Guidebook for Colchester
Food Scene
Pennycluse has THE BEST breakfast! It is very popular, so if you are looking to go on a weekend, prepare to wait for over an hour. There is sometimes a wait during the week as well. If you go before 9am there's usually not a wait.
Mike & Nicole's favorite: The Pennycluse and substitute hash browns for a mini bucket of spuds. Nom nom nom.
A few of our other favorite Breakfast/Lunch spots:
Sneakers Bistro in Winooski
Waterworks in Winooski (brunch is only on Sat & Sun)
The Guilty Plate is super close by and they have a decent breakfast but our favorite places are in Burlington and Winooski.
Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern also has brunch on Sat & Sunday. *Can be loud.
100 locals recommend
Penny Cluse Cafe
169 Cherry St
Pennycluse has THE BEST breakfast! It is very popular, so if you are looking to go on a weekend, prepare to wait for over an hour. There is sometimes a wait during the week as well. If you go before 9am there's usually not a wait.
Mike & Nicole's favorite: The Pennycluse and substitute hash browns for a mini bucket of spuds. Nom nom nom.
A few of our other favorite Breakfast/Lunch spots:
Sneakers Bistro in Winooski
Waterworks in Winooski (brunch is only on Sat & Sun)
The Guilty Plate is super close by and they have a decent breakfast but our favorite places are in Burlington and Winooski.
Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern also has brunch on Sat & Sunday. *Can be loud.
Waterworks is a great place to go for a date night, dinner or just for drinks. They make great drinks and the restaurant is in a beautiful old mill that overlooks the Winooski River. Call ahead and ask for a table overlooking the Winooski River. Reservations are usually appreciated here but we almost always just walk in. It's such a big space that we've hardly ever had to wait. Food is delicious. They sometimes have live music on the weekends. Breakfast & Brunch on Sat & Sun.
63 locals recommend
Waterworks Food + Drink
20 Winooski Falls WayWaterworks is a great place to go for a date night, dinner or just for drinks. They make great drinks and the restaurant is in a beautiful old mill that overlooks the Winooski River. Call ahead and ask for a table overlooking the Winooski River. Reservations are usually appreciated here but we almost always just walk in. It's such a big space that we've hardly ever had to wait. Food is delicious. They sometimes have live music on the weekends. Breakfast & Brunch on Sat & Sun.
We love Scout! Try the marshmallow maple latte! They have unique, home made ice cream for those adventurous to try unusual flavor combinations.
32 locals recommend
Scout & Co.
1 E Allen StWe love Scout! Try the marshmallow maple latte! They have unique, home made ice cream for those adventurous to try unusual flavor combinations.
Ben and Jerry's Scoop shop in Burlington! Because when in Rome... or, check out their factory in Waterbury.
19 locals recommend
Ben & Jerry’s
36 Church StBen and Jerry's Scoop shop in Burlington! Because when in Rome... or, check out their factory in Waterbury.
First of all, this new little cafe is beautiful. They have a great home made sweets selection and great coffee! Good for a mid-day pickmeup or if you want something quick. I also have heard they are doing drinks and dinner but haven't been yet!
27 locals recommend
Monarch and the Milkweed
111 St Paul StFirst of all, this new little cafe is beautiful. They have a great home made sweets selection and great coffee! Good for a mid-day pickmeup or if you want something quick. I also have heard they are doing drinks and dinner but haven't been yet!
If you like Thai food, tiny thai is so good! I usually get take out because there's usually a long wait. If you go for dinner, it's BYO.
75 locals recommend
Tiny Thai Restaurant
293 Main StIf you like Thai food, tiny thai is so good! I usually get take out because there's usually a long wait. If you go for dinner, it's BYO.
The farm house is a great farm-to-table restaurant. They have a great beer selection!
120 locals recommend
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
160 Bank StThe farm house is a great farm-to-table restaurant. They have a great beer selection!
El Cortijo is a farm to table taco restaurant in an old diner. It has a really nice ambiance and is also a nice place to go sit at the bar and have a margarita!
43 locals recommend
El Cortijo
189 Bank StEl Cortijo is a farm to table taco restaurant in an old diner. It has a really nice ambiance and is also a nice place to go sit at the bar and have a margarita!
Drinks & Nightlife
Mule Bar
38 Main StGreat beer selection! Everyone loves their burgers.
Four Quarters Brewing
70 Main StFour Quarters is a small brewery in Winooski, VT!
Radio Bean is an eclectic cafe by day, bar by night that usually has music 7 nights (sometimes during the day as well) per week. They have really delicious cocktails and the beers on tap are great. (Try the $5 shake!) It's connected to Duino Duende, a restaurant that serves really great food and has a good brunch as well and Duino Duende is connected to Light Club Lamp shop that is another music venue and a great place to get a wine and enjoy the ambiance.
78 locals recommend
Radio Bean Coffeehouse
8 N Winooski AveRadio Bean is an eclectic cafe by day, bar by night that usually has music 7 nights (sometimes during the day as well) per week. They have really delicious cocktails and the beers on tap are great. (Try the $5 shake!) It's connected to Duino Duende, a restaurant that serves really great food and has a good brunch as well and Duino Duende is connected to Light Club Lamp shop that is another music venue and a great place to get a wine and enjoy the ambiance.
The Daily Planet is usually a safe bet if most of the bars/restaurants are full of college kids. We can usually sneak in for a late night dinner/drink without a wait.
21 locals recommend
The Daily Planet
15 Center StThe Daily Planet is usually a safe bet if most of the bars/restaurants are full of college kids. We can usually sneak in for a late night dinner/drink without a wait.
Parks & Nature
Thayer beach is a 20 minute walk from our house to the path that leads to the beach but you can also drive to the parking lot which will only take a few minutes. The path is about another 5-10 minutes that winds through beautiful tall old pines. It's beautiful in the winter because of the solitude, but it can be very cold and icy, so be careful! Thayer Beach is a sandy beach on the shores of Lake Champlain. There are beautiful views of the Adirondacks. People will go swimming and sunbath in the summer. I don't believe there is usually a lifeguard on duty so swim at your own risk. We prefer Thayer Beach to many of the Burlington Beaches because it is usually much less crowded. It's also free!
Thayer Beach
Thayer beach is a 20 minute walk from our house to the path that leads to the beach but you can also drive to the parking lot which will only take a few minutes. The path is about another 5-10 minutes that winds through beautiful tall old pines. It's beautiful in the winter because of the solitude, but it can be very cold and icy, so be careful! Thayer Beach is a sandy beach on the shores of Lake Champlain. There are beautiful views of the Adirondacks. People will go swimming and sunbath in the summer. I don't believe there is usually a lifeguard on duty so swim at your own risk. We prefer Thayer Beach to many of the Burlington Beaches because it is usually much less crowded. It's also free!
Everything Else
Shelburne Farms is probably one of our most favorite places in Vermont. It's always where we take friends + family who are visiting from out of town. It's a non profit educational working farm. There are so many different things you can do, but just to drive or walk around and see the beautiful buildings, animals and views. They also make the most delicious cheese that you can try and buy. The farmyard is a wonderful place to take kids but adults will have plenty of fun too! Check out their website to see the schedule of events that they have for when you are in town. http://www.shelburnefarms.org/calendar
243 locals recommend
Shelburne Farms
1611 Harbor RoadShelburne Farms is probably one of our most favorite places in Vermont. It's always where we take friends + family who are visiting from out of town. It's a non profit educational working farm. There are so many different things you can do, but just to drive or walk around and see the beautiful buildings, animals and views. They also make the most delicious cheese that you can try and buy. The farmyard is a wonderful place to take kids but adults will have plenty of fun too! Check out their website to see the schedule of events that they have for when you are in town. http://www.shelburnefarms.org/calendar
Shopping
Birdfolk Collective is my store! Most of the art that you'll find in the apartment has come from the store! It's all handmade/independent designers. We carry over 200 different artists from around the country. We have gifts, jewelry, clothing, cards, art, soap, candles, Vermont made products, pottery, baby gifts, etc.!
22 locals recommend
Golden Hour Gift Co (formerly Birdfolk Collective)
17 E Allen StBirdfolk Collective is my store! Most of the art that you'll find in the apartment has come from the store! It's all handmade/independent designers. We carry over 200 different artists from around the country. We have gifts, jewelry, clothing, cards, art, soap, candles, Vermont made products, pottery, baby gifts, etc.!
Essentials
This is a cute general store that is good for home made salads and sandwiches if you want to take a picnic. They also have lots of snacks, beer and liquor.
Dick Mazza's General Store
777 W Lakeshore DrThis is a cute general store that is good for home made salads and sandwiches if you want to take a picnic. They also have lots of snacks, beer and liquor.
Market 32 by Price Chopper
595 Shelburne RdThis is the closest grocery store to our house.
The City Market Co Op is a great store with lots of natural options!
145 locals recommend
City Market/Onion River Co-op
82 S Winooski AveThe City Market Co Op is a great store with lots of natural options!
Commodities is a new small grocery store that is all natural. They have a bulk section, beer, kombucha on tap, and pretty much anything you'd want at a grocery store. City market is a much larger natural food store that also has conventional options.
6 locals recommend
Commodities Natural Market
65 Winooski Falls WayCommodities is a new small grocery store that is all natural. They have a bulk section, beer, kombucha on tap, and pretty much anything you'd want at a grocery store. City market is a much larger natural food store that also has conventional options.
Entertainment & Activities
The Sunset Drive-In is seasonal but so fun and so close to our house!
33 locals recommend
Sunset Drive-In
155 Porters Point RdThe Sunset Drive-In is seasonal but so fun and so close to our house!
Echo is a small aquarium that is great for kids!
168 locals recommend
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
1 College StEcho is a small aquarium that is great for kids!