3 Best Restaurants in Highlands, The North Carolina Mountains

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We've compiled the best of the best in Highlands - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Madison's

$$$$

In the Old Edwards Inn, Madison's is Highlands' most upscale restaurant. The dining room is gorgeous, light, and sunny, with stone floors and windows overlooking Highlands' Main Street. The restaurant adheres to a farm-to-table philosophy as much as possible, with sausage-stuffed pork chops, sunburst trout, short rib pasta and other dishes from area providers. The inn's Wine Garden adjoining Madison's is the spot for a more casual alfresco lunch.

445 Main St., Highlands, NC, 28741, USA
828-787–2525
Known For
  • Beautiful upscale setting
  • Extensive dinner menu and wine list
  • Impeccable tableside service
Restaurant Details
Reservations essential

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Ristorante Paoletti

$$$$

A fixture on Main Street for more than three decades, Ristorante Paoletti serves sophisticated Italian cuisine with first-rate service. The menu includes a lengthy section of freshly made pastas, along with many excellent seafood dishes. The wine list, one of the largest in the area, includes more than 1,000 selections. Reservations are a must.

440 Main St., Highlands, NC, 28741, USA
828-526–4906
Known For
  • Extensive wine list
  • Upscale Italian food
  • Reputation as a longtime favorite with many repeat guests
Restaurant Details
Closed Jan.–Mar.
Reservations essential

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Wolfgang's Restaurant and Wine Bistro

$$$

Cheerful and unpretentious, though not inexpensive, Wolfgang's has an eclectic menu ranging from a Wiener schnitzel to venison au poivre to Cajun shrimp and grits (the founder was a chef in New Orleans). Several of the rooms—spread across two former homes with a breezeway between—have fireplaces, and in good weather, there's outdoor seating. The wine list is smart and long.

474 Main St., Highlands, NC, 28741, USA
828-526–3807
Known For
  • Quaint bistro atmosphere
  • Eclectic menu
  • Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues.
Reservations essential

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