Savor the Flavors of the Shenandoah Valley: Festive Food and Beverage Delights for the Holidays

The Shenandoah Valley is filled with beautiful landscapes and a variety of charming towns, villages, and small cities. Each gets ready for the holidays with unique festivals and traditions. And no visit to the Valley would be complete without tasting the region’s delicious food and drink. From fancy holiday drinks to specialty sandwiches to upscale dining, here are a few of our favorite destinations for holiday food and beverages.

The Apple House / 4675 John Marshall Highway, Linden

Visit family-owned The Apple House whenever you need a winter pick-me-up. Serving tasty food since 1963, this warm and welcoming delight is decorated for the holidays with twinkling lights and lots of seasonal greenery. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and sells delightful gifts for your friends and family. Choose from a menu of breakfasts, burgers, barbeque, and specialty sandwiches. There’s a kids’ menu for smaller appetites. If you’re looking for a drink and a snack in a clubhouse environment, visit The Bushel Pub located right onsite. Leave room for an order of delicious apple butter cinnamon donuts or grab a dozen to take to a holiday party. Not only is The Apple House open on Christmas Eve, but you can also hire them to cater your big event. Choose from main courses, a full range of sides, and decadent cakes and pies for dessert.

The Apple House is located near the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park, so it’s easy to enjoy the brisk, wintery weather with a hike or drive. You can also check out the Shenandoah River from over five miles of waterfront in Shenandoah River State Park. Warren County also has several smaller parks with offerings like hiking trails, playgrounds, water views, and dog parks. Wrap up the day with some holiday shopping in Front Royal.

Poppy’s Place / 205 S. Royal Ave, Front Royal

Locals and visitors alike rave about the food at Poppy’s Place. Known for having Front Royal’s best sandwiches made on bread fresh from the in-house baker, the restaurant also serves up oven-fired pizzas, salad, and their signature “nourish bowls.” The bowls have different, rotating themes like Thanksgiving turkey or taco, but they are all fantastic and will put you in the holiday spirit! 

The generous servings will make it tough to save room for a made-from-scratch cinnamon roll or cheesecake, but you can get sweets to take home. Is there a little one in your party? Poppy’s has a menu, especially for kids. Poppy’s goes all out decorating for the season, and the retail area promotes “products with a purpose” that support various local and national organizations that help those in need. There’s also a “giving board” where people can prepurchase meals that others can cash in, no questions asked.

Poppy’s Place is just steps from Front Royal’s Main Street, so visitors should explore downtown for locally-owned retail shops like Buckle & Belle Boutique, Dogwood Decor, and Mountain Trails Outdoor Gear. If you’re looking to sightsee, you can’t go wrong with checking out the nine murals decorating Main Street or learning about your favorite beverage at the Virginia Beer Museum. That will make you thirsty, so grab some holiday spirits at Honey & Hops Brew Works. The area is also rich in history with stops along the Civil War Trail. The Christmas on Main event on December 2 includes a Merry Market of Makers, a Christmas Parade, and the Christmas Tree Lighting that follows the parade.

Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill / 2 N. Main Street, Lexington

Spend your pre-holiday getaway at The Georges in Lexington. This boutique hotel boasts 33 unique and elegant guest rooms with custom furnishings and luxury linens as well as two on-site dining options, Haywood’s and TAPS. You’ll love both the chef-driven cuisine at Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill as well as the ambiance and the nightly entertainment. This upscale eatery features meals made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients like hand-cut steaks, local venison, and Chesapeake Bay oysters. Look for festive food and drink specials and a cheerful background soundtrack. TAPS is known for excellent cocktails all year round, but they always whip up seasonal and holiday concoctions worthy of a mention! Make merry by attending the December 1 Christmas Parade Party at the Georges.

Visitors hoping to spend the day in the Lexington area should shop the locally-owned businesses in the walkable downtown. Make sure to get your Love Lex Lotto Card stamped as you shop between November 25 and December 23 for a chance to win a gift certificate. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride with Lexington Carriage Company to look at the holiday decorations and the postcard views. Another good bet is to join a wreath-making workshop at Fairfield’s Tantivy Lavender Farm. Toast your creativity with a wine flight at Ecco Adesso Vineyards.

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit of the Shenandoah Valley this holiday season. Every bite and sip is rich with local flavors, tradition, and the warmth of community.