Best Bars and Taprooms in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont — updated August 21, 2026
Burlington's drinking scene runs along two axes: the Pine Street brewery corridor south of downtown and the waterfront blocks near Lake Street. Here's where the ratings hold up, ordered by how much evidence sits behind them.
Listings verified
Burlington's bar map has two clear spines: Pine Street, where the breweries and cider houses sit within walking distance of each other, and the downtown grid between Church Street and the lake. Most taprooms here close early by big-city standards, several at 8pm or 9pm, so the late crowd concentrates in a handful of downtown rooms. The list below is ordered by how well each place answers the question of where to drink, with review counts given as a measure of how settled each rating is.
1. Foam Brewers - Burlington
Foam sits at 112 Lake Street, closer to the water than any other bar on this list, and holds a 4.7 across 1,228 reviews, which is a large enough sample to call the rating settled rather than promising. Doors open at noon most days, with a 10am Saturday start that makes it the earliest weekend option among the breweries here, and end-of-week nights run to midnight. Beyond beer, the kitchen keeps a rotating cheese and charcuterie selection, which suits a group that wants to sit for two hours without committing to dinner.
2. Hen of the Wood - Burlington
The bar at Hen of the Wood opens at 4pm, a full hour before the dining room, and stays open until 11pm every day of the week, which makes it one of the more dependable places downtown to walk in without a reservation. The rating is 4.7 from 1,352 reviews, the second-largest sample in this guide. Menus change daily, so the specific plate a friend recommended may not be there; the posted sample menu on the restaurant's site is the closest thing to a preview. It is at 55 Cherry Street, a short walk from the waterfront.
3. The Daily Planet
The Daily Planet on Center Street keeps the latest hours here: Friday and Saturday run to midnight, while Monday through Thursday close at 9pm. Sunday opens at midday. The rating is 4.7 from 1,314 reviews, a well-tested figure. The kitchen does locally sourced American cooking and is described as friendly to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free eaters, which is worth knowing when a mixed group cannot agree. Wednesdays from 5 to 9pm bring $5 margaritas and $10 taco trio plates, the clearest reason to pick a midweek night.
4. Citizen Cider
Citizen Cider has the largest review count in this guide, 1,610, behind a 4.5 rating. That combination is proof rather than promise: a rating that survives that many opinions is a reliable one. The cider is pressed in Burlington from Vermont and New York apples, and the Press House Pub at 180 Flynn Avenue serves food and drink alongside retail. Hours skew early, with a noon open and closes in the 7pm to 8pm range depending on the day, so treat this as an afternoon or early-evening stop rather than a nightcap.
5. Burlington Beer Company
The taproom shares the 180 Flynn Avenue address with Citizen Cider, so the two make an easy pair on foot. The rating is 4.6 from 910 reviews, a solid sample. It is open seven days a week, with a noon open daily, a 9pm close Monday through Saturday and an 8pm close on Sunday. There is a full food menu alongside the beer list, which separates it from taprooms that expect you to arrive fed. Given the early Sunday close, plan an afternoon visit rather than assuming a late seat.
6. Zero Gravity Brewery
Zero Gravity's Pine Street beer hall at 716 Pine runs the longest day of anywhere here, opening at 8am for coffee, beer and waffles, which are served until 2pm. The full food menu starts at 11:30am and runs to 9pm Sunday through Thursday, 10pm Friday and Saturday. The rating is 4.6 from 755 reviews, enough to be dependable. The morning-to-night span makes it the one address on this list that works for both a laptop hour and a Friday evening, and it is a few doors from Queen City Brewery.
7. Pizzeria Verità
Verità is a dinner-only room at 156 St Paul Street with a bar, open seven days for dine-in and takeout: 5 to 9pm Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 10pm Friday and Saturday. The 4.7 rating rests on 971 reviews, a well-supported number. Wednesdays take $5 off Margherita pizzas, which is the cheapest night to test the kitchen. Because the doors do not open until 5pm and closing is early by downtown standards, this is a first-stop rather than a last-stop, best paired with a walk to a later bar afterward.
8. Queen City Brewery
Queen City is the small-sample entry here: 4.7 is a strong rating, but it comes from 266 reviews, far fewer than anything above, so treat it as promising rather than proven. The tasting room at 703 Pine Street pours classic styles from more than 16 taps, and reviewers single out traditional beers that are harder to find at the hazier taprooms nearby. Hours are 1 to 8pm Sunday through Thursday and noon to 9pm Friday and Saturday. It sits within a block of Zero Gravity, which makes a two-stop Pine Street afternoon straightforward.