12 Best Things to Do in Sperryville Va According to a Local
It was not until a few years ago that I discovered Sperryville, a little Virginia town of just over 291 people. It is fast becoming a foodie gem for those in the know. Pair that with incredible hiking and some of Virginia’s top wineries, and you have one fantastic weekend getaway. If you are not convinced yet, here are my top 12 things to do in Sperryville Va.
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01- Dine at Three Blacksmiths
Cavatelli verde at Three Blacksmiths in Sperryville
My husband and I are guilty of planning a vacation around a foodie experience. For example, after I watched Chef’s Table on Ana Ros (Volume 2), I immediately booked a dinner reservation at Hisa Franko and bought tickets to Slovenia.
Three Blacksmiths is also that kind of place.
Secure your reservation first (you’ll need 203 days in advance to book!) and then plan your getaway around this experience.
Chef Jake Addeo and his wife Sara will make you feel like you are dining with friends. They have vast culinary experience and truly provide a magical intimate dining experience.
This is our #1 Virginia restaurant, followed by The Inn at Little Washington, and then Blue Rock.
02- Hike the Iconic Old Rag
Best things to do in Sperryville Va: Savor epic Blue Ridge Mountain views from Old Rag summit
Everyone in Virginia knows Old Rag is the quintessential hike to do in Virginia.
It is grueling and challenging, but if you succeed you will be awarded epic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Go in the fall to appreciate the vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds of the fall foliage.
And don’t forget to book a day ticket IN ADVANCE. This is a new change due to the increasing crowds. You can book your ticket here.
03- Sip on a Cocktail at Francis Bar
Spirit of Sperryville cocktail at Francis Bar in Sperryville
This is your neighborhood bar.
Francis Bar is cozy and everyone seems to know each other. The bartenders are super friendly and make up some fantastic unique cocktails.
We always like to sit up at the bar to watch the action.
Order the signature drink, Spirit of Sperryville, which is made of fennel-infused vodka, Dr. Stoner’s Fresh Herb vodka, WRA lemon cardamom syrup, lemon juice, carrot juice, and muddled ginger.
The only downside is their hours are very limited, so plan accordingly to avoid disappointment.
04- Whisky Tasting at Copper Fox Distillery
Best things to do in Sperryville Va: Enjoy a premium whisky tasting at Copper Fox Distillery
You know Copper Fox Distillery is worth a visit when Three Blacksmiths uses their Original Rye Whisky in an Old Fashioned for their pre-dinner cocktails.
Delicious!
Sit outside by the river for more ambiance to enjoy your whisky tasting.
They also have some fantastic cocktails. Don’t miss trying the Ward 8, which is made of Copper Fox Original Rye, house-made Elderberry grenadine, fresh blood orange, lemon juice, Antica Vermouth, and house bitters.
Heads up, drinks are small.
05- Enjoy a Coffee by the River
Enjoying a Before & After coffee by the river
The local coffee shop, Before & After, offers up great coffee and pastries to start your day. They serve breakfast daily and offer some delicious sandwiches. We also picked up some tasty local honey from their shop.
The store sits right behind a babbling river. Colorful Adirondack chairs beckon you over to enjoy your caffeine fix al fresco.
Take a walk after on the Sperryville River Walk to stretch your legs.
Lots of charm.
Sperryville River Walk
06- Enjoy Cheese & Wine from the Corner Store
Selection of cheeses at the Corner Store in Sperryville
This is not just any country store. The Corner Store has an incredible selection of gourmet cheeses and both local Virginia and international wines.
You can also pick up some house-made, to-go sandwiches like chipotle turkey and roast beef on sourdough or some Park Ranger cookies with pecans and coconut. Great to eat later for lunch on your hike.
Don’t miss poking your head in and see what other cool local things you can find!
Roast beef on sourdough sandwich at the Corner Store
07- Elevate Your Cocktails with WRA Syrups
Wild Roots Apothecary botanical syrups for cocktails
Wild Roots Apothecary (WRA) sits right next to Copper Fox Distillery.
After your whisky tasting, swing by and check out their botanical syrups.
Some of our favorites include orange fennel. Use it with Copper Fox Rye Whisky to jazz up an Old Fashioned or use it with whisky, lemon juice, and egg white to make a whisky sour.
The Francis Bar incorporates WRA syrups into a lot of their cocktails if you want to taste the great potential of these cocktails mixers first.
08- Savor Beautiful Views at Mary’s Rock
Mary’s Rock summit
If you do not have the time or energy to tackle the 9.1-mile Old Rag hike, Mary’s Rock is a great alternative.
You still get epic Blue Ridge Mountain views with half of the effort and time.
It took us about 2.5 hours to complete the 3.7-mile roundtrip hike.
09- Try Some of the Fanciest Food Truck Food
Best things to do in Sperryville Va: Check ut the Sumac food trailer
Another incredible foodie gem is Sumac. It’s a tiny food trailer that cooks up some incredibly elevated cuisine using two custom wood-burning hearths.
Chefs Abbey and Dan Gleason only use seasonal ingredients from local farms, so the menu is constantly changing.
We enjoyed dishes like cedar brined duck, polenta, and squash with a side of fall vegetables, sweet potatoes, and sunchoke puree.
Wow, are we really in the country?
Cedar brined duck, polenta, and squash at Sumac in Sperryville
The kitchen trailer sits on the property of Pen Druid Brewing, so you can wash everything down with a local beer or natural wine all while soaking in that fresh mountain air.
10- Watch the Sunset at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm
Inn at Mount Vernon Farm porch in Sperryville
There are a lot of great places to stay in Sperryville.
We have slept at quite a few of them. I will save you the trouble of picking.
Book your Sperryville country getaway at the incredibly charming The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm. You will not regret it.
The property sits on a hill and has two porches facing west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. What that means is you get spectacular sunsets while you sip on your wine during happy hour and munch on some delicious cheese.
The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm also has several hiking trails to enjoy, a hot tub to soak your tired muscles after hiking, and a bocce ball court.
Not to mention the incredibly hospitable Innkeeper, Sarah, who goes out of her way to make sure you are happy.
Best things to do in Sperryville Va: Enjoy the hot tub at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm
11- Munch on a RPK Wood-Fired Pizza
The Herb Pizza: braised greens, fire-roasted mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan
Leave one night to try out an incredible wood-fired oven pizza from Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen (RPK).
What makes their pizza special?
Several reasons.
The pizza is made with a sourdough starter and incredibly fresh toppings from the farms next door. All pizzas are hand formed and then cooked in a custom Italian Mugnaini oven.
They are divine. We loved our Herb Pizza made with braised greens, fire-roasted mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan.
Bon Appétit!
12- Grab Some Fruit & Goodies at Roy’s Orchard
Best things to do in Sperryville Va: Purchase goods at Roy’s Orchard
Roy’s Orchard & Fruit Market is a Virginia institution since 1983. It sells all local Virginia apples, pears, peaches, vegetables, jams, honey, freshly baked pies, and even Nightingale ice cream sandwiches. You can even pick up local meat.
Some of my favorite things to purchase are local apple cider and sage (their secret ingredient) sausage.
This is the same sausage they serve at breakfast at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm. So good!
Final Thoughts
My husband and I fell hard for this little Virginia town.
Wonderful food, friendly locals, and great hikes all within a few hours of Washington D.C.
Book your reservation at Three Blacksmiths, stay at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm, get a little hike in, explore all the town’s treasures, and have a glass of wine at Linden Vineyards on your way back home.
That is a near-perfect country weekend getaway.
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Questions about my best things to do in my Sperryville Va list?
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Best restaurants & shopping places
We enjoyed the following restaurants right in town: Three Blacksmiths, Sumac, and RPK Kitchen. Within 10 minutes outside of town, Blue Rock Restaurant, Patty’s O’s Cafe, and The Inn at Little Washington are also fantastic choices! Many great options.
For shopping, I enjoyed stopping in the Wild Roots Apothecary. We picked up some botanical syrups to make cocktails. However, they have many other products to browse through (tea, jam, dried herbs, candles, cards, jewelry, etc). The Before & After coffee shop also has a very small section of local products (in the room to the right as you walk in). I picked up some of the best local Wildflower Honey here. The Corner Store has a lot of local food products. Copper Fox Antiques and Sperryville Pottery are other options (we haven’t been to these two yet though). If you drive 10 minutes outside of town, The Inn at Little Washington has a fun gift shop to pop in. Hope this helps!