Highlands Tavern is a welcoming American restaurant in Highlands, North Carolina, where memorable meals, quality drinks, and a comfortable atmosphere come together in a way that feels both refined and easygoing.
Conveniently located at 205 S 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, it has become a trusted destination for locals and visitors alike—an inviting place to gather for lunch, settle in for dinner, or linger over dessert.
With a strong 4.80-star rating from 168 reviews, Highlands Tavern has built a reputation for delivering consistent hospitality and an experience guests are eager to return to.
From the moment you arrive, the combination of thoughtful service, a relaxed setting, and a well-crafted menu creates the kind of dining experience that makes any outing feel worthwhile.
What sets Highlands Tavern apart is its ability to offer something for nearly every occasion. Guests can enjoy dine-in service for a full sit-down meal, grab takeaway for added convenience, or choose delivery when they want the same quality at home.
The menu brings together comforting American favorites, small plates, and vegetarian options, giving diners plenty of ways to find exactly what fits their appetite.
The beverage selection is equally impressive, featuring beer, cocktails, spirits, coffee, and a carefully rounded wine list, along with a bar on site for guests looking to unwind or enjoy a night out.
Known for fast service and table service, Highlands Tavern makes dining simple, enjoyable, and dependable, whether you are coming in solo or sharing the experience with friends.
Accessibility and comfort are clearly part of the restaurant’s commitment to guest care. Wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restroom facilities help ensure that every visitor feels welcome and accommodated from start to finish.
The atmosphere is casual, cozy, and trendy, striking a balance that works beautifully for relaxed meals, special nights out, or spontaneous stops throughout the day. Accepted payment options include credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, adding another layer of convenience for busy customers.
Known for serving local specialty items that bring a true sense of place to the table, Highlands Tavern offers more than a meal—it offers a dependable, inviting experience built on good food, great drinks, and thoughtful service. Call +1 828-526-9002 to learn more or plan your visit.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Highlands Tavern
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Changes daily, miso butter, tamponade
Hot honey, pistachio, basil, pita
Garlic yogurt, lemon oil, tomato, scallion, pita chips
Fig jam, honey, fresh fruit, crostini
Avocado, cucumber, nori, masago, sesame
Orange/white wine reduction, apricot, fig, almond, crostini
Roquette, burrata, balsamic glaze
Prosciutto, onion marmalade, brie, cranberry compote, roquette, ciabatta
Lemongrass chicken, gruyere, confit tomato, roquette, chili aioli
Chicken, pesto, sundried aioli, onion, spinach, provolone, roasted red pepper
Black garlic aioli, house pickle, gruyere, confit tomato, roquette, brioche
Garlic aioli, swiss, prosciutto, roquette, brioche
Old Bay aioli, 8oz burger, cheddar, lump crab, arugula, brioche
Garlic aioli, roquette, tenderloin, bourbon onions, provolone, brioche
Goat & provolone, olive, spinach, onion, roasted red pepper, pesto, balsamic glaze, ciabatta
Daily Flavors
Daily Flavors
Back to your childhood - Butterscotch, Dark Chocolate, Almond, Coconut
Hear from our valued guests
Everything was yummy! I wanted to try everything on the menu, but went with one of the bartender’s recommendations: the Chesapeake burger. Best burger I’ve had this year. We'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!
Creative menu. Salads were pretty good. PLEASE NOTE, THE MENU CHANGES EVERY WEEK. if you like something from the Google pics, it may not be there on the menu when you visit. Small number of seats but that's a good thing. Chef seemed very interactive with customers. Send like lot of locals in the restaurant. It is so cool they are using bamboo plates.
Genuine staff and savory food. The chicken curry, Tuna, and salads with a protein are our favs — get the bacon app for a decadent treat. We’ve been a dozen times now and honestly it’s great every time. Getting a seat can be tough but it’s worth continuing to try.
One of my favorite spots in Highlands. The steak sandwich is consistently excellent, the street corn salad is one of the best dishes in town, and their Old Fashioned is exactly what you want at the end of the day. The atmosphere always feels warm, welcoming, and elevated without being overly formal. It’s a wonderful place to unwind after a long day and one I’m always happy to recommend to clients and friends visiting Highlands.
Such a unique and special place! We come to Highlands once a year for our anniversary and we often work our food schedule around which night we go to the Tavern! That's how you know you've found one of your very fav restaurants. There's a lot of great food in this town but I think the tavern may rank as our #1! Get the daily bread!!!! I dream about it. Amazing burgers, too! Thanks for another delicious meal, you guys!! You always exceed our expectations! See ya next year 🥰
All I can say is “WOW!” I wasn’t planning to leave a review, but we were blown away by our appetizer. The humus was literally the best we’ve ever had (and we order it almost anywhere that has it on the menu). And you can tell it was great because I almost forgot to take a picture.. The steak sandwich was absolutely amazing, the chicken sandwich was perfectly cooked, and so tender. The sides (glass noodles, and spicy cucumbers) were unreal as well. The slight Asian-influence really took things to the next level. The staff was amazing and so sincere. Drinks were great. Could not recommend this place enough. It’s seriously in my top 10 restaurants I’ve ever been to!
Such a great place. Amazing food we split a brie and fruit plate as well as a salmon salad and it was plenty of food. The atmosphere and service is excellent! i’m not a paper plate person at all, but they were cute paper plates and there was real silverware.
The food and service were absolutely on-point. The wedge salad with sirloin was truly the best I have ever had. It was phenomenal! The made-to-order burger was delicious and had a lot of interesting side options. My husband chose the potato salad which was very tasty. Our waiter was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and laid back. This is a “don’t miss” when visiting Highlands!
You don't see places like this any more. Nice & dimly lit, and attentive owner who greets you at the door & a nice long bar. The food is amazing & well worth a trip. The Chef will probably bring out your food herself. The bartenders are attentive & someone is always checking on you. The Spicy cucumber salad is the best I've ever had, I put some on my 205 Chicken Sandwich.
This place is very small so better be prepared to wait in a long line. It can accommodate no more than 40 guests. Food is delicious. The owner and cook are a great duo from decorations, minute detailing the walls to the food on plate.. so much of a personal touch. We were clearly surprised with the vegetarian pita bread and bacon dish that my friend tried. They use a dash of south Asian spices in their curries that elevates the flavors. They keep experimenting and playing around with different locally sourced vegetables even flowers in your dish that are nutritious and well researched.
Common questions about Highlands Tavern
Highlands Tavern is located at 205 S 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, NC 28741, United States.
You can reach Highlands Tavern by calling +1 828-526-9002.
Highlands Tavern has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 168 customer reviews.
Highlands Tavern features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Highlands Tavern features the following service options: Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Highlands Tavern features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Highlands Tavern features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Highlands Tavern features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Highlands Tavern features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Table service.
Highlands Tavern features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Highlands Tavern features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
Highlands Tavern features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
Highlands Tavern features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Highlands Tavern features the following parking: Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
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