For decades, the 18th-century Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, Va., has been a don’t-go-after-dark spot. One of the city’s oldest residential enclaves, its historic townhouses, gas lamps and St. John’s Church — where Patrick Henry proclaimed “Give me liberty” — have long been tended to by a small band of passionate preservationists in an area of encroaching crime and poverty. But undervalued real estate and unparalleled views of downtown and the James River have increasingly drawn a fiercely loyal, self-starter set of residents. These days, Church Hill has some of the city’s most appealing shops and dining spots.

The Roosevelt

A two-time James Beard Award nominee, Lee Gregory was a pioneer in Church Hill’s new wave three years ago with his Southern-American tavern. His “Sunday supper after church” food focuses on local ingredients (soft-shell crabs, Surry sausage) with elements of a Lowcountry upbringing. House-made sauces, vinegars, jams and preserves, and a renowned cocktail program elevate the experience.

623 North 25th Street; 804 658-1935; rooseveltrva.com

Sub Rosa Bakery

Image Evrim Dogu owns the Sub Rosa Bakery with his sister. Credit... Becky Harlan for The New York Times

Last year a fire took out this wildly popular wood-fired bakery but neighbors pitched in with fund-raisers, including an IndieGoGo campaign that raised $16,000 in a week. The shop reopened in January serving bread made of organic flour milled in-house. Its pastries, like pistachio-cream-and-sour-cherry croissants ($4, Saturday only), hint at the Turkish heritage of the brother-and-sister owners, Evrim and Evin Dogu.