Wolfeboro's Food Scene
For a town of roughly 6,300 people, Wolfeboro punches well above its weight when it comes to dining. With more than 25 restaurants lining the downtown streets and waterfront, you could eat somewhere different every night of a week-long vacation and still have places left to try. Here's a category-by-category guide to help you plan your meals.
Waterfront Dining
Eating with a lake view is one of the quintessential Wolfeboro experiences, and the town delivers with a remarkable number of waterfront options. These are the restaurants where you'll want to request a patio table—especially at sunset.
Garwoods Restaurant is the waterfront spot most visitors hear about first. Its sprawling deck sits right on Wolfeboro Bay with panoramic lake views, and the menu covers all the bases—burgers, steaks, fresh seafood, and a solid cocktail list. It's the kind of place where a casual lunch can easily stretch into a lazy afternoon.
Wolfetrap Grill & Rawbar is a favorite among seafood lovers. The dockside patio puts you right at the water's edge, and the raw bar turns out fresh oysters, clams, and shrimp alongside a full menu of grilled fish, steaks, and creative cocktails.
Wolfeboro Dockside Grille is a family-friendly waterfront spot near the Town Docks with a relaxed atmosphere and a dairy bar serving ice cream—making it a smart pick when you're dining with kids.
Marker 21 offers American favorites with lakefront views from its outdoor deck. The Wicked Loon has a waterfront deck with boat docking and live music on summer evenings. Back Bay Boathouse pairs its lake views with live comedy shows. And Downtown Grill rounds out the waterfront scene with American cuisine, a great downtown location, and live music.
Fine Dining & Date Night
When you want something more refined, Wolfeboro has options that would hold their own in any city.
O Bistro is the town's standout fine dining destination. Located inside the historic Inn on Main, it serves contemporary American cuisine with seasonal menus that highlight local ingredients. The atmosphere is elegant without being stuffy—perfect for a special dinner.
Wolfe's Tavern at the Wolfeboro Inn has been serving guests since 1812, making it one of the oldest taverns in New Hampshire. The menu is upscale pub fare—think hearty entrées, craft cocktails, and a curated beer list—served in a setting dripping with colonial-era character. It's open year-round, one of the few restaurants that serves through the winter.
Saka Japanese Restaurant is an unexpected gem for a small New England town. The sushi bar and tatami room offer an authentic Japanese dining experience with fresh sushi, sashimi, and traditional dishes.
East of Suez occupies a converted lake house and serves pan-Asian cuisine spanning Thai, Chinese, and Japanese flavors. It's BYOB, which keeps the bill reasonable, and the setting feels like dining at a friend's house on the lake.
Casual & Family Favorites
These are the restaurants where locals eat regularly—reliably good food, welcoming atmospheres, and no need for a reservation on most nights.
Nolan's Brick Oven Bistro turns out excellent wood-fired pizza and Italian dishes. The brick oven is the star of the show, producing pizzas with perfectly charred, blistered crusts. It's a great choice for families.
Burnt Timber Brewing is Wolfeboro's craft brewery, serving house-brewed beers alongside wood-fired pizzas and smoked meats. The atmosphere is laid-back and fun—exactly what you'd want from a brewpub.
Morrissey's Front Porch brings a taste of Ireland to the Lakes Region with shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and a proper Guinness pour. El Centenario is the go-to for Mexican fare, known for its tableside guacamole and margaritas. La Boca serves Latin American cuisine with dishes like empanadas, ceviche, and arroz con pollo, plus live music.
Louis Pizza has been a Wolfeboro staple since 1989, serving Greek-style pizza and Italian dinners. LocalTopia is the healthy option—build-your-own bowls with local ingredients, plus vegan and gluten-free choices. And The Sand Trap at Kingswood Golf Club is open to the public with American cuisine and golf course views.
Sea Bird Asian Cuisine rounds out the casual options with Chinese and Asian dishes, lunch specials, and convenient takeout for those nights when you'd rather eat back at the rental.
Cafes & Breakfast
Wolfeboro's morning scene is worth waking up for. Whether you want a full breakfast or just a great cup of coffee, there's a spot for you.
Katie's Kitchen is the classic breakfast spot—homemade pancakes, fluffy omelets, hearty sandwiches, and the kind of friendly, no-frills atmosphere that makes you feel like a regular from your first visit.
Lydia's Cafe is a family-owned gem known for scratch-made soups, fresh-baked bread, and quiche. Everything is made in-house, and it shows. North Main Cafe is a neighborhood favorite with outdoor seating, good coffee, and a comfortable, unpretentious vibe.
Harmony Coffee House brings a Scandinavian-inspired approach to coffee and pastries—a lovely spot to linger with a latte. Bayberry Juice Bar caters to the health-conscious with cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and açaí bowls.
Baked by the Lake is an artisan bakery specializing in sourdough bread and baked goods. Pick up a loaf for your vacation rental, or grab a pastry for the road.
Ice Cream & Sweet Treats
No summer visit is complete without ice cream, and Wolfeboro has two beloved institutions that have been scooping for generations.
Bailey's Bubble has been a Wolfeboro tradition since 1954. The ice cream is excellent, but the real star is the homemade hot fudge—rich, dark, and poured warm over your cone or sundae. Lines stretch down the sidewalk on summer evenings, and that's how you know it's worth the wait.
Yum Yum Shop goes even further back, serving the town since 1948. It's part bakery, part ice cream shop, with fresh donuts, pies, and baked goods alongside scoops. The vintage feel makes it a nostalgic stop that perfectly fits Wolfeboro's classic summer-town character.
Planning Your Meals
With so many choices, here's a simple framework for a great day of eating in Wolfeboro: start with breakfast at one of the cafes, grab lunch at a casual spot or on a waterfront deck, pick up an afternoon ice cream, and finish with dinner at one of the finer restaurants or waterfront patios as the sun goes down.
The beauty of Wolfeboro's dining scene is that everything is walkable. Most restaurants are clustered along Main Street and the waterfront, so you can easily stroll from one end of town to the other and browse menus before deciding. That's the kind of small-town convenience that makes eating here such a pleasure.
