Vermont: Tapping into the Best Dairy-Free Friendly Restaurants & Shops

Last Update in September 2023! We’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores in Vermont that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!) that’s divided into restaurants & shops by city (first) and major chains found throughout the state (second). And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced in this state.

We Update Continuously! You can ignore the original date on this post going forward. We update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new recommendation, change, or closure.

Photo from Revolution Kitchen

Dairy-Free Vermont: Recommended Restaurants & Shops

We’ve listed these recommendations alphabetically by city and then by the restaurant or shop name. For large chains with locations throughout the state, see the Major Restaurant & Grocery Chains section below. We have dedicated posts with dairy-free details for many of the big guys.

⭐️ = Restaurant is either dairy-free, has a dairy-free menu, has dairy-free labels on their menu(s), or lists top allergens with menu items. (At the time of our last review.)

Brattleboro

• Blueberry Haus – This local ice creamery typically offers a daily sorbet and a creamy seasonal vegan flavor.
• Brattleboro Food Co-op – This community-owned grocery store, market and deli offers ample dairy-free products and a good bulk department. Their deli has a salad bar and hot buffet with daily vegan options.
• Superfresh Organic Cafe ⭐️ – Their kitchen is dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and mostly vegan (they use local raw honey & bee pollen only in the “medicine balls”). Everything on their menu has a wholesome, healthy slant, but it includes smoothies, an array of comfort food meals, and desserts. They also bake cakes on order.
• The Works Café – Their counter-serve menu offers some dairy-free breakfast items, bowls, salads, sandwiches, and smoothies, either as is, or with a simple special order. They also have an array of bagels that you can order with dairy-free Tofutti cream cheese.
• Vegan A.F. ⭐️ – This establishment serves an eclectic dinner menu. It’s petite, but sources global inspiration for starters, salads, and mains.

Burlington

• August First – They have vegan labels on their menu for a handful of breakfast and lunch items. A few more items are “just” dairy-free, and most items can be adapted. On the bakery side, they offer breads and usually have some vegan treats to go with your oat milk latte.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill – See our Chipotle Dairy-Free Menu Guide for more details.
• Eco Bean + Greens – Their healthy menu includes boisterous salads, bowls, and soups, with dairy-free and vegan options – some on the menu and some with custom order. They also blend dairy-free smoothies, have dairy-free lattes, and offer some vegan treats.
• Honey Road – Enjoy Eastern Mediterranean mezze at this local restaurant. They carefully label for dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan guests, and try to offer something(s) dairy-free in each menu category.
• Lake Champlain Factory & Cafe – Pop into their Pine Street store for a factory a tour and to buy some of their vegan dark chocolate treats and dairy-free hot chocolate mixes. They also have a cafe and store on Church street, which sells their chocolate, hot chocolate (by the mug!), and coffee drinks with almond milk or oat milk.
• Pingala Cafe & Eatery ⭐️ – Their eclectic American-style menu is “food truck inspired” and completely vegan. It includes breakfast, burgers, dawgs, wraps, shareables, and dairy-free oat milk shakes.
• Pokeworks – All of their signature poke bowls, and pretty much all of their menu is dairy-free, including the Dole Whip for dessert! They offer raw, cooked, and vegan proteins.
• Revolution Kitchen  – Their local and organic cuisine is healthy and colorful. Their menu is vegetarian, but filled with vegan options. Their desserts are vegan and gluten-free, and include cakes and pies.
• The Skinny Pancake – This local breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain offers gluten-free and vegan buckwheat crepe batter as an option for all of their crepes. They offer a vegan crepe on the menu, and have a couple of crepes that are still great when cheese-free. For sweet crepes, they have fresh fruit, peanut butter, jams, local compote, and local honey. They also serve some dairy-free salads and sides and have oat milk for lattes.
• The Vermont Juice Company ⭐️ – They specialize in juices, cleanses, smoothies, and smoothie bowls made with coconut milk or their house made cashew milk. At last check, their entire menu was dairy free. They’ve also been known to serve raw eats and sweets.
• Tomgirl ⭐️ – This wellness cafe makes nut mylks, smoothies, bowls, salads, toasts with cashew cheese, vegan and gluten-free baked goods, and more.
• Uno Pizzeria & Grill – See our Dairy-Free Guide to Uno’s for details.
• Willow’s – Thank you to Kristina for this recommendation. They have a good selection of house made bagels and offer a few vegan cream cheese alternatives, dairy-free butter, vegan mayo, and other spread and topping options for bagel sandwiches. They also serve vegan pastries daily and have oat and soy milk alternatives for coffee drinks. Gluten-free food options are also available.
• Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup – Their omnivorous menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups includes options for dairy-free and vegan guests. They usually have some vegan breads and pastries, too.

Essex Junction

• Sweet Alchemy Cafe ⭐️ – They offer breakfast and lunch, pastries, espresso drinks, and smoothies at this local vegan spot. They also sell house-made prepared foods, like cookie doughs and sauces. Many items are gluten-free, too.
• The Scale ⭐️ – This local poke bowl spot proudly proclaims, “Our whole menu is dairy free!” They offer signature and build-your-own poke bowls, and also have a sweet array of acai bowls. Vegan and gluten-free menus are also available.

Fairhaven

• Stewart’s Shops – They started as ice cream shops, but now sell bakery and grocery items. They have two (at last count) vegan and non-dairy ice cream pints that they make: Mint Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter cup.

Guilford

• Blueberry Haus – This local ice creamery typically offers a daily sorbet and a creamy seasonal vegan flavor.

Lyndonville

• Carmen’s Ice Cream – In addition to dairy-free sorbet, this shop offers vegan coconut milk ice cream in vanilla and chocolate flavors.

Manchester

• Stewart’s Shops – They started as ice cream shops, but now sell bakery and grocery items. They have two (at last count) vegan and non-dairy ice cream pints that they make: Mint Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter cup.
• The Works Café – Their counter-serve menu offers some dairy-free breakfast items, bowls, salads, sandwiches, and smoothies, either as is, or with a simple special order. They also have an array of bagels that you can order with dairy-free Tofutti cream cheese.

Montpelier

• Hunger Mountain Coop – They have a deli in-house with a menu of vegan sandwiches, and more options that can be ordered without dairy. The market offers a good selection of dairy-free products and deals.
• Rabble Rouser – This local chocolatier offers several dairy-free treats and also makes their own vegan granola.
• The Hippie Chickpea – This isn’t a vegan, or even a vegetarian, restaurant. But they do serve a few vegan items, dairy-free options, and also cater heavily to gluten-free customers.
• The Skinny Pancake – This local breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain offers gluten-free and vegan buckwheat crepe batter as an option for all of their crepes. They offer a vegan crepe on the menu, and have a couple of crepes that are still great when cheese-free. For sweet crepes, they have fresh fruit, peanut butter, jams, local compote, and local honey. They also serve some dairy-free salads and sides and have oat milk for lattes.
• The Social Food & Drink ⭐️ – This local restaurant is located in the historical Inn at Montpelier. They serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, 5 days a week, and go to great lengths for special diet guests. Their menu is clearly labeled for dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and even keto options. And they have many dairy-free choices at each meal.

Norwich

• King Arthur Campus – Avid bakers must not miss a trip to King Arthur’s bakery and store. They offer classic fresh-baked breads, and usually have a vegan lunch item or two on the menu. They also have a full store of their baking ingredients.

Poultney

• Stewart’s Shops – They started as ice cream shops, but now sell bakery and grocery items. They have two (at last count) vegan and non-dairy ice cream pints that they make: Mint Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter cup.

Quechee

• The Skinny Pancake – This local breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain offers gluten-free and vegan buckwheat crepe batter as an option for all of their crepes. They offer a vegan crepe on the menu, and have a couple of crepes that are still great when cheese-free. For sweet crepes, they have fresh fruit, peanut butter, jams, local compote, and local honey. They also serve some dairy-free salads and sides and have oat milk for lattes.

Rutland

• Chipotle Mexican Grill – See our Chipotle Dairy-Free Menu Guide for more details.
• Five Guys – See our Five Guys Dairy-Free Menu Guide for more details.
• Stewart’s Shops – They started as ice cream shops, but now sell bakery and grocery items. They have two (at last count) vegan and non-dairy ice cream pints that they make: Mint Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter cup.

South Burlington

• Five Guys – See our Five Guys Dairy-Free Menu Guide for more details.
• Healthy Living Market – They have a prepared foods section where you can order dairy-free salads, sandwiches, breakfast wraps, and smoothies, with vegan options. They also bake some dairy-free and vegan baked goods. And the market side carries many special diet brands.
• Klinger’s Bread Company – Aside from the obvious cheesy bread loaves, all of the house-baked breads that make them famous in the area are dairy-free. They also have daily salads and sandwiches available without dairy.

Stowe

• Plate – They focus on locally sourced ingredients on their fresh, seasonal dinner menu. They have a couple vegan options and some additional entrees that can be made dairy free.
• Stowe Meadows – This is a lodge with their own organic farm. Full breakfast is included with every reservation, and they are proud to be “experts at Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegetarian dining” on request (mention your needs when booking. They can also provide all meals and snacks for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan guests.
• Stowe Sandwich Company – They label vegan options on the menu, and have many hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and sides that can be made dairy-free.
• The Deep End – In addition to wood-fired pizzas optionally made with dairy-free mozzarella, they have a whole plant-based menu with small bites, salads, bowls, burgers, and wraps.
• The Skinny Pancake – This local breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain offers gluten-free and vegan buckwheat crepe batter as an option for all of their crepes. They offer a vegan crepe on the menu, and have a couple of crepes that are still great when cheese-free. For sweet crepes, they have fresh fruit, peanut butter, jams, local compote, and local honey. They also serve some dairy-free salads and sides and have oat milk for lattes.

Thetford

• Red Clover Cafe – This seasonal deli offers a few dairy-free sandwiches (and one vegan) right on their menu. They can modify a few others. They also offer fruit smoothies.

Waterbury

• Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop & Factory – This is it – ground zero for Ben & Jerry’s! When open, you can take a factory tour. They offer some dairy-free options in their shops. See our Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop Guide for all dairy-free details.
• Lake Champlain Store & Cafe – They ship worldwide, but this chocolatier also has store and cafe locations where you can buy some of their vegan dark chocolate treats and dairy-free hot chocolate mixes direct. If you want to enjoy coffee drinks or hot chocolate on-site, they offer almond milk and are adding oat milk.

West Rutland

• Stewart’s Shops – They started as ice cream shops, but now sell bakery and grocery items. They have two (at last count) vegan and non-dairy ice cream pints that they make: Mint Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter cup.

Williston

• Healthy Living Market – They have a prepared foods section where you can order dairy-free salads, sandwiches, breakfast wraps, and smoothies, with vegan options. They also bake some dairy-free and vegan baked goods. And the market side carries many special diet brands.
• The Scale ⭐️ – This local poke bowl spot proudly proclaims, “Our whole menu is dairy free!” They offer signature and build-your-own poke bowls, and also have a sweet array of acai bowls. Vegan and gluten-free menus are also available.

Photo from The Scale

Restaurant & Grocery Chains found throughout Vermont

Some recommended restaurant and store chains are getting too big for our city listing britches. They have many locations, or are rapidly growing, and you might stumble across them in a number of towns in Vermont. Click on them for more dairy-free details.

Vermont is small, so we’ve been able to add all of the restaurants in the section above thus far!

Photo from Superfresh Organic Cafe

Local Dairy-Free Food & Drink Producers in Vermont

These dairy-free friendly companies don’t have their own retail location, but are in Vermont. So you have a good chance of finding their products at grocery stores, restaurants, and/or other shops in this state. Keep an eye out!

• Back Roads – This dairy-free wholesale bakery makes an array of kosher parve, vegan, and organic granola varieties with certified gluten-free oats.
• Blue Moon Sorbet – Each dairy-free pint is churned in Quechee, Vermont. Their fruity selection can be found in stores locally and includes unique flavors like Raspberry Cassis and Grapefruit Campari.
• Ben & Jerry’s – As mentioned above, this popular ice cream producer is headquartered in Vermont. So you can expect to find a good selection of their dairy-free flavors in stores.
• Hidden Springs Maple – Truth be told, you’ll see a lot of local maple farms in Vermont. This is just one popular one that you’re likely to com across. In addition to organic maple syrup, they make maple candies and maple cream (yes, it’s dairy free!).
• King Arthur – This is a beloved flour and baking brand for dairy-free consumers, since their signature wheat flour are processed in a facility that only handles wheat, and they practice strict allergen protocols for other products.
• Nourish – They closed their bakery and deli, but still sell their cheese alternatives to local markets and restaurants.
• Schmilk – This is a dairy-free “milk” chocolate company based in Vermont. They have online ordering, but also sell locally.
• Silly Cow Farms – Their products might look dairy-loaded, but all Silly Cow Farms hot chocolate mixes (at last check) are dairy-free! They’ve been on our dairy-free hot chocolate list for year.
• Vermont Smoke & Cure – They support small, sustainable farms to make a variety of meat sticks in their top allergen-free facility.
• Wozz – All of their savory sauces, dressings, and other condiments are dairy-free. Just avoid the white chocolate and toffee dessert sauces, which do contain dairy. Many of their products are also vegan and/or gluten-free.

Photo from Schmilk

This Guide is Continuously Updated with Recommendations

We welcome you to recommend other dairy-free friendly restaurants. Leave a comment or contact us and tell us why you like a certain restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees are also invited to reach out and let us know how you welcome dairy-free customers.

Please kindly let us know in the comments if any of these restaurants close. We want to keep this list current for you, but aren’t always notified when a restaurant closes. Let us know and we will quickly update!

This Guide is for Informational Purposes Only

Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation.

There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.

For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!