9 Best Restaurants in The White Mountains, New Hampshire

With a storybook setting in a converted 18th-century mill on the Ammonoosuc River, this craft brewpub offers tasty wood-fired pizzas, bratwurst sandwiches, house-baked soft pretzels, and other fare that pairs well with its distinctive European ales. The pie topped with prosciutto, pears, chèvre, mozzarella, and beer-caramelized onions is a favorite, best enjoyed with a farmhouse-style saison.

The domain of celebrated chef--owner Jeff Fournier, who's cooked at some of Boston's most acclaimed restaurants, this exceptional eatery is set inside a chicly restored farmhouse in the village of Jackson. Ethereal highlights from the oft-changing menu include rigatoni with foraged chanterelles and local corn and tomatoes, and a superb cheese board with raspberry-hibiscus jam, nuts, and local honey.

Offering a modern take on classic tavern fare, this warmly lighted inn on Littleton's colorful Main Street charms guests with its beam ceilings, pressed-tin walls, and wood-burning fireplace. Highlights from the rotating menu include roasted-sweet-corn bisque with lobster-chive salad, and grilled chicken kebabs with toasted couscous and a feta vinaigrette. The property also has six simply furnished rooms and suites available for overnight stays. 

You certainly don't have to be a beer lover to appreciate this airy, modern brewpub that serves exceptionally good pub fare like fries topped with house-made curry aioli, roasted–sweet potato tacos, and farm-raised-beef burgers with bacon and barbecue sauce—the kind of sustenance that warms the soul after a day of White Mountains hiking. But Big Day does produce some of the region's best brews, including European-style classics like a golden Munich Dunkel and a citrusy Hefeweizen.

On the second floor of the White Mountain Athletic Club, Waterville Valley's best restaurant is a rambling space with big windows offering up grand views of the White Mountains. The food is hearty and well prepared, just what you need after a day of hiking or skiing. Enjoy pizzas topped with meatballs and marina sauce, or consider the pork chops with roasted-peach jam and sharp-cheddar grits. There's a good kids' menu, and tempting desserts, too.

Set in a vintage barber shop in downtown Gorham, this homey restaurant is a tribute to the owners' Italian grandmothers. Indeed, the menu reads like a roll call of favorites from the best restaurants in Boston's or New Haven's Little Italy neighborhoods—classic antipasto, feathery gnocchi with pesto, eggplant parmigiana, veal piccata, and linguine with clams and red sauce. Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients and attention to detail.

This friendly, laid-back Asian restaurant—one of two notable Thai eateries in this small town—excels with just about everything it offers, from creative sushi rolls and sashimi (try the salmon topped with house-made truffle sauce) to well-seasoned (or fiery hot, on request) curries to boba teas. House specialties include the sweet-and-tangy shrimp pineapple curry, ginger stir-fried salmon, and basil crispy duck. 

Set in a historic cider mill near the Saco River, this rustic yet elegant bistro and adjacent gourmet market and deli presses fresh cider in the fall—it's served with traditional homemade cider doughnuts. But it's also a terrific farm-to-table restaurant, featuring a seasonal menu of eclectic, contemporary dishes. Consider the burrata with grilled stone fruit and a white balsamic–nasturtium reduction, and roasted Thai-style cod with lemongrass, pickled ginger, and a green curry sauce.

This big and festive brewpub inside a late-1800s train station is decorated with old maps, historic photographs, and other fun curiosities. The kitchen turns out reliably good pub fare—pizza, burgers, steaks, seafood—and filling breakfasts, and the brewery produces nearly 20 different varieties of exceptionally good beers. Overnight accommodations are available in the on-site inn.