Where to Eat in the Monadnock Region: A Dining Roundup

The Monadnock Region is named for Mount Monadnock, a 3,165-foot isolated peak that dominates the landscape of southwestern New Hampshire. Most people come for the mountain, the lakes or the fall color. They stay, or come back, partly because of the food. The region's towns are small, but they support a surprising range of places to eat, from a 1950s diner car to riverside dining rooms and bakeries that sell out of bread by early afternoon. This roundup covers restaurants in the Monadnock Region NH, focused on Peterborough and Keene, the two towns where most visitors end up eating.

Mid-September is a great time to plan a food-focused trip. The leaves are just beginning to turn on the higher hills, patio season is not quite over, and the region's farms are at the peak of their harvest.

The Monadnock Region at a glance

There are no fixed borders, but the region is generally thought of as all of Cheshire County plus the western part of Hillsborough County. Keene is the largest municipality and the only city in the region, with 23,047 residents at the 2020 census. It is the Cheshire County seat and home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England.

Peterborough, to the east of Keene, is a much smaller town, with 6,418 residents in 2020. Its main village lies along the Contoocook River at the junction of U.S. Route 202 and New Hampshire Route 101. Peterborough is famous for the MacDowell Colony and as the setting of Thornton Wilder's play Our Town. Between them, Keene and Peterborough hold most of the region's restaurants.

Peterborough

The Peterborough Diner

The Peterborough Diner is a historic 1950s Worcester Lunch Car diner. According to the diner, it was the first Worcester Lunch Car made in green and cream, and it still embraces that historic character. It serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

Diner cars like this are a piece of New England history, and eating in one is part of the point. Come early for breakfast, sit at the counter if you can, and take a minute to look at the car itself before you leave.

The Waterhouse Restaurant and Bar

The Waterhouse is in Depot Square in the heart of Peterborough, along the Nubanusit River. It has a dining room and a riverside patio with a garden setting, plus a private dining room for events. The restaurant keeps its own garden, which supplies many of the vegetables it serves during the growing season, and its burgers are made from beef raised locally at farms in Hancock and Mason.

That garden-to-table detail is exactly why September is the time to go. Late summer and early fall are when a kitchen garden in New Hampshire is at its most productive, and a meal on the river patio before the weather turns is one of the best ways to spend an evening in town.

Bakers Station

Bakers Station is a bakery on Depot Street in Peterborough, connected to the Waterhouse. It offers coffee, fresh bread baked daily, an assortment of pastries, and both ready-to-pick-up and custom cakes. It is a natural stop for a morning coffee and pastry before a hike, or for picking up a loaf for a picnic.

Keene

The Stage Restaurant

The Stage is a family owned and operated restaurant in the center of downtown Keene. It serves contemporary American cuisine in what it describes as a relaxing, artistic atmosphere, with a menu that ranges from comfort food staples to more elaborate dishes. It offers brunch, lunch and dinner menus along with cocktails and desserts, which makes it a flexible choice whether you are coming for a late breakfast or a night out.

B. Bakes Deli and Cakes

B. Bakes Deli and Cakes on Washington Street opened in 2023. It bakes seasonal pies, cookies, cupcakes, cakes and breads, and it runs a full-service deli with house-made soups, sandwiches and salads. It is locally owned and offers dine-in and takeout. For a quick, satisfying lunch in Keene, or a treat to bring back to the car, it is a good pick.

Athens Pizza

Athens Pizza is a pizza shop in Keene. Every college town needs a dependable pizza place, and with Keene State nearby, this is the kind of casual stop that works for families, students and anyone who wants an easy dinner. It shares its updates on social media, so check there before you go.

Planning a food day in the Monadnock Region

• Start in Peterborough. Breakfast at a diner or coffee and pastry at a bakery, then a walk around the village.
• Hike in the middle. The region's namesake mountain and many smaller trails make a natural break between meals.
• Finish in Keene. Head west for dinner downtown.
• Or reverse it. If you are staying in Keene, start there and end with dinner by the river in Peterborough.

Tips for eating well in the region

• Book ahead for dinner on fall weekends. Foliage season brings visitors, and small dining rooms fill up.
• Go early for baked goods. Small bakeries often sell out of favorites as the day goes on.
• Check hours before you drive. Many restaurants here are small and family run, and they may close on certain weekdays or change hours by season. We do not list hours or prices because they change.
• Eat with the season. In late summer and fall, look for dishes built on local produce.
• Pack a picnic. A loaf of fresh bread and a sandwich from a deli make an easy lunch at a trailhead or on a lakeshore.

Making a weekend of it

The Monadnock Region rewards a slow pace. Beyond the mountain, the region has four state parks, four recreational rail trails, lakes with public swimming beaches and three ski areas. Pisgah State Park alone covers 13,300 acres of forest and ponds. A weekend that alternates between the outdoors and good meals is easy to put together here, and the distances between towns are short enough that you can eat in one and sleep in another.

FAQ

What are the best restaurants in the Monadnock Region NH?

For a classic experience, try the historic Peterborough Diner. For dinner, the Waterhouse in Peterborough and the Stage in downtown Keene are reliable picks. For baked goods and lunch, Bakers Station in Peterborough and B. Bakes Deli and Cakes in Keene are worth a stop.

Is the Peterborough Diner a real diner car?

Yes. It is a 1950s Worcester Lunch Car, and the diner says it was the first one made in green and cream.

Where can you eat by the river in Peterborough?

The Waterhouse, in Depot Square along the Nubanusit River, has a riverside patio.

Which town has more restaurants, Keene or Peterborough?

Keene is the region's only city and has a larger downtown, so it has more choice. Peterborough is smaller but has a strong cluster of places in its village center.

When is the best time to visit the Monadnock Region for food?

Late summer and early fall, when local farms are at peak harvest and patios are still open.

Sources

• Monadnock Region, Wikipedia (Mount Monadnock elevation, extent, state parks, rail trails, Keene, Peterborough): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monadnock_Region
• Keene, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, county seat, colleges): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keene,_New_Hampshire
• Peterborough, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, Contoocook River, routes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough,_New_Hampshire
• The Peterborough Diner: https://www.peterboroughdiner.com/
• The Waterhouse Restaurant and Bar: https://waterhousenh.com/
• Bakers Station: https://www.bakersstation.com/
• The Stage Restaurant: https://www.thestagerestaurant.com/
• B. Bakes Deli and Cakes: https://www.bbakes603.com/
• Athens Pizza (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/athenspizzakeene