12 Best Restaurants in Stowe Vermont + Nearby (2023)

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Let’s be completely honest for a second: one of the best parts of traveling to a new place is experiencing the food culture, right? Luckily, this list includes all of the best restaurants in Stowe, Vermont, one of the top (and most beautiful) places to visit in New England.

Stowe is located in northern Vermont and is well known for being home to some of the greatest ski slopes in the area. 

But you may be surprised to discover that Stowe also home to a rich and diverse food scene! Here are all of the best restaurants in Stowe VT, worth dining at during your next visit.

Michael’s on The Hill

This is the ultimate Vermont farm-to-table dining experience. This iconic restaurant has won several awards, and Chef Michael has even been honored as Vermont’s first “Chef of the Year.” Clearly, this is a place you need to try.

Tucked up on a scenic hill in Waterbury, this is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants near Stowe Vermont. You’ll love dining in the 1820’s farmhouse in a gorgeous part of the region. And your taste buds will love their fresh, inspired culinary adventure. Check out the current menu for Michael’s on the Hill here.

Doc Ponds

exterior of a restaurant a plain red building is set behind a bright red sign that reads Doc Ponds Eat & Drink

Doc Ponds is a pretty classic-style restaurant, but that’s what makes it so charming. It has a very comfortable ambiance and a patio. The menu has everything from cheddar fritters with pickled jalapeno to dry rub wings and roasted garlic hummus.

Everything on the menu is pretty mid-range with pricing, but the real reason people visit Doc Ponds is because of the atmosphere. It’s honestly just such a cool place! The inside is set up with many large tables making it feel a bit like a beer hall.

This is also a very family-friendly location. On a recent visit with my own 1-year-old in tow, we felt very welcomed and saw numerous other families with children as well. 

Von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

interior of a bright and clean beer hall with high ceilings and banners hanging from them. lots of long tables sit empty and ready for guests

No list of the best places to eat in Stowe is complete without Von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall. Vermont is known for its craft beers (there are a bunch of great breweries in this state), and this one, in particular, serves up Austrian brews and lagers.

photo of 4 sample sized beers on a table. in the background a man's arm is seen, clad in flannel

The beer hall itself has pretty budget-friendly pricing, and it’s a perfect way to feel like you’re in Austria while you’re actually in Vermont. The beer hall is usually super busy, so make sure you make a reservation in advance to ensure that you can go.

Green Goddess Cafe

interior of a charming casual restaurant, several tables sit empty

The best sandwiches are served up at Green Goddess Cafe! They have mid-range pricing, and their menu is pretty eclectic and also includes great smoothies to wash down your sandwich. They have more traditional sandwiches like chicken caesar wraps and then more unique ones like grilled turkey, ham, cheddar, and ranch made with Cabot cheddar!

a delicious breakfast spread on a table, a few plates contain french toast scrambled eggs and pancakes

Even though they are known for their sandwiches, they also serve coffee, baked goods, juices, large salads, pancakes, and more. They are also open for breakfast if you’re looking for an amazing breakfast in Stowe.

The Bagel

Closeup of a sandwich on a sesame roll

 The Bagel is one of the best restaurants in Stowe for both breakfast and lunch. It’s exactly what it sounds like by its name, too: The Bagel is a bagel shop serving up some of the tastiest bagel sandwiches and cream cheese.

The Bagel first opened back in the 1980s and has been in business ever since. Over the years, they’ve genuinely perfected their bagel recipe. Their pricing is pretty good, with a plain bagel with cream cheese costing less than $3. 

Be sure to try some of their more exciting cream cheese flavors, too, like olive and pimento, bacon horseradish, and maple walnut.

Trattoria La Festa

Look no further than Trattoria La Festa if you’re looking for the best Italian food in Stowe. This family restaurant has a super laid-back atmosphere making it perfect for a casual dinner any time of the week. This is another restaurant in Stowe that has been open since the 1980s.

The restaurant is located inside of an old farmhouse which means it has very unique architecture inside. All of the ingredients used at Trattoria La Festa are entirely organic and are grown nearby in the garden. The prices are mid-range, and the food is fantastic!

Sushi Yoshi

Closeup of a woman\'s hand holding sushi with chopsticks

Calling all Sushi fans, head to Sushi Yoshi, one of the most excellent Stowe restaurants! This restaurant is more than just your average sushi restaurant. It’s a super laidback and fun experience and hibachi steakhouse that will genuinely leave you with lasting memories.

Their menu is pretty extensive and includes a lot more than just sushi. If you’re not a fish fan or you want something else, you could have soups, salads, pad thai, General Tso’s chicken, and more. There’s even an abundance of outdoor seating so you can enjoy the weather, depending on the time of year that you are visiting. 

Stowe Bee Bakery and Cafe

This list of the best places to eat in Stowe would not be complete without mentioning a cafe of some sort. One of the best traditional cafes in Stowe is Stowe Bee Bakery and Cafe! It’s been voted as the best breakfast and lunch spot in the town.

This bakery is open every day besides Monday and Tuesday and has every type of pastry you could imagine. In addition, they have cakes, cupcakes, sandwiches, wraps, and more. Plus, you can wash it all down with a great drink!

Harrison’s Restaurant and Bar

Harrison’s Restaurant and Bar is more of a luxury restaurant to eat at in Stowe. Their prices are a bit higher than other ones on this list of the best restaurants in Stowe, but the price is well worth it. They have a very elegant ambiance making it perfect for a romantic evening out.

Harrison’s Restaurant and Bar serves traditional American food and even has an outdoor patio that’s heated in the warmer months. All of their food is super comforting. If you don’t want to eat in, you can also order take-out!

Piecasso

Closeup of a pepperoni pizza with one slice cut

For a fun hipster pizzeria, look no further than Piecasso. With a name like that, how can you go wrong? With a funky atmosphere and fun mood lighting, Piecasso is genuinely a pizza restaurant unlike any other.

an empty outdoor restaurant patio awaiting guests. yellow table umbrellas are closed and seats are empty
The fun outdoor space at Piecasso before they open for the day

They have tons of different pizzas, but also tons of other Italian dishes as well. There’s great calzones, strombolis, sandwiches, pasta, and more. Everything costs below $20 for the most part. You can even build your own pizza! 

Idletyme Brewing Company

A classic brewpub, Idletyme Brewing Company, is one of the best places to eat in Stowe, Vermont. This restaurant serves tasty American dishes paired with amazing brews in a great rustic and comfortable atmosphere.

All of the beer served there is made right on site. Be sure to order a flight to try a few flavors. If you like their beer a lot, you can even take some home by grabbing craft beer to go. They are open for both lunch and dinner but are closed on Saturdays. 

Salute

Pasta swirled up on a white dish

Stowe’s Salute is a classic Italian restaurant that’s perfect for a celebration of any kind. They’re open only for dinner and have amazing wood-fired pizza and other Italian dishes, pretty much any that you could imagine.

The atmosphere is very warm and comforting. They even have an outdoor patio that gets all dazzled up with beautiful lights. There’s nothing better than eating dinner on the patio with the warm lights in the winter!

The pricing here is mid-range to high, with most dishes costing under $35 unless you choose a fancy pasta dish. You can find everything from lasagna to focaccia pizza on the menu!

As you can tell, the food in Stowe is terrific! There are many great places to eat in Stowe VT, no matter which type of food you’re in the mood for. Which restaurant would you most want to eat at?


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