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Tap Rooms & Tasty Delights

With three independent breweries operating in the area and a bevy of unique restaurants dotting its streets, Sturbridge is the best place for your next girl’s getaway, guy’s weekend, or a simple night out with friends.

Go On A Culinary Journey

Begin your tour of the sizzling food & beverage scene at Sturbridge Marketplace – a charming, historic mill overlooking the majestic Quinebaug River. Home to an array of unique vendors, you’ll find everything from craft brew to antique goods here at the Marketplace. The Altruist Brewing Company is housed in the Marketplace and offers numerous live music performances along with many delicious brews and beverages. 

Brush It Off

If you’re looking for a fun activity to pair with your cocktail, stop by this popular paint-and-sip bar, which has something for everyone! Reserve a spot in one of their group painting classes, where you’ll receive step-by-step professional instruction. Or drop by during Open Paint hours, where you can paint any Brush It Off design of your choice. Work on canvas, ceramics, plaster, a seaglass frame, and more! Their on-site bar serves select dishes from the Stone and Sparrow, another Marketplace vendor, as well as beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options.

Altruist Brewing Company

If you’re not a painter, don’t fret – Sturbridge Marketplace is home to another beer-related hot spot: Altruist Brewing Company. This brewery prides itself on making beer that “brings people together and makes friendships out of strangers.” Using quality ingredients and hand-crafted recipes, Altruist brews its IPAs and ales patiently in small batches, ensuring that every drop is better than the last. Drawing inspiration from the 150-year-old mill, their tap room is a unique, industrial environment where friends can share a drink and enjoy live music on Saturdays. If your friends are of the four-legged variety, you can also bring them along and relax on the outdoor Beer Garden patio. Although Altruist allows customers to BYOF (Bring Your Own Food), they also serve their own signature regional dishes and frequently have food trucks on site.

 

Deep Roots Distillery USA

If you’re not a beer lover, check out Deep Roots Distillery! One of Sturbridge’s newer spots, Deep Roots offers mash-to-bottle spirits that use local honey, maple sugar and other locally grown items in their all-natural products. Stop by and visit the tasting room which offers a rotating menu of signature cocktails, yummy bites to eat and a family-friendly menu with non-alcoholic options as well.

** Insider Tip:  While you’re here, be sure to check out Sturbridge Flea Market, a three-story treasure trove of unique goods, collectibles and antiques. Enjoy lunch at Soup to Nuts Café, a cozy, local favorite that’s been serving fresh soups, sandwiches, and quiche for nearly 30 years.

Sturbridge Flea Market

Soup To Nuts Cafe

Take a Bite Out of Main Street

It’s just an 8-minute walk to the next brewery in town, which is known for its food as much as its cocktails. But if your stomach can’t wait, you’ll find an overwhelming number of food options as you walk down Main Street. The following have rave reviews:

Stonewall Tavern

This cozy, chef-owned pub is “cooking up your newest cravings.” Like many things in Sturbridge, the tavern has a quaint, inviting feel, with its exposed beams, stone walls, and plenty of polished wooden accents. With a commitment to quality and service, Stonewall uses only the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmer’s markets. The kitchen specializes in a variety of classic pub and Italian cuisine, including a selection of gourmet burgers.

Avellino

Walk by 502 Main St and you’ll see a unique building that offers you two dining options in one place. Half 19th-century barn, half Modern Greek revival, this property is the home of two acclaimed restaurants: The Duck and Avellino. At Avellino, you’ll find a one-of-a-kind Italian dining experience, spearheaded by Chef Rico Giovanello. This beloved eatery is known for its “open kitchen” format, which allows you to see into the kitchen and watch as Chef Rico deftly prepares your food. The result is an interactive experience that lets you engage with the staff and savor all the “aromas, sounds, and activity of the kitchen.”

 

The Duck

Looking for American fare in a more casual environment? Then loosen your tie and head to The Duck, where you can listen to live music at the fully stocked bar and sink your teeth into a mouthwatering stuffed cheeseburger under The Duck’s charming barn ceilings and antique-style Edison lights.

Enrico’s Brick Oven Pizza

If you need an excuse to saddle up to Enrico’s bar, it’s for the direct view you’ll have of their 900-degree, wood-burning brick pizza oven. Featured on the Phantom Gourmet and certified by The Association of True Neapolitan Pizza, Enrico’s pies are as authentic as it gets. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, you can also indulge in a variety of pasta, salads, sandwiches, and desserts, along with your seasonal draft of choice.

Sip at a Local Legend

Further down Main Street near Arnold Road, you’ll spot an old red barn, full of charm and history. Inside lies one of Sturbridge’s newest residents: Rapscallion Pub. This antique-inspired tap room is the latest project from local legend Rapscallion Brewery. Come sample their expansive menu of wines, signature cocktails, and (of course) classic brews, all while enjoying the rustic tap room atmosphere, complete with wooden barn beams and antique, repurposed lighting.

Or lounge outside on the pet-friendly patio, where four-legged friends always have a seat at the table. And if you get hungry? Simply stroll over to the rotation of food trucks parked right outside the pub. So come on down, grab a seat at the bar and see for yourself why Rapscallion has been a regional fan favorite since 2007.

See a National Treasure

For truly dedicated IPA fans, no trip to the Sturbridge area is complete without visiting the nationally renowned Tree House Brewery.  If you still have wind left in your sails, direct your Uber (or commendable designated driver) 15 minutes east of town. There you’ll find the head quarters for Tree House Brewing Company. Founded in 2011, Tree House has taken the country by storm and garnered a passionate cult following – their brewery welcomes almost 500,000 beer-aficionados every year from around the country. Stop by during their weekday hours to pick up a few cans of their double IPA, Haze, or their nationwide-best seller, Green. Or schedule a trip for Saturday, when the tap room is open to the public for draft pours, live entertainment, and food truck delicacies.

 

Do Dinner In Town

Before you call it a night, head back into town for a hearty meal and a nightcap (or two).

Sturbridge Porter House

You might have to dip into your wallet to dine at this historic stable-turned-steakhouse, but it’s well worth the investment. With steaks cooked perfectly to order and a host of tantalizing entrees and appetizers, you’ll find that a trip here is worth every cent. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can head to the second floor after your meal to unwind in the exclusive piano bar and lounge area.

Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill

A self-described “East meets West” Japanese-fusion experience, where you can enjoy high-quality sashimi, sushi, and sake, alongside premium cuts of steak and a cold pint of Guinness. A casual, friendly atmosphere where you can strike up a conversation with the professional sushi chefs, or sit back and mingle with friends.

Publick House

For a true Sturbridge experience, make a reservation at Publick House, the 18th-century inn that overlooks the Sturbridge Town Common. Step back in time at the inn’s Historic Tap Room, where guests have been dining and socializing for more than 200 years. This charming room still boasts the same “post-n’ beam ceiling” and original wooden floors – each wide, hand-hewn plank hammered into place centuries ago. But the real focal point of the room is the gigantic, six-foot fireplace, whose open hearth can warm even the chilliest of travelers. Enjoy generous portions of traditional comfort food, like the Yankee Pot Roast or roasted turkey dinner. And if you find yourself utterly charmed by the famous hospitality of Publick House, you can always book an overnight stay at one of their equally quaint and inviting accommodations.