The Franklin Inn
Museum District, Richmond
Bar in Richmond, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
The Franklin Inn is worth considering for an easy Richmond bar plan, especially if you want a casual repeat spot rather than a drinks destination. Go for a low-pressure date or small group catch-up; choose a more defined beer, cider, or event-driven venue if the night needs a clearer hook.
About The Franklin Inn
For The Franklin Inn in Richmond, the practical details are simple: the venue has casual dress and a schedule that runs into the evening every day, with the latest closing time on Friday and Saturday. Details for cuisine, price, chef, seating, reservations, awards, or a specific drinks program are not available, so the safest recommendation is to treat it as a casual Richmond option rather than a destination built around an unspecified specialty.
The useful way to think about it: choose The Franklin Inn when the known facts fit your plan. It opens at 5 PM on Monday; at 12 PM Tuesday through Friday; and at 11 AM Saturday and Sunday. Closing is 10 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, with Friday and Saturday listed until 12 AM. That makes the schedule the clearest planning hook, while anything more specific should be confirmed directly with the venue.
A casual Richmond option with limited details
A cuisine focus, chef, price tier, reservation policy, seating setup, awards profile, or signature beverage program are not specified. That does not make The Franklin Inn a bad choice; it simply means the decision should be based on the basics: Richmond location, casual dress, and the posted operating hours.
Readers comparing options in the city can also use the category pages to calibrate the night: Our full Richmond bars guide is a broader starting point for bar planning, while Our full Richmond restaurants guide helps if food is driving the decision. If the night may turn into a wider itinerary, the city guides for hotels, wineries, and experiences are more useful than trying to infer details that are not available.
Who should choose it next time
Choose The Franklin Inn if you want a casual Richmond venue with posted hours that include late Friday and Saturday service. If the occasion depends on a specific cuisine, a specific menu, a chef name, formal service details, or documented accolades, verify those details before making it the anchor of the plan. Nearby browsing can include Ardent Craft Ales for another Richmond option, along with other Richmond dining and drinking listings when the exact mood is still undecided.
Quick reference: casual dress; Richmond location; open Monday 5–10 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 12–10 PM, Friday 12 PM–12 AM, Saturday 11 AM–12 AM, and Sunday 11 AM–10 PM.
Planning details
- Location
- 800 N, Cleveland St, Richmond, VA 23221
- Website
- thefranklinrva.com
- Phone
- +1 804 716 9493
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Franklin Inn inhabits the quietly confident end of Richmond’s bar scene: a neighbourhood-anchored tavern that rewards attention rather than billboard signage. Set on North Cleveland Street in the Fan District’s late-19th-century rowhouse fabric, it feels like a local discovery more than a destination for passersby. The pace is measured and the tone restrained — this is a place to settle in, talk, and let an evening unfurl slowly. Its unpretentious, historic setting and modest profile create a charming, relaxed environment that suits people who prefer substance over spectacle.
Best For
This is an evening-oriented neighborhood bar that suits low-key socializing more than big nights out. It’s well suited to after-work drinks, quiet dates, and casual hangouts with friends who value conversation and a relaxed pace. Because the Inn is embedded in a residential corridor of the Fan District and operates like a traditional walk-in tavern, it’s a good pick for locals or visitors who want an authentic, unhurried bar experience rather than a high-energy crowd. Expect intimate seating and a friendly, familiar clientele.
Ordering Tips
The Franklin Inn follows a walk-in tradition: there’s no listed booking method in public directories, so reservations are not part of its operating model. Timing matters — arriving early in the evening on weekdays reduces the chance of waiting, and being prepared to take whatever seat is available aligns with the venue’s neighborhood-tavern rhythm. Treat it like a local spot: come ready to settle in, order at the bar if needed, and plan for an informal experience rather than a prebooked, structured meal service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and intimate with warm lighting, jazz music playing in the background, and a lively yet relaxed energy that fills the small space.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Pub
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Jazz and Curated Background Mix
Signature Pours
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 800 N, Cleveland St, Richmond, VA 23221
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Three Notch'd Brewing Company - Richmond, Notable alternative
- Historic Hofheimer Building, Notable alternative
- Fanboy, Notable alternative
- Ardent Craft Ales, Notable alternative
- Buskey Cider, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Richmond
Three Notch'd Brewing Company - Richmond is the cleaner choice when beer is the point of the outing. The Franklin Inn is better for a flexible neighborhood-bar plan where the group has not committed to a brewery format. For value, the smarter pick depends on what the table wants: beer-focused groups should lean Three Notch'd, while mixed-agenda groups may find The Franklin Inn easier to agree on.
Historic Hofheimer Building is the better fit when ambiance and a larger night out matter more than simplicity. Fanboy should be the cross-shop when the group wants a more defined bar identity. The Franklin Inn wins on ease: it is the safer call when booking difficulty and low planning effort matter more than a highly specific concept.
For category-specific drinking, Ardent Craft Ales is the beer-led alternative and Buskey Cider is the cider-led one. Pick those when the beverage choice is settled before arrival. Pick The Franklin Inn when the priority is a casual Richmond bar that can absorb a looser plan.
Explore Richmond
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Franklin Inn guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Franklin Inn
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Franklin Inn | Richmond | No published awards |
| Three Notch'd Brewing Company - Richmond | Richmond | No published awards |
| Historic Hofheimer Building | Richmond | No published awards |
| Fanboy | Richmond | No published awards |
| Ardent Craft Ales | Richmond | No published awards |
| Buskey Cider | Richmond | No published awards |
How The Franklin Inn Richmond compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Franklin Inn good for a date?
It can be a fit for a casual date in Richmond if the posted hours work for your plan. Dress is listed as casual, and Friday and Saturday hours run until 12 AM.
Is The Franklin Inn good for groups?
It may work as a casual Richmond meet-up, but seating capacity, reservation policy, or group accommodations are not available. Check directly with the venue if group logistics matter.
Is The Franklin Inn open late?
Yes on Friday and Saturday, when the listed hours run until 12 AM. Monday through Thursday and Sunday close at 10 PM.
What's the crowd like at The Franklin Inn?
A specific crowd profile is not available. Planning notes include that The Franklin Inn is in Richmond, dress is casual, and hours vary by day.
Is the food good at The Franklin Inn?
Cuisine type, menu details, chef name, pricing, or awards are not available. If food is the deciding factor, confirm the current offering directly with the venue.
Does The Franklin Inn have outdoor seating?
Do not count on outdoor seating unless the venue confirms it directly. Details include Richmond location, casual dress, and operating hours, but not seating setup.
Do I need a reservation at The Franklin Inn?
A reservation policy is not available. If you are planning around a specific time, especially Friday or Saturday when hours run later, check directly with the venue.
