Cheese, beer, and maple syrup: This trifecta welcomes all visitors to Vermont, and whether you’re a foodie or a hillbilly, you will find your groove. Quirky Burlington, Vermont, is the epicurean center of this area; here is a guide to the best culinary destinations in the Northeast Kingdom.
Stay
This rustic-modern hotel in downtown Burlington provides fresh, local apples to its guests gratis. That’s just the beginning of the niceties there, which include bright rooms, fireplaces, dog beds on request, and even eco-chic touches like real trees growing in lobby benches. Do not miss the fat stack of blueberry pancakes at the adjoining restaurant, Juniper, or the local maple syrup to swirl on top. After you finish your breakfast, walk it off with a stroll around Lake Champlain, located just steps from your door.
Eat
This impeccable restaurant has been nominated for a James Beard Award seven times, and as soon as you taste anything there, you’ll know why. New American food is infused with Vermont sensibility in dishes like crispy rabbit loin with maple-candied bacon, mustard, and greens and an entire page devoted to the art of the cheese plate, featuring local offerings from nearby creameries like the Cellars at Jasper Hill Farms. The laidback yet candlelit atmosphere makes this perfect after a long day of relaxing.
Speaking of the James Beard Award, Honey Road was a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant this year. The Mediterranean spot focuses on mezze share plates like muhammara (a dip made of walnuts and red bell peppers), roasted baby carrots with sumac honey and yogurt, and lamb kofte with corn puree, tomato jam, and goat cheese that are every bit as delicious as they sound.
Drink
Just down the hill from Hotel Vermont, find this charming microbrewery that offers a rotating selection of top-notch craft beer. Though it’s only two years old, it’s already winning awards, and with brews like Galaxie 500, a juicy Northeastern-style DIPA, it’s easy to see why. It’s also nice to see creative nonalcoholic options on the menu like Switchy, Foam’s version of Vermont classic drink switchel, made with maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and compressed lime.
If you’re willing to drive a bit outside Burlington, this brewery is worth a visit. However, you won’t be alone. Locals and tourists alike flock here, as you won’t find the coveted beer many other places, and certainly not outside this area of Vermont. Come between noon and 5 PM and be prepared for a wait as well as a two-drink maximum. The good news: You can buy a growler or two from the tap room as well as canned and bottled beers from the to-go shop. Pro tip: If you’re looking for other places to procure Hill Farmstead, try the nearby Willey Store, a general store that carries an excellent selection of local beer and cheese — including pretty much every product from the Cellars at Jasper Hill. Also stop by Bread & Puppet while you’re near it: Though this museum of sorts is not a food destination, the larger-than-life puppets by political activist Peter Schumann are epic.
Entertain Yourself
Of course you need a picture of yourself with a giant, human-size bottle of maple syrup. You also need maple popcorn, maple sausage, jams, jellies, and local cheese from this Vermont specialty foods store. It’s a drive from downtown Burlington — but worth it.
On cold, rainy days, there’s nothing better than curling up with a cup of hot chocolate. Take that to the next level at this confectioner, which creates sweet treats that range from almond butter crunch to dark chocolate sea salt caramels. The best part of visiting one of three locations? Finding treats only available at their shops, like marzipan owls and chocolate Santas. Be sure to take a free tour and free guided chocolate tasting as well.
Take Home
No visit to Vermont is complete without taking home some of the aforementioned cheese, beer, and maple syrup. If you’ve followed this guide, you probably already have plenty of beer and maple syrup. Now it’s time for cheese. Stop by this co-op and find an enormous selection of artisan cheeses from local creameries: Think Lazy Lady Farm, Consider Bardwell, Shelburne Farms, and more. They even have a “cave to coop” special!
