Padel Plant | Café & Bar

Fantastic experience: Hosted a joint adult birthday party and had so much fun! Alex was great helping to plan out the evening. Everything was perfectly set up and ready for us when we arrived. Our group enjoyed the food, drinks, padel, and overall atmosphere of the place. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. Recommend the place for your next event!

Fantastic experience: Great padel courts and an excellent staff. The Italian eatery was scrumptious

Negative experience: We lost a hangout spot, place to walk, photoshoot destination and more.. but we gained this monstrosity! Good job Richmond commodifying every square foot of space in the city.

Negative experience: If u could give less than a one star I would. I live in the apartments near the area and frequently take nightly walks. I have encountered an older looking white woman who has been taking pictures and videos of me like I am doing something wrong. Mind you I’m across the canal on the other side. It definitely feels racially motivated as I am a black woman and it is definitely not in a friendly fashion. So POC beware I don’t think we are welcomed here.

Fantastic experience: Super fun spot for pickle ball! Great staff, and am looking forward to my paddle lesson! Very nice addition to the neighborhood.

Fantastic experience: Went to grab coffee for the first time and their Tiramisu latte was creamy and delicious!

Fantastic experience: As a 20-year Richmond resident that loves walking the trails/canal, I wasn’t sure what to think of this place but gave it a chance. We didn’t play pickle ball but we did enjoy some food & drink on the patio and loved it. In previous years we would walk through and enjoy the murals for a minute or two and then move on, since there wasn’t anywhere to sit. This time we enjoyed the area for a while because the vibe is still cool, the food is delicious, and the staff were very friendly. Happy that our dog was welcome as well. We appreciate having an another option to dine and hang out along the canal.

Fantastic experience: Awesome cafe, walking along the canal and was surprised to find there’s somewhere to stop in and grab a coffee now

Fantastic experience: Padel Plant is a fantastic addition to Richmond. The owners have done an incredible job giving new life to this previously vacant building, and the result is a truly unique space. While the pickleball and padel courts are the main event, you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy it. The cafe and lounge area is a perfect spot to just hang out, grab delicious pizza, or get coffee. It's a wonderful social hub, and look forward to joining in on one of their social nights.

Negative experience: Privatizing a public art space, and covering up art for extremely tacky pickleball courts is a crime to society and clearly shows the owners don’t care about art and culture in the city. Don’t support this place.

Negative experience: Very rude

Negative experience: Bad coffee, and food.

Positive experience: Latte and pastries were good and service was friendly the first time. Second time they acted like they couldn’t see me when I was standing at the register. The third person behind the counter I asked if they were open said they were closed for a private event.

Fantastic experience: This place has changed my life. It went from an abandoned lonely building to a place vibrant with life and diversity. Because padel is a new sport to the US, it is bringing all kinds of people together from all corners of the world. I have never had so much fun or been in better shape. It truly is like being part of a giant family.

Negative experience: The Good: I wasn’t necessarily opposed to the pickleball courts being installed. The building had been sitting unused for quite a while, and in an age where social capital has been steadily declining since the 1950s, I thought—well, maybe a place like this could be a positive addition. I’ve been inside, spoken with the guys who founded it, and they were friendly and enthusiastic about creating a space where people could have fun with pickleball and padel. No issues there. The Bad: What I do take issue with is the erasure of what made this part of Richmond unique. Out-of-town money has come in and watered down the character of the canal walk, particularly the iconic murals. They never should’ve touched the outside. What used to be a vibrant, photogenic public space has been turned into a sterilized, gentrified backdrop for rich white women in athleisure, trying to keep their circulation going. Those murals were a piece of Richmond culture—whether for graduation photos, Instagram shots, or just a quick snap to send to a friend. Now it’s been repackaged as a sleek, soulless space with “cool” murals (murals are now gone and one remains) in the background, stripped of their original charm. Even Dopesick (starring the great Michael Keaton) filmed scenes there—you can see how it looked before this transformation. Anyone visiting or graduating after 2025? Sorry, you missed it. The Ugly: I’ve lived here long before this place opened, and I know others who are just as disappointed. Twice, I’ve walked through the mural area with my dog, and both times I was looked at like I had leprosy—just because my dog barked at people bouncing balls around. Look, I get it—no one likes being barked at while they’re playing. But my dog is a hunting breed. He loves balls: tennis, soccer, basketball—you name it. That’s not something I can train out of him. One lady gave me the stink eye. Another made a passive-aggressive remark while I was showing my visiting cousin what’s left of the murals. If that was you and you're reading this: I used to love this place before you rolled in with your country-club energy. If you don’t like my dog barking at what he sees as a toy—tough cookies. And next time, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face. I might have some choice words, sure—but my dog? He’ll probably greet you like an old friend, because that’s just the kind of soul he is. Please enjoy my pictures of what this place used to be. (Update - regular people can no longer walk through this area. The owners are still using the mangled looking fences used during their construction period to block off pedestrians).

Fantastic experience: Fantastic courts in this incredible location, the staff is super friendly and they will go above and beyond to give you the best experience with padel. Sandwiches and pizzas are one of the best I have ever had also, perfect ending after a match.

Negative experience: This is just a really dumb idea. Trade a unique special part of Richmond for pickleball courts… next up why not bulldoze Maymont to build a Walmart….

Fantastic experience: This place might be not your first thought for food, but it should be! The Parma sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten! Food is far above bar food, top restaurant quality for sure. Service was so quick and personable. Seating is easy and comfy. Drinks are superb. Definitely check this place out even if you have no plans to play paddle or pickle ball.

Negative experience: This isn't a community space. It's a glorified venue hall that happens to have courts. They continue to cover the murals that are left and the events they host are noisy. I miss living on the canal before they showed up. Gentrification at its finest.

Negative experience: The food is bland and terrible, the owners care nothing about the community and city. They built over our murals and took a beautiful place from the residents of the city.

Fantastic experience: Awesome place. Awesome sport. Also a great way to hide much of the local non professionally made artists work around the city

Negative experience: Their courts aren't even level

Fantastic experience: This place is freakin incredible!! Who cares about a few stupid murals. Long live Padel! I encourage everyone to go and support this establishment.

Fantastic experience: Great coffee! Nice indoor seating. Nice people!

Negative experience: Worst use of such a beautiful canal space. Overpriced and mediocre food. The city really needs to address the loud music after 10pm. This was a overall cash grab in all aspects of this establishment moving in.

Negative experience: Should not exist. If you care about this city do not support them.

Negative experience: Capitalism strikes again. Ruined a beautiful free community space, created an obnoxious and overpriced space available to those who can afford it. They've stolen the soul from this space.

Negative experience: sincerely wish this place never opened. took away such a beautiful part of the richmond art scene- and richmond soul. such a shame. will never support this business

Fantastic experience: Tried it for the first time. Pretty fun! Good coffee.

Negative experience: Too noisy at nights. The worst part of Padel is how it took so much uniqueness out of Richmond, to instead cater and embody staleness and a watered down environment. This is what Richmond is not!

Negative experience: Ruined a public art space and monetized it.

Negative experience: They keep hosting late night parties and I can't sleep the music is so loud. Edit: It is 10:51 and the music is louder than before.

Negative experience: I am writing to demand that you take immediate action to address the excessive noise coming from the late night events held here. Every Wednesday night, the Latin music played outside your establishment is so loud that it rattles the windows of my apartment, making it impossible for me, my partner and out pets to relax or sleep peacefuly. I hate that we all have to adjust to their ignorant behavior when all we want to do is sleep at a reasonable time, especially on a Wednesday night during the work/school week. My children sleep through their alarms now since they started to become accustom to the loud music. My partner started taking sleeping medicine which causes them to move more aggressively in their sleep, which inturns keeps me even more awake into the brutal head aching nights of music. My pets cower in the corner of their cages whining in fear of the loud noise and the rattling of windows and glassware in our apartment. I had to throw blanket over the cages to muffle the noise to keep them somewhat calm. I, myself feel like I'm indirectly dancing to the music making sure my humble abode is sleeping and getting the rest they deserve and earned from our long busy days. I twist and sway my body to walk carefully not to wake anyone as I go to the bathroom at night. I scrouch, kneel and even spin around in bed avoiding my partner kicks and violent arm swings during their night terrors cause by the sleep medicine they're forced to take because of the ignorant business owners. I only manage to get a few hours of sleep those nights before I awake at 6:15 a.m. and gather my family to start their busy days. I am tired, sore, and my head throbs in relentless pain from the soulless business owners decision to keep playing loud music into the late night. My family no longer talks in the morning just to give me peace. I used to enjoy the morning conversations with my family about their dreams and what they plan on doing that day. Now? Silence. I and my family lost apart of our routine and more importantly what made us a close family. That had bleed into other days of the week as well. I'm not only losing my sleep, but I'm losing my gosh-darn family. They make my mild and stressful days at work worth getting through. The smiles and stories they tell put me at ease, unlike the loud music that have infect our daily routine. I want to be free of this infection and enjoy my family without misery ruining us. Cure us of this by ending your events at 10pm as your websites states. I can't afford to move or want to because of this noise. I also can't afford to lose my family and myself. Please, please help me and everyone else in my apartment building have peaceful nights once more. Thank you.

Negative experience: It is hard to sleep at night due to loud music and parties past 10 pm.

Negative experience: Throwing parties after they close at 10 during the week, impossible to sleep.

Negative experience: I live near by and the late night music events (post 11pm) is ruining my life/sleep schedule.

Negative experience: Overpriced and super noisy. I live nearby and the late night parties are beyond frustrating.

Negative experience: I just moved in recently and can't sleep from all of the late night parties. Says their site closes at 10 but it is going on 11 and still the music is blaring.

Fantastic experience: This place is great! The staff and the atmosphere made it very fun and welcoming! Also the pizza was delicious!

Fantastic experience: Reviewing as a visitor to Richmond - this is a super cool area with an awesome vibe. Great pizza place too. It's obvious the people giving it low ratings are disgruntled local hippies who believe they are entitled to free pickleball for some reason. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Best place to be in town.

Fantastic experience: The place is sick, everyone should check it out.

Fantastic experience: Excellent experience. The courts, the food and the people were great!

Negative experience: This used to be a vibrant part of the Richmond Canal Walk. The unique murals and open public space helped created a unique atmosphere along the canal walk and contributed to the broader sense of culture we have here in Richmond. Now, this space has been privatized, with the murals still being shown without the artists consent, allowing the company to capitalize on stolen work. What was once a space for public good has now been privatized and bastardized. And for pickleball too :(

Fantastic experience: Was pleasantly surprised. Great use of a long abandoned place while still keeping the art up and free to enjoy. Had a nice coffee, staff was incredibly friendly, and the bar specials look good and affordable. All the 1 star reviews are of people that are upset someone who owned a building is now using it, and most have never visited. This was a great addition to the canal walk!

Fantastic experience: Such a fun and cool idea!! Love that Padel Plant is bringing the community together with a great activity and atmosphere for all to enjoy! Highly recommend you check it out!

Fantastic experience: I had my first Padel lesson with Blanca and it was an incredible experience from start to finish! Everything from the moment I stepped into the facility to my coffee order - I was greeted with a warm, enthusiastic smile that instantly made me feel welcome. As for the lesson itself, Blanca was fantastic—patient, friendly, and super encouraging. She made my first experience with padel fun and approachable. I was a little nervous at first but she made it SO easy and fun. Overall, the service is phenomenal, staff is beyond kind and the entire vibe of the place is just awesome!!!!! ❤️

Fantastic experience: Padel Plant is a breath of fresh air and a beautiful, wonderful addition to the Richmond community. I’ve lived here for a long time and there is no place in Richmond THIS inviting, warm, and welcoming to hang out, whether you’re there for a coffee or a bite to eat (amazing pizza — I was very very impressed) or getting active playing Padel or Pickleball. I have met so many amazing people at my time here. The staff & owners go above and beyond to make you feel at home and clearly care about the community so if you’re still hating please get off the bandwagon and stop playing moral white knight. Street art can be beautiful and add life to an urban environment but by its very nature, it is not meant to last forever. The beauty of collaboration is that it happens, you come together, witness it, celebrate it, and let it transmute and become something else. Just consider that this could be a new life stage for these murals — before, it was exposed to constant weather and erosion and now they’re protected by roof paneling. More people feel comfortable and safe — kids, families, pets — walking through and sitting to enjoying the murals for longer. This business is what downtown RVA needed. If you want to express an opinion, at least try it out or talk to them. Getting angry without information is a surefire way to come across as privileged yourself.

Negative experience: The owners ruined a piece of Richmond that made it special. No one asked for this.

Fantastic experience: Great new location! Pizza house on the canal and padel ball! Great local place!

Fantastic experience: So so glad this business opened. The coffee bar is fantastic and I love having a go to activity center on the canal! Keep up the good work and can’t wait to be back!

Fantastic experience: I absolutely spending an afternoon at Padel Planet visiting friends! I’ve played at courts across the country, and this was by far one of my favorites. From the atmosphere, to the food, to the staff everything was lovely and I would love to come back again!

Fantastic experience: Best pizza in Richmond, and it’s not close. Great vibe and vision. Friendly, welcoming staff. Cold beer and cocktails. Padel is a blast to play and they help arrange matches. Top shelf facility. The 1 star bombing over them not (?) painting over a cool mural is bizarre and dumb.

Fantastic experience: This was a great experience. the murals were beautiful and the staff was so welcoming. I can’t wait to come back. it’s a great place to stop by, get a drink or a coffee, or play some padel. It feels like a second home!!

Fantastic experience: I had the best experience coming here. The staff was so friendly and it felt like family. I will 100% be coming back and will bring my friends and family. The pizza and coffee is 10/10

Fantastic experience: This is one of the most amazing padel courts I have been to. The pizza is absolutely amazing and the coffee feels better than Starbucks. I will definitely be coming back here and I will definitely bring my kids and refer it to other families. This is the best place and I would recommend it to anyone. Amazing

Fantastic experience: Padel plant has been an amazing experience. I have come here often and have made amazing relationships. There is an awesome community and the staff is unbelievably friendly.

Fantastic experience: Very friendly, great coffee! The team really cares about its customers.

Fantastic experience: This place is incredible. Everything is high-quality: the coffee, the drinks, the pastries, the pizza, the staff, the renovation of the space, the enhancement of the canal walk. I don’t play padel ball or pickleball, but I love coming in here and grabbing coffee or pizza and just hanging out. It is full of life and young people, and adds a much needed rest-stop for relaxation and refreshments on the canal walk. It portends better things to come for the canal walk: a safer, more beautiful, sustainable, and thriving area where Richmonders can relax. Here are my thoughts on the controversy about the artwork/art walk that many are commenting on in these reviews: I live just steps away in an apartment and this is a huge step up from what this space was. The area was unsafe in several ways: the building was dilapidated and falling apart, on track to be condemned, and used as a toilet by the homeless at night. The murals, they were nice … I guess? But frankly I thought some of them were inappropriate for a public place and my guess is most people who looked at them would agree. The Night Owl’s witch painting, in particular, (@thenightowl on Instagram) which depicts a smirking witch wearing an upside-down cross, would be controversial almost anywhere except for a city as cowed to loud activists as Richmond. (I imagine Portland, Oregon – a place with a downtown that has yet to recover from its destruction by activist violence during Covid – is another city where this might be acceptable. Not exactly a place Richmond should emulate.) What’s more, I can only imagine the controversy had some of this public art depicted Christian symbols. Can you imagine what some of these activist artists would be saying then? “Is Richmond in bed with organized religion?” “What ever happened to the division between church and state?” “Christianity has hurt many people and shouldn’t be associated with Richmond or its vision of itself.” That the current artwork, replete with satanic religious symbols, has not been subject to this scrutiny is testament to the outsize influence of the loudest voices over the desires of the general public. (If I were to ask the average person, “Do you want satanic symbols on your art in public places?”, they would think I was joking.) As for the objections about the proper use of this space: In an ideal world could this space have been used for something less profit-driven? Sure. But no one stepped up to do that for the 50+ years since the power plant shut down: not the city, not the artists, not another investor. Finally, the Padel Plant business stepped up, and they’ve done a great job. This is how rejuvenation happens. People invest their private money (not to mention time, heart and soul) to improve places. We have private property rights, and we don’t live in communist Russia, thank God. While I don’t think these artists would truly want to live in communist Russia, their objections lie firmly on some sort of communist principles that amount to “We don’t like that private money overrode our ideal vision, so we are going to throw a tantrum and hope that our friends pile on. Perhaps we can tar this business enough so that it gets destroyed.” The objecting artists have invested several dozen hours on their wall paintings. The Padel Plant owners have invested many thousands of hours. I support the people who have invested thousands of hours, huge amounts of money, and perhaps their future, on this space.

Fantastic experience: Padel plant has been such a great addition to richmond- it’s become part of my daily routine. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming

Fantastic experience: The best addition to Richmond - can’t wait to go back with more friends!!! Everyone was so welcoming, the pizza was amazing, and it was a perfect way to spend my Saturday.

Fantastic experience: Padel Plant is an incredible spot. The community here is welcoming and vibrant. it’s the perfect place to play some padel, grab a great coffee, and connect with others. I’ve made so many friends through this place, and it’s easily one of the best things to happen to Richmond. Whether you’re new to the sport or just curious, it’s definitely worth checking out. Plus, the murals around the space are awesome, the pizza is delicious, and the overall vibe is just unbeatable

Fantastic experience: This is the best thing that's happened to Richmond in forever!! I love it here and enjoy playing padel with this community (even though I'm not very good). The food was soooo yummy and I can't wait to go back and try the coffee next time

Negative experience:

Fantastic experience: We've been visiting this place since they opened as very close to where we live. Mostly going to visit their café. They could not be nicer. Coffee is great. Pastries are spectacular. They took great care in preserving the exterior murals. Great addition to the neighborhood.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful space, well restored historical area.

Fantastic experience: The sports scene in Richmond is untapped, and Padel Plant really adds to it. I work nearby, and it’s become a highlight of my and my coworker’s week when we take our daily stroll here for a morning coffee. The owners and employees are so friendly, the facility is super well kept with lots of different spaces to chat, play, work, or eat (with the new restaurant). Happy hour deals are incredible! Padel Plant has a great mission of trying to improve the availability of third spaces for people to spend their time and socialize. I love the matcha- also recommend the tiramisu latte.

Fantastic experience: This place was amazing! We had a blast learning to play pickle ball. They even helped us learn the rules. The Stella at the end was the cherry on top. I can't wait to come back. FYI- Try the Porchetta!!!

Fantastic experience: This place is so fun! It has a Very cool and RVA style atmosphere. The food is absolutely amazing! The staff is kind and helpful. I would definitely recommend for a good time

Fantastic experience: So much fun! Excellent facility, service and food. A great addition to RVA!

Negative experience: What a scam, this will last as long as they want to lose money. Hopefully when they go belly up they remove those awful courts.

Negative experience: not cool they're trying to capitalize off what used to be a free public place and the artists

Negative experience: The staff was nice, but the cost is nuts. It’s a shame that a public art space was taken away for this. There are many free places to play pickleball around the city.

Fantastic experience: I’m so excited they have opened. The neighborhood was needing a coffee shop and this had it all: coffee/tea/beer/pizza ! I had the Noah’s tea really yummy. Looking forward to making this a daily coffee run.

Negative experience: They monitored art that was made by artists for the public to enjoy, without the artists permission, and (in some cases) against the artist’s wishes. All for a pickleball court. As if there aren’t spaces in the area for this business. Spaces that exist and are available without taking away art and community from people.

Negative experience: Went to it and I’m never going here again. Terrible quality food and coffee product and thanks for ruining what use to be a public space for art, Padel plant, it use to be a space where people brought speakers to dance among the art or take pictures while walking on the canal walk. Now you have to pay to enjoy the space. Padel plant also ignored artists requests to not have their art shown, rightfully so since they took away a public space, and are essentially taking advantage of the art there for business.

Negative experience: TERRIBLE. HORRIBLE. AWFUL.

Fantastic experience:

Fantastic experience: Love this place! Had a blast and they had a good selection of beer and wine at the bar.

Fantastic experience: The Padel Plant has been a wonderful addition to the community! I live walking distance from it and enjoy dropping in regularly. Their lattes are amazing and their pizza is also delicious! My husband enjoys their pastries from Sugar and Twine. This is a great space to hang out with friends and grab a drink. Everyone who works here is super friendly. I am happy they are here!!

Fantastic experience: I love this place. We go almost every day. It’s a great addition to the area and the inside of this place is bad ass. Everyone who is giving a bad review are RVA Reddit people that are mad about the murals. It has nothing to with this business. The business is great. The owners are super nice.

Fantastic experience: This place is amazing. The inside is inviting, the pastries are soooo good. My wife loves the coffee. Soon they’re opening the pizza spot and I’ve had it. It’s amazing. Best pizza in Richmond!! Ignore the haters! The negative reviews are just whiney people who think they’re connoisseurs in art. It’s typical Reddit hive mind. Everyone brigading this place are punks. Y’all are whining about art that is still there. Just look through the glass. The art changed every few years anyway. Go play pickle ball in Byrd park if you don’t like it but don’t brigade this place. It’s childish.

Fantastic experience: Goat spot

Negative experience: Please note: I’m writing this review out of fairness to the people who started the Padel Plant—but I also want my honest opinion to be heard. The Good: I wasn’t necessarily opposed to the pickleball courts being installed. The building had been sitting unused for quite a while, and in an age where social capital has been steadily declining since the 1950s, I thought—well, maybe a place like this could be a positive addition. I’ve been inside, spoken with the guys who founded it, and they were friendly and enthusiastic about creating a space where people could have fun with pickleball and padel. No issues there. The Bad: What I do take issue with is the erasure of what made this part of Richmond unique. Out-of-town money has come in and watered down the character of the canal walk, particularly the iconic murals. They never should’ve touched the outside. What used to be a vibrant, photogenic public space has been turned into a sterilized, gentrified backdrop for rich white women in athleisure, trying to keep their circulation going. Those murals were a piece of Richmond culture—whether for graduation photos, Instagram shots, or just a quick snap to send to a friend. Now it’s been repackaged as a sleek, soulless space with “cool” murals in the background, stripped of their original charm. Even Dopesick (starring the great Michael Keaton) filmed scenes there—you can see how it looked before this transformation. Anyone visiting or graduating after 2025? Sorry, you missed it. The Ugly: I’ve lived here long before this place opened, and I know others who are just as disappointed. Twice, I’ve walked through the mural area with my dog, and both times I was looked at like I had leprosy—just because my dog barked at people bouncing balls around. Look, I get it—no one likes being barked at while they’re playing. But my dog is a hunting breed. He loves balls: tennis, soccer, basketball—you name it. That’s not something I can train out of him. One lady gave me the stink eye. Another made a passive-aggressive remark while I was showing my visiting cousin what’s left of the murals. If that was you and you're reading this: I used to love this place before you rolled in with your country-club energy. If you don’t like my dog barking at what he sees as a toy—tough cookies. And next time, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face. I might have some choice words, sure—but my dog? He’ll probably greet you like an old friend, because that’s just the kind of soul he is. Please enjoy my pictures of what this place used to be

Fantastic experience: Wow!...I almost do not want to tell you guys about this little gem of a Cafe! Please do not share with anyone else (lol)! Coffee = pretty darn good! Ham and cheese breakfast croissant heated = also pretty darn good! Pretty new cafe and I was not disappointed. I took my coffee, my sandwich and sat outside on a bench to enjoy!

Fantastic experience: Best pizza in Richmond, and good beer/wine options. Nice place to grab a bite and watch pickle ball or enjoy the outdoor seating area.

Fantastic experience: An incredible addition to RVA and the canal walk! Padel is the most fun new sport I’ve tried and the entire Plant team has been supportive and focused on building a welcoming community. The latest opening of the outdoor pizza & beer garden is amazing, and we still get public access to the beautiful murals (and a new one inside on the pickleball walls!)

Fantastic experience: Amazing pádel club. Vibrant community and beautiful space.

Fantastic experience: This place is great! The staff and members are awesome! All you entitled hipsters that gave it one star reviews because they covered up the murals that you never actually appreciated need to get off your high horses and culture yourselves. Love you Padel Plant. I’m hooked and will see you tomorrow!

Fantastic experience: Just went here for a team fun day and it was awesome. Facility is great and the coaches/pros do a great job explaining everything (we were rookies). Coffee was great, and the venue itself was well restored and a great representation of Richmond.

Fantastic experience: This is the stuff Richmond needs! Having never played I didn’t know what to expect but it was so fun. Alex, Blanca, Edu are top notch. Drinks after didn’t dissapoint.

Fantastic experience: Great experience. I have never padel before and this was an incredible experience! Blanca and Edu were amazing coaches. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: The Padel Plant is exactly what Richmond needed—an amazing new spot right on the water! I’ve had nothing but incredible experiences here. The facility is beautiful, the courts are in perfect condition, and the vibe is unmatched. The colorful murals left in the new outdoor space that is soon to open gives the whole place an energetic, artistic feel—it’s not just a sports venue, it’s a destination. The staff is welcoming and truly cares about building a strong community. Whether you're a racquet sports player or you just want a really cool place to hang with delicious coffee, a bar and (soon to be) an amazing pizza place, there’s a spot for you here. It’s clean, organized, and run with passion and professionalism. Richmond has been long overdue for a place like this—fun, social, active, and right by the river. Don’t let a few negative reviews from people who know nothing about what they are writing stop you—The Padel Plant is the real deal.

Negative experience: Used to love visiting this area. So sad it has turned into a space exclusive to only those who can afford it.

Fantastic experience: Richmond has enough in the way of arts, breweries and the like. The sports scene, on the other hand, is pathetic. Padel Plant is a great step towards improving that. Though Padel is not very well known in the USA, Padel Plant is beginner friendly and should appeal to people of varying skill levels. The social integrations seem like a great idea as well. Excited to see how it does, and hoping people can open their mind a little bit to change and improvements in Richmond.

Fantastic experience: As a Richmond native, I grew up on Pipeline. It absolutely baffles me that there is a single negative review for The Padel Plant. It has brought new life to the area that was previously nonexistent. On top of that, the staff and the community they have created is nothing short of incredible. The number 1 complaint I’ve read about is the artwork. The murals are clearly still visible. On top of that, the art will be enjoyed and appreciated more than it has been in the last decade by the end of this summer. The Padel Plant is the best thing to happen to Richmond in recent years IMO. If you have a negative take, I can almost guarantee you haven’t stepped foot inside and checked it out for yourself. Give it a shot and I bet you’ll change your mind.

Negative experience: Awesome public art turned into overpriced hang out spot for the financial district next door.

Fantastic experience: Great addition to our neighborhood.

Fantastic experience: Sport of the future! Beautiful facility and super helpful staff to learn and accommodate. 10/10. Great use to incorporate the murals too

Negative experience: I used to love the free murals here before they privatized it and made it expensive and tacky. Richmond is truly dead.