113 Best Restaurants in Vermont, USA

The Santiago's team shifted the vibe in Burlington when they opened at the very bottom of Main Street in 2023; with a lake-view patio, tropical décor, and a menu of classic Cuban dishes—including what the duo of first-generation Cuban-American owners claim is the only "authentic" Cubano in Vermont—it's a departure from the city's usual farm-to-table fare. And it's open late to accommodate travelers arriving via Amtrak train, who disembark just a quick stroll away.

Montpelier's most popular restaurant draws its crowd less for the classic American Italian dishes than the conviviality, charm, and sizable portions, not to mention the picturesque Winooski River flowing directly alongside the windows. The pizza comes fresh from wood-fired ovens, while the rest of the menu features your favorite pennes, Alfredos, and raviolis, with pleasing tweaks on the old formulas.

Some of the best gelato outside of Italy is found on St. Paul Street. Co-owner Paul Sansone was inspired by his Italian heritage to work abroad as an apprentice to notable gelato masters in Southern Italy; he returned to Vermont years later to open his own scoop shop alongside one of Burlington's longtime farm-to-table restaurant owners, Tim Elliot. Daily-changing flavors distill peak season fruits and lush Vermont dairy into peerless small-batch gelato and sorbet that draw visitors state-wide. The fior di latte (fresh mozzarella) gelato is remarkable, and one of the few flavors that rarely leaves the menu.

"Gather, discover, and connect” is the slogan and theme at this intimate Chinese restaurant on the first floor of a residential row house. Traditional Cantonese- and Sichuan-style dishes are served family style, and the "mock eel" was given two chopsticks up on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

This family-owned coffee roaster has been turning out small-batch beans and blends since 1993, making it a well-loved local watering hole for almost three decades. This quirky, funky café is a prime old-school spot to pick up a bag of beans or mull over the morning paper with a cup of Maple French Roast.

A young chef with Vermont roots and California training serves standout seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine among handcrafted tableware and furniture at this popular, chic restaurant. A rotating display of works by local artists graces the walls, and the fireside porch, with its views of gardens and trees, is open all year. The bar, which got a fresh look in 2024, is a smart stop for a drink and a snack if the restaurant's fully booked.

Partially hidden in Middlebury's historic Marble Works district, this oasis of tea brews made-to-order spiced chai, house-roasted oolong, and loose leaf teas imported from small farmers in China, India, Nepal, Japan, and Taiwan.

New owners have transformed the longtime Inn at Baldwin Creek and Mary's Restaurant, giving the 1790s farmhouse a chic update from head to toe. Pizza isn't the only thing that comes out of the new wood-fired oven, though it was named one of the 22 best pizza spots in the U.S. by the New York Times. Locally sourced roasted vegetables and smokey meatballs complement the fire-kissed pies. Live music fills the parlor on Wednesdays in winter and heads outside for a lawn party in warmer months.

If you didn't make that trip to Umbria this year, the next best thing is this Italian country eatery around the corner from City Hall Park. The secret to the ambience goes well beyond the high-quality, handmade pasta dishes to the supercozy woody interior, a transplanted sugarhouse from New Hampshire, and a roaring fireplace when the weather's cool.

A brewery, music venue, and New Haven–style pizza place in one, this multipurpose hangout has brought a vibrant energy back to an old inn just up from the village's main intersection. A large deck overlooks the river in summer, and there are simple yet clean rooms for rent upstairs if you have too much fun at the brewery.

Nadia Dole brought this bakery back to its original name—it was founded in a former laundromat in 2010—and its reputation for destination-worthy pastries when she took over in 2021; the cardamom buns are a must-try, as are sourdough croissants and Basque-style cheesecake. A massive wood-fired oven churns out fluffy pita to mop up Turkish eggs for brunch; pair an order with oysters or a simple salad. In front of the coffee bar, shelves are stocked like an eclectic épicerie, with spices, oils, tinned fish, multiple mustards, linen aprons, and baskets of blooms.

The "Love Shack" on the side of VT Route 7 is known to have one of the best maple creemees in the state due to its use of Vermont maple syrup and high-butterfat dairy from Kingdom Creamery of Vermont. There are also coffee, vanilla, and chocolate creemees on offer, along with local Wilcox hard ice cream and house-made cookies made daily on-site.

This emporium of Vermont edibles has great sandwiches, cheeses, local beers, and delicious baked goods—perfect for a picnic or for lunch on the go.

This bigger-on-the-inside café and lunch joint comes with ample space, especially in the barn-chic back room that serves resting travelers, gaming locals, and conferring coworkers. Keeping them oiled is a menu of organic, non-GMO, locally sourced sandwiches, burgers, soups, and salads.

In 2016, the Von Trapp family finally realized its long-held dream of opening a brewery making Austrian-style lagers on the grounds of its expansive mountainside property, and what a brewery it is. Built of thick, massive Vermont wood beams, the cavernous chalet-style space houses a rustic-chic restaurant and bar alongside the beer-making facilities serving Alpine classics, with plenty of beer to wash it down.

The motto of Arlington's one-stop-shop says it all: "If we don't have it, you don't need it!" This charming country store is known for carrying anything from toilet paper to boxed cocoa mix and boasts a popular deli complete with build-your-own sandwiches, prepared foods, and house-made specials like freshly baked biscuits.

Home of the World Famous Mrs. Murphy's Donuts, this beloved shop turns out fresh doughnuts daily from its small storefront. Old-fashioned doughnuts come hot from the fryer in the wee hours of the morning, so arrive early for the best selection of flavors like cinnamon, maple cream, and cakey cider doughnuts loaded with warming spices.

Skiers stop on their way up the mountain for breakfast sandwiches (regular, vegan, or stuffed with local ferments from Burlington's Pitchfork Pickle), towering maple-glazed cinnamon buns, light-as-air croissants, and well-made coffee, from cold brew to espresso with steamed milk—4 ounces to 16, it's up to you. 

Pillow-soft pita sandwiches, spicy shakshuka, and other Israeli and Middle Eastern specialties pack the menu at this Main Street vegetarian brunch and lunch spot. Try the silky-smooth hummus, which is also available in stores throughout New England.

This circa-1790 Colonial inn dishes up Yankee favorites along with plenty of New England charm, made all the more intimate by the candlelight. Elk and venison share the menu with good-ol' pot roast and cheddar-and-ale onion soup.

The open-front, woody interior, and community spirit make Stone Soup a downtown favorite for lunch, especially on warm days. The small but robust buffet and salad bar is the centerpiece, with excellent hot and cold dishes—a perfect complement to the wonderful soups and fresh sandwiches.

What's more Vermont than the name "Zenbarn," especially when it includes its own yoga studio in a former hayloft? Add to that an expansive, rustic-chic interior with local art and a stage for live music, an outdoor patio looking out to green fields and mountains, a menu of eclectic fare, and a nearby cannabis dispensary and education center from the same owners, and the local experience is complete.

The team at this spot for coffee and conversation takes great pride in sourcing direct-trade beans from places like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Ground zero for Brattleboro's bohemian contingent and fellow travelers, the café is open until 9 on Friday and Saturday, closing at 8 the rest of the week.