Dining in a small Vermont town like Middlebury requires a bit of planning. Many restaurants are closed one or two days a week—maybe even more, and operating hours often change seasonally. That’s why we created this Dining in Middlebury Restaurant Matrix—a clear, easy-to-use guide to help you figure out… Read More
Simply because: Historic charm, award-winning dining at Jessica’s, and authentic local hospitality close to Middlebury College. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, Vermont. Caleb Kenna Photography At Swift House Inn, staying the night is only the beginning. Set in the former mansion of Vermont’s 33rd Governor, our boutique inn blends historic… Read More
As Thanksgiving approaches, Vermont settles into its most peaceful season. The hills around Middlebury begin to turn silvery with early morning frost, and smoke curls gently from chimneys across town. It’s a time of stillness and gathering—when the bustle of summer fades, and the rhythm of small-town life turns… Read More
If you like delicious cider and good beer, then you’ve come to the right place. Vermont is home to over 70 breweries where you’ll find different styles, tastes, and taprooms waiting to be discovered. Explore some of our favorite Vermont local cider houses, breweries, distilleries, and vineyards. LOCAL TO… Read More
From Wednesday to Sunday in the summers and from Thursday to Sunday in colder weather, our chefs dress in their whites, scrub down their hands, and sharpen their knives to answer the Call—the Call to elevate something as humble as a rutabaga into art that is transcendent. Read More
Jessica's at Swift House Inn is known for our award-winning wine program. Thanks to David Herren, our resident Sommelier, the restaurant is only one of two in Vermont to currently hold a prestigious Wine Spectator Best of Award. But the vast 1,800-bottle wine cellar is located far away from the dining room in the basement and with only a remote set of stairs for access on the far opposite end of the house. Read More
Beautiful, delicious, and nutritious, microgreens are an important part of the Swift House Inn culinary experience. This is how to grow microgreens. Read More
At Swift House Inn, we are delighted to start your day with the Vermont breakfast of your dreams. And although our own renowned Jessica’s is open for dinner from Thursday through Sunday (in the winter), we are not open for lunch. While you are out exploring, we want to provide you with 7 great lunch spots around Middlebury. We hope you enjoy our choices so much you'll want to come back. Read More
A few months ago, we switched to a breakfast buffet to better serve guests’ needs and to solve a number of problems, particularly staffing. Everybody knows that labor shortages are hitting restaurants and hotels particularly hard during this post-Covid era. Swift House Inn is no exception, so we put… Read More
On July 31 at the Shelburne Farms, Vermont Fresh Network awarded the team of Jessica’s at Swift House Inn as the Best Bite of 2022. The attendees voted yes to the succulent slices of venison carpaccio folded on a bruschetta, squiggled with horseradish creme fraiche,… Read More
It’s now January, and it’s way too cold to garden. The highs are in the single digits. And so we stay cozy inside, brew a cup of tea, warm up a muffin, and get out the gardening books for inspiration. We like American Grown: The Story of the… Read More
As summer begins in earnest, it’s only proper to celebrate the unofficial wine of summer: Rosé. In the decades following the Second World War, Rosés were the butt of jokes and disdain. Fast forward to today, and Rosé wines show all the full range of expert winemaking and world-class talent. Read More