Restaurant Scene in the Winter

On the plateau, locals and regular visitors know that quite a few of our favorite restaurants adjust their hours or close entirely during winter. Here’s what we know, but we recommend checking websites and making a call before driving too far. Some crews will close early if traffic is slow.

In Cashiers, Cornucopia, with its pavilion-style seating, closed for the season at the end of October. Our barbecue joints, On the Side and Cashiers Smokehouse, are gone until spring, and so is Canyon Kitchen. Over in Lake Toxaway, the crew at Ristorante Del Monte won’t return until April, but it's always worth the wait.

In Glenville, Happ’s Barn & Grill closes in January and February but returns on March 20th. We can’t wait to reconvene on the cozy winterized porch with a massive fireplace.

In Highlands, Ristorante Paoletti’s, Lakeside and On the Verandah are shuttered and taking a well-deserved annual vacation. Sadly, our friends at Wolfgang’s retired at the end of 2024, and it is hard to imagine Main Street without them. But plenty of good news remains on the restaurant scene this winter.

Plateau hotels with restaurants stay open year-round. So, in Highlands, enjoy Old Edward’s Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden and Four65 Bistro + Bar, all clustered around the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue. This is all “can’t go wrong” dining and libations with great atmosphere.

At the other end of town, for rustic charm, The Ruffed Grouse inside The Highlander Mountain House is a sure bet. They serve lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday and a great brunch on Sunday starting at 10. To everyone’s delight, their charming little lobby bar stays open every day beginning at 4:30.

Last year, the newly renovated and rebranded Trailborn Highlands hotel opened on Log Cabin Road. The property includes the rustic Jim Webb-designed cabin, formerly The Log Cabin restaurant. It returns this winter as The Highlands Supper Club, featuring classic Southern Cuisine with everything from barbeque to fried chicken. Its cozy fireplaces and thick-chinked log walls make it the perfect place for an authentic winter meal in the mountains.

If you are coming into Highlands via 64 from Cashiers, there are two excellent offerings before you even get to Main Street. The Stubborn Bull and the Blue Bike Café on the left are popular destinations. Blue Bike is a beehive of activity during breakfast and lunch, with a menu of hearty meals and usually a little bit of a wait. Stubborn Bull is one of the town’s most beautiful facilities, with a rotating daily menu and a great selection of Spanish Wines. Winter hours are abbreviated: Thursday through Saturday from 5 to Close.

Further down on 4th Ave across Main Street, The Highland Tavern keeps the porch light on Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 11 with its unique menu and crazy good custom cocktails. The Ugly Dog Pub closes at 11 instead of 2 in the morning on weekends and 11 instead of midnight Tuesday through Thursday. Sundays stay the same from 11:30 to 11, but remember that the kitchen closes at 9.

Over by the Bryson’s Food Store, 4118 Kitchen + Bar is the go-to for later-night fun Tuesday through Saturday. A few doors down, Rainforest Bar N Grill is a great option for Mexican food, open every day except Sunday. Other Mexican options for winter are Los Vaqueros and Highlands Burritos.

Meanwhile, back east, The Greystone Inn’s restaurant in Lake Toxaway serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Nearby, Pathertown Café keeps regular hours: 7:30 to 10:30 and 11:30 to 2:30 for casual breakfast and lunch. Casa Amigos’ upscale Mexican fare is available daily except Wednesday.

In Cashiers, the Whiteside Brewery will winter with us, keeping guests at the Wells Hotel happy with regular hours. Across Hwy 107 and a little north, Slabtown Pizza will stay open seven days. Chili Loco will still close on Sunday but otherwise open in the same shopping plaza. And, for your sweet tooth, stop in at Crossroads Custard & Cold Brew a few doors down. El Manzanillos Mexican Restaurant in the Ingle’s shopping center stays open for lunch and dinner seven days a week all year

Our friends at The Orchard are only open Friday and Saturday in February but will extend that to Wednesday through Saturday later in March. A reservation is highly recommended.

Our most exciting news for 2025 is that The Library Kitchen and Bar will stay open this winter. It only seats from 5 to 8, so make a reservation for this iconic destination.

Across Hwy 64, The Fix Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, a local favorite, is open seven days a week and offers brunch on Sunday. Formerly the Cork & Barrel, new ownership successfully navigated a pandemic opening and is now a reliable year-round offering in Sapphire.

Family-friendly Micas also found new ownership last year and returned to seven days a week, skipping lunch on Wednesday. It is the reliably lively and spacious indoor/outdoor haunt popular with locals and visitors. The massive outdoor porch with fireplace stays especially warm now with vinyl curtains and permanent radiant heat.

In Glenville, The Local restaurant at the Marathon gas station remains open, serving fresh Cuban cuisine daily except Sunday. It’s a quick 10 minutes north of the Cashiers Crossroads. Locals know all about it, and visitors will be happy to discover it.