Laconia Dining Guide: Local Restaurants and Cafes

Laconia is the biggest city in the Lakes Region, and it is where many Lake Winnipesaukee trips end up at mealtime. The city stretches from downtown on the Winnipesaukee River out to Lakeport and Weirs Beach, so the restaurants in Laconia NH cover a lot of ground: casual fine dining with a lake view, a beach bar with your toes in the sand, a busy brunch cafe, a home kitchen turning out daily specials and quick coffee stops for the road. This guide covers the city's layout and local places from our directory worth knowing.

Laconia at a glance

Laconia is a city in Belknap County and the county seat. It had 16,871 residents at the 2020 census. The city sits between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam and includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June it hosts Laconia Motorcycle Week, one of the country's largest motorcycle rallies.

The area's history goes back well before the city. A large Abenaki settlement called Aquadoctan once stood at what is now The Weirs, named by colonists for the fishing weirs they found at the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River. About 1652, the Endicott surveying party visited the area, an event remembered by Endicott Rock, a local landmark. For many years the settlement was part of Meredith and Gilford and was known as Meredith Bridge, and mills along the river shaped its growth.

For dining, it helps to think of Laconia in three parts:

• Weirs Beach, on Lake Winnipesaukee, the summer hub with lakeside restaurants and bars.
• Downtown, along the river, with cafes and lunch spots.
• Union Avenue, a main commercial road with quick stops along the way.

Lakeside dining at Weirs Beach

Blue Bistro is the restaurant at The NASWA, a resort on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee at Weirs Beach. NASWA describes it as its casual fine dining restaurant, with locally inspired food and the lake as a backdrop. It serves breakfast and dinner, and its menu runs to fresh seafood and Certified Angus steaks. Ask for a table with a view when you book.

At the same resort, NazBar and Grill is the laid-back option. NASWA calls it a Weirs Beach bar with a tropical feel, set right on the sand of Lake Winnipesaukee, and it is built for lakeside bites and drinks. It is the place to go in a bathing suit cover-up after a day on the water.

The two restaurants together make NASWA an easy choice for a group with mixed tastes: a sit-down dinner for some and a beach bar for others, a short walk apart.

Brunch downtown

Water Street Cafe, on Water Street, bills itself as the best brunch in Laconia and promises to treat guests like family. The menu leans on breakfast classics and benedicts, with fresh ground coffee and a bar for anyone who wants something stronger. The cafe also hosts holiday parties and caters, according to its website.

Brunch is a good fit for a lake trip. Eat late, skip lunch and spend the afternoon on the water or at the beach.

A home-style cafe and bakery

Annie's Cafe and Catering is on Gilford Avenue in Laconia. The cafe says it makes everything fresh daily in its home kitchen in Laconia, and its website posts daily specials, such as mac and cheese bowls, paninis and stuffed French toast. It also runs a bakery and a catering business that serves the Lakes Region.

If you are picking up lunch for a boat or a picnic at the beach, a cafe like Annie's is easier than a sit-down restaurant. Call ahead for larger orders.

Coffee stops

Verdi Caffetteria is a locally owned coffee shop on Union Avenue. It serves panini, sandwiches, empanadas, salads and snacks, along with coffee, chocolate, tea and natural fruit juices. The cafe says it uses ingredients from Italy and Latin America, and it offers online ordering.

Aroma Joe's also has a Laconia shop on Union Avenue. Aroma Joe's is a coffee franchise that started in Maine. It is known for handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, cold brew, its frozen Frojoe drinks and its AJ's Rush energy drinks. For a quick drink on the way to the lake, it is a reliable stop.

Building a dining day in Laconia

If you have a full day in the city, it is easy to eat your way from one end to the other without doubling back.

• Morning: Start downtown with a coffee and a pastry or panini from a cafe on Union Avenue, or sit down for a full brunch at Water Street Cafe if you plan to skip lunch.
• Midday: Pick up sandwiches or a daily special from Annie's for a picnic, a beach blanket or a boat cooler.
• Afternoon: Head out to Weirs Beach and spend the warm part of the day by the lake, with a drink at the NazBar if you want to stay on the sand.
• Evening: Finish with a sit-down dinner at Blue Bistro, ideally timed for the light over the water.

Laconia is compact enough that this plan keeps the driving short, and you end the day at the lake.

When to go

Laconia is busiest in summer, when Weirs Beach fills with visitors and boat traffic is at its peak. Motorcycle Week in June is the city's biggest event, and restaurants and lodging can be crowded during it. Fall is quieter, with foliage around the lakes, and some seasonal businesses near the water may cut hours after the summer. Winter brings ice fishing and snowmobiling to the lakes, and downtown cafes stay busy with locals.

At the start of September, the summer crowds thin and the lake is still warm. It is one of the nicest times to eat outside at the Weirs.

Tips for eating out in Laconia

• Check hours. Lakeside restaurants and bars often change hours by season, and some close in winter. Look at each business's website or social pages before you go.
• Book ahead in summer. Weekend dinners at Weirs Beach fill fast in July and August.
• Plan around events. Motorcycle Week and other big events mean busier restaurants and slower traffic on the roads into the Weirs.
• Bring cash and cards. Most places take cards, but a little cash is useful for tips and small stops.
• Pair food with the lake. Grab a coffee and pastry on the way to a boat launch, or end a beach day with dinner by the water.

Beyond Laconia

Laconia is a good base for exploring the Lakes Region. Gilford, Meredith and Wolfeboro are all within driving distance along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, and each has its own restaurants. If you are staying in Laconia, a dinner out of town can add variety to a longer trip.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat on the water in Laconia?

At Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. The NASWA resort has Blue Bistro for casual fine dining and the NazBar and Grill, a beach bar on the sand.

What villages are part of Laconia?

Laconia includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach.

Where can I get brunch in Laconia?

Water Street Cafe is a popular brunch spot. Annie's Cafe and Catering also serves breakfast and lunch specials.

When is Laconia busiest?

Summer, especially during Laconia Motorcycle Week in June.

Sources

• Laconia, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, location, villages, Motorcycle Week, Aquadoctan, Endicott Rock, Meredith Bridge): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconia,_New_Hampshire
• Blue Bistro at The NASWA, official page: https://naswa.com/blue-bistro/
• NazBar and Grill official site: https://www.nazbarandgrill.com
• Water Street Cafe official site: https://waterstreetcafenh.com
• Annie's Cafe and Catering official site: https://anniescafeandcatering.com/
• Verdi Caffetteria official site: https://verdicaffetteria.com
• Aroma Joe's official site: https://aromajoes.com/