CHARLOTTESVILLE
CharlottesvilleCrozetRichmondAustin
Get the Wednesday emailSubscribe

The best burgers in Charlottesville

Riverside Lunch leads our ranking for burgers in Charlottesville. It is named most often by local critics and food writers. Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint and Citizen Burger Bar come next.

  1. 1Riverside LunchReaders' choice
  2. 2Jack Brown's Beer & Burger JointReaders' choice, 2026
  3. 3Citizen Burger BarReaders' top three, 2026

14 burger spots are open in and around Charlottesville. The top 6 are ranked first; the rest follow.

Ranked by Guide2 from readers’ polls, critics and local food writers (how we rank). Edited by Lauren Critzer. Updated October 11, 2026. No restaurant pays to be listed or ranked.

The top 6

How we rank

  1. 1Riverside Lunch

    Burger restaurant · Charlottesville
    • Won Best of C-VILLE for burgers, voted by readers [1]
    • Runner-up in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers [2]
    • CvilleRightNow (2025): “For nearly 90 years, Riverside Lunch has been one of Charlottesville's local favorites for no-frills, perfectly crafted burgers.” [3]
    • #1 on charlottesville.guide's burgers list (2024) [4]
    Where
    1429 Hazel St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    Get directionsCall

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  2. Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint
    Photo: jackbrownsjoint.com

    2Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

    Burger restaurant · Charlottesville
    • Won Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers [2]
    • Runner-up in Best of C-VILLE for burgers, voted by readers [1]
    • #3 on charlottesville.guide's burgers list (2024) [4]
    Where
    109 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5278
    Today
    Closed today
    All hours
    MonClosed
    TueClosed
    WedClosed
    Thu11 AM to 2 AM
    Fri11 AM to 2 AM
    Sat11 AM to 2 AM
    SunClosed
    Order onlineDirectionsCallMenuWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  3. 3Citizen Burger Bar

    Burger restaurant · Charlottesville
    • Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers [2]
    • #2 on charlottesville.guide's burgers list (2024) [4]
    • C-VILLE Weekly (2012): “Citizen Burger Bar's namesake burger puts local grass-fed beef, gruyère cheese, blackened onions, rosemary aioli, iceberg, and tomato on a brioche bun that's anointed with a fried pickle spear.” [5]
    Where
    212 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    Get directionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  4. 4Hogwaller Brewing

    Charlottesville
    • Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers [2]
    Where
    1518 E High St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    Get directionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  5. Selvedge Brewing
    Photo: selvedgebrewing.com

    5Selvedge Brewing

    Charlottesville
    • Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers [2]

    “We're inspired by tradition, driven by creativity, and rooted in community—and every beer we brew carries that thread.”

    Where
    2415 Ivy Rd Ste 190, Charlottesville, VA 22903
    Has
    Takeout · Full bar
    Order onlineDirectionsCallMenuWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  6. Timberwood Tap House
    Photo: timberwoodtaphouse.com

    6Timberwood Tap House

    Charlottesville
    • #4 on charlottesville.guide's burgers list (2024) [4]

    “We're a locally owned, casual American restaurant located in the 5th Street Station shopping center in Charlottesville, Virginia.”

    Where
    245 Merchant Walk Ave Unit 100, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    Today
    Open now until 10 PM
    Has
    Full bar · Dog friendly · Happy hour · Catering · Reservations · Takeout · Outdoor seating · Kids menu
    All hours
    Mon11 AM to 10 PM
    Tue11 AM to 10 PM
    Wed11 AM to 10 PM
    Thu11 AM to 11 PM
    Fri11 AM to 11 PM
    Sat11 AM to 11 PM
    Sun11 AM to 10 PM
    Order onlineDirectionsCallMenuWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

More burgers in Charlottesville

8 more · A to Z

  1. Burger King

    Burger restaurant · Charlottesville

    “The Whopper® Has Never Tasted Better.”

    Where
    1025 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901
    Today
    Open now until 10 PM
    Has
    Wi-Fi · Takeout
    All hours
    Mon5:30 AM to 10 PM
    Tue5:30 AM to 10 PM
    Wed5:30 AM to 10 PM
    Thu5:30 AM to 10 PM
    Fri5:30 AM to 11 PM
    Sat5:30 AM to 10 PM
    Sun6:30 AM to 10 PM
    Get directionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  2. NoBull Burger
    Photo: nobullburger.com

    NoBull Burger

    Vegetarian restaurant · Charlottesville

    “NoBull Burger, the TRUE veggieburger, is a handcrafted, 100% plant-based veggieburger that takes pride in using premium ingredients.”

    Where
    1139 River Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22901-4109
    Has
    Vegan options · Gluten-free options
    Get directionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

Worth the drive

Within about half an hour of Charlottesville.

  1. Cook Out
    Photo: cookout.com

    Cook Out

    Burger restaurant · Waynesboro

    “Cook Out cares about the quality of both its food and service.”

    Where
    1432 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980
    Get directionsCallMenuWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  2. Fardowners Restaurant
    Photo: fardowners.com

    Fardowners Restaurant

    Burger restaurant · Crozet
    Where
    5773 The Square, Crozet, VA 22932
    Get directionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

  3. The River Burger Bar
    Photo: theriverburgerbar.com

    The River Burger Bar

    Burger restaurant · Waynesboro
    Where
    137 N Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980
    Today
    Closed for the day
    All hours
    Mon11 AM to 8 PM
    Tue11 AM to 8 PM
    Wed12 AM to 12 AM
    Thu11 AM to 8 PM
    Fri11 AM to 10 PM
    Sat11 AM to 10 PM
    Sun11 AM to 8 PM
    Order onlineDirectionsCallWebsite

    Checked Oct 5 · Report a change

No longer open

How we rank

Nobody at Guide2 scores the food. The ranking adds up what Charlottesville’s own judges have said in public: readers’ polls count most, then critics’ standing lists, then local press and food writers. Every point is numbered and listed under Sources below. The full method.

When our editor has eaten at these herself, her picks and notes appear at the top of this page.

What changed

Questions

What is the best burgers in Charlottesville?
Riverside Lunch. Won Best of C-VILLE for burgers, voted by readers; Runner-up in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for burgers, voted by readers. Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint and Citizen Burger Bar come next.
How many burger spots are in Charlottesville?
14 are open in and around Charlottesville as of October 2026, including Burger King, Citizen Burger Bar, FIREFLY Charlottesville, Five Guys, Hogwaller Brewing and 9 more. Within a half-hour drive there are 9 more, in Orange, Ruckersville, Waynesboro, Gordonsville, Crozet and Palmyra.
Where can I order burgers online in Charlottesville?
4 have online ordering on their own websites: Five Guys, Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint, Selvedge Brewing and Timberwood Tap House.
Is Zinburger Burger & Wine Bar in Charlottesville still open?
No. Zinburger Burger & Wine Bar has closed. For burgers nearby, see the list above.

Sources

  1. 1Best of C-VILLE, Best of C-VILLE 2025: Best Burger. Checked Oct 6, 2026. Archived copy.
  2. 2Best of C-VILLE, Best of C-VILLE 2026: Best Burger, 2026. Checked Oct 6, 2026. Archived copy.
  3. 3CvilleRightNow, Why Riverside Lunch Is Still the Best Burger in Town - Cville Local Deals, October 2025. Checked Oct 6, 2026. Archived copy.
  4. 4charlottesville.guide, The Six Best Burgers in Charlottesville, November 2024. Checked Oct 6, 2026. Archived copy.
  5. 5C-VILLE Weekly, Top ten hamburgers in Charlottesville, VA, August 2012. Checked Oct 6, 2026. Archived copy.

See something wrong? Read our corrections policy.

More places to eat in Charlottesville

All guides
Grit Coffee
The best coffee shops
  1. Grit Coffee
  2. Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters
  3. Belle
53 placesSee the top 6
Brazos Taco Bar
The best Mexican
  1. Brazos Taco Bar
  2. Tacos Gomez
  3. Conmole
32 placesSee the top 6
Guajiros Miami Eatery
The best breakfast and brunch
  1. Guajiros Miami Eatery
  2. Bodo's Bagels
  3. Belle
31 placesSee the top 6
Pi-Napo Pizzeria
The best pizza
  1. Pi-Napo Pizzeria
  2. Dr. Ho's Humble Pie
  3. Christian's Pizza
27 placesSee the top 6
MarieBette Cafe and Bakery
The best bakeries
  1. MarieBette Cafe and Bakery
  2. Belle
  3. Albemarle Baking Co
27 placesSee the top 6
Ten
The best sushi
  1. Ten
  2. Now and Zen
  3. Akira Level Sushi & Ramen
19 placesSee the top 6

The weekend, by Wednesday

One email a week with what is on around Charlottesville, sorted by day, with times and prices where the venue gives them. Free.

Run a restaurant, café or brewery?

Listings are free and nobody pays to be ranked. Tell us about new hours, a new menu or an opening, and we update the page.

Update your listingReport a missing place