5 Best Restaurants in Northern Vermont, Vermont

If you're a devotee of artisanal bakeries, it'd be a mistake not to trek the 7-plus miles from Montpelier (15 from Stowe) to have lunch, pick up freshly baked bread, or sample a sweet treat at what many consider Vermont's best bakery. Red Hen supplies bread to some of the state's premier restaurants, including Hen of the Wood, and has varied offerings every day.

Along with breakfast scrambles, challah french toast, homemade pastries, and lunchtime burgers made with local grass-fed beef, 3 Squares is known for that warm-and-fuzzy feeling running through the vintage-style dining room. Bright sunlight, fresh flowers, and a friendly atmosphere complement Vermont-sourced cooking that has been a Vergennes cornerstone since 2007.

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.

Just off Route 7 and on the way to the Charlotte Ferry, this classic Vermont general store got a big update when owner Jolene Kao took over in 2023; the charm's still there, but it's got a refined coolness, with minimalist wood shelves mixing classics like penny candy and toilet paper with unexpected finds, including Rancho Gordo beans, Kewpie mayo, a smart selection of natural wine and craft beer, and giftable homewares, books and magazines. The breakfast burrito and brown-butter chocolate chip cookie are unmatched, especially when eaten on the porch.

Skiers stop on their way up the mountain for breakfast sandwiches (regular, vegan, or stuffed with local ferments from Burlington's Pitchfork Pickle), towering maple-glazed cinnamon buns, light-as-air croissants, and well-made coffee, from cold brew to espresso with steamed milk—4 ounces to 16, it's up to you.