The Monadnocks and Merrimack Valley Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Monadnocks and Merrimack Valley - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

Sort by: 16 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. Hungry Diner

    $

    A departure from the old-school greasy-spoon diners that proliferate in New England, this contemporary space with a white-tile and light-wood interior and a big, inviting outdoor seating area serves delicious, eclectic comfort fare that relies heavily on seasonal, local ingredients, including pasture-raised meats. Think Korean barbecue tacos with house-made kimchi and pickled carrots, or the buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich with a tangy secret sauce and dill pickles. The owners run 105-acre Inn at Valley Farms, 5 miles away, which also offers elegant B&B accommodations.

    9 Edwards La., Walpole, New Hampshire, 03608, USA
    603-756–3444

    Known For

    • Superb craft beer, wine, and cocktail program
    • Mac and cheese with bacon
    • Milk shakes and soft-serve ice cream

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 2. Luca's Mediterranean Café

    $$

    A deceptively simple storefront bistro with sidewalk tables overlooking Keene's graceful town square, Luca's dazzles with epicurean creations influenced by Italy, France, Greece, Spain, and North Africa. There's always an extensive selection of small plates, such as almond-crusted fried mozzarella and roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and pomegranate-infused honey, plus handmade pastas and complexly flavored grills and stews.

    10 Central Sq., Keene, New Hampshire, 03431, USA
    603-358–3335

    Known For

    • Fresh, creative pastas
    • Affable but knowledgeable service
    • Great wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 3. Revival

    $$$

    In this handsome, high-ceilinged redbrick building on a downtown side street, foodies and revelers congregate for some of the most creative and accomplished regional American cuisine in the Merrimack Valley. Highlights, in addition to an impressive selection of whiskies and cognacs, might include an artful platter of charcuterie and New England artisanal cheeses, hearty beef and veal Bolognese with mushroom tagliatelle, and seared salmon with pancetta and olive tapenade, but the menu changes regularly.

    11 Depot St., Concord, New Hampshire, 03301, USA
    603-715–5723

    Known For

    • Ingredients sourced from local farms
    • See-and-be-seen vibe
    • Decadent desserts

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 4. Walpole Creamery

    $

    Arguably the state's best purveyor of artisanal, small-batch ice cream, this unassuming parlor in Walpole always features a long list of both regular and seasonal flavors, such as Fijan ginger, fresh peach, wild blueberry, and mint dark-chocolate-chip. Thick, rich, and using only all-natural ingredients, this luscious ice cream is also sold in many of the region's restaurants, farmstands, and groceries.

    532 Main St., Walpole, New Hampshire, 03608, USA
    603-445–5700

    Known For

    • Using many local, seasonal ingredients
    • Sandwiches and light lunch fare in the parlor
    • Brownie sundaes
  • 5. Barley House

    $$

    A lively, old-fashioned tavern with Irish overtones, the Barley House is steps from the state capitol and typically buzzes with a mix of politicos, businesspeople, and tourists. The melting pot of a menu includes chorizo-topped pizzas, burgers smothered with a peppercorn-whiskey sauce, chicken potpies, beer-braised bratwurst, and Mediterranean chicken salad—all reliably prepared.

    132 N. Main St., Concord, New Hampshire, 03301, USA
    603-228–6363

    Known For

    • Live Irish music some nights
    • Great beer selection
    • Hefty, delicious burgers

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed., Reservations not accepted
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Coopershill Public House

    $$

    Choose a sidewalk table overlooking bustling Depot Square or a table inside the conversation-filled dining room at this lively gastropub adjacent to Peterborough's popular independent cinema and steps from Mariposa Museum. The specialty here is rare whiskies, and there's also a nice selection of wines, craft beers, and other drinks, but don't overlook the consistently excellent Irish-influenced pub fare, including Guinness stew, mushroom-and-kale flatbread, bangers and mash, and terrific burgers.

    6 School St., Peterborough, New Hampshire, 03458, USA
    603-371--9036

    Known For

    • Superb whiskey selection
    • Ingredients sourced from New England farms
    • Pecan bread pudding
  • 7. Cotton

    $$

    Mod lighting and furnishings lend this restaurant inside an old Amoskeag Mills building a swanky atmosphere, although on warm days you may want to have a seat on the patio, set in an arbor. The farm-to-table-inspired comfort food changes regularly but has featured pan-seared crab cakes, grilled Atlantic salmon with sweet corn and gnocchi, and Delmonico steak with a choice of sauces. There's a very good cocktail list.

    75 Arms St., Manchester, New Hampshire, 03101, USA
    603-622–5488

    Known For

    • Well-prepared comfort food
    • Creative mixed drinks
    • Handsome converted-warehouse setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
  • 8. Granite State Candy Shoppe

    $

    Since 1927, this festive sweet shop and ice-cream parlor with a second location in Manchester has been doling out old-fashioned candies, fudge, and other confections.

    13 Warren St., Concord, New Hampshire, 03301, USA
    603-225–2591

    Known For

    • Homemade peanut butter–chocolate fudge
    • Root beer floats
    • Maple Saurus Sundaes (with maple pecan ice cream and maple syrup)
  • 9. Machina Kitchen & Art Bar

    $$

    This farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Keene is a vital force in the community, offering not only stellar, sustainably sourced food and craft cocktails but also an art gallery with rotating exhibits and occasional live music performances. The menu changes often but always features a mix of classics and unexpected adventures like the salt cod croquettes with preserved-lemon remoulade, fried frog legs with mango-habanero salsa, or Korean-spiced-brisket bulgogi bowls with fresh pears and sesame.

    9 Court St., Keene, New Hampshire, 03431, USA
    603-903–0011

    Known For

    • Interesting cocktails and mocktails
    • Friendly, creative-spirited crowd
    • Occasional prix-fixe dinners with cocktail pairings

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch weekdays
  • 10. Pearl Restaurant & Oyster Bar

    $$

    Despite its prosaic setting in a shopping center a little south of Peterborough's historic downtown, this sleek, contemporary Asian bistro and oyster bar is quite welcoming once inside. Several types of fresh oysters are always available, along with such diverse offerings as ahi tuna poke, Hanoi-style pork spring rolls, Korean barbecue pork, and coconut-veggie rice bowls.

    1 Jaffrey Rd., Peterborough, New Hampshire, 03458, USA
    603-924–5225

    Known For

    • Creative fusion fare
    • Superb wine list
    • Oysters on the half shell

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
  • 11. Red Arrow Diner

    $ | Coffee

    One of New England's most celebrated diners, this bustling downtown greasy spoon has been catering to students, artists, and most famously U.S. Presidential candidates since 1922. This colorful restaurant, open around the clock, is a friendly place with fresh daily specials as well as such classics as kielbasa-and-cheese omelets and triple-bun Dinahmoe burgers.

    61 Lowell St., Manchester, New Hampshire, 03101, USA
    603-626–1118

    Known For

    • Filling breakfasts
    • Colorful people-watching
    • House-brewed root beer and cream soda
  • 12. Restoration Cafe

    $ | Coffee

    Set on the ground floor of a vintage redbrick apartment building on the east side of downtown, this hip café and gathering spot excels both with drinks—everything from nitro cold brews to creative smoothies—and healthy, well-crafted food. At breakfast, consider the egg-cheddar-chive brioche sandwich, while tandoori bowls and rare-seared tuna sandwiches, along with craft cocktails and beers, are popular in the afternoon and for brunch.

    235 Hanover St., Manchester, New Hampshire, 03104, USA
    603-518--7260

    Known For

    • Healthy smoothies
    • Sleek industrial vibe
    • Cheerful outdoor patio

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
  • 13. The Grazing Room

    $$$$

    Floor-to-ceiling windows add a touch of elegance to this superb—if a bit spendy—farm-to-table restaurant in the Colonial Colby Hill Inn, which also offers well-appointed accommodations. Fresh produce takes center stage on the diverse, contemporary menu, which might offer a watermelon-tomato-feta salad or goat cheese–blueberry pierogies to start. Main dishes could include lobster swimming in a Brazilian-style coconut stew, or Korean-style lacquered duck breast with kohlrabi kimchi. It's in the charming town of Henniker, roughly midway between Lake Sunapee and Concord, on the edge of the Monadnock region.

    33 The Oaks, Henniker, New Hampshire, 03242, USA
    603-428–3281

    Known For

    • Outdoor seating beside a barn with friendly goats
    • Pierogies with seasonal fillings
    • Fresh fruit tarts and galettes

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 14. The Restaurant at Burdick's

    $$$

    Famous artisanal chocolatier and Walpole resident Larry Burdick, who sells his hand-filled, hand-cut chocolates to top restaurants around the country, founded this acclaimed restaurant next door to his shop in Walpole's charming little downtown. With the easygoing sophistication of a Parisian café and incredibly rich desserts, the restaurant features a French-inspired international menu that utilizes fresh, often local, ingredients and changes daily.

    47 Main St., Walpole, New Hampshire, 03608, USA
    603-756–9058

    Known For

    • Noteworthy wine list
    • Adjacent gourmet grocery with delicious picnic supplies
    • Decadent desserts featuring house-made chocolates and pastries

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 15. J.P. Stephens Restaurant and Tavern

    $$
    Closed Permanently

    An appealing choice for lunch or dinner, this rustic, timber dining room overlooks a small mill pond in Rindge. The 1790 building used to house a sawmill, a gristmill, a forge, and a blacksmith. Now it's an all-around good restaurant with live music on weekends. Try the flavorful Cajun-style sirloin or the savory-sweet apple-brandy-and-walnut chicken.

    377 U.S. 202, Rindge, New Hampshire, 03461, USA
    603-899–3322

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 16. Villa Banca

    $$$
    Closed Permanently

    On the ground floor of a dramatic, turreted building, this spot with high ceilings and tall windows specializes in traditional and contemporary Italian cooking. Start with Gorgonzola artichokes and move on to pasta Alfredo. The butternut squash ravioli is a sweet delight, and the macadamia nut–encrusted tilapia will satisfy the fish lover at your table. Note the exotic-martini menu, a big draw at happy hour.

    194 Main St., Nashua, New Hampshire, 03060, USA
    603-598–0500

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video