Where to Eat in the Northern White Mountains: Littleton and Bethlehem

Most dining guides to the White Mountains start in North Conway or Lincoln, where the outlet stores and ski resorts pull in the biggest crowds. This one heads north instead. Littleton and Bethlehem sit on the far side of Franconia Notch, at the northern edge of the mountains, and they have a quieter, more local food scene that suits a foliage drive, a hiking weekend, or a slow day off the highway. If you are searching for restaurants in the White Mountains NH beyond the usual tourist strips, this is the corner of the region to explore.

We have separate guides to breakfast spots, fine dining and Lincoln-area restaurants. This roundup focuses on everyday eating in the north country: a community grocery with a deli, a burger stand, a Chinese kitchen, two coffee houses and a vegetarian cafe.

Getting oriented: the north side of the notch

Littleton is a town in Grafton County with 6,005 residents at the 2020 census. It sits at the northern edge of the White Mountains, bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River, and its main village is centered where U.S. Route 302 meets New Hampshire Route 116 along the Ammonoosuc River. Interstate 93 runs past the town, so Littleton is easy to reach from Franconia Notch in a short drive.

The town has a longer story than most visitors realize. The area was settled in 1769 and incorporated in 1784, the same year New Hampshire became a state, and it was named for Colonel Moses Little. The Littleton Grist Mill on the Ammonoosuc first opened in 1798 and has been restored to its original appearance. Between 1867 and 1909, the Kilburn Brothers factory in town published photographs and stereoviews, the double-picture cards popular in the Victorian era.

Bethlehem is a short drive east on Route 302. It is a hillside town of 2,484 people at the 2020 census, and its main village sits at the junction of Route 302 and Route 142. Bethlehem was incorporated on December 27, 1799, the name having been chosen on Christmas Day. After the railroad arrived in 1867, it grew into a Gilded Age resort: more than 30 hotels eventually lined its streets, and the village claims, on a sign, to be "the highest town in New Hampshire." The grand hotels are mostly gone, but the long Main Street and its mix of old buildings and small businesses remain.

Franconia, between the two towns and the notch, is home to the northern half of Franconia Notch State Park. Its population was 1,083 at the 2020 census.

Littleton: Main Street and beyond

Littleton's Main Street is the commercial heart of the north country, and it is compact enough to walk. Park once, stroll the street, and step down to the river by the grist mill. The places below are a mix of downtown and edge-of-town spots.

Littleton Food Co-op

The Littleton Food Co-op is a community-owned market, which makes it more than a grocery stop. It has a deli counter and a meat counter, publishes a daily menu, and offers online ordering with curbside pickup and party platters. For travelers, the co-op is a practical answer to two problems: lunch on the road and supplies for a cabin or a picnic. It is open daily, and anyone can shop there; membership is optional and comes with member-owner discount days.

If you are heading into the mountains for a long hike, a co-op deli lunch packed the night before is the easiest way to avoid scrambling for food at a trailhead.

The Little Grille

The Little Grille has two locations, one in Littleton and one across the river in Bradford, Vermont, and both take orders online. It is the kind of casual, quick stop that fits between an afternoon on the trail and the drive home. Call or check its ordering page for the current menu and hours before you go.

Mr. Lin's

Mr. Lin's serves classic Chinese cooking on Union Street in Littleton. The menu covers the American-Chinese standards, including sesame chicken, General Tso's, lo mein and crab rangoon, and the restaurant offers pickup as well as dine-in. After a long day outside, it is a dependable option for a family dinner or takeout back at the motel. Note that it keeps a regular weekly closing day, so check the schedule before you plan around it.

Inkwell Coffee House

Inkwell Coffee describes itself as New Hampshire born since 2017, with locations in Littleton and Exeter. It serves fair-trade Peruvian coffee roasted in Plymouth, New Hampshire, by Monte Alto, along with breakfast sandwiches, lunch items and baked goods made by an in-house baker. Gluten-free and vegan options are available. It is a good first stop on a morning when you want to linger over a coffee before heading into the notch.

Bethlehem: small cafes on a long Main Street

Bethlehem's Main Street stretches along Route 302, and its eating places are spread out along it. Two of our directory picks are a short walk or drive apart.

The Maia Papaya

The Maia Papaya is a cafe on Main Street (Route 302) in Bethlehem serving breakfast, lunch, fresh baked goods, New Hampshire roasted coffee and espresso, whole fruit smoothies, teas and homemade chai. The menu is vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options, and the cafe says it is committed to fresh and local ingredients. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. It is a strong choice for travelers with dietary restrictions, and an easy place to fuel up before a hike.

The Place Above the Notch

The Place Above the Notch on Main Street in Bethlehem is a cafe, coffee roastery and coworking space in one. It roasts its coffee in house and describes community and sustainability as foundational to how it runs. The coworking space, with high-speed internet, makes it unusually useful for remote workers who want to spend a few days in the mountains without losing a reliable connection.

How to plan a day of eating in the north country

The towns are close together, which makes it easy to build a day around food and scenery. Here is one way to do it in early autumn.

1. Morning: coffee and a pastry in Bethlehem, then a walk along Main Street.

2. Late morning: drive into Franconia Notch State Park, which straddles eight miles of Interstate 93. The park includes Cannon Mountain, Echo and Profile lakes, and the historical site of the Old Man of the Mountain.

3. Lunch: head back north to Littleton for a co-op deli lunch or something quick.

4. Afternoon: walk Littleton's Main Street and the river by the grist mill.

5. Dinner: an easy meal in town, or takeout to bring back to your lodging.

When to visit

Late September and early October bring foliage traffic to the whole White Mountains region, and the northern towns are no exception. The upside of eating in Littleton and Bethlehem is that they tend to be less hectic than the busiest resort corridors, but weekends still fill up. A few tips:

• Go early or late. Popular lunch spots get busiest in the middle of the day on foliage weekends.
• Check hours directly. Small, independent places set their own schedules, and many change them by season. Confirm with each business before you go.
• Order ahead when you can. Several of the places in this guide offer online ordering or pickup, which can save time on a busy day.
• Pack a lunch for the trail. Food options inside the notch itself are limited, so stock up in town before a hike.

Beyond this list

These are only a few of the places to eat in the area. Littleton's downtown has more cafes, diners and restaurants along Main Street, and Franconia has its own inns and dining rooms. For a sit-down dinner in a historic inn, see our guide to fine dining in the White Mountains. For morning meals, see our White Mountains breakfast guide, and for Lincoln and North Woodstock, see our separate restaurant guide for that end of the notch.

Browse the full White Mountains dining directory for more options across the region.

FAQ

Is Littleton part of the White Mountains?

Yes. Littleton sits at the northern edge of the White Mountains in Grafton County, with the Connecticut River on its northwest side.

How far is Littleton from Franconia Notch?

It is a short drive north on Interstate 93. Franconia Notch State Park straddles eight miles of the interstate between the Kinsman and Franconia ranges.

Are there vegetarian restaurants in the White Mountains?

Yes. The Maia Papaya in Bethlehem serves a vegetarian menu with vegan and gluten-free options.

Where can I get picnic or hiking food in Littleton?

The Littleton Food Co-op is a community-owned market with deli and meat counters, open to everyone.

Why is Bethlehem called Bethlehem?

The town was incorporated as Bethlehem on December 27, 1799, and the name was chosen on Christmas Day.

Sources

• Littleton, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, location, history, grist mill, Kilburn Brothers): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littleton,_New_Hampshire
• Bethlehem, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, incorporation, resort history): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem,_New_Hampshire
• Franconia, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia,_New_Hampshire
• Franconia Notch State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia_Notch_State_Park
• Littleton Food Co-op official site: https://littletoncoop.com/
• The Little Grille official site: https://www.thelittlegrille.com/
• Mr. Lin's official site: https://www.mrlinskitchen.com/
• Inkwell Coffee official site: https://www.inkwellnh.com/
• The Maia Papaya official site: https://www.themaiapapaya.com/
• The Place Above the Notch official site: https://www.theplaceabovethenotch.com/