Atmosphere actually facilitates conversation at the Verdant Lady, whereas the Jasper in the evening needs a volume adjustment. Owner of the Verdant Lady is mad cool too.

Virago has some great cocktails, as does Little Nickel. Nick @ McCormack's on Robinson is a consummate professional behind the bar. Cocktails at Sabai aren't bad at all.

For the true RVA feel you should probably stumble from Bamboo to 3 Monkeys before crawling to Strawberry Street Market and buying whatever you can reach before someone drags your corpse to Scuffletown to round off the night.