Davidson is located about 20 minutes north of Charlotte and Ryan and I first visited the town after a bunch of you guys recommended some Davidson-area restaurants to me when we moved to North Carolina at the end of last summer.
(Davidson around the holidays is my favorite!)
We quickly fell in love with downtown Davidson, thanks to the adorable brick paths, unique shops, delicious local restaurants and friendly people.
It’s one of my favorite places to bring guests when they come to visit and everyone from my mom and sister to my best girlfriends continue to rave about this beautiful town and always ask to go back whenever they visit!
(Me + Leslie in Davidson – Fall 2014)
(Me + Ashley in Davidson – Spring 2015)
Today I am working with Taste Buds Travel, a fun YouTube travel show, and Ford to share a Downtown Davidson Dining Guide with you guys, just in case you ever find yourself in the Charlotte area looking for some incredibly delicious and unique dining options! All of the restaurants mentioned below may be found on Main Street in Davidson and they’re all within walking distance of each other.
Breakfast
For the purposes of this dining guide, breakfast is a two-step process because great coffee deserves its own shout out, right!?
Before your day in Davidson begins, you must grab coffee from Summit, a favorite local coffee shop you’ll immediately recognize from the line that almost always curls around the outside of the shop on weekend mornings. Open since 1998, Summit is a community hot spot for everyone from students and families to couples, athletes (I always see bikers meeting up here after a long weekend ride!) and music fans who come to enjoy live music three nights a week.
Summit is a Davidson staple, so head in and grab a latte to enjoy while you walk down Main Street and put your name in for a table at Toast!
If you’ve read PBF regularly over the course of the past year, you know how much Ryan and I love Toast! We make our way to this brunch hot spot once or twice a month and have yet to be disappointed.
On the weekends, you’re greeted with a basket of cornbread served with sweet apple butter to enjoy while you browse the menu.
I’ve ordered everything from their omelets and French toast to their eggs benedict and quiche and have nothing but good things to say about everything, though Ryan swears their banana nut pancakes are the best!
Lunch
Though the food and baked goods I’ve tried at Millstone Bake House keep me going back time and time again, I also adore the comfortable ambiance of this local gem.
It’s a small restaurant located along Main Street and though it can be challenging to find a table at times, it’s a must-visit spot thanks to flavorful food made with ingredients from the local farmer’s market.
I typically opt for the build your own sandwich option on one of their artisanal breads and love grabbing one of their baked goods to go to enjoy later in the day when my sweet tooth strikes.
And if you happen to swing by in the morning, their croissants are flaky and buttery and definitely worth a try!
Dinner
If you’re looking for a fantastic local hot spot to check out for a dinner that will knock your socks off, you must check out Kindred, a new-to-the-area restaurant that’s quickly developing a fabulous reputation.
Your meal will begin with a complimentary loaf of Kindred’s milk bread which may just end up being the highlight of your meal, as it’s the freshest, fluffiest bread I’ve ever been served at a restaurant.
Kindred’s portions are on the smaller side, so I highly recommend ordering a few dishes to share, as that will help you leave the restaurant feeling satisfied but also give you the opportunity to try a handful of their entrees.
Though the menu is constantly changing thanks to a focus on seasonal fare, you cannot go wrong by selecting one of their fresh pastas (made in-house) or ask your waiter recommend a new dish to try. They haven’t steered us wrong yet!
Taste Buds Travel
And just in case you enjoy hearing all about awesome places to visit in new areas, I wanted to take a quick second to share a little bit more about Taste Buds Travel, a new YouTube show brought to you by Ford featuring stars (and best friends) Krissy and Jessica who travel around the country looking for cool local spots to check out!
In their latest episode they visited New Orleans and met up with amazing food blogger Joy The Baker. (If you haven’t checked out Joy’s blog yet, you should… and prepare to start drooling immediately!) They spend some time at Joy’s favorite local restaurant and learn how to make Tiki drinks. They also have episodes featuring more famous cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Austin. I love their energy!
I hope you guys enjoyed this sneak peek into some of my favorite dining spots in Davidson!
More PBF Travel Guides
Here are a few additional travel guides that have popped up on PBF in the past:
- Orlando: The Non-Theme Park Side
- My Favorite Sanibel Restaurants
- Things to Do in St. Petersburg, Florida
Question of the Morning
- Have you ever visited a small(ish) town that immediately captured your heart? Please share more below!
I absolutely love Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and St. Augustine, Florida. They both have so much history and character.
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My favorite small town is San Luis Obispo, California. It is the perfect combination of college town, (home to California Polytechnic State University) and tourist area, being that it’s only 7 minutes to the coast. A great laid back vibe.