Experiences
Around the Circle: Discovering Winooski
If you’re looking to explore beyond Burlington, make sure Winooski is on your list. Just minutes away, this small city has a personality all its own, with a walkable circle of cafes, bars, restaurants and locally-owned shops. With a signature circle right in the center, you can spend the morning strolling along the river, discover your new favorite coffee shop, and end the day sharing a meal with friends.
Whether you’re stopping by for an afternoon or making it part of a weekend getaway, here’s how to experience the best of Winooski.
For coffee or a cocktail: Specs
Specs Cafe and Bar is the kind of neighborhood spot that quickly becomes a weekly stop, with great coffee, creative drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Start your visit to Winooski off with a visit to Specs for a morning pick-me-up or settle in with a good book for a morning in a relaxing, community space. But make sure to swing by in the evening when the coffee shop becomes a cocktail bar, with one of the biggest drink lists in the area. A particular favorite: the Espresso Martini.
For a deli sandwich or a quick grocery shop: Misery Loves Company
A cozy neighborhood market and deli, Misery Loves Company carries local produce, Vermont products, artisan ingredients, and curated pantry staples. It’s the perfect place to stop in for a breakfast sandwich and a coffee, or grab a seat with specialty meal made fresh. Need dinner on the go – Misery even has roast chickens you can grab.
For a deli sandwich or a quick grocery shop: Misery Loves Company
A cozy neighborhood market and deli, Misery Loves Company carries local produce, Vermont products, artisan ingredients, and curated pantry staples. It’s the perfect place to stop in for a breakfast sandwich and a coffee, or grab a seat with specialty meal made fresh. Need dinner on the go – Misery even has roast chickens you can grab.
To relax and enjoy a beer: Howl Bier
The best spot to soak in the afternoon sun, Howl Bier is a European-style bar with communal tables, plants, and inspiration drawn from beer cultures across the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Stop in for their selection of lagers, imported beers, snacks, or a perfectly-poured Guinness.
If Howl Bier is not your spot, swing into Mule Bar for craft beer, creative cocktails and elevated comfort food or head into Monkey House for pool, pizza and live music.
To browse for a fun gift: Golden Hour Gift Co.
If you’d like to take a break from strolling the restaurants and bars, pop into Golden Hour Gift Co. to do some browsing. A charming shop that features gifts, home goods, jewelry, plants, paper goods, and Vermont-made treasures, Golden Hour is the perfect shop at the top of the Winooski Block.
For some more browsing and shopping, swing into Autumn Records next door and peruse their large selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and audio equipment.
To browse for a fun gift: Golden Hour Gift Co.
If you’d like to take a break from strolling the restaurants and bars, pop into Golden Hour Gift Co. to do some browsing. A charming shop that features gifts, home goods, jewelry, plants, paper goods, and Vermont-made treasures, Golden Hour is the perfect shop at the top of the Winooski Block.
For some more browsing and shopping, swing into Autumn Records next door and peruse their large selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and audio equipment.
For a sweet treat: Mattarello's Baked Goods
Grab yourself a sweet treat on your way to wander beside the Winooski River with a stop at Mattarello Baked Goods, where you can grab cupcakes, European-inspired pastries, specialty desserts, and custom cakes
It’s the perfect place to grab a snack or goodie for as an everyday treat or for a special occasion.
For a fun date night: Onion City Chicken & Oyster
Celebrate a night out at Onion City Chicken & Oyster, right at the top of the Winooski Block. You can grab fresh oysters, crispy fried chicken, and a cocktail in a restaurant with historic charm. One menu item you can’t miss? The cheddar beignets and honey butter.
Looking for something a little different? Head down to the bottom of the circle for Donwoori, a modern Korean restaurant with popular Korean dishes, chicken wings and Soju.
For a fun date night: Onion City Chicken & Oyster
Celebrate a night out at Onion City Chicken & Oyster, right at the top of the Winooski Block. You can grab fresh oysters, crispy fried chicken, and a cocktail in a restaurant with historic charm. One menu item you can’t miss? The cheddar beignets and honey butter.
Looking for something a little different? Head down to the bottom of the circle for Donwoori, a modern Korean restaurant with popular Korean dishes, chicken wings and Soju.
For dinner with a view: Waterworks Food + Drink
One of the charms of Winooski is it’s classic, brick, mill buildings that have been repurposed as office spaces, apartments, stores and restaurants right along the Winooski River.
No space takes better advantage of this than Waterworks Food + Drink, located in the historic Champlain Mill. The restaurant serves American cuisine and classic drinks in one of the state’s best atmosphere’s. Make sure to grab a table in the covered porch to sit right over the water while you dine.