From the heart of Colonial Williamsburg or anywhere else in the city, you can find an abundance of restaurants and dining options to please every palate.
While visiting Colonial Williamsburg, you won’t want to miss a chance to dine on decadent dishes, seafood platters, international-inspired cuisine and more. You’ll also find restaurants that are perfect for the whole family, serving kid-friendly fare, or ideal for a couple’s romantic night out.
Colonial Williamsburg Restaurants and Taverns
There are number of dining options within Colonial Williamsburg. From historic taverns to modern restaurants, bars and cafes, you can enjoy a meal for any occasion no matter who you’re with.
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Colonial Williamsburg Historic Restaurants
During the 18th century, the colonists centered their social scene around the local taverns. Locals and visitors would share a delicious meal and a pint of ale over good conversation. This remains the same in Colonial Williamsburg’s restaurants and taverns in the Historic Area. Colonial Williamsburg has four taverns with an array of menu options to satisfy everyone.
Chowning’s Tavern serves traditional 18th-century pub fare. This family-friendly alehouse features offerings that the founding fathers would enjoy, including Brunswick Stew and Shepherd’s Pye. Chowning’s even has a kid’s menu with more modern options such as pizza, chicken tenders and hotdogs.
George Washington’s favorite Williamsburg restaurant was Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. Known for serving locally-sourced seafood, including scallops, fish and shrimp, Christiana Campbell’s menu is perfect for seafood lovers. For children under 12 who aren’t big on seafood, there’s also a seafood-free kid’s menu. Open only for dinner, diners can enjoy Christiana Campbell’s signature crab cakes while listening in on lively 18th-century conversation.
For a more refined meal, visit King’s Arms Tavern. Set in a replica public house, you can enjoy a meal with a touch of colonial elegance. King’s Arms offers dishes with a fresh take on 18th-century recipes. King’s Arms menu varies between lunch and dinner but the restaurant also has a kid-friendly menu.
When more people arrived to colonial Williamsburg, they brought with them their traditions. This includes culinary traditions. Shields Tavern showcases a melting pot of cuisine from all over the former British Empire. Dine on authentic dishes for lunch and dinner. While these international flavors are pleasing for some, younger diners may want something more familiar. Shield’s Tavern also has a menu just for children with dishes they’re sure to recognize and love.
When it’s time for dessert, satisfy your sweet tooth by visiting Raleigh Tavern Bakery. Enjoy fresh-baked breads, muffins and cookies, along with options for a light lunch, when you visit this authentic 18th-century bakery.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg
While Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area certainly embraces the centuries-old charm of the city, you certainly don’t have to dine like a colonist for every meal. Try out these restaurants serving more modern fare when you visit Colonial Williamsburg.
For a casual meal, perfect for the whole family, choose Huzzah’s Eatery at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. Huzzah’s features offerings like appetizers, barbecue, salads, pasta burgers and more. Kids will love making their own pizza tableside while the adults enjoy one of the many microbeers on tap.
Also located at the Visitor Center is the Visitor Center Café. Unwind after a day of walking tours and colonial exploration with a light lunch. There are even kid-friendly options for the youngest patriots.
Those visiting The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg can grab a bite to eat at the Museum Café. Enjoy fresh wraps and salads along with beer and wine as you take a break in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area.
Modern and Upscale Restaurants near Colonial Williamsburg
There are several restaurants at the hotels within the Colonial Williamsburg Resorts, each offering a different type of cuisine.
The Terrace and Goodwin Rooms are perfect for an upscale family-friendly meal. Enjoy contemporary American classics with a refined take for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch. Despite the more high-end offerings, both the Terrace and Goodwin Rooms are casual eateries.
For fine dining in Colonial Williamsburg, visit the Rockefeller Room at the Williamsburg Inn. Experience the evolution of American cuisine through the Rockefeller Room’s dinner menu. Enjoy upscale Southern cuisine and fresh seafood, along with the finest cuts of meat. There’s also a vegetarian menu with farm-to-table offerings. Don’t forget to end the night with dessert.
The Williamsburg Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and brunch at Traditions restaurant. Inspired by the south, this restaurant celebrates mid-Atlantic cuisine through dishes such as Surry County pulled pork, a crab cake sandwich, shrimp and grits and more. Sip on cocktails like a Bloody Mary, mimosa and Bellini. There’s even a kid’s menu complete with fresh fruit smoothies and dessert.
Also at the Williamsburg Lodge is Sweet Tea & Barley, serving Southern comfort food with a modern twist. This laid-back restaurant features dishes using locally-grown ingredients alongside handcrafted cocktails. The dinner menu includes options such as the Lowcountry BBQ Dip sandwich, North Carolina Pulled Pork Nachos and Sweet Tea & Barley’s take on crab dip. Enjoy a drink at the bar, in the lounge or on the spacious outdoor patio.
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Restaurants in Merchants Square
Merchants Square, located right along Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, features a blend of 18th-century charm and modern shops and restaurants. The restaurants within Merchants Square range from upscale eateries to pub fare. Most restaurants even have seating on an outdoor patio so you can dine with your pet.
Casual Restaurants in Merchants Square
Aroma’s Café is the perfect fast-casual option for when you’re looking to grab a bite and get back to exploring Colonial Williamsburg. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, some meals are accompanied by relaxing live music.
Located in an 80-year-old former bank, DoG Street Pub’s craft beer pairs perfectly with their menu of bar bites, casual dishes and more globally-inspired selections. DoG Street Pub has menus for lunch, dinner, brunch and even late night. This spot is perfect for starting your day in Colonial Williamsburg or winding down a night out with friends.
Speaking of winding down, how about a wine down at The Williamsburg Winery Tasting Room & Wine Bar. Enjoy award-winning selections from nearby Williamsburg Winery, as well as other locally-made wine, cider and mead. Pair your wine with a local cheese plate or charcuterie.
The sign may say The Cheese Shop, but it is so much more. Not only can you purchase from over 200 domestic and imported cheese, breads and other specialty food, you can also enjoy a sandwich, glass of wine and charcuterie plate on their patio. The Cheese Shop’s legendary sandwiches, made with a house dressing, have received praise from the New York Times and other travel sites.
Upscale Restaurants in Merchants Square
Those looking for more refined cuisine can find offerings at Merchants Square. Perfect for a romantic night out or just an upscale meal with table service, these restaurants offer high-end cuisine but you won’t need a dinner jacket.
For fresh, regional seafood, visit Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill. Berret’s has received honors like “Best Crab Cake” and “Best Seafood Restaurant” in Williamsburg for years. Whether you dine for lunch or dinner, you’ll enjoy traditional seafood dishes like She crab soup, James River oysters and more, as well as seasonal offerings. Berret’s Seafood Restaurant is open year-round, but The Taphouse Grill, that features live music on the patio, is open from April–November.
Comfort food gets a French twist at Blue Talon Bistro. This full-service restaurant serves innovative French cuisine in a more laid-back atmosphere. Send your taste buds on a trip across the Atlantic with traditional French dishes like Croque Madame, escargot and faux gras, along with more familiar offerings including a meatloaf sandwich, Black Angus burger and salads.
For modern American fine dining in Merchants Square, choose The Trellis Bar & Grill. The Trellis puts its culinary focus on utilizing the highest-quality local ingredients on its seasonal menus. Before your meal, enjoy a handcrafted cocktail at the bar. Then, sit down to some of the finest reginal cuisine in Williamsburg during brunch, lunch and dinner. For dessert, you won’t want to miss the ultimate chocolate cake, the Death by Chocolate. While The Trellis is a perfect locale for couples to enjoy a romantic meal, there’s also menu for children under 12 years old so the whole family can eat.
Fat Canary is one of Williamsburg most upscale restaurants. Named to Diners Choice’s “Top 100 Best Restaurants in America” in 2013, Fat Canary has received the AAA Four Diamond award countless times. This bistro-style restaurant serves sophisticated American cuisine, complemented by a number of fine wines. Fat Canary’s menu is seasonal, to utilize local ingredients, and changes frequently.
From the heart of Colonial Williamsburg or anywhere else in the city, you can find an abundance of restaurants and dining options to please every palate.
