2 Best Restaurants in Stowe, Northern Vermont

Ask Vermont's great chefs where they go for a tremendous meal, and Hen of the Wood inevitably tops the list, thanks to its sophisticated, almost artful, dishes that showcase an abundance of local produce, meat, and cheese. The experience has translated seamlessly from Hen's original home in a converted 1835 gristmill to its sleek new spot on Waterbury's main drag, with a chef's counter, a downstairs speakeasy-style bar, a private dining room, a big patio, and—for the chefs—a much larger kitchen. It's more space all around, which means plenty of room for walk-ins, if you fancy a spur-of-the-moment snack of oysters and mushroom toast.

What's more Vermont than the name "Zenbarn," especially when it includes its own yoga studio in a former hayloft? Add to that an expansive, rustic-chic interior with local art and a stage for live music, an outdoor patio looking out to green fields and mountains, a menu of eclectic fare, and a nearby cannabis dispensary and education center from the same owners, and the local experience is complete.