The Best Bars In Rutland Vermont

Thanks to its location in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, the cozy town of Rutland is a popular destination for skiers and hikers as well as a great place to live. Whether you’re a local looking for the perfect bar to frequent or a visitor looking for a great spot to relax after a tiring day of activity, you’ll definitely want to check out our guide to some of Rutland’s best drinking establishments before heading out in the city.

1. Roots the Restaurant

Restaurant, American, Vegetarian

Rutland’s favorite farm-to-table venue, Roots the Restaurant, not only offers incredible locally sourced cuisine, but also has a full bar featuring amazing seasonal selections of wine, beer, and specialty cocktails. Roots boasts one of the best wine lists in Vermont, in addition to a great local draft beer selection on tap and a fantastic farm-inspired cocktail menu with drinks like maple martinis. The North Branch Vineyard Seyval Blanc from Montpelier, as well as the variety of fruit wines are highlights. The draft beers are fairly inexpensive, and though the selection doesn’t have much variety, it has included great choices in the past such as Long Trail Ale, Switchback Ale, and Shed Ale. The restaurant’s seasonal cocktails are also truly special, with favorites like the Kiwi Blueberry Mojito, the Berry Lemon Cooler, the Citrus Basil Julep, the Whiplash, and the Beatnik, which is a lovely combination of pressed beet juice, gin, and lime. The restaurant’s interior is beautiful, with brick walls, clean wooden floors, gorgeous nature-themed artwork, and a small bar lit up with cool blue neon lights, giving it a cozy and romantic, yet simple and modern Vermont vibe.

2. Table 24

Bar, American, Vegetarian, Wine, Beer, Cocktails

As soon as you walk into Table 24, it becomes clear that the restaurant is truly an upscale establishment. The beautifully designed intimate dining areas, private booths, old wood floors, wooden beams and dark red walls all add to the atmosphere, along with a large welcoming bar and lounge full of cozy plump couches and chairs. People love to stop by for everything from family and friend outings to business meetings to romantic dates to after work drinks. There are even large TVs at the bar, perfect for watching popular sports games while dining on some delicious food with a nice cold beer. Table 24 has a nice selection of local beers on tap, including Allagash White, Long Trail Double Bag and Limbo, and Citizen Cider Unified Press, in addition to many bottled beers. There’s also a frequently changing specialty martini list always with plenty of tasty choices. The bartenders are known for being incredibly friendly and helpful, offering great drink suggestions and making conversation with guests. On Monday nights, glasses of wine are half priced, so it’s the perfect time to try out some of the spectacular options on Table 24’s excellent wine list.

3. Hop’n Moose Brewing Company

Bar, Pub, Pub Grub, American, Wine, Beer, Fast Food, Cocktails

The first and only brewpub in Rutland, Hop’n Moose offers authentic wood-fired pizza, a fantastic selection of beers brewed on site, giant widescreen TVs for watching your favorite games, and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Their in-house brewed blueberry pale ale, off white Belgian, saison, coffee porter, root beer, swamp donkey, and head doctor IPA are all truly exceptional. Patrons love to get the beer flight, which allows them to try a variety of the brewery’s creations for a great price, and Hop’n Moose even fills up growlers for guests to take some of the tasty fresh beer home. If you aren’t interested in trying the local brews, the bar also has a vast selection of beers and cider made in other parts of Vermont, as well as the option to get a 12-ounce beer. In addition, Hop’n Moose hosts nice live acoustic music on Friday and Saturday nights to entertain music-loving guests, and the service is consistently excellent and efficient. The place has a huge bar and fantastic outdoor seating perfect for days with warm weather. People love coming to the brewery for its authentic Vermont feel, thanks to the wood-paneled walls, giant moose head hanging above the taps, and abundance of local sports memorabilia decorating the place.

4. Little Harry’s

Bar, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian

A favorite of locals, visitors, Killington skiers, prom dates, families, travelling salesmen, leaf peepers, Castleton students, and Paramount Theater Goers alike, Little Harry’s is a great place to meet for a drink. Little Harry’s offers its guests a cozy and intimate environment in which to enjoy spectacular food, friendly service, and a great selection of beer and wine, in addition to a full bar with exceptional cocktails and nightly wine specials. The restaurant’s interior is small, with a main area that is dominated by the bar and two smaller areas of tables tucked off to the side of the bar. Patrons love the plentiful choices of red and white wines, the fantastic beers on tap, and the nice selection of cocktails and martinis crafted by the skilled bartenders. Over the years, Little Harry’s has become known for its soothing and inviting atmosphere, true Vermont laid-back vibe, amazing pad thai and garlic bread, and local bar feel where many people know each other.

5. Strangefellows Pub

Pub, American

Strangefellows Pub offers a wide variety of food, beer, liquor, and coffee drinks to those looking for a respite after a hard day of work. The menu includes standard pub fare items like wings, nachos, and fries, as well as beef, turkey, or pulled pork sliders for the hungry, in addition to meatloaf, three types of mac and cheese, chili, and some amazing hot grinders for the really hungry. There are also classics like brussel sprouts, hummus, salads, soup, and tater tots. For the adventurous eaters, try the fried cauliflower coated in sriracha sauce, blooming onion served with fried pickles and fried banana peppers, and Breakfast for Dinner, which is comprised of a scotch egg served with fried French toast and bacon-wrapped figs. Nobody is left out at Strangefellow, thanks to plenty of gluten-free, vegetarian, and kid-friendly options that are available. For the thirsty, the pub features six taps that offer a great variety of beers including a porter, an IPA, a lager, two ales, and a local cider. There’s also a growing selection of 22-ounce craft beer bottles, classic cocktails like Moscow Mules and Pimm’s Cups, and coffee-based liquor drinks perfect for chilly days and nights.

6. Muckenschnabel’s

Bar, American

Described as the bar where everyone knows your name, Muckenschnabel is a favorite spot for locals – which isn’t to say that they’re not equally welcoming to tourists. It may be just a local bar, but the venue offers a wide range of entertainment, including live music, wine tasting and a dart board. Regulars rate Muckenschnabel as a great spot for catching up with friends over a drink: the music isn’t too loud and neither are its patrons. Its dim, ambient lighting creates a cozy atmosphere, but there is nevertheless a wide selection of good beers available on tap. But Muckenschabel isn’t welcoming to human guests alone: don’t be surprised to find a few dogs chilling alongside their owner in this friendly local bar.

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