The Highlands Tavern

So glad we came here for our 2 year anniversary dinner. Madisons downstairs was booked but the…read moremanager up in the Hummingbird Lounge on 7/6 took great care of us. She got us the perfect table in the corner and made us feel so special. Food and ambiance is unbeatable. We found our new favorite spot!

Cool vibe and excellent cocktails!!! Smoked Old Fashioned is a can't miss. Unfortunately, I have…read morehad mixed experiences with the service at Hummingbirds, so no five star for you!

Scallops, broccolini, trout, truffle mac

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Old Fashioned was amazing! Service, music, and ambiance were amazing. Will definitely be back!

Wine Garden

4.2(43 reviews)

Highlands, NC is truly a little slice of heaven! If you're ever there, you must have lunch or…read moredinner at the wine garden attached to Old Edwards Inn & Spa! It's such a beautiful and peaceful space to dine, especially with the amazing Spring and Fall temps they get there. We were with a party of 6 (plus a baby), and walked up without a reservation a bit late in the evening. We figured we'd try it and see if we could get in if it wasn't too late, and luckily enough, the hostess was kind enough to make it happen for us! The menu actually has a lot of variety for a wine garden - drinks and food wise. I started with the French onion soup and it was delicious. The Caesar salad was also quite yummy, but the meatloaf was the showstopper of the night! I am still dreaming of it now, and wish I could replicate it myself because it was that good and memorable! For dessert, I ordered the affogato which is their house made vanilla bean ice cream with an espresso shot and it was the perfect ending to the night! Our server was so attentive and kind, and constantly checked in on us and cleared our plates since the tables are a bit on the smaller side. I had an excellent experience all around!

Had an fantastic afternoon visiting this place for lunch and drinks. The food was delicious, and…read moresitting out under the trees next to a little waterfall and stream as well as the nearby architecture really feels like you've traveled somewhere special. Our waiter was also very nice! Highly recommend!

Charcuterie board

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Primary Restaurant and Bar

3.5(43 reviews)

We were there for their prime rib special on Sunday nights, which you need to reserve to make sure…read morethat you can be accommodated. Cooked perfectly rare for both of us which is our preference. We also had bang bang shrimp app and a cup of French onion soup as a starter. Everything great and perfectly served. We had the Baignets for desert, which were amazing, served with Caramel sauce. Reminded me of New Orleans. Our server Emily was the best. We will be back next year for sure...

Very Disappointed -- Would Never Go Back…read more We had eaten at Primary once while visiting the Highlands a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, that experience was disappointing from the beginning. The bartenders were rude and unhelpful, and the food and service were two stars at best. The one reason we decided to give Primary another chance was the Sunday night prime rib, which happens to be one of my favorite meals. I completely understand requiring a credit card to hold a reservation. I was a chef for 10 years, so I understand the business side of reservations and no-shows. Unfortunately, our French Bulldog became seriously ill around 3:30 AM Sunday morning, and we felt we needed to rush him to BluePearl in Atlanta. Because of the emergency, we obviously could not make our dinner reservation. I tried calling Primary, but no one answered. The recorded message instructed me to send a message through the OpenTable application, which I did. I explained exactly what had happened and asked if they would please refund the reservation charge given the circumstances. I also emailed the owner personally and explained the situation. His response was simply no because we did not show up. I reminded him that I had followed the restaurant's own instructions and contacted them through OpenTable as soon as I could. He still refused. What bothered me most wasn't the money. It was the complete lack of professionalism, customer service, and empathy. Emergencies happen. I would have expected a restaurant to understand that a sick family pet requiring emergency veterinary care is very different from simply deciding not to show up. After our first disappointing experience, we gave Primary another chance because of the prime rib. Unfortunately, the way this situation was handled guaranteed that we will never return. If I could give the owner negative one star, I would. Don't waste your money or your time supporting a business that treats customers this way.

Bar

Fried Steak Tenderloin

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Exterior of the restaurant

Four65 Woodfire Bistro Bar

4.2(214 reviews)

Unfortunately the food has gone down hill the last two years. We absolutely loved it the first time…read morebut since then the next 3 times I think the ingredients have changed, food quality is definitely lower quality imo.

This was our first stop in town for lunch, and it was exactly the kind of fuel you hope for when…read morekicking off a weekend. Four of us grabbed spots at the bar, ordered Aperol Spritzes, and immediately settled in. We shared the salad and the veggie pizza, and on our waitress's advice added pepperoni--and wow, was that the right move. This pizza is the real deal: incredible color, a perfectly crisp, crunchy crust, and layers of flavor that genuinely blew us away. I make pizza at home (yes, with an Ooni), and this is the kind of pie that makes you pause mid‑bite and say, "Okay... they know what they're doing." Not floppy, not overdone--just expertly made and insanely satisfying. The atmosphere sealed the deal. Sitting at the bar felt fun and communal, with friendly locals, fellow visitors, and staff all contributing to the vibe. It was welcoming, lively, and exactly the energy you want when you first roll into town. Phenomenal pizza, great drinks, and a spot that understands hospitality. We'd come back for the pizza alone--but everything else made it even better.

Inside

The Hot Pig Pizza

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The Ugly Dog Pub

3.9(445 reviews)

Ugly Dog Pub was one of my favorite places I visited in Highlands. The food was amazing, the smash…read moreburger definitely lived up to the hype, and the beer selection was great. The live music was an awesome touch and made for a fun atmosphere. I was able to bring my pup since I sat outside, which was a huge plus. Just keep in mind that if you're dining on the patio, the service is more limited, you order and pay at the bar, and they'll bring your food out to you. Overall, this is a must-visit if you're in Highlands, North Carolina, especially if you're a fan of great burgers, good beer, and a laid-back atmosphere.

We were seated right away. A little annoyed that our party of 5 was seated at a small corner booth…read moretable. Ended up using the back of the booth for our water bottle and condiments and still struggled for space. Buffalo wings were good but not exactly Buffalo. No buttery spicy hot sauce. It was more peppery than buffalo. Wings were cooked perfectly though Reuben is excellent as are the jalapeno Mac bites. Cheese dip was also excellent but we (and the table next to us) had to ask for more chips. Not portioned terribly well. Beer options were very slim (2 on tap from what it gathered). I'm sure there were plenty of bottled options but draft was disappointing. We ordered the ale but they tapped out and brought us brown ale. At 5pm...only a brown and stout on tap. Overall, it was a pretty middling experience but the food was good and they offer a military appreciation discount.

Dog decor

Soft pretzel and jalapeño cheese

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They seat you and bring a chilled glass container with cold water

Oak Steakhouse

4.4(99 reviews)

1.9 mi

I cannot say enough about Oak Steakhouse. The ambiance, views, and service are all top tier. Not to…read moremention the food: steaks on another level, sides galore. Don't miss the bread service at the beginning either. It's amazing. If you are anywhere within 1hr of this place, I highly recommend especially for a date night or celebratory dinner. You won't regret it.

From the moment we arrived, Marysa (the hostess) greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel…read morewelcome. Despite how busy the Oak was, she was able to find us a table, which we greatly appreciated. The chef did an outstanding job with the trout dish, which was absolutely delicious. Our server, Chip, was charming, attentive, and knowledgeable, helping us navigate the menu with ease. Rich, the manager, also took the time to visit our table and ensure we were enjoying our experience, making us feel genuinely valued as guests. The exceptional hospitality and attention to detail from the entire team made our visit truly memorable. Oak has created a wonderful dining experience, and if every restaurant had a staff like this, dining out would always be a pleasure.

Very fresh filling, double eggs

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Espresso Martini

Highlands Supper Club

4.6(55 reviews)

0.4 mi

Was here the beginning of May. I still remember the…read moreexcellent service, food and ambiance. I'll be back again next year when I'm in the area. Highlands Supper Club is definitely a positive dining experience. Peace Love Health Happiness Always Rockmusicradio.net & Bill Bodonavich

10/10 -- If I could give more, I would!…read more Service, food, and atmosphere, absolutely top tier. Don't think twice... BOOK that reservation!!!!! I highly recommend this place. Kyle, our server, and Joe, the general manager, went completely above and beyond!!!! We started with the Caesar salad -- super crisp lettuce, a generous portion perfect for sharing for two, and it came with a crunchy baguette topped with a smoked trout cream cheese-style spread. Such a unique and delicious touch! We also tried the trout fingers from the kids' menu since we'd only had trout once before, and they were good. For entrées, I had the barbecue lion's mane mushroom with slaw, potatoes, and asparagus and wow, don't let my picture fool you, it was absolutely delicious! My husband ordered the elk with grits, asparagus, and a rich demi-glace... and it was FANTASTIC. We almost never order dessert, but I'm so glad we did! The pecan pie (with a whipped cream cheese topping) was incredible -- not overly sweet like traditional versions, but perfectly layered and full of flavor. We loveddddd this place. Can't wait to come back!

Wonderful biscuits!

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The Stubborn Bull

4.0(42 reviews)

0.2 mi

Wonderful meal in a very cool atmosphere. Had a few apps but the show stopper was the paella!!read more

Ambience was good, and the service was friendly and attentive. Overall, the food was tasty, but the…read morenearly $70 paella for two was a disappointment and, in my opinion, not worth the price for what you get. There was more than enough rice and tomato's , but the seafood was sparse--and unfortunately, it wasn't particularly impressive in either size or taste. There were just a few shrimp and a small spiny lobster tail, which felt underwhelming for a paella at this price point. I was also surprised that some of the items served for the table, such as bread and olives, were charged separately rather than being complimentary. The olives, to be fair, were particularly good. The patatas bravas, however, were excellent--very flavorful and generous enough for two people on their own. In hindsight, two people would probably be much better off ordering the patatas bravas along with a few tapas of their choice rather than spending nearly $70 on the paella. Overall: good atmosphere, good service, and tasty food, but the paella is WAY overpriced for what you get, particularly given the limited seafood and its lack of quality.

Bar area

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Ristorante Paoletti

4.2(226 reviews)

Cannot thank you enough for another fabulous experience at Paeoletti! You helped make my husband's…read morecelebration truly special. The food was outstanding--every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Brian provided excellent service, and Natalie, the hostess, went above and beyond. She's truly one of a kind. Highly recommend!

This place was highly recommended. Service was fabulous, ambience top-notch. My dinner, Pollo…read morelimone, was sub-par. Description was pecan-crusted chicken breast topped with lemon garlic butter. Chicken was breaded, flattened cutlet tasting of lemon. The cutlet was so flat it was hard to see/taste chicken breast and I couldn't tell if it was pecan crusted or just breaded like in a fast food restaurant. I ordered a side of spaghetti with lemon butter sauce. The spaghetti itself was fresh and tasty, wonderful on its own - should've ordered it without sauce. The pasta sat in a pool of lemon butter sauce that overwhelmed the spaghetti. The prices didn't deter me, I'm used to spending that much and more on a good meal. But that's the problem-for me, this wasn't a good meal. My husband had the lasagna and enjoyed it so maybe it was this one particular dish.

Menu

Melanzane alla parmigiana

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Prime Filet Mignon Carpaccio

Highlands Wine Shoppe

4.6(17 reviews)

0.2 mi

Great wine shop in Highlands downtown. Everyone so nice and friendly, along with great knowledge…read moreabout wine. Always stop here when visiting Highlands.

What a fun place! We grabbed a glass of wine and a charcuterie board and sat outside next to the…read morefire pit - and had the best time! We look forward to going back when we're in Highlands!

Our pup Buddy was allowed inside to join the fun!

One of our many free wine tastings!

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One of our many wine seminars/classes. See website and Facebook page for upcoming events.

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Robert H.

0

2

1

4 months ago

We just love this place! It has a fabulous menu and the service is excellent! The staff is charming! We highly recommend it and suggest that you definitely go and experience this place. read more

Clayton M.

0

6

0

4 years ago

Amazing everything! Best venison I've ever had in my life. Cocktails are wonderful the ambience Is extremely inviting. Cannot go wrong with anything on the menu at this establishment read more

William B.

0

6

0

1 year ago

Service was great. Burger was outstanding! It can be hard to get into because it's a small space but is worth the wait.

Claudia M.

0

4

0

3 years ago

Terrific food and service!! Everything we had was amazing and our server was top notch.

The Highlands Tavern - desserts - Updated September 2026

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This place was highly recommended. Service was fabulous, ambience top-notch. My dinner, Pollo…read morelimone, was sub-par. Description was pecan-crusted chicken breast topped with lemon garlic butter. Chicken was breaded, flattened cutlet tasting of lemon. The cutlet was so flat it was hard to see/taste chicken breast and I couldn't tell if it was pecan crusted or just breaded like in a fast food restaurant. I ordered a side of spaghetti with lemon butter sauce. The spaghetti itself was fresh and tasty, wonderful on its own - should've ordered it without sauce. The pasta sat in a pool of lemon butter sauce that overwhelmed the spaghetti. The prices didn't deter me, I'm used to spending that much and more on a good meal. But that's the problem-for me, this wasn't a good meal. My husband had the lasagna and enjoyed it so maybe it was this one particular dish.

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