From farm-to-table brewpubs to lounge snacks to Himalayan cuisine, these restaurants in the Green Mountain State stand above the rest.
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Photo by ArtsRiot via Yelp
Located just south of the Canadian border and on Lake Champlain, Burlington is a fascinating New England escape year-round. No matter the season, it’s hard not to fall in love with the charming shops on Church Street or the immaculate views along the waterfront. But what really makes the place special is the variety of innovative restaurants that make the most of their access to high-quality, fresh ingredients from the Green Mountain State. Before your next (or first) trip to Vermont’s largest (but still small) city, we’ve narrowed down the many fantastic options to 10 of the very best.
Last updated July 2024; Stay tuned for regular updates.
ArtsRiot photo by Luke Lawtry.
ArtsRiot
There’s no shortage of live music venues in Burlington, but ArtsRiot in the South End district is by far the most unique. This renovated warehouse features art galleries, event spaces, and a counter-service restaurant that serves internationally-inspired sandwiches for dinner and similarly eclectic bites like kimchi scrambles for Sunday brunch. Additionally, ArtsRiot was recently acquired by brewing aficionado Alan Newman (the co-founder of Boston Beer Company’s beer business incubator Alchemy & Science), so the selection of cans and kegs is top-notch.
400 Pine St., Burlington, 802-540-0406, artsriot.com.
The Café Hot
So close to our neighbors in the cool north, Café Hot brings the heat with fire (as the kids say) and vegetarian breakfast sandwiches and donuts. Take the breakfast sandwich (actually called a “breakfast” sandwich, as in “you need to brake quickly, stop the car and grab a bite”), which features egg and grilled cheese on a homemade seed milk bun. It’s topped with harissa, miso mayo, and fresh herbs, and if you’re feeling daring, you can also add toppings like Impossible sausage and Kill Me Hot sauce. Other highlights include the Number 8, a fried chicken scrambled egg sandwich with pickled zucchini and tartar sauce (trust us). However, the donuts could just as easily start five-alarm fires with their flavor. Glazes and specialties change frequently, although the coffee glaze – made daily with coffee from almost Brio Coffeeworks – is a constant. The donuts are made from Southern cookies, which you can also purchase in non-donut form and topped with maple chili jam and other goodies.
198 Main St., Burlington, 802-881-9899, thecafehot.com.
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill photo by Kevin T. via Yelp
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
At this Burlington gastropub, the extensive selection of draft and bottled beers is as notable as the menu that showcases the bounty of Vermont’s many small farms. The meat for the lamb burger, for example, comes from nearby Tamarack Farm; The pork for the schnitzel, however, is sourced from Vermont Heritage Grazers, a company that raises premium Berkshire pigs. (Don’t worry, vegetarians, you’ll be provided with great food too.) Grab a seat at the beautifully carved wooden bar or relax in a heated outdoor beer garden that feels like a friend’s back patio.
160 Bank St., Burlington, 802-859-0888, farmhousetg.com.
Hen of the forest
Chef Eric Warnstedt rose to fame in the early aughts as the farm-to-table king of the Green Mountains, and things are still going strong at Waterbury’s original James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, Hen of the Wood , to get a table at an Olympic level. Luckily, since Hotel Vermont opened a Burlington location in 2013, more guests have been able to enjoy its rustic yet elevated culinary creations. The postmodern barn aesthetic — think the beautiful, geometric wood-beamed ceiling and elegant hickory tables — fits Warnstedt’s cooking perfectly. Think: cauliflower with pickled habanada peppers, scallop crudo with crispy potatoes and pickled pears, and ribeye steak for two with pickled peach jus.
55 Cherry St., Burlington, 802-540-0534, henofthewood.com.
Honey Road photo by Kristin Teig.
Honey Road Restaurant
If you want to simulate the feeling of Mediterranean sun on your skin, take a seat at Honey Road’s bar during golden hour. Between the rays streaming through the bright glass awnings, the eclectic lamps hanging on the ceiling, and James Beard Award-nominated chef and owner Cara Chigazola Tobin’s wonderful mezze—including harissa chicken wings and lamb-stuffed dolma—you’ll immediately fall in love A world away chic Turkish cafe feel. But before you go home, save room for a sweet end to your meal: perhaps sticky buns with saffron and pistachios or a scoop of orange blossom and walnut baklava ice cream.
156 Church St., Burlington, 802-497-2145, honeyroadrestaurant.com.
Juniper photo by Dylan Griffin.
Juniper Bar & Restaurant
Hen of the Wood isn’t the only worthwhile restaurant at Hotel Vermont. See: Juniper, which offers a similarly relaxed yet sophisticated dining experience. Local produce and dairy inform the delicious small plates, which range from roasted carrots with pistachio hummus to brisket poutine with Montreal spice. The main courses, on the other hand, are rich, decadent and each served with two side dishes. Whether you’re craving mushroom ragout with chèvre gnocchi or duck confit with honey truffle cranberry demi-glace, bring a hungry crew and order accordingly.
41 Cherry St., Burlington, 802-651-5027, hotelvt.com/juniper.
Leunig’s Bistro & Café
If you ask a local in Burlington where to get an amazing meal, they’ll probably point you to Leunig’s. Eventually, this French-influenced institution on Church Street has become the most popular all-day (and people-watching) restaurant in downtown Burlington. In the morning, grab a fresh croissant and a fizzy espresso at its café-like kiosk, Leunig’s Petit Bijou. Later, return to the main dining room to enjoy a cup of onion soup with beef and duck broth at lunchtime. And when you’re done exploring the city, end the evening in true Parisian style with a plate of steak frites and a glass of Merlot.
115 Church St., Burlington, 802-863-3759, leunigsbistro.com.
Courtesy of Hi-Fi Lounge Paradiso
Paradiso Hi-Fi Lounge
Listen: Paradiso is a little slice of heaven where you can sample creative dishes and mix cocktails while vinyl records – a selection curated by guest DJs and music director Eddie Ogiony – blast from the divine, custom-made sound system. Settle into one of the atmospheric booths or curl up in the mid-century-chic lounge areas and get ready to savor dishes from chef and local legend Micah Tavelli. The bites are as varied as a favorite playlist: snacks of smoked bluefish drop dumplings with garlic confit; Sourdough Pulled Rolls with Maple Butter; Potato chips with cucumber and capicola from nearby 5th Quarter Craft Butchery. Larger plates boast bold flavors, from green garlic sauerkraut served with lamb and cheddar pierogi to the velvety velouté sauce and cast-iron roasted halibut.
388 Pine St. Suite 2, Burlington, 802-540-1183, paradisohifi.com.
Pho Hong
The mango salad at this bustling Vietnamese favorite might be worth the drive from Boston alone. Blended with an elixir of lime juice, garlic, sugar, red chilies and peanuts, the mango strips are a perfect way to cool off on warm days. However, once the weather cools down, treat yourself to bowls of pho (more than worth the extra cost for the large ones) with flavorful, authentic broth. Of particular note is the Steak Pho, which is sliced flank steak in beef broth with the traditional side dishes of sprouts, basil and lime. Also explore other sections of the menu. Offerings include stir-fries, vermicelli and chef’s specials like spicy fried duck with sweet tamarind sauce. If only the Vietnamese crepe, or bánh xèo, stuffed with pork, shrimp, sprouts, and onions, was big enough for you to tuck into like a sleeping bag and never leave. Please note that this is a self-service restaurant only and there will likely be a wait during the dinner rush.
325 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, 802-865-8031, facebook.com/phohongvt.
Sherpa Kitchen Photo by Angel H. via Yelp
Sherpa cuisine
Just a block and a half from the bustling Church Street Marketplace is this down-to-earth Himalayan and Nepali shop. The cozy 20-seat space is perfect for a quick lunch between window shopping. So stop by and browse the menu with different types of momo (steamed dumplings) served with a tempting sweet tomato sauce. You’ll probably notice a lot of chicken tikka masala orders, too, but we recommend fueling up with the hearty, garlic-sherpa stew that’ll keep you full until dinner.
119 College St., Burlington, 802-881-0550, Facebook.
A single pebble
Chef and owner Chiuho Sampson gave up her career as a photojournalist in Taipei to attend culinary school in Vermont and never looked back—until she took over A Single Pebble restaurant in 2008 and rediscovered her love of her childhood cuisine. Now we’re all loving the family-style Chinese dishes on the menu. From marinated beef slices coated in a thick Cantonese-style sauce to cellophane noodles with minced pork and tree ear mushrooms, each dish packs bold flavors. Can’t take on the burden of choosing your order? Your appetite is in good hands with the chef’s nine-course tasting.
133 Bank St., Burlington, 802-865-5200, asinglepebble.com.
Zero Gravity photo by Norma T. via Yelp
Zero Gravity taproom
Burlington is the smallest and largest city of any state in the country, so it’s perhaps a little surprising that it has so many craft breweries. Zero Gravity consistently gets 10 points for sudsy drinks like the lush, citrusy Conehead IPA, best enjoyed in the spacious taproom’s beautifully preserved antique bar (once featured in a John Wayne film). Thanks to the brewery’s recent merger with neighboring restaurant Great Northern, the beers are now enjoyed alongside modern bar fare such as roasted eggplant báhn mì or ‘dirty’ fries with smoked pork, sweet chilli aioli and spicy pickles.
716 Pine St., Burlington, 802-497-0054, zerogravitybeer.com.
