Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in Burlington - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This may be a local hub for grabbing a quick sandwich or a case of beer, but its true fame stands with its seasonal creemee window. During the warmer months, lines snake around the corner for the café's beloved soft serve, particularly the house specialty: twisted black raspberry and maple ice cream in a cone, extra sprinkles. A large back patio has sweeping waterfront views, making it one of the nicest spots in town to watch the sunset.
The sign on the door says "HOT." when this bumping breakfast spot is open, and it's right; the meat-free menu with treats like chicken-fried egg and "bonuts" (biscuit donuts) is a darn good time. Go for breakfast, stay for the music and the amusing antics of brothers/co-owners Allan and Travis Walker-Hodkin.
Two alumni of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, one of the country's most lauded restaurants, moved to Burlington in 2017 to realize their dreams of opening a coffee shop together. The married duo focus on meticulously sourced beans roasted fresh in-house, scratch-made baked goods, and a frequently changing menu of farm-sourced sandwiches. The maple latte is just sweet enough, and one of the best around.
This coffee-tasting bar would satisfy the staunchest coffee aficionado, with its rotating menu of specialty drinks designed to highlight the texture and flavor profile of distinct beans and roasters; so it's not surprising that co-founder Jason Gonzales won a top 10 spot in the 2013 World Cup Tasting Championship (the coffee Olympics). If a coffee education is what you want with your morning cup, Onyx Tonics offers it—thankfully with a friendly and inviting atmosphere—as baristas have been known to warn against adding milk to a certain drip coffee, because it would raise the acidity of the brew and alter its delicate flavor.
Some of the best gelato outside of Italy is found on St. Paul Street. Co-owner Paul Sansone was inspired by his Italian heritage to work abroad as an apprentice to notable gelato masters in Southern Italy; he returned to Vermont years later to open his own scoop shop alongside one of Burlington's longtime farm-to-table restaurant owners, Tim Elliot. Daily-changing flavors distill peak season fruits and lush Vermont dairy into peerless small-batch gelato and sorbet that draw visitors state-wide. The fior di latte (fresh mozzarella) gelato is remarkable, and one of the few flavors that rarely leaves the menu.
This family-owned coffee roaster has been turning out small-batch beans and blends since 1993, making it a well-loved local watering hole for almost three decades. This quirky, funky café is a prime old-school spot to pick up a bag of beans or mull over the morning paper with a cup of Maple French Roast.
The open-front, woody interior, and community spirit make Stone Soup a downtown favorite for lunch, especially on warm days. The small but robust buffet and salad bar is the centerpiece, with excellent hot and cold dishes—a perfect complement to the wonderful soups and fresh sandwiches.
