Lincoln and Woodstock Dining Guide

Lincoln and Woodstock sit side by side in the western White Mountains, and together they are a natural base for hiking, skiing and sightseeing. Lincoln is home to Loon Mountain and to part of Franconia Notch, while the village of North Woodstock, just down the road, is the commercial center of the town of Woodstock. After a day outdoors, most visitors end up looking for the same thing: a good meal close to where they are staying. This guide to restaurants in Lincoln NH and North Woodstock covers five places that suit different moods, from a brewery pub to a sit-down Italian dinner.

Late spring brings long days for a hike before dinner. Restaurant schedules in mountain towns can shift with the seasons, so check each website before you go.

Getting Oriented

Lincoln is a small town, with a population of 1,631 at the 2020 census, but it draws visitors far beyond that number. The southern part of Franconia Notch State Park, including the Flume, lies within Lincoln, and Loon Mountain is in town. NH Route 112, which includes the Kancamagus Highway, runs through Lincoln on its way east.

Woodstock had a population of 1,434 at the 2020 census, and its main village, North Woodstock, had 739. West of North Woodstock on Route 112 is the Lost River Reservation, a series of boulder caves along a gorge in Kinsman Notch. Much of the town is forested, with parts of the White Mountain National Forest on both its east and west sides.

In practical terms, that means you can spend the day at the Flume, Lost River or Loon, and be back in Lincoln or North Woodstock for dinner without a long drive.

North Woodstock: Main Street Dining

North Woodstock's Main Street is compact and walkable, and two of the area's pubs are here.

Woodstock Inn Brewery at 135 Main Street is a brewery, a set of restaurants and pubs, and an inn all at once. The brewery offers tours, and its signature beers and rotating tap list are poured on site. The kitchen serves breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, which makes it useful at both ends of the day. The property also offers lodging across several houses, hosts weddings, and runs weekly entertainment such as trivia, karaoke and live music.

For visitors, the appeal is having everything in one place. You can tour the brewery in the afternoon, eat dinner, and walk to your room afterward.

Pemi Public House is also on Main Street in North Woodstock. It describes itself as a place to come by for a bite and a drink after an adventure in the White Mountains, and it is minutes from hiking, skiing and swimming. Alongside the pub there is the Pemi Arcade, which makes it a good choice for families or groups with kids. The Pemi Public House does not take reservations or call-aheads, so plan to walk in. It also books private parties.

Lincoln: Italian at Loon Mountain

La Vista Italian Cuisine is at the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, at 22 South Mountain Drive in Lincoln. It serves dinner, takes reservations, and offers party platters to go.

An Italian dinner at the base of Loon is a natural end to a ski day in winter or a day of hiking the rest of the year. If you are staying at the resort or nearby, it is one of the easiest dinners to reach. Because it is a dinner-only restaurant with a set weekly schedule, check its website for the days it is open.

Lincoln: Authentic Thai

Thai 9 in Lincoln specializes in authentic Thai food. Its menu includes dishes such as Pad See Ew, papaya salad, Tom Yum Goong, Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (green curry chicken) and Khao Pad (fried rice). The restaurant says its chefs can cater to everyone, including children, adults and people on special diets, and it describes its dining room as clean and relaxed. Online ordering is available.

After several days of pub food and burgers, a Thai dinner is a welcome change, and a restaurant that is used to adjusting for special diets is helpful if anyone in your group has dietary needs.

Lincoln: The Common Man

The Common Man, Lincoln is the Lincoln location of the Common Man family of restaurants, a New Hampshire hospitality group with restaurants, diners and inns around the state. The group describes its food as creative cuisine ranging from comfort foods to Italian-American and American fare with New England flair, and its motto is about doing common things uncommonly well.

The Common Man is a dependable choice for a family dinner or a group with different tastes. If you enjoy it, the group's other locations around the state make for familiar stops on the way home.

Before or After Dinner: A Train Ride

If you have time to fill before a meal, the Granite State Railway runs scenic train rides from its historic Lincoln Depot, in downtown Lincoln, which it calls the gateway to the White Mountains. It also offers four-person electric rail bikes in Lincoln. A train ride or rail bike outing is a relaxed way to see the valley, and it ends right in town, close to the restaurants above. The railway's website has its schedule and booking.

Planning Your Meals

A few tips for eating well in Lincoln and North Woodstock:

• Match the meal to the day. Woodstock Inn Brewery serves breakfast, so it works before a hike. Pemi Public House and Thai 9 are relaxed choices after one. La Vista suits a sit-down dinner.
• Know who takes reservations. La Vista takes reservations. Pemi Public House does not take reservations or call-aheads. If you are traveling with a large group, call ahead where you can.
• Check the schedule. Several of these restaurants have set days off or seasonal schedules. Their websites are the best place to confirm hours on the day you visit.
• Stay walkable. If you are staying in North Woodstock, Woodstock Inn Brewery and Pemi Public House are both on Main Street, so you can leave the car parked.
• Plan around the outdoors. The Flume, Loon Mountain and Lost River are all close by, so build dinner around the time you expect to finish outside.

FAQ

What are the best restaurants in Lincoln NH?

Good options include La Vista Italian Cuisine at the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, Thai 9 for authentic Thai food, and the Lincoln location of The Common Man. Just down the road in North Woodstock are Woodstock Inn Brewery and Pemi Public House.

Is there a brewery in North Woodstock?

Yes. Woodstock Inn Brewery at 135 Main Street brews its own beer, offers brewery tours, and has restaurants, pubs and lodging on the same property.

Where can families eat in Lincoln or North Woodstock?

Pemi Public House in North Woodstock has the Pemi Arcade alongside its pub, and The Common Man in Lincoln serves a wide-ranging menu.

Do Lincoln restaurants take reservations?

It varies. La Vista Italian Cuisine takes reservations, while Pemi Public House does not take reservations or call-aheads.

Is there Thai food near Loon Mountain?

Yes. Thai 9 in Lincoln serves authentic Thai dishes and says it can accommodate special diets.

Sources

• Lincoln, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population 1,631; part of Franconia Notch; Loon Mountain): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_New_Hampshire
• Franconia Notch State Park, Wikipedia (southern part, including the Flume, is in Lincoln): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia_Notch_State_Park
• New Hampshire Route 112, Wikipedia (Kancamagus Highway section of Route 112): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Route_112
• Woodstock, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population 1,434; North Woodstock is the commercial center; forest; Lost River Reservation west of North Woodstock): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock,_New_Hampshire
• North Woodstock, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population 739): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Woodstock,_New_Hampshire
• Lost River Reservation, Wikipedia (boulder caves along a gorge; Kinsman Notch; on Route 112 west of North Woodstock): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_River_Gorge
• Woodstock Inn Brewery (135 Main Street, North Woodstock; brewery tours; breakfast, lunch and dinner; lodging; weddings; weekly entertainment): https://www.woodstockinnbrewery.com
• Pemi Public House (Main Street, North Woodstock; Pemi Arcade; no reservations or call-aheads; private parties): https://www.pemipublichouse.com
• La Vista Italian Cuisine (RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, 22 South Mountain Drive; dinner; reservations; party platters): https://lavistaitalian.com
• Thai 9 (Lincoln; authentic Thai dishes; special diets; online ordering): https://www.thai9nh.com
• Granite State Railway (scenic train rides from the Lincoln Depot in downtown Lincoln; Lincoln rail bikes): https://gsscenic.com/
• The Common Man (Lincoln location; restaurant family; menu description; motto): https://www.thecman.com/