Boone, NC

These are just a few of the standouts.

Vidalia Restaurant & Wine Bar — Bistro-style farm-to-table kitchen on King Street with a seasonal Southern creative American menu: NC trout, smoked pork belly, chicken and waffles. Wine list of 60-plus bottles, full cocktail program. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday; brunch and dinner Sunday. Reservations strongly recommended on weekends.

Lost Province Brewing Company — Downtown brewpub on North Depot Street, behind the Mast General Store. Wood-fired pizza from a copper-clad Le Panyol oven; voted Best Pizza in Boone for six consecutive years in the annual Best of Boone poll. Craft beer brewed on-site. Live music Friday and Saturday evenings. Open daily from 11:30am.

Over Yonder — Chef Andy Long's Appalachian kitchen, now operating inside Rhode's Motor Lodge on Blowing Rock Road. Known for pan-fried trout, crispy okra, and fried chicken rooted in Appalachian tradition with Louisiana influence. Relocated to Boone in spring 2025 after its original Valle Crucis location closed following Hurricane Helene. Closed Monday; open Tuesday through Sunday.

Stick Boy Bread Company — Boone's artisan bakery since 2001, supplying restaurants throughout the High Country. Known for cinnamon rolls that sell out by mid-morning on weekends, sourdough, and bagels. Stick Boy Kitchen (211 Boone Heights Dr.) offers a full scratch-made sandwich menu. Original bakery at 345 Hardin St., opening at 7am.

These are a few you can count on, along with well known flagged hotels in and around town.

Boutique / Downtown

The Horton Hotel — Boone's first boutique hotel, a 2019 conversion of a 100-year-old former motor bank building on King Street. Twenty-three rooms ranging from windowed suites to a below-street windowless option; rooftop lounge serving handcrafted cocktails. Walking distance to the full King Street dining and shopping corridor.

The 1850 Hotel — Twenty-suite luxury boutique on King Street, each room built around a soaking tub, custom finishes, and mountain or downtown views. Contactless check-in, on-site fitness center, and a location that puts the full King Street corridor within walking distance.

B&B / Lodge

Lovill House Inn — Historic B&B in an 1875 farmhouse on 11 private acres, a half-mile walk from downtown King Street. Six suites and a two-bedroom cabin; mornings include an organic breakfast. Hiking trails, a mountain stream, and a waterfall on the grounds. The building where the Appalachian State University charter was drafted in 1903.

Rhode's Motor Lodge — Michelin-certified mid-century motor lodge on Highway 321, renovated as a boutique property with mountain-facing rooms, upper-level balconies, a fire pit and rocking chair front porch, and a lobby built around a central hearth and chalet-style communal seating. Over Yonder's Appalachian kitchen operates on-site for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Mast General Store — Multi-floor store in two early 20th-century buildings at 630 W. King Street, carrying outdoor gear, footwear, regional clothing, and a Candy Barrel selling old-fashioned sweets by the pound. One of nine Mast Store locations across the Southeast; the original 1882 store sits eight miles away in Valle Crucis.

Lililu on King — Upscale women's boutique at 549 W. King Street, voted Best Women's Boutique in the High Country. Carries brands including Free People, Dolce Vita Shoes, Spanx, and Mother Denim. Ships items and holds pieces by phone or email for out-of-area customers. Open daily.

Lucky Penny — King Street women's boutique at 693 W. King St. carrying clothing, shoes, and gifts, locally owned and in continuous operation for more than a decade. New inventory added regularly; vinyl records play on rotation in-store. Also available to shop online.