On the Road to The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia
If you follow Bunkycooks, you know that we are always On the Road in search of great culinary destinations. We have been to Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine, New Orleans, Louisville, Asheville and other great southern cities in the past year. Many of these cities have distinct food cultures.
New Orleans is known for its Creole cooking, Charleston has its Lowcountry cuisine and Appalachian dishes are served in Asheville. Some have been a real surprise, like Louisville, Kentucky. They have an incredible emerging culinary scene in beautiful farm country. In fact, Louisville is the destination for our On The Road culinary adventure in September. Some other cities, unfortunately, have been a disappointment.
A few months ago we went on the road in search of great food, farms and future sites for On The Road culinary adventures. This time we headed north to Richmond, Virginia.
What comes to mind when you think of Richmond? Do you immediately try to recall lessons from your Early American History class? Do you think about the Revolutionary War? The colony of Virginia or perhaps the Civil War?
I think of all of the rich history that is Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia, but I also remember my time spent at University of Richmond. I have passed through Richmond many times over the years, but this was the first chance that I had to visit the city since I was a student. While in the city, we decided to stay at one of the true landmarks of Richmond, The Jefferson Hotel.

Beamer enjoyed visiting the University of Richmond campus
If you read Bunkycooks on a regular basis, you know that we love grand hotels that are steeped in history, especially if there is a restaurant in that hotel that can serve up memorable meals. We also seem to find the hotels that have uninvited guests, as in ghosts. On a few occasions we have stayed in haunted hotels (remember The Grove Park Inn and Le Pavillon?). I would fully have expected The Jefferson Hotel, which dates back to 1895, to have its share of paranormal sightings and spooky tales, however, I could not find any. I did, on the other hand, find stories of alligators living in the lobby of the hotel! I suppose that is why a bronze 10 foot alligator statue greets you in the hotel’s driveway when you check in. 🙂
This stunning hotel has received accolades from many literary publications including The Washington Post, Southern Living and The New York Times. It is also one of the few hotels in the country that is both a Forbes (Formerly Mobil) Five-Star Award hotel (and has been for 11 years) as well as a receiving a AAA Five Diamond Award (for 18 years). The Jefferson Hotel is also one of the Historic Hotels of America. Their restaurant, Lemaire, which reopened in 2009 with a new focus and menu, won best new restaurant by Esquire magazine. Some great chefs have worked under the tutelage of Executive Chef Walter Bundy at Lemaire in their culinary journey. Chef Sean Brock of McCrady’s and Husk in Charleston is one of those chefs.

Be sure to look for the statue of Old Pompey when you drive up to the entrance
This Beaux-Arts Style hotel was built by one of Richmond’s wealthiest and most respected citizens, Major Lewis Ginter. It is estimated that as much as $10 million went into the planning, construction and furnishing of the original hotel and took almost three years to complete. The more than life-size statue of Thomas Jefferson (for who the hotel is named) that was commissioned for the Palm Court lobby, took over two years to finish. After opening on October 31, 1895, The Jefferson Hotel was soon recognized as the finest hotel in the country. It also became known as the “The Belle of the ’90’s”.

This statue of Thomas Jefferson took more than two years to complete
Unfortunately, this greatness was short lived. As with several of these older, grand hotels we have visited, there have been unfortunate times during their history where they fell into decline and were even closed for a period of years before returning to their original grandeur. The Brown Hotel, Le Pavillon and the Casa Monica Hotel have followed this pattern. So it was with The Jefferson Hotel. This series of events began when a fire nearly destroyed the hotel in 1901.
How gorgeous is this place? I’d definitely want to stay there if I was in the area. Look forward to the interview and recipe you’ll be posting 🙂
Gwen, that is just lovely! Can’t wait to show it to my friend, Anne.
My goodness, you find some beautiful places to sleep and eat! Looking forward to the interview with Chef Bundy.
Hey there,
It’s hard work, but we are up for the challenge to do it! 🙂 You definitely need to come our way so we can experience it all together! Louisville!
Gwen
The hotel ceiling is spectacular, love the stairway too. The photos are unbelievable. Thank you for bringing this to us.
You are welcome. 🙂 It is a gorgeous hotel.
I’ve been to Richmond a few times but never to luxury like this! What a gorgeous hotel. Lucky you!
That hotel is simply amazing; so grand, so beautiful. Looking forward to the interview and to the chef’s recipe!
I’ve heard such marvelous things about The Jefferson Hotel and it really does look fantastic! Great post, darling!
What a gorgeous hotel! Thank you for the recommendation!
What a stunning hotel! I was blown away by the grandeur from the first picture to the last. Thank you for sharing this trip with me. I hope you are having a blessed week, my friend. Much love!
I have stayed at the Jefferson a few times and was disappointed with the shabbiness of the rooms. Definitely in need of an updating. Have all the rooms been renovated?
Hi Jack,
We had a very nice room, so I did not have the same experience you did. I would say that the room we were in appeared to have been renovated somewhat recently. It was in excellent shape and the linens, bathroom and furnishings were all very nice. I checked Trip Advisor (which I use frequently for travel) and did see that nearly everyone posted a stellar review of the hotel.
I would suggest that you request an updated room if you return to the hotel. I know that hotels and restaurants take comments very seriously and want their guests to be happy and return, so don’t be afraid to ask for a nicer room. Good luck!
Gwen
It was a dump in the 1970’s before it was closed in 1980.
It was renovated & reopened as the Jefferson Sheraton 1986-1991
Upgraded in 1993 & 1999.
Most rooms were nice but never matched the grandeur of the public spaces in the lobbies
I have heard that the musician Billy Joel was a part-owner or something of the Jefferson at one time. Do you know if there is any truth to that?
Hi John,
I could not find anything about that online, but it could be possible he was a member of one of the groups of investors that owned the hotel at one period of time. If you are really curious about it, you might contact the hotel and ask for the General Manager. He might have some of that information. Good luck!
Gwen
Yep
He was part of an investment group, the Ross group, that renovated the hotel 1983-1986 & reopened in 1986 under Sheraton management until 1991.
I worked there as a bellman from 1991-2006
My experience at the grand Jefferson’s Hotel was wonderful considering the situation that got me there, I was doing a friend a favor which included driving her to Richmond for a hairdo, yes a hairdo, it was a wonderful ride there but on the way back after six hours of waiting for her, she flipped the strip and ask me to take her to the bathroom , I told her let me look one up since I was not familiar with Richmond, I found the Jefferson Hotel and it seemed to be safe and clean, I took her there and I was driving once I got her there she started screaming for me to get out of her car for what reasons I don’t know, the gentleman which was security at the hotel was so nice he let me sit in that beautiful hotel until my daughter drove from Norfolk to get me, they made me feel so welcome and safe I truly appreciate them to this day. When I walked through the doors it was something I ever seen in my life, seemed like God put me in Paradise right then I know that god had me as always, what was meant to harm me god protected and put me in paradise with wonderful people. I could not afford to stay the night but I enjoyed the few hours I spent there, God is always there for me and one day I will thank the Jefferson’s in person and spend the night in there beautiful rooms, even though I did not see the rooms I know from my heart that the rooms are breath taking, thanks for keeping me safe that night. Remember when your are in harms way God will protect you.