Grain

Rooftop and waterfront views accompany this tabletop fire pit the whole family can huddle around. Don’t miss live music Wednesday through Sunday, happy hour Monday through Friday, and a Bloody Mary selection for Sunday brunch.

Perro Blanco

Nestled in the Railroad District alongside local favorite, Toast,  is Perro Blanco –  a cozy mezcal bar that will be your go-to stop for classic tequila inspired cocktails like their Nickles 4 Tickels, featuring Vita Mezcal steeped in Oolong tea, Creme de Cacao, Creme de Banane, Velvet Falernum, Agave and fresh Lime. This auto shop-turned-hidden gem welcomes guests to enjoy homemade corn tortilla tacos that pair perfectly with a smoky mezcal margarita. Embrace the Fall and Winter seasons with tacos by the fire pit on their patio!

@toastrunners, Instagram

O’Connor Brewing Company

Colder temperatures are no excuse to skip out on the amazing outdoor space at O’Connor’s. A long time favorite brewery located in the heart of Norfolk’s up-and-coming Railroad District, O’Connor’s serves up incredible brews with a welcoming vibe and large outdoor beer garden that  makes for a perfect afternoon hangout spot with friends and family.

TASTE Ghent

Priding themselves on minimally processed food that is locally sourced, TASTE strives for that farm to table perfection. This café style restaurant serves breakfast, lunch & dinner. Toast your feet by the fire while you munch on their savory sandwiches and sip their aromatic coffee.  TASTE’S pledge to high-quality food extends to the shelves of their retail store, highlighting local Virginia foods such as cheese, gourmet munchies, fine wine and beer.

Hank’s Filling Station 

Classic cocktails – Manhattans, Old Fashions, and Whiskey Sours – are best enjoyed at Hank’s Filling Station. What was one an old gas station has been transformed into a hip, outdoor whiskey bar that entices you to bring your favorite people, chat by the fire and play life-sized games in the backyard. Check out their live music and events here!

@hanks_filling_station, Instagram

Mermaid Winery

Have you been to Mermaid Winery? Well here is an excuse to go. When there is a chill in the air, what’s better than an afternoon or evening spent by the fire with a bottle of wine for company? Mermaid Winery is Virginia’s first urban winery and has free tastings every Friday. Their menu includes 14 of their own varietals, along with 800 wines sourced from around the globe.

Waterside District

Multiple fire pits throughout, Waterside District’s waterfront fires are a favorite here in Norfolk. Grab dinner or just a drink, and soak up skyline views of our neighboring city Portsmouth.

@watersidedistva, Instagram

Leone’s

Overlooking Norfolk’s famous Granby Street sits one of the most beloved Italian restaurants in the city, Leone’s.  Admire the views from above and then cozy up on their back patio next to the fire!

Torch

The warmth from a fire pairs perfectly with Torch’s fried pimento cheese balls, served with a side of sriracha ranch. Pair your bites with a local beer, play a round of cornhole and enjoy the crackle of the fire.

@komodoinstincts, Instagram

^{Header photo courtesy of Hilton Norfolk the Main.}

With self-guided tours aplenty, Norfolk’s art scene is not to be missed. Everything from public murals to installations on local buildings have been designed for the city. The up and coming art scene throughout the city provides a platform for artists at all stages in their career, whether just starting out or well-established, to create public murals on local businesses showcasing the city of Norfolk. Any space, whether on a building wall, a house, a shed or even the sidewalk, can be transformed into a stunning display by local artists whose love for the city is obvious in the copious ties to Norfolk painted into every piece.

BLOOM

Artists: Carl Medley III and Charles Rasputin

Created by two Norfolk artists, Bloom is a combination of vibrant pink roses and stark white fangs located at 801 Boush Street. The artists were inspired by the intense energy and fierce creativity of the NEON District and wanted to showcase it through this mural.

NEONing

Artist: Joan Biddle + Volunteers

Guiding you through the NEON District are colorful accents like sidewalk painted triangles and fences by Joan Biddle and volunteers. You can find them on park benches, along sidewalks and under murals, reflecting the colorful artwork found along the walls of local small businesses. These bright and vibrant pieces provide a guide for locals and visitors alike to experience the unique and creative artwork of NEON.

757 ENERGY & VIBE

Artist: Jerrod Ray and WKTR News 3

@allisonk_14, Instagram

Visitors and locals looking for a new “Instagram worthy’ photo spot, look no further than the 757 Energy & Vibe mural by Jerrod Ray in collaboration with WKTR News 3. This vibrant colored mural highlights the unique and creative community of Hampton Roads which is oftentimes called ‘The 757’.

LABOR OF LOVE

Artist: Hannah Kirkpatrick

@riseandshine757, Instagram

Alongside the Glass Wheel Studio, a contemporary art facility located in the heart of The NEON, Norfolk’s Arts District “Labor of Love” glows in the artist’s handwriting, forming an ECG or heartbeat. This unique piece of artwork expresses the energy required to sustain one’s passion. In her practice, Hannah playfully links the transitions in technology through objects, devices and engaging experiences of art.

Razzle Dazzle

Artist: Nick Kuszyk

Paying homage to the Navy’s camouflage styles from World War I battleships, Razzle Dazzle by Nick Kuszyk covers a 3-story wall on Granby Street.

NFK Arts

Artists: Elliott Addesso and students

Many of the murals throughout the city, both inside and out of the NEON District have been collaborations between local artists and Norfolk’s Emerging Leaders Program. Some, like NFK Arts are outlined by an artist, in this case, Elliott Addesso, and then students are the ones to fill in the outline.

Fathoms of Freedom

Artists: Christopher Kozak and students

Featuring the goddess representing liberty, Fathoms of Freedom was painted by teens during the Public Art and Norfolk Emerging Leaders summer program and designed by Christopher Kozak. With nods to the North Star, various ships, and Navy symbols this piece pays tribute to the naval and seafaring history of Norfolk.

Humpbacks Off the Virginia Coast

Artist: Robert Wyland

Humpbacks Off the Virginia Coast is a life-sized mural of humpback whales painted by Robert Wyland as part of his quest to paint over 100 life-sized murals of marine life. Robert Wyland and the Wyland Foundation set out this goal to increase awareness and conservation efforts of aquatic habitats.

Solidarity

Artist: Aimee Bruce

This piece takes inspiration from “Animal Farm” and features different animals supporting the building, including a horse, a chicken, and a cat to symbolize how everyone must come together as a community in spite of our differences.

For more information regarding free public art tours click here. Don’t forget to tag us in your pictures! #VisitNorfolkVA

Norfolk traces its tales back to the early 17th century, soon after the first English settlers arrived in the new world. Since then, the city has seen its fair share of history: battles, fires, hurricanes, and strife. It continues to strive for that balance between Southern charm and metropolitan pace but no matter the direction it evolves into, Norfolk cannot forget the haunting tales that do not allow the past to be forgotten.

Here are just a few…

^{Photo above: @jeffwermers_b_side, Instagram} 

The Ghost of Willoughby Spit

There are countless stories of ghosts along the beach of the Spit which are usually intertwined with lost loves and those waiting for their return. One local legend is of a man who yearns to keep us safe. It is said that this ghost only appears as an omen that a hurricane is near. Stories of a mysterious dark figure on the beach were reported just before Hurricane Isabel in 2003.​

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Built in 1739, the church is the only colonial-era building in Norfolk to survive the many wars the city has seen. It still carries a centuries-old cannonball embedded in its bricks, a memento from Lord Dunmore. And there are said to be more spiritual reminders of the past within and around its walls. The most prevalent sighting is a figure that appears in the graveyard, thought to be the ghost of Dr. Nicholas Albertson Okeson who tragically died of Malaria in 1882. He was a humble servant for 26 years and was buried at St. Paul’s. Perhaps he still feels there is work to be done.​

The Moses Myers House Prominent

Businessman Moses Myers built this house in the late 18th Century and until it was donated to the city in the 1930s, five generations inhabited the home. The man is said to haunt the garden of the house is believed to be Thomas Bowden, someone who was quarreling with Moses Myers before he was shot on the property. It is said that the two were in the middle of a heated discussion before Bowden was shot by Moses Myers’ son, Samuel. The figure is described to be wearing a top hat and cloak, pacing back and forth through the garden relentlessly eager to give his last word.​

Norfolk City Jail

It is said to be the most haunted place in the city. A prisoner many years ago hanged himself in his cell and since then, anyone who has been assigned to that particular 9’x9’ space has been terrifyingly provoked by the uneasy spirit of that man. One prisoner has reported never being able to see his own reflection in the mirror but rather a distorted figure of a man’s face. Night guards have reported seeing a silhouette, only to approach and find nothing.​

The Wells Theatre

Opened in 1913 as the crown jewel of the Wells Brothers’ Beaux Arts theaters, the historic Wells has gone from stage to cinema to stage again, with some scary members of the cast tagging along. The death of a small girl from a balcony fall during the theater’s movie days is still being relived. Employees say they hear her laughter from time to time and audience members have been seen in strange attire waiting for shows. And the spirit of a sailor – a crew member who fell while working on the fly system and died tangled in the stage rigging – is said to roam backstage and is often blamed for missing props or doors being locked. During rehearsals, crew and cast will often be heard shouting “Stop it, Ned!”

Battleship Wisconsin

The famous battleship, largest ever operated by the U.S. Navy, is now a museum in downtown Norfolk, a symbol of the city’s proud naval history. But one crew member has apparently stayed behind when all others left. The poor soul was working on the air conditioning system during an overhaul during the Korean War when someone turned on the unit, ending his life. Among the reports of his presence on the ship is testimony from a quartermaster 2nd class serving on board during Operation Desert Storm. Included in his report is this:

“ I’m walking past the Harpoon launchers [port side] and you get that feeling that you’re being watched? That there’s somebody behind you? So, I turn around thinking it’s the aft lookout, coming to me for something, so I stop and turn around and look and there’s this bright white wispy shadow there behind me. Now, it’s the midwatch and there was no moon that night. It was pitch black. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face it was so black. And there is now this billowy white shadowy sort of thing floating behind me. It sort of freaked me out. The story about the electrician – at the time I didn’t know, but I went “ok, that’s enough of that’ – I turn around and start making my way forward and boom – there it is again right in front of me. And this billowy white shadowy thing is right in front of me, so I turn around and walked aft again towards the aft lookout and there it is again, behind me. So this time, I turn around and facing forward, I just took off running as fast as I can, back forward.”

Freemason Abbey

Today it has been converted into a restaurant. But in 1873 the Abby was built in the city’s Freemason section. There have been numerous paranormal accounts particularly in the kitchen and bar area where things are being moved around, cupboards opening on their own, and items falling off shelves and doors that will either not stay closed or won’t stay open. There are also those who claim to have seen a dark wandering figure and the sound of a woman weeping. And to this day, employees still end the evenings by saying “Goodnight Mr. B,” a nod to a former owner of the restaurant who apparently still takes smoke breaks in the dry goods storeroom long after he has passed.​

The Norfolk Pagoda

The Blessing Gate arch is a landmark that promises good fortune to all who pass under it. However, when the downtown section was part of the bustling port, the arch’s concrete slab foundation held the weight of a 5,000-gallon molasses storage drum, a sticky grave for many industrial accident victims from many years ago. To this day, many visitors comment on the smell of molasses around the gate. Could it be a message from beyond?​

@enorashanephotography, Instagram

USS George Washington

This Navy ship is said to have a few ghosts that haunt this vessel. One is of a little girl who strolls through the lower levels, perhaps the daughter of a sailor that never returned home. The other ghost is of a guard dog that disappears instantly. And there have also been accounts of a man who walks the halls along with the eerie feeling of always being watched.​

Please note:The stories depicted here have been gleaned from shared accounts, postings, and collected news features and are not meant to be taken as endorsements of the stories by VisitNorfolk. These are the merely the tales being told and visitors are encouraged to decide for themselves what is factual. Have fun.