52 Best Restaurants in Northern Vermont, Vermont

Dinner here will make you dream of bygone days, as piano music wafts in from the library of this 1880s mansion on the shores of Lake Champlain. Count on just-grown ingredients that come from the Market Garden right outside, as well as flavorful locally raised venison, beef, pork, and chicken.

For decades, the restaurant on this corner was Burlington's breakfast destination; now it's a nighttime affair, but it's still been the hottest table in town since it opened in late spring 2024. Owned and operated by two Hen of the Wood alums, the somewhat seafood-focused spot celebrates what's in season on Vermont's farms in a way that feels fresh, from grilled peaches with pickled corn to a standout cabbage entrée that tempts even the staunchest meat eaters.

Ask Vermont's great chefs where they go for a tremendous meal, and Hen of the Wood inevitably tops the list, thanks to its sophisticated, almost artful, dishes that showcase an abundance of local produce, meat, and cheese. The experience has translated seamlessly from Hen's original home in a converted 1835 gristmill to its sleek new spot on Waterbury's main drag, with a chef's counter, a downstairs speakeasy-style bar, a private dining room, a big patio, and—for the chefs—a much larger kitchen. It's more space all around, which means plenty of room for walk-ins, if you fancy a spur-of-the-moment snack of oysters and mushroom toast.

The Burlington branch of Hen of the Wood offers a slick, urban vibe but serves the same inventive yet down-to-earth cuisine that set diners' hearts aflutter and tongues wagging at its original Waterbury location. Indeed, many consider this the best restaurant in Vermont, so drop your finger anywhere on the menu and you won't go wrong.

This Church Street restaurant has garnered multiple James Beard Foundation nominations, launching it into a golden age under the helm of co-owners Allison Gibson and chef Cara Chigazola Tobin. High expectations are satisfied thanks to creative takes on eastern Mediterranean cuisine, including a selection of sensational mezes and harissa chicken wings that are considered the best in town. Desserts from notable pastry chef Amanda Wildermuth are worth saving room for, particularly the popular tahini ice cream sundae.

This cute ice cream spot considers itself "farm-to-spoon," and makes everything entirely from scratch. A paper-scroll menu rolls out new flavors every day, including shop favorites SlumDoug Millionaire (curried peanut butter), goat-milk gelato, and Garden Basil, which has earned national acclaim for its unexpected, fresh-from-the-backyard taste.

This restaurant and brewery in downtown Waterbury is always packed for a reason: fabulous craft beers, sandwiches, salads, and North Carolina-style barbecue served in an airy and friendly bar and dining room. The restaurant's Liquor Society offers flights of rare spirits, from local brandy to whisk(e)y from around the world. If you just want a quick bite and a draft, belly up to the tasting-room bar at the brewery in the back, or pop across the street to the Craft Beer Cellar, one of the state's best beer stores.

If you're a devotee of artisanal bakeries, it'd be a mistake not to trek the 7-plus miles from Montpelier (15 from Stowe) to have lunch, pick up freshly baked bread, or sample a sweet treat at what many consider Vermont's best bakery. Red Hen supplies bread to some of the state's premier restaurants, including Hen of the Wood, and has varied offerings every day.

This celebrated taproom remains one of the state's best, thanks in large part to its ability to acquire beers few others in the region can. The vibe feels straight out of an artsy neighborhood in Brussels, but with the earthiness of Vermont.

In 2012, co-owners Wilaiwan Phonjan-Azarian and Timothy Azarian traded their locally adored street cart for a cozy brick-and-mortar location offering some of the best Thai food in the state, if not on the East Coast. Most of the menu reflects the Laotian influence of Phonjan-Azarian's upbringing in northeast Thailand, and Vermont ingredients from eggs to chiles inspire dishes that change weekly.

Along with breakfast scrambles, challah french toast, homemade pastries, and lunchtime burgers made with local grass-fed beef, 3 Squares is known for that warm-and-fuzzy feeling running through the vintage-style dining room. Bright sunlight, fresh flowers, and a friendly atmosphere complement Vermont-sourced cooking that has been a Vergennes cornerstone since 2007.

The wood-fired clay dome ovens pump out delicious and amusingly named pies like "Dancing Heart" (garlic oil, Italian grana padano cheese, toasted sesame seeds) and "Power to the People" (chicken, buffalo sauce, carrots, mozzarella, and blue cheese dressing) in full view of the tables at this popular pizza spot. Fresh salads topped with locally made cheese round out the meals.

Classic and French-inflected, from the rattan bistro chairs on the stone patio to the escargot and duck confit, this longtime local favorite keeps things simple, with entrées the same price across the board—all served with mashed potatoes and fries, so you don't have to choose.

This cozy, white clapboard house with an indicative blue awning has been a community staple since 2005. Co-owner Mandy Hotchkiss and chef--owner Phoebe Bright share a decades-spanning friendship; today, their ongoing collaboration manifests in the bistro's seasonal menu and hand-written, daily changing nightly specials inspired by farm-sourced ingredients.

The original Bohemian Bakery began in 2010 as a Sunday-only pop-up in the home of co-owners Annie Bakst and Robert Hunt; it quickly became a weekly haunt for expertly made French pastries. The couple now roasts coffee beans in small batches and fills daily orders of rotating favorites like buttery kouign-amman (flaky pastry with fruit or chocolate) and croissants, custard-filled Danishes, and tall slices of cornmeal cake in their shop.

Local grass-fed burgers and handcut fries are the name of the game at this multicolored food truck. Try one of Burger Barn's more inventive offshoots, like the Nutty Goat: goat cheese, maple-crushed walnuts, caramelized onions, bacon, and mayo.

This may be a local hub for grabbing a quick sandwich or a case of beer, but its true fame stands with its seasonal creemee window. During the warmer months, lines snake around the corner for the café's beloved soft serve, particularly the house specialty: twisted black raspberry and maple ice cream in a cone, extra sprinkles. A large back patio has sweeping waterfront views, making it one of the nicest spots in town to watch the sunset.

For craft beer and inventive pub food, head to this spacious taproom in a historic factory building where the world-renowned Lumière brothers produced films in the early 1900s. Pair your pint of Strawberry Whale Cake (strawberry cream ale) or Vaulted Blue (IPA with notes of candied citrus peel and ripe peaches) with smoked trout dip and loaded birria fries, or opt for hearty sandwiches such as shaved steak or the mushroom Philly. An arcade room provides entertainment for non-beer drinkers, too.

The sign on the door says "HOT." when this bumping breakfast spot is open, and it's right; the meat-free menu with treats like chicken-fried egg and "bonuts" (biscuit donuts) is a darn good time. Go for breakfast, stay for the music and the amusing antics of brothers/co-owners Allan and Travis Walker-Hodkin.

Pursuing a mission that "the best wines are grown, not made," this natural wine bar meticulously curates an inventory of organic, biodynamic, no-additive, unfiltered, and wild-fermented vintages, either for sale in the small retail section in the front, or complementing upscale bistro dishes and boards in the classy dining room.

The local outcry when Charles Reeves and Holly Cluse closed their longtime breakfast spot, Penny Cluse Café, in November 2022 was only matched by the widespread sigh of relief when Reeves took over the kitchen at Deep City a year and a half later. Attached to popular Foam Brewers near the Burlington Waterfront, the airy, sunny space is a brunch-lover's dream, with dishes everyone in town has come to love, including a loaded bucket of spuds and herby gravy over biscuits. If there's a wait, grab a beer next door or take a waterfront walk to kill time.

A gastropub from the folks behind the Hen of the Wood restaurant, this place has one of the best beer lists in the state, and a smash of a smashburger. The food is excellent and the ski-lodge vibe is perfect for lunch, dinner, drinks, families, or romantic two-top or solo bar seats.

The line out the door on a typical weekend night should tell you a lot about the local esteem for this farm-to-table restaurant. Serving only local beef, cheese, and produce in a classy but laid-back style, Farmhouse Tap and Grill provides one of the finest casual meals in the area.

In the original historic gristmill home of renowned Hen of the Wood, which moved onto Waterbury's Main Street in 2023, the restaurant's talented team has turned its attention to pasta, from simply perfect spaghetti and meatballs to elaborately rolled lasagna, all made from scratch.

Turkish breakfast towers, tightly wrapped shawarma, and the most sought-after donuts in town are signatures of this breakfast and lunch spot from the team behind Honey Road. Like its nighttime sister restaurant, it focuses on flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean. There's usually a waitlist, but it moves quickly.

In prime position on the mountain road and the Stowe Recreation Path, this brewpub's Bavarian-style lagers and Vermont IPAs are only available on-site. A solid menu of pub food, a large outdoor patio, vegetable garden, and a rich, rustic, chic design, make it a popular stop.

The classics of Turkish cuisine are served with surprising authenticity and maximum deliciousness thanks to the culinary talents of its Istanbul-raised owners, plus locally sourced produce and meats. The open terrace upstairs offers the only rooftop dining in Burlington.

Two alumni of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, one of the country's most lauded restaurants, moved to Burlington in 2017 to realize their dreams of opening a coffee shop together. The married duo focus on meticulously sourced beans roasted fresh in-house, scratch-made baked goods, and a frequently changing menu of farm-sourced sandwiches. The maple latte is just sweet enough, and one of the best around.

Local industry pros launched this cozy neighborhood spot—named for owner Matthew Peterson's annual tradition of throwing an all-out riverside bash on May 1—with a menu that ranges from nostalgic favorites like a beef patty melt on rye to delicately plated vegetable dishes and a full platter of steak frites. Go lowbrow for drinks with a Narragansett lager, or highbrow with a bottle of wine from trailblazing Vermont producer La Garagista.

Swiss-born chef Michael Kloeti trained in Europe and New York City before opening this establishment in a 19th-century farmhouse outside Stowe. Under new ownership since fall 2023, the elegant menu still blends European cuisine with farm-to-table earthiness, exemplified by dishes such as housemade vegetable gnocchi and venison navarin (ragout).