Brattleboro - town in Windham County, Vermont, United States

Brattleboro is a town of 12,000 people in southern Vermont. From points south, it will most likely be the place for travelers to begin their exploration of Vermont.

Understand

As a Connecticut River town in southern Vermont, Brattleboro benefited greatly from the easy availability of water and water power, and thus has been a prosperous town since the 18th and 19th centuries, as shown by the extraordinary collection of beautiful buildings in various styles that survive from those days and the first few decades of the 20th century. Only a very small selection of them are shown in this article.

Get in

By car

• Route 91. The major highway running north-south with 3 exits in the town. 91 goes north all the way to Canada. South it goes through Greenfield, Springfield and Hartford, terminating in New Haven.
• Route 9. Runs east-west through town. Going west it hits Bennington, and to the east, Keene.

By bus

• Greyhound, terminal at 1102 Putney Rd, near exit 3 on route 91.

By train

The town is served by the Vermonter, a daily Amtrak train which goes south to New York and Washington, D.C. and north to St. Albans. Brattleboro station 📍 is located at 10 Vernon Rd, a short walk south from downtown.

Get around

For getting around the center of town, all you should need are your feet. Amble around the streets, stop at some shops, and just take your time. For getting out the town, a car would be the best way to go. Be aware that traffic in downtown Brattleboro can resemble that found in cities orders of magnitude larger, in part due to a long term construction project on I-91 that causes people to leave the highway, but more due to all the major streets feeding into Main St in the center of town. Driving within the center should be avoided and parking all day is quite cheap (under $10). If you are in the mood, though, rent a bike at the Brattleboro Bicycle Shop located downtown at 165 Main St.

See

• Gallery Walk. The first Friday of each month from 5:30PM-8:30PM. Shops and galleries are open and people come to see the sights. A good way to get a feel for the locals. See the fashion show at Twice Upon a Time, a local consignment shop.
• Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, 10 Vernon St, 42.8509°, -72.5567°, +1 802 257-0124. Small museum with consistently changing exhibits since they have no collection. Current admission ranges from $4 for students to $8 for adults. Free for kids under 6.

Do

• Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery, 139 Main St. The Hooker-Dunham Theater puts on concerts and dramatic performances. Tickets are usually very reasonably priced. The gallery has an ever-changing selection of art.
• Latchis Hotel & Theater, 50 Main St, 42.85129°, -72.55782°, +1 802-246-2020 (box office), +1 802-246-1500 (showtimes recording). A very cool old theater that hosts new films, old films, live theater, and guest speakers. On Halloween they show the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is great fun. They also show films during the Brattleboro Women's Film Festival. 2022-10-14
• Brattleboro Farmer's Market. Saturday and Wednesday. The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is Southern Vermont's premier farmers' market featuring over 50 vendors with agricultural products, crafts, live music and animals and ethnic foods from around the world. Whether you are local or a tourist, you can stop by to get your weekly produce and grab a quick lunch, or come with your family and stay for the day! In the winter the market is held in the River Garden on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro. At least one person recommends the chicken sticks at Anons.
• Grafton Village Cheese, 400 Linden St, +1 802 246-2221. Sa-Th 10AM-6PM, F 10AM-8PM. Watch world renowned Grafton Village Cheddar being produced while munching on copious free samples provided around the store, which also sells a wide variety of Vermont-made products. 2015-05-18

Buy

• Everyone's Books, 25 Elliot St, +1 802 254-8160. Small new-book store with a social justice focus, although they carry a little bit of everything.
• Brattleboro Books, 36 Elliot St, +1 802 257-7777. Tightly packed store selling used and rare books.
• Harmony Underground, 26 Harmony Pl, +1 802 257-8080.
• Mystery on Main Street, 119 Main St, +1 802 258-2211. In a small town that already has three other bookstores, you wouldn't expect a store selling only new mystery novels to survive, but Brattleboro is not your average town. 2015-05-18
• Penelope Wurr, 167 Main Street (Exit 1 or 2 off Interstate 91 to Brattleboro center), +1 802-246-3015. Daily 11AM-6PM; closed Tuesdays in the late Winter and early Spring. 2017-05-30

Eat

• Blue Moose Bistro, 39 Main St (The cafe is located at the back of the store.), +1 802 254-6245. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 9AM-4PM. The cafe has the standard assortment of coffee, espresso, and tea, plus a decent selection of gourmet sodas and juices. The baked goods are quite good. The food is great with lots of vegetarian options and is moderately priced. The area is well lit and a good place to read, surf online, or study. The only downside is that they play cheese-ball music. It does not get in the way of conversations or interrupt studying. Cell phone conversations are not encouraged inside the store or cafe, which is nice. The cafe has free Wi-Fi with purchase.
• Brattleboro Food Coop (The Coop), 2 Main St (Near malfunction junction), +1 802 257-0236. Healthy foods at reasonable prices, in a relaxed and friendly environment. Staff is knowledgeable and eager to help shoppers in any way that they can.
• Kipling's Restaurant & Pub (Kipling's), 78 Elliot St (Between McNeill's Brewery and the entrance to the parking garage.), +1 802 257-4848. kitchen: afternoon - evening. Kipling's is a homely little restaurant with a few booths and a bar where you can get a decent burger or the standard pub fare.
• Three Stones (Mexican/Mayan Cantina), 105 Canal St (From downtown, go through malfunction junction and up the hill. The restaurant is on the right just before the stop sign.), +1 802 246-1035. evenings. Maybe the best restaurant, or at least the most interesting restaurant, in Brattleboro. All the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is great. They have a good selection of Mexican cervezas and wines to accompany the amazing food. All the food is authentic Mayan/Mexican food and they use a lot of local and organic ingredients.
• Amy's Bakery Arts Cafe (Amy's Cafe), 113 Main St (On the east side of Main Street in the middle of downtown.), +1 802 251-1071. Amy's has great food and baked goods, plus they have the standard coffee shop items. The area in the back is a nice place to sit and over look the river. Overall, a great place and one of the most popular lunch spots in Brattleboro.
• Echo Bar and Lounge, 73 Main St, +1 802 254-2073. Daily 5:30-9PM or 10PM. Trendy wood-fired pizza place downtown. Echo offers salads and some sandwiches in addition to their pizza options. To wash down your pie, you can choose from a small, but high-quality selection of beers, many of them local.
• T. J. Buckley's, 132 Elliot St (Past the fire station.), +1 802 257-4922. By far the fanciest and most elegant dining in Brattleboro. The restaurant is housed in an old diner. The location is a little off the beaten track, but only by a block or two.
• Top of the Hill Grill, 632 Putney Rd, +1 802 258-9178. lunch & dinner, spring-fall. Top of the Hill Grill serves hickory smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and ribs, smoked turkey, grilled chicken and fresh ground burgers. Also, homemade sides – always from scratch and always fresh – include coleslaw, corn bread, baked beans, roasted potatoes and root vegetables, pasta and potato salad. Great BBQ. 2018-02-12
• The Chelsea Royal Diner, 487 Marlboro Rd (take exit 2 off Route 91 to Route 9 West, drive 2 miles. Just when you think you've passed the Royal Diner it will appear on your right. Remember the best part of the Royal Diners' location, just outside of Brattleboro, is that you have to pass it on the way up to Vermont and on the way home), +1 802 254-8399. breakfast, lunch, & dinner. A vintage 1938 Worcester diner. Decor and food speak of times gone by with Daily Blue Plate Specials, generous portions and extremely friendly pricing. The cuisine is probably best described as "high-end home style". Authentic Mexican fare served Tuesday through Saturday evenings, prime rib Friday and Saturday nights, real mashed potatoes, homemade soups, breads, pies and desserts. Breakfasts are served all day and they are a feast, with homemade pancakes and Belgian waffles, eggs Benedict, and the diners' specialty "Cajun Breakfast Skillet" making for some tough choices. The menu also offers an array of sandwiches, pizza, and a kids menu. Take-out is available for every item. April through October is the season for the Royal Soft Serve Stand, featuring Columbo Nonfat Frozen Yogurt, 10 flavors of soft-serve daily, and the Royal's Homemade "Royal Madness" Ice Cream. There's lots of classic eats too, such as footlong hotdogs with fries, and double cheese burgers.
• Elliott Street Cafe, 134 Elliot St (Up Elliott St., past the fire station, on the left), +1 802 246-1251. breakfast, lunch. Great Mexican inspired breakfast and lunch. Very basic set up, very good food. Lots of vegetarian options. They cook all their dishes from scratch, with the highest quality and local ingredients they can find. They are committed to supporting local, sustainable food systems, and a strong local economy. They also have ping pong and host performances.
• Superfresh Organic Cafe, 30 Main St., +1 802-579-1751. Su M 10AM-9PM, Tu 10AM-4PM, W Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. A wonderful vegan, gluten free, organic cafe. They have amazing baked goods and smoothies. Quaint and welcome space. 2017-06-08

Drink

• McNeill's Brewery, 90 Eliot Street (The bar is to the left of Kipling's and across from the fire station.), 42.851598°, -72.560071°, +1 802-254-2553. Opens at 2PM on the weekends, open until it's closed. A full service drinking establishment located in downtown Brattleboro on Elliot Street in an old firehouse that is across the street from the actual firehouse. As for the full service concept, McNeill's provides glasses and will even pour beer into your glass for you for a small charge. They can also put beer in a growler for you (a deal at 10 bones with refills for just 8). They also have some pub food that is better than just edible. And darts. And that game with a ring on a string that you swing and catch on a hook, which is surprisingly difficult even before a few beers. If it's possible to have a "dive brewery," this is it. Cash Only. 2016-10-27
• Kipling's Restaurant & Pub (Kipling's), 78 Elliot St (between McNeill's Brewery and the entrance to the parking garage), 42.851654°, -72.559971°, +1 802 257-4848. afternoon - last call. Kipling's has standard pub food and a decent selection of beer. A nice place to stop and get a beer, hang out with friends, etc. Kipling's isn't as trendy as Flat Street Brew Pub and lacks the character and charm of McNeill's, but Kipling's make up for that by being the warmest, friendliest, and most "down-to-earth" bar in Brattleboro. The waitress is really nice too. Cash only. 2016-10-27
• The Weathervane, 19 Elliot St (Between Main Street and the parking garage on the north side of the street.), +1 802 258-6529. 5PM-2AM. The Weathervane is a unique place. They offer live music (sometimes it's a DJ) 5 to 7 nights a week. It's a favorite hangout of Brattleboro townies.
• Metropolis Wine Bar, 55 Elliot St, 42.852056°, -72.559420°, +1 802-254-8500. Metropolis Wine Bar is a nice spot if you want a cocktail or a glass of wine. Sometimes they have DJ and dancing and sometimes they host art showings. 2016-10-27
• Hermit Thrush Brewery, 29 High St, 42.853459°, -72.559658°, +1 802 257-2337. Brewery in the former home of Blue Moose Cafe, an old auto warehouse on High St. Hermit Thrush is dedicated to sours and Belgian-style beers, even producing a sour IPA. They only offer growler fills and sample flights due to licensing requirements. There are usually at least 8 beers to try and you can chat with the owners in the rustic wood and brick taproom. 2016-10-27
• Mocha Joe's, 82 Main St, 42.851980°, -72.558024°, +1 802 257-7794. Mocha Joe's is a tiny basement coffeeshop that has a full menu of espresso drinks and a small selection of baked goods. They roast their own coffee, which you will find for sale in stores around the region. The shop is split into two rooms, one for ordering and a seating area with a mix of tables and a comfortable couch in the back. The walls feature a rotating art display with pieces available for purchase. 2016-10-27

Sleep

• Latchis Hotel, 50 Main St, 42.851309°, -72.557803°, +1 802 254-6300. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 2PM. Definitely the nicest hotel in Brattleboro. Plus it's right downtown and close to all the good stuff that downtown Brattleboro has to offer. Prices go up on the weekend and during the fall foliage season. $100-130/night per double. Larger rooms for up to 5 people are available; the 5-person suite is $180/night 2016-10-27
• Quality Inn and Conference Center Brattleboro, 1380 Putney Rd (5 miles from the center of Brattleboro), 42.891910°, -72.552635°, +1 802 254-8701. Pet-friendly. On-site restaurant, pools, sauna, and fitness center. Provides free wifi and extended stay amenities and services. 2016-10-27
• Econo Lodge, 515 Canal St, 42.838122°, -72.565913°, +1 802 254-2360. Budget chain hotel by I-91. $65/night 2016-10-27
• Colonial Motel, 889 Putney Rd, 42.878616°, -72.559076°, +1 802 257-7733. Very affordable independent motel with an attached tavern. $70/night 2016-10-27
• Lamplighter Inn Motel, 1336 Putney Rd, 42.890232°, -72.554176°, +1 802 254-8025. 2016-10-27
• Motel 6, 1254 Putney Rd, 42.888212°, -72.555390°, +1 802 254-6007. Budget chain hotel neat I-91 exit 3. $56/night 2016-10-27
• Super 8, 1043 Putney Rd, 42.882527°, -72.557225°, +1 802 254-8889. Budget chain hotel. $66/night 2016-10-27
• The One Cat Bed & Breakfast, 43 Clark Street (From Route 91, tax exit 1 to Canal Street), 42.847936°, -72.559691°, +1 802 579-1905, stay@theonecatvermont.com. Check-in: flexible, check-out: flexible. The One Cat is a small, friendly bed & breakfast five minutes' walk from downtown. Rates include taxes, a full breakfast catering to all diets, use of a small-but-well-stocked library and the breakfast room, which doubles as a place to relax on a rainy day or stormy night. The One Cat offers a discount to guests taking the train. Check the website for unadvertised specials, more information, policies and lots of photographs. Rates go up on weekends and in high season. From $99 per night 2016-05-25

Connect

• The Brattleboro Reformer. The major local paper.

Go next

Keene, New Hampshire is about 40 minutes' drive via US Route 5 North and State Route 9 East, and has more pretty buildings for you to see.