Morning
Downtown Lansdale, a borough located about 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia, is in the midst of an exciting revitalization, with new businesses and a slew of breweries and distilleries recently having opened near its town center. Kick-start your day there with a stroll along the charming Main Street. Pop into craft coffee roaster Backyard Beans Coffee Co. for a stellar cup of joe or a cold brew made with beans roasted on-site. (If you like what you order, you can find these beans in local Whole Foods.)
Hungry? Stop into nearby Cafe V-Dal, a no-frills diner that serves delicious sweet and savory crepes along with traditional breakfast fare such as pancakes and eggs Benedict.
Afternoon
When drinking hour hits, cocktail lovers should beeline to Boardroom Spirits, a full-scale “farm-to-bottle” distillery specializing in brandy and whiskey and a particularly noteworthy selection of cranberry-, citrus- and ginger-infused vodkas—all made with fresh fruits and roots. The owners offer tours on the weekends, and an on-site cocktail bar is open Thursday through Sunday, with a selection of creative mixed drinks made with responsibly sourced ingredients. Heads up: The distillery has plans to expand into the warehouse next door, where it will have a new, much larger tasting room with more seating and an itinerary of food-centric events every weekend. Look out for that to happen summer 2018.
Photograph: Courtesy Round Guys Brewing Co.
Those looking for beer will find plenty to love at brewpub Round Guys Brewing Company, which has 16 beers on tap. The emphasis here is hoppy IPAs like the popular Kiss Off IPA and Beat Pulsing. You can’t go wrong ordering those.
For a more-wholesome afternoon, try nearby Merrymead Farm, where you can get up close and personal with farm animals and shop for local produce and homemade ice cream in the quaint store located on-site.
Evening
Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Jessie C.
Snag reservations at Stove and Tap, where a taxidermied bear greets you at the door. Chef Biff Gottehrer—a Starr alum who also once worked at El Vez and the Dandelion—whips up the menu of rustic American dishes made with locally sourced food. His brisket is mouthwatering and appears in various forms on the menu: on a flatbread with cheddar, Parmesan, blue cheese, pickled red onion and horseradish; in the Tap Fries alongside cheese curds, beer-cheese sauce and gravy; and on a sandwich with Gouda, horseradish mayo and beef jus.
If you still have energy after dinner, head back to Round Guys Brewing Company. In the basement is an underground performance venue where you can take in a concert or a drag show hosted by the campy and revered Ladies of Lansdale.
Where to crash
Photograph: Courtesy Booking.com
Too tired (or drunk) to drive back to Philly? Take a 15-minute Uber ride to the Normandy Farm Hotel, a charming renovated 19th-century inn and tavern located on a picturesque farm in Blue Bell. Room decor is an eclectic mix of historic and contemporary, and there’s a cool indoor pool. Be sure to fill up on the complimentary breakfast before heading home the next morning.
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