Top Food Picks in Manchester, VT

Some trips come together by accident, and those are often the best kind. We had hotel points ready to use, Zack's office was closed for the week, and a weekend visit to his parents in upstate New York was already on the calendar. Manchester, Vermont made sense as an add-on. We caught it at exactly the right moment: that quiet lull after ski season and before summer picks up, when the town slows down and everything feels a little more personal.

In a rare departure from routine, Zack did not run his usual pre-trip restaurant deep dive. We walked into Manchester relatively blind. Two spots rose to the top on their own: The Crooked Ram and Colburn Cafe, tucked inside Northshire Bookstore.

The Crooked Ram

It was a colder-than-expected night in March when we made the short walk from our hotel to The Crooked Ram. We had done no research beforehand, which almost never happens for us. What greeted us was exactly the atmosphere you want when the temperature drops: warm, dim, and unhurried. A quiet weeknight in a town that was catching its breath after ski season. We studied the menu, which reads like a thoughtful tapas spread built around shareable small plates, and ordered three dishes.

First out were the Parker House Rolls.

A cast iron pan arrives cut into four, with a small ramekin of butter dusted in fennel pollen on the side. We cleared the pan before the server had a chance to check back on us. The rolls are somehow airy and dense at the same time, pillowy inside with a light golden crust. The fennel pollen butter adds a subtle, floral depth that makes you stop mid-bite and want to understand exactly what just happened. Zack exercised admirable restraint on the butter. Cholesterol is a real and present consideration these days.

Then came the Brassicas, and this became the best dish of the entire trip. An assortment of seasonal vegetables topped with a Milk Salsa Macha. Think of it as a Mexican-style chili oil built from nuts, seeds, and dried chiles: rich, layered, and complex without a hint of heat. The combination with the vegetables is quietly extraordinary. We finished the plate, picked at the bits left behind, and talked about it the rest of the evening.

Our final dish was the Alpine Sausage. The server let us know it would take a little longer, and we were glad for the heads up so we could pace ourselves. It is a composed sausage roll served with whole grain mustard and pickles. The sausage itself is large and packed with aromatics, the kind of dish that is deeply satisfying in the way that only a cold Vermont evening can make food feel truly earned. Zack hit his protein goals and then some.

We left wishing we had arrived with more room and a longer list of dishes to work through.

The Crooked Ram is the kind of restaurant that earns a return visit before you have even paid the check. A true must-go in Manchester.

Colburn Cafe at Northshire Bookstore

The best cafe we found in Manchester is not just a great cafe. It lives inside one of the finest independent bookstores we have ever walked into.

We arrived at Colburn Cafe right at 10am when they opened, claimed a table near the window, and set up our laptops. The wifi was solid and the drinks came quickly. Zack ordered a large oat milk latte; mine was regular. Both were smooth, well-made, and bigger than expected. The flavor is clean and balanced, the kind of latte that does not try too hard. The plan was to sip slowly and get some work done. I looked up and Zack's was already gone.

Once the caffeine settled, I wandered into the bookstore. Northshire is the kind of place that catches you off guard with its scale and its depth. It is multi-story, beautifully stocked, and immediately feels like a Vermont institution. They had the exact book I needed for my book club, which earned them instant loyalty. But the store goes well beyond bestseller lists. There is an entire floor dedicated to children's books, a thoughtful selection of local Vermont authors and regional titles, and a collection of vintage books organized by color that is almost too beautiful to be functional.

Come for the coffee. Stay for the books. Either way, you end up staying longer than planned.

Whether you are here for the espresso or the shelves, do not leave without exploring both. Colburn Cafe earns its spot as the best cafe stop in Manchester.

For more of our Manchester, VT picks, visit the map on the homepage.