It seems just like yesterday when I took my daughter to the Belvedere Coffee Shop & Diner to enjoy a special pancake breakfast. She was graduating from Beach Day Preschool, so my husband and I wanted to mark the occasion with one of her favorite breakfast spots. The diner was located across the street from the preschool, so my husband often treated her to a Friday breakfast date before her 9 a.m. drop off at school. Over the years, the iconic diner became an early morning family tradition.
Now, my daughter is one year shy of high school graduation, and the Belvedere is no longer on 36th Street. The Belvedere hotel was torn down in 2019 and redeveloped into a Hyatt. Like many Virginia Beach locals, we were sad to see one of our favorites go.
But wait. Guess what? It’s back. The Belvedere has reemerged into the Belvedere South Coffee Shop & Diner inside the new Moxy hotel on 12th Street. Luckily, the owner, a Virginia Beach local, knew how important the iconic restaurant was to its customers. He included it into his new hotel project.
The shiny new coffee shop looks like the original version with an open griddle, blue stools, cozy booths and same logo. The menu is identical, with one exception: no cottage cheese. I think I’ll be alright. You’ll still find the classic diner staples like fried eggs, French toast, omelets, creamed chipped beef and breakfast burritos. On my recent visit, I felt nostalgic watching the magic happen on the griddle. The cooks made it look so easy as they effortlessly whipped up hash browns and pancakes on the griddle. The restaurant still has a retro, old-school vibe but with a fresh feel in its new South End location.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the diner’s new cool home inside the Moxy hotel. The eclectic and stylish hotel complements the diner’s current location with its fun and hip vibe.
The vibrant lobby is decorated with beach chairs, a Zoltar Fortune Teller machine and an array of games for guests such as a life-size Jenga and Connect Four. Also, you check in at a bar that comes with a complimentary cocktail.
The rooms are creative and functional. You won’t find any closets in these chic uncluttered rooms. They’re equipped with clothing hooks and a space to store the luggage. Amenities include a 42-inch flatscreen TV, built-in USB port and something very special for bedtime. Each room has an old school phone that helps guests doze off with bedtime stories. My favorite room was a special suite that includes a built-in Tiki Bar and hammock chairs.
So, here are my easy directions to the new diner. Walk or drive 24 blocks south from the original Belvedere location to grab a meal at Belvedere South Coffee Shop & Diner. It will be a tasty walk down memory lane, and you’ll also have fun touring the whimsical Moxy hotel.
It’s located at 1201 Atlantic Ave.
Lee Belote, [email protected]
