We spent about four months at our house in Lake Placid this year, with trips in January, April-May and August-October. As always, we visited some of our favorite restaurants and tried new ones. Here’s a run-down of memorable meals in and around Lake Placid, and a few that weren’t so great.

There are some good eats in Lake Placid! You just have to know where to go. Here’s my list of our favorite spots in and around town.

Pure maple syrup is a favorite local treat in the ADK. In fact, New York State is the second-largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S. What I hadn’t fully appreciated before living in the Adirondacks is the different grades and types of maple syrup — from light to dark. Spring is the perfect time for a taste testing trip when sugar shacks are producing in full force. Here are my favorite stops for tasting and buying pure maple syrup.

I see lots of people asking about where to go for a special occasion in Lake Placid. Well, it depends on the occasion and the type of atmosphere you want, budget, and if it’s a couple or a group. Here are some ideas for each type of celebration.

If you’re in Lake Placid over Christmas or New Years, and plan to dine out, you better make those reservations soon! Many restaurants are closed on Christmas Day, and the ones that are open book up fast.

After a day on the mountain, everybody loves a good apres ski meet up. My personal criteria hits the following: 1) casual, come-as-you-are vibe; 2) menu with some hearty options and/or solid appetizers; 3) great beer. Fun atmosphere and music are bonus points. So based on that, here’s my list of favorite Lake Placid spots around the Whiteface (downhill) and Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Cascade (XC) areas.

Lake Placid is a beer town. Hands down. But when it’s cold and snowy outside, sometimes you need a hot toddy to revive you at the end of the day. Why not try one of these supreme winter cocktails at our favorite bars.

Many people follow a vegetarian, vegan or gluten free diet for a variety of reasons. Although I personally don’t follow a strict diet, I love heathy food that tastes great. My all-time favorite granola is gluten free, and I’m more than satisfied with a good vegetarian meal on a regular basis. Luckily, there are plenty of dining options around Lake Placid to meet every desire.

While farmers’ markets are fun, there’s nothing quite like picking up fresh products right on the farm. Going straight to the source. Here’s my favorite driving circuit for picking up delicious goodies in the Adirondacks.

At the cottage, we offer the ubiquitous Keurig and k-cups to get guests started. We also have a Chemex and Hario immersion dripper for pour over options and a trusty French Press, but suggest guests either bring or buy their own coffee beans. BYOB … Because any good coffee aficionado knows that fresh beans are key. So, where’s the best place to get coffee beans — or just a good latte — in Lake Placid? Here are our top recommendations.

As anyone who visits the Adirondacks knows, soft serve ice cream is where it’s at in the summertime. Many of these little one-room walk-up houses of deliciousness are only open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, with few exceptions. This makes them truly the taste of summer. I also love that they offer limited flavors that change frequently. Get the scoop on where we get our cones.

Farmers’ Markets are a summer staple. It’s a wonderful way to support local farmers and small batch businesses, and get some tasty treats like artisan cheeses, sausages, fresh yogurt and more. Here’s our list of Adirondack farmers’ markets near Lake Placid for summer 2022, as well as some of my favorite stalls.