textile mills here produced uniforms for the army and police.

The conversion kept the high ceilings, steel columns, and tall windows and added a terrace and access to a riverside trail. It works equally well as a coffee stop, a place to sit and work, or dinner.

Practical

The café and co-working areas run daytime hours; the restaurant and brewery open later. Parking on site is free but the lot is awkwardly laid out.