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Foodies

Feed your appetite for history in our colonial kitchens, taverns, and coffeehouse.

 

Visit Historic Sites

Governor's Palace Kitchen

What did Williamsburg’s 18th-century residents eat - and how did they cook it? Visit the Governor’s Palace Kitchen to meet our Historic Foodways interpreters and see them prepare authentic colonial dishes, using the equipment and recipes of the 18th century.

R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

Step back into the time of the Stamp Act and learn about the fashionable world of the coffeehouse, where Williamsburg's citizens and visitors met to share news, transact business, and debate politics. Meet people of the past and converse over coffee, tea, or velvety chocolate - prepared in the 18th-century style.

Great Hopes Plantation

During this self-guided tour, glimpse the daily life of a plantation and discover how most Virginians lived.

 

Meet Our Tradespeople

Tin Shop

Soldiers valued tinware for its durability, low cost, and light weight. To supply the army during the Revolution, Virginia's government established a tin shop to produce kettles, cups, plates, and other items. Stop by to see how our "tin men" snip, shape, and bend this flexible material.

Silversmith

Silver cups, teapots, and spoons were not just for show. They were a good way to "store" your assets. Skilled smiths transformed coins and outdated silverware into fashionable pieces for the dining room, parlour, and personal adornment. Drop in and see how our silversmiths turn ingots into works of art.

Colonial Garden

Get your hands dirty in this garden filled with vegetables and perfumed by heirloom roses and herbs. Garden historians demonstrate 18th-century techniques and encourage guests to explore and ask questions. Meet a gardener and handle the specialty tools used in the 1700s for planting and harvesting crops. Learn about the herbs and vegetables that were commonly grown for food and the flowers that ornamented the landscape.

Experience Our Cuisine

Taste Studio

Experience the true meaning of “garden to guest” with a Chef’s Garden Tour and Tasting, or learn to make your own truffles from American Heritage’s historic chocolate. Our creative, energetic chefs will inspire and delight you in our newest venue. The Taste Studio, a contemporary, full-service demonstration kitchen provides an intimate, fun setting to learn and share an unforgettable meal.

Rockefeller Room at Williamsburg Inn

The restaurant at the Williamsburg Inn pays homage to the foundation and evolution of a uniquely American cuisine, embracing Southern tradition and infusing flavors brought to the New World from exotic lands. Featuring locally sourced ingredients and creative dishes, the menu epitomizes the Nouveau British approach to gastronomy: refined, worldly, sophisticated and adventurous. Carrying on the tradition of innovative cooking and fine dining, a meal at the Inn is a spectacular culinary experience.

Chowning's Tavern

Enjoy a menu of colonial-inspired favorites and specialty beer, such as our own Old Stitch and Dear Old Mum. Enjoy dining inside the tavern all day, 7 days a week with shared plates, old favorites such as Brunswick Stew and Welsh Rarebit, as well as Shepherd’s Pye and Bangers and Mash. Join us for table games after 5pm. For outside dining under the grape arbor, Chowning’s Garden Snack Bar Grill is open from 11am–4pm daily serving burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst rolls, Brunswick Stew, BBQ, salads and sweet treats.

Learn More

Forgotten Fruit

That Beets All!

April 8, 2017 by Sarah Nerney

The Story of Lena Richard: the Talented Chef Who Put Travis House on the Map

January 4, 2019

The Great Cake Debate

 

The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

The distinctive collections of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum are located under one roof.

Stay with us

Enjoy Colonial Williamsburg to the fullest with a stay at one of our six unique hotel properties. They are conveniently located within and surrounding the Historic Area, just minutes from all the action.

EVENING PROGRAMS

The fun doesn't end just because the sun sets. Whether you're looking for some drama or to be spooked, there's something to entertain you.