After finishing your awe-inspiring ride, it’s time to feed your stomach and thighs! Burlington offers some of the best local cuisines around, with every accommodation imaginable: vegan, gluten-free, gluten-full, vegetarian, and, don’t worry carnivores, there are great meat places, too. Check out some of the top places to stop by after telling us at Local Motion about your ride!
1. Skinny Pancake
Skinny Pancake puts new pep in the age-old crêpe. From local salads to crêpe sandwiches oozing with Cabot cheddar and everything in between, they’ve got the range of options to satisfy that post-ride craving for calories. After stopping by Local Motion to let us know about your ride, continue down the bike path and you'll end up smack in front of the Skinny Pancake! Not only do they support local businesses and farms with their incredible foods, but they also regularly feature musicians, artists, comedians and more with regular live performances. Check out their website to see what performances and eats can help you chill after your ride.
2. The Farmhouse Group
All localvore and voraciously local! The Farmhouse Group features four restaurants:
With mouthwatering burgers, sensuous salads, and tantalizing entrées, the wildly popular Farmhouse Tap and Grill restaurant located in downtown Burlington. With a farm-to-table philosophy, the Farmhouse supports Vermont farms and their produce. In addition, it boasts one of the most robust taprooms around, including a beer garden where you stretch out in post-ride glory and sip on a local craft beer. Overall, this is the place to come for a hearty, wholesome meal and support Vermont’s local economy.
Benvenuto to Pascolo Ristorante, an Italian-themed dinner restaurant and part of the Farmhouse Group. From homemade pasta to wood-fired - or al legna - pizzas, this warm and friendly ristorante will fill your belly with fabulous food and cheer after a ride. With a window to the kitchen, you can watch chefs create their pasta in front of your own eyes! Pascolo Ristorante’s ingredients support local farmers, and you can ride up to it in downtown Burlington to treat yourself to quality cuisine. Buono appetito!
Tucked away in an old-fashioned diner-style locale in downtown Burlington, this renowned taqueria and cantina will snap you to your senses with its saucy and sensual flavors. With their “farm-to-taco” ideology, El Cortijo brings in only the finest local ingredients to combine into a plethora of plates. Not only do they serve tantalizing tacos and burritos, but they also boast a robust tequila menu, featuring everything from a blanco to a mezcal - and even a Vermont-made tequila! Whether you go for a brunch calorie boost before a ride, or to thrill your tastebuds after a long day on the wheels, El Cortijo is muy delicioso!
A stone’s throw from Burlington, the Guild Tavern is an ideal destination for those who seek hearty, nourishing après-ride meals. From steak frites to salmon salad, the Tavern covers all its bases. They take their cooking seriously, and, with a wood-fired grill, there is no doubt you will enjoy every morsel. With an extensive local beer list and wines from sustainable small-growers, you can expect to kick back and refuel in style after spending a day bike-touring Vermont.
3. Switchback Brewery
What better way to unwind after a long day on the bike than with a nice cold draught? Head south on the bike path from Local Motion and park your bike at the Switchback Taproom and Brewery! Locally brewed, this taproom and brewery offer a variety of beers on tap as well as a few snacks to tide you over until dinner time. Before enjoying your beer, make sure to reserve a Saturday tour of the brewery to see how Switchback's renowned beer is made. All in all, Switchback is a great place to kick back and relax with an après-ride brew and a good vibe.
4. Foam Brewers
The newest hot watering hole in town, Foam Brewers is located right near the bike path just a hop, skip, and pedal from Local Motion. Founded in 2016 and inspired by all things Vermont, their beers tickle your tastebuds and are a perfect liquid incarnation of the current outdoor “saisons”. From appetizing ales to incredible IPAs to satisfying sours, this is the place to be for a post-ride cool down.
5. Citizen Cider
For the sweeter things in life, check out Citizen Cider, just a mile or so south of Local Motion’s Trailside Center. Made from fresh, local apples, their ciders can refresh and rejuvenate even the most exhausted of riders. Feeling peckish too? Don’t worry, Citizen has a delicious food menu to pair with their fresh and feisty drinks. Ask anyone in town and they’ll know Citizen and its ciders to be uniquely satisfying.
6. Muddy Waters
Coffee shop slash watering hole, this local cafe serves everything from cappuccinos to kombucha to cookies to kale juices. Muddy Waters is located downtown Burlington and has some chill vibes and great music to unwind to after a long ride. They feature local food and drink from all over Vermont, and are wifi free for a throwback vibe. They also feature some local beers to go with your après ride snacks. Check this place out for an easy place to kick back and relax.
7. The Spot on the Dock
The Spot on the Dock is the newest hit in town! With the original restaurant located on Route 7, the new, seasonal Spot is found right on the waterfront for picturesque views of the lake and Adirondacks and delicious food and drink. A surf-style restaurant, the Spot offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with a healthy variety of local beers and wines. Whether a pre- or post-ride option, this place will bring west coast tropical feel to your Vermont experience.
All in all, Burlington is a great place to dine after you finish your cycling. Let us know at Local Motion which places were your “flavor”ite!
Bon Appetit!