Kipling's Tavern sits right near the town center, with a multi-level parking garage directly behind it, which makes getting there pretty convenient. The space itself is small, so I'd definitely suggest calling ahead to see if they have room. There's basically no indoor waiting area, and standing by the door or outside in the winter, like we did, got uncomfortable enough that we almost left for another place, even though the wait was only about 20 minutes. Our server was friendly and tried to stay on top of things, but you could tell she was a bit overwhelmed with how busy it was and the constant flow of people coming through the door. In our group, a couple of the burgers came out very undercooked, with blood pooling on the plate. No one had been asked how they wanted their burger cooked and it wasn't mentioned when we ordered, so it was an unpleasant surprise even if it wasn't exactly anyone's "fault." I ordered the spicy Korean fried chicken sandwich, which ended up being just okay. The bottom of the bun was soggy, so it fell apart and was hard to pick up and eat. The kimchi on the sandwich didn't bring much flavor or heat, so it kind of missed the mark for something that's supposed to be a bold, spicy option. read more

Kipling’s Tavern - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

This is our second time here. Tiny place (8 tables + bar). Food: 5/5 we got the French onion grilled cheese and spicy Korean chicken sandwich which were both incredible. The beignets were the star of the show!! Plus the burgers are great too Service: 5/5 spot on and extremely efficient. To the point where we noticed that there's not one slacker on the staff, they work together and meet the needs of every customer. Exceptional! Vibe: 5/5 we love a good bar food, low frills place. It's homey and fun without being over the top. Overall would come back every time we're in Brattleboro read more

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Stopped in to see the drink selection, VT doesn't miss the ipas were unusual and good, good bar scene at 4:30 on a Saturday esp considering they open at 4, read more

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Love this place. Great tavern vibes. The burgers were excellent. I was too early for the specials but they sounded delicious. I was surprised that the bartenders could turnout some excellent classic cocktails. The wait staff and the bartenders were friendly and welcoming. Nice local patrons. read more

Delightful upbeat atmosphere in this small century old wood panelled tavern. The dinner specials that we had, Ravioli with Italian sausage and marinated steak tips, were both out of this world awesome - each had a perfect blend of delicious flavors. Great beer and cocktails to be had. Staff were all very friendly and on the ball. We were there on a busy Friday evening and had to wait around 20 mins for a table but totally worth the wait for such an excellent experience. Very highly recommended. read more

The service here is great! At the bar on a Friday, the joint is packed! Had the French 77 and the bartender nailed it. Also had Kip's burger. Why don't other restaurants put pickled red onions on burgers for flavor?! That's a standard. The onion rings are crispy and delightful. My son had the divine pastrami Rueben. And some great kolsch and Czech beer from local breweries. So sublime. Shame we only come into town once a year. We will be back!! read more

Outstanding Experience at Kipling's Tavern in Brattleboro, VT! We had an absolutely amazing time at Kipling's Tavern! From start to finish, everything was a 10 out of 10 -- atmosphere, meal, and service. Brian was fantastic -- friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The calamari was perfectly crispy and delicious (coming from a RI local). The French onion grilled cheese with gruyere was downright outstanding -- rich, melty, and full of flavor. The mix BBQ was top-notch, and the mac & cheese was pure comfort food perfection. The vibe inside is warm and inviting, with just the right mix of cozy and lively. We'll gladly make the trip back from Rhode Island for this gem -- totally worth it! Highly recommend Kipling's Tavern -- Brattleboro is lucky to have this place! read more

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We have been traveling in New England to visit my family. This was the best meal we had during this trip! I had rigatoni alla vodka with shrimp. My wife had the appetizer special which was a caprese salad on toast. The food was delicious and our waiter Lucas was outstanding! The ambiance of this pub is perfect read more

Kipling’s Tavern - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

The server Alanna was amazing. Extremely courteous and attentive. A throwback to the days of great service. Unfortunately! , the BBQ special was barely mediocre. Have never been here before but assume the sandwiches at 20 v.s $30 would have been a better call. North of the Mason Dixon so probably should have known better. read more

Really fantastic local restaurant! Staff was super friendly and there's plenty of parking to boot! (There's a parking garage next door with really affordable rates as well as street metered parking). This place was so good we stopped by twice! Here's what we ordered (as of 9/2023): - Spicy Rhode Island Calamari - $15: Pretty good standard fare. If you've had fried calamari then you've had this. Just wish the portion size was larger! - Crab Cakes - $16: Great flavor and a great portion for the price! Would definitely recommend this one. - Boozer Burger - $17: Fantastic burger. Cooked to perfection and the brioche really helps bringing it together. Fries were crisp. - Spicy Korean Fried Chicken - $17: If you LOVE gochujang then you'll love this. For us it was decent. I wish they used chicken thigh instead of the breast as the juiciness of the thigh would really help cut the spice of the gochujang. - Pastrami Reuben - $16: Pastrami was perfectly warmed and paired well with their sauerkraut and dressing. For $16 + fries (in my case a Caesar salad) I think it's a great value. - New England Clam Chowder (special of the night) - $6 for a cup (I think?): Really creamy and delicious. Plenty of clams in here to satisfy any chowder lover. - Bolognaise pasta (special of the night) - $26: Really enjoyed this special. The pasta was fresh and really held the sauce well. It is pricy but if you like Bolognaise then this is a must try! Overall we really enjoyed our time here and would love to visit again next time we're in the area! read more

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I stumbled into Kips upon recommendation by another bartender in town. I expected a mediocre typical beer/burger joint (options are, admittedly, limited in southern VT) but was surprised to find it was way more than that -- and without pretension. It's run by a husband and wife duo (bartender/server) who were beyond kind and made an effort to make personal conversation with me at the bar. I ordered a pork schnitzel special that was unbelievably perfect -- incredibly crispy, well seasoned, and served with a homemade purple kraut and mashed potatoes. As I told them: Kips is punching way above its weight class. Homey, cozy, tasty, and with kind service that made an out-of-towner feel like they've known me for 20 years. read more

Try their special. We had the street corn pasta tonight. Awesome! And the mushroom toast did not disappoint. Great service!

This small unassuming bar/restaurant is worth the second look! Outside we have folks hanging and having a smoke, and it's not like this is in the middle of somewhere so it gives off a mildly sketchy vibe at first...but step inside!! From the heartfelt greeting to the warm decor and the beautiful 'tiffany' lamps everywhere it feels wonderful. The specials of the day (we had 3 of the 4) were all amazingly good. The wine list was limited but the pinot grigio I had was amazing. Go here. read more

This was the best Reuben sandwich I've ever had! The pastrami was perfectly balanced. The Vermont cheese made it extra special. The accompanying Caesar salad and Manhattan cocktail from the bar made for a great meal. The service was friendly and expert. read more

Kipling’s Tavern - Reuben sandwich and Cesar salad - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

Love this little gem! Incredibly friendly staff. Delicious, fresh food - great drinks. All reasonably priced. Worth the wait!!

In August 2024 we found this place by accident on a rainy Friday afternoon driving through on our way to Maine. We stopped by again this past Friday and got the same wonderful treatment. The host was so classy and sweet as he greeted us (and everyone who came through the door). Our waitress was just as wonderful and the food is off the chart delicious with offerings that most taverns dont serve. Thank you for a lovely time and we hope to see you soon read more

Loved everything about this place. Great food, service, and atmosphere. It seemed to be a place the locals liked -- always a good sign.

Kipling's is awesome. Great atmosphere and friendly, attentive staff. We had a perfect cup of clam chowder and a daily fish and chips special. The piece of haddock was thick and flaky. The owner, Brian, showed great care for every detail. Great dinner. read more

Kipling’s Tavern - My daughter and I got great service from owner Brian. - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

One of the finest neighborhood pubs in New England: cozy, great food and drinks, friendly folks with good hearts doing it for all the best reasons. Go. You can thank me after...s. read more

Just excellent!! A solid 4+ star meal w drinks. Make this a must visit when in the area.

Typical pub fare and reasonably good food. Excellent mixed drinks. Waitstaff was attentive and friendly. Good vibe and atmosphere, though somewhat loud and very crowded. Cold if you're seated near the door in winter. read more

Sophisticated pub fare. Friendly service. Good food. The only thing that keeps this from a 5 star review is that the music - - - while it has an awesome playlist - - - is a bit on the loud side, which can make conversation a little difficult. Otherwise it's a fun place to come for dinner. read more

Kipling's Tavern nails classic pub fare in a relaxed, low-key atmosphere with a solid beer selection and surprisingly excellent cocktails. It's located in downtown Brattleboro, VT--which can feel a little sketchy at night due to the presence of some homeless individuals--but I had no trouble finding easy parking in a nearby lot and popped in after a day of skiing. Zack, the bartender, was friendly and well-versed in the menu. I went with the Korean spicy chicken sandwich, which turned out to be a fantastic choice--especially with a side of outstanding fries. The Perfect Woodford Manhattan lived up to its name: ideal temperature, just the right hint of vermouth, and served promptly. I grabbed a seat at the end of the bar and found easy conversation on both sides. All in all, it was a great spot for a casual, satisfying dinner on my way home. read more

We had a wonderful meal here. The atmosphere is cool, old, well maintained bar and restaurant. Our servers were wonderful, the food came quickly and was delicious. Locally sourced ingredients and a good selection of local beers. We'll be back next time we're in Brattleboro! read more

Kipling’s Tavern - Beautiful light above our table - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

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Excellent meal - excellent service - excellent atmosphere If in Brattleboro it is a must visit tavern! read more

I havent had a chance to eat here but I will because the owners of Kipling's drove me and my elderly mom to her new apartment in Putney when we dropped our Uhaul off and realized there were no Ubers. They saved our day. Any people this kind deserve 5 stars. read more

Maggie & Brian make their place feel like home! She makes you feel very welcome and he is a great mixologist. read more

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The waitress and hostess were both incredibly friendly, extremely attentive, forgot nothing, and really added to what made my dining experience memorable! The French onion soup was just alright, not really anything to write home about, and The bottom bun on my burger was so soggy that it disintegrated, however the burger itself was delicious! Besides that, every single other thing we ordered was really tasty, and no complaints! Jalapeño poppers were good, cheesesteak sandwich was good, French fries perfectly crispy and salted. The drinks were well made and fairly priced, and I would definitely come back! read more

Kipling’s Tavern - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

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Kipling's is a quaint venue that a user bookseller a few doors down recommended. My girlfriend and I dined there last evening. We both appreciated the milieu's vibe. Our server was friendly and responsive. I ordered the giant pretzel appetizer, which was a meal in and of itself and very tasty also the pretzel could have been a tad crispier. My GF ordered the clams cakes, which consist of to stuffed claims that were yummy. The stuffing was just right in the way of taste. The only complaint was that the clams were not broiled just a little longer. Otherwise, all else was perfect. From what I saw of other meals the entree sizes are generous and all looked mouth watering. read more

First time in VT and Kipling's did not disappoint. Excellent food, great atmosphere, and Outstanding service. It's on the small side, but totally worth the wait to get a table or bar stool. Great dining experience!! Thank you Kipling's. read more

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Best place to eat in Brattleboro. Service is always perfect and the food never disappoint.

We had a family dinner here last night (Tuesday). We ordered a couple appetizers and a mix of burgers and sandwiches. The service was fantastic. We had a superb waitress who did a wonderful job explaining the menu choices and accommodating our needs. The food was really good as well. Something I liked is that you can order french fries with a variety of different seasonings. The only negative thing I can say is that we were a group of five and they didn't have any tables that large so we were a little squished. But in total it was a good experience and we'll definitely return. read more

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Just the kind of place we wanted. Dark and cozy. The chicken wings stood out as a highlight. And the burgers were everything we hoped.

Kipling's is far and away the best restaurant in Brattleboro. You can't go wrong with any item that's on the menu. However, pay close attention to the specials. You never know what culinary delete you're going to experience. This is a place where you can order something you're unsure of and know that what comes out of their kitchen will be of the highest quality. Make friends with your sever and/or bartender. They've managed to make everyone who comes in feel like family. The small-ish seating area makes the ambiance. You know that it's not a chain looking to pump out the most customers per night. It's all about the experience. read more

I had the mushroom toast and a Caesar Salad. Outstanding! We also throughly enjoyed their Ruben with thick slices of pastrami. The employees were friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this restaurant next time you're in Brattleboro, Vt. read more

Kipling’s Tavern - Fun tavern atmosphere - American Near Me - Brattleboro, Vermont

Spent one night in Brattleboro and happened upon Kipling's, and what a treat! Incredible burger and Korean Fried chicken sandwich as well as amazing appetizers. And don't pass up on any Mexican specials - Chef Ratcho (sp?) in the kitchen is fresh from Mexicali and his stuff is legit! Best part is the ownership - Brian behind the bar and Maggie working the room are just awesome. You'll leave with new best friends! read more

Made a short trip and sat by the bar. Enjoyed my cocktail and changed my main meal dish to the specials of French i onion soup and ahi tuna. So good. The service was friendly and on top of everything. Nice cozy ambiance. read more

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Best steak I have ever eaten! Well done! The service was good, but initially the bartender/server seemed upset when I asked if we could hear the specials. I asked what the specials were when we sat down (we sat at the bar) and he said, "Give me one second). In fairness, the place was slammed. After watching him wait on and tell the specials to other customers, I asked if we could hear the specials and order. He gave me a look of annoyance and said "you know we are really busy, but then proceeded to take our order. I think one of the other workers saw his attitude and all of the sudden the service turned around. Anyway, I loved the food and would probably go back! It seemed to be a very popular place! read more

Cozy, small bar/ restaurant with excellent burgers, cocktails, beers and amazing service!

Be prepared to wait- but it's worth it. Sitting at the bar is where it's at- the booths aren't very comfortable- but the food is stellar and the drinks are solid. The servers and bartenders are all so friendly and the vibes are just perfect. The clam chowder is out of this world! read more