The region excels in local seafood and in the traditional cuisine of the cities.

Regional specialities:
• Oysters.
• Blue crabs.
• Shad planking (fish smoked on oak boards).

Richmond's comedy clubs, theatres, rock and jazz venues and pubs offer a diverse nightlife. In Virginia Beach, Peabody's and Hot Tuna are popular clubs.

Among the top attractions for visitors to Virginia is the quality and the quantity of its shopping, particularly in the discount and outlet categories. A wide range of shops is found in the malls throughout Virginia, notably at The Fashion Center at Pentagon City in Arlington, Tysons Corner Center and the Potomac Mills outlet mall in Woodbridge.