28 Best Restaurants in Northern Vermont, Vermont

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. 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.

"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.

Seating is first-come, first-served at this popular pizza spot, and 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. Fresh salads topped with locally made cheese are also popular.

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 kougin-amman and croissants, custard-filled Danishes, and tall slices of cornmeal cake in their shop.

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.

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 meals in the area.

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.

This family-owned microbrewery started in a Grand Isle garage in 2020. Now, it occupies the basement of the clubhouse at Alburg Golf Links, an 18-hole course with stunning views of Lake Champlain. Stop into the upstairs taproom for snacks and sandwiches with a pint of blonde ale, lilac sour, or garlic mustard saison; the beers here are brewed with local — and often foraged — ingredients, including hops from the family's hop yard down the road.

This popular café delivers alfresco bistro cuisine with a distinct French flavor, plus a friendly European-style bar and live jazz. Favorite entrées include salade niçoise, soupe au pistou (vegetable and white bean soup with Asiago and pesto), and beef bourguignon.

The handmade Italian brick oven is the centerpiece of this hot new pizza spot, which shares a former department store building with AR Market and the curing facility for Vermont Salumi. The team cranks out perfectly blistered Neapolitan-style pizzas and thick grandma pies, with classic and weekly special toppings that range from fire-roasted mushrooms to roast pork and miso drizzle. The bar boasts a top-notch local draft list and affordable, well-made cocktails.

A leader in regenerative agriculture, two of the 400 acres of this diversified farm are dedicated to organic vegetable, flower, herb, and fruit production, which is then channeled into the market's sandwiches, salads, prepared foods, and pantry goods. Farm-raised poultry, lamb, grass-fed beef, and heritage pork are the stars of the kitchen's elegant prix-fixe dinner menu, which changes seasonally. Cozy up near the fireplace in the great room, or dine on the outdoor patio in warmer months to take in the view.

The inviting atmosphere of this neighborhood joint is increased by the beans they use—North Carolina–based roasters Counter Culture Coffee, known for its coffee education and sustainable sourcing. Milk comes from Sweet Rowen Farmstead, and rotating breakfast sandwiches and baked goods, like buttermilk banana bread, are made in-house.

Montpelier's most popular restaurant draws its crowd less for the classic American Italian dishes than the conviviality, charm, and sizeable 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.

This dine-in crêperie makes a great stop for breakfast, lunch, or an easy dinner. The signature crepes go sweet and savory and are filled with fruit, vegetables, and meat from more than a dozen Vermont farms.

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