A Culinary Adventure

Taste Your Way Through Lancaster County

Lancaster County is more than just the traditional PA Dutch style cooking. With a blossoming food scene, fresh produce, specialty items that will tickle your taste buds and hands-on foodie experiences, the food-centric offerings are plentiful… and delicious.

Morning

Passenger Coffee

Rise and shine, and get ready to wine and dine! While Lancaster is known for Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, there is so much more to taste and explore when it comes to food. Start your morning with a visit to America's oldest continuously operating farmers market, Lancaster Central Market (open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). While you're there, grab a bite to eat at one of the many market stands, specializing in locally grown and made goodies.

Gather up on supplies for the way home by stopping at Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom and The Tea & Spice Exchange! Both are conveniently located near Lancaster Central Market!

After you've grabbed breakfast, the world is your oyster. For a filling food experience within walking distance, stop by one of the shops below or take a tour with Lancaster County Food tours.

Lancaster County Food Tours offers the ultimate foodie experience in Downtown Lancaster. Their Market and Beyond Tour features eight tasty stops, and the knowledgeable tour guides tell stories and fun facts along the way. Be sure to come hungry as this adventure will leave you full and happy.
Estimated Time: 3 hours

While Lancaster is known for Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, there is so much more to taste and explore when it comes to food.

Miesse Candies Downtown Shop & Factory has been a Lancaster County favorite for more than 140 years, specializing in delicious chocolates and candies. Some even look too pretty to eat! When you stop to get your chocolate fix, take a tour of their factory to see how the magic is made.
Estimated Time: 1 hour

Passenger Coffee was named the best cup of coffee in Pennsylvania by FoodandWine.com, and is surely a local favorite. Grab a cup of locally roasted coffee in their charming cafe near Lancaster Central Market for an extra caffeine boost.
Estimated Time: 15-30 minutes

The Spice and Tea Exchange of Lancaster is the place to go for spices, spice blends, and tea galore. Whether you're looking for that perfect steak rub or something to brew to relax at the end of the day, you'll find it here along with great gifts for your foodie friends.
Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Afternoon

Julius Sturgis

Haven't left the city yet and are too hungry to leave? Take a quick try over to Gem's Foods to pick up a quick bite. She serves a variety of international and soul food.

Maybe you and your friends can't all agree on one stop to go, try out Southern Market. They are a food hall that serves delicious culinary works from various chefs around Lancaster County. Currently serving Asian, Moroccan, Latin, and American soul food.

If you make Lititz your next stop, delicious lunch options await. Stop by PA's best beer bar (according to CraftBeer.com), the Bulls Head Public House, for tasty bar bites inspired by the traditional English pub, along with an ale from their expertly curated beer list.

Lititz is a foodie heaven - from chocolate and pretzels to whiskey and handcrafted charcuterie. Stroll the streets to learn more about the history and offerings of this cool small town.

Wilbur Chocolates is known for their signature confection - the wilbur bud. These chocolatey morsels are plentiful at their shop in Lititz, where guests can buy them by the pound and watch as candy makers create specialty treats. You won't be able to eat just one!
Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Olio Olive Oils & Balsamic are one of the largest stand-alone oil and vinegar stores in the nation with approximately 3,000 square feet of deliciousness. Offering a large selection of fine olive oils and balsamic vinegar that we've expanded since our inception in 2012. We are also known for our selection of honey, imported pasta, sea salts, peppercorns and rubs.
Estimated Time: 40 minutes

Beyond Lititz, Lancaster is home to other great foodie stops including September Farm Cheese.

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery was established in 1861 as America's first commercial pretzel bakery, and they're still twisting today. While there, guests can tour the bakery, get a hands-on twisting lesson, and dive into the history of pretzels. Grab a snack to-go in their retail store, featuring hard and soft pretzels.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Stoll and Wolfe Distillery has just the thing to wet your whistle. Celebrating Lancaster County distilling traditions that date back to 1753, Stoll and Wolfe makes Pennsylvania rye whiskey and a bourbon & rye blend for your sipping pleasure. They're also whipping up craft cocktails using these spirits along with others like rum, vodka, and gin.
Estimated Time: 1 hour

Join our Lancaster County Craft & Cork Trail and visit our many breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the county. Earn points, save on special deals, and win unique prizes!

Join Now!

Rooster Street Butcher is a cut above the rest with hand-cut meats, homemade sausage, delicious charcuterie, and so much more. They have a fantastic menu for a bite to eat and plenty of goodies to take back to your kitchen.
Estimated Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Beyond Lititz, Lancaster is home to other great foodie stops including September Farm Cheese, where you can watch them make their award-winning cheese, try tasty samples, enjoy a cheesy lunch or do a little shopping, or Cherry Hill Orchard featuring pick-your-own fruit and a market filled with farm fresh goodies.

Evening

Lancaster Brewing Company

Hopefully you've saved room for dinner. Lancaster's restaurant scene is blossoming with new options and revitalized favorites. Before you set off to dinner, swing by Thistle Finch Distillery (hand-crafted whiskey, vodka, and gin and artisan cocktails) or Meduseld Meadery (mead made with local honey and ingredients) for a drink to kick-off a tasty evening.

Where to for dinner? Here's four options that will have your taste buds dancing - just remember to make reservations first!

Luca is a farm-focused, BYOB eatery inspired by soulful culinary traditions and techniques of the old world. Their menu changes based on what's fresh from the farm, and features fresh flavors that pay homage to the classics.
Click here to make a reservation.

Hopefully you've saved room for dinner.

Lancaster Brewing Company is not only brewing fantastic ales, stouts and IPAs - they're also serving up delicious food. This working brewery has a menu full of beer inspired bites.
Click here for reservation information.

Luca brings the traditions and charm of Italy right here to Lancaster County. Their Neopolitan oven is always burning, as they serve up wood-fired pizza with unique toppings, handmade pasta and small plates that have been cooked to perfection.

Click here for reservations.

If you want to venture somewhere else for dessert, Lancaster has you covered with locations within walking distance of your dinner destination. These options will satisfy almost any sweet tooth: Penny's (ice cream by the scoop, in a milkshake or sandwiched between two cookies), Dough & Co (edible cookie dough, ice cream and coffee), or Rolled Cold Creamery (rolled ice cream with tasty mix-ins).

Rolled Cold Creamery is also on our Lancaster County Ice Cream Trail. Be sure to download this FREE app to check-in, earn points and redeem them for unique prizes!

Another delicious day is in the books. For a restful night's sleep just a walk away from dinner and dessert, head over to the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square for full-service accommodations, guest rooms with a great view of the city, and an in-house bar and restaurant (if you somehow still have room).

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