Burlington's oldest neighborhood and most diverse food scene; pho, pappardelle, Nepali momos and immigrant-owned counters along North Winooski Avenue and North Street.
Bluebird Barbecue runs from an early-1900s farmhouse on Riverside Avenue overlooking the Winooski River. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Smoked wings, BBQ ramen
Order: The brisket plate by the pound, a basket of smoked wings and a side of cornbread.
Tip: Closed Monday through Wednesday; book Thursday-Sunday or arrive at 16:30 opening for a counter seat.
Pho Hong is the family-owned Vietnamese counter on North Winooski Avenue that locals queue for. Pho with rich aromatic broth, fresh banh mi, vermicelli bowls;
Signature: Pho tai with rare beef, Banh mi, Vermicelli bowls
Order: Pho tai with rare beef and meatballs; add fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime at the table.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday and cash-or-card both accepted; BYOB and the lunch rush after 12:30 clears fast.
May Day opened on North Winooski Avenue in the Old North End in 2024 from local industry pros. House-made bread and charcuterie for deli-inspired sandwiches,
Signature: Deli-inspired sandwiches, House charcuterie, Natural wine flight
Order: The daily sandwich off the chalkboard plus a natural-wine pour.
Tip: Resy reservations; walk-up bar seats run quickly on weekends.
Vermont's best-known barbecue room out of an early-1900s Riverside Avenue farmhouse on the Winooski River. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Signature: Smoked brisket, BBQ ramen, Smoked wings
Order: The brisket by the pound, smoked wings and a side of cornbread.
Tip: Closed Mon-Wed; open Thu-Sun from 16:30 onwards. The brisket runs out by 19:30 on a busy Saturday; arrive at open.
Family-owned Vietnamese counter on North Winooski Avenue; the Burlington pho benchmark. BYOB. Closed Sun-Mon; queues hard at lunch and dinner.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi, Vermicelli bowls
Order: Pho tai with meatballs; banh mi for take-away.
Tip: Closed Sun-Mon and cash-or-card both accepted; BYOB and the lunch rush after 12:30 clears fast.
Old North End neighborhood bar with house-baked bread, in-house charcuterie and a natural-wine list. Small plates and deli-inspired sandwiches.
Signature: Daily sandwich, Charcuterie, Wine flight
Order: Daily sandwich plus a charcuterie plate to share.
Tip: Open Sun-Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; the bar walk-up holds the same menu as the dining room. Resy holds reservations 2 weeks out.
Scout's flagship at 237 North Ave is where the ice cream is made and pastries are baked in the Pine Street kitchen. Coffee from BIPOC and Queer roasters.
Signature drink: Espresso and house-made ice cream
100 percent plant-based cafe in the Chace Mill on the Winooski River; gluten-free options, fresh juice, smoothies and the Crunch Wrap signature.
Signature drink: Plant-based smoothies, organic espresso
Scout sources beans from BIPOC, Queer and Women-owned roasters across the US; the Old North End flagship at 237 North Ave is where the ice cream is also made.
Sources from: Wholesale partners (BIPOC, Queer, Women-owned roasters)
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Retail bags
Old North End neighborhood bar; natural wines paired with house-baked bread, in-house charcuterie and seasonal small plates. Off-the-beaten-path producer.
Signature pour: Whatever the host pours from the by-the-glass board
Wine focus: Off-the-beaten-path natural producers
Food: House charcuterie, deli sandwiches, small plates
Sister bar to Radio Bean; opened November 2014 as a fully-nooked lamp lounge and cocktail destination. Vintage lamps for sale; live acts most nights,
Signature drink: Craft cocktails and natural wine
Food: No kitchen; cocktails and drinks only
Lee Anderson opened Radio Bean in November 2000 in the former Java Love space on North Winooski. Live music every night; Grace Potter and Anais Mitchell.
Signature drink: Local-roaster espresso into evening cocktails
Food: Light bar plates plus the connected C'est Ca French-Japanese kitchen
Retrofitted yellow school bus parked at the edge of Battery Park in the Old North End since 1944. Michigan hot dogs (meaty chili over the dog), fries,
Try: Michigan hot dogs, fries, creemees
An $8 chili-dog-and-fries combo at Battery Park with a Lake Champlain view is cheaper than any sit-down room downtown. Seasonal April-September only;
Try: Michigan hot dog and fries combo
A bowl of pho tai is the best $15 meal in Burlington; BYO beer (the room is BYOB) and a full dinner runs under $20. Cash and card both; closed Sun and Mon.
Try: Pho tai with rare beef
Crunch Wrap, juice and coffee for $14 by the Winooski River; plant-based meals under $15 from Burlington's vegan flagship in the Chace Mill since 2014.
Try: Crunch Wrap vegan plate
Burlington's vegan weekend brunch room in the Chace Mill on the Winooski River. Plant-based plates, smoothies, juice and the famous Crunch Wrap.
Order: Crunch Wrap and a fresh-pressed juice
Fri-Sat only; opens 21:00 and runs till 02:00. Cocktails, DJs, disco and early-house dance floor; vintage lamps for sale and Radio Bean musicians next door.
Try: Craft cocktails, DJ sets
Fri-Sat 21:00-02:00 DJ Taka spins disco and early house; the dance floor fills before midnight. Vintage lamps for sale around the bar; cocktail program by.
Live music every night across every genre; cradle for Grace Potter, Anais Mitchell, Kat Wright and a generation of Burlington musicians since founder Lee Anderson opened the space in November 2000. Coffee by day,