West Dover keeps most of its dining low-key — pizza, burgers, and après-ski tacos are the norm around Mount Snow. The Hermitage Inn, on Handle Road in West Dover, is the exception. This restored 1800s estate pairs a wood-fired fine dining room with a 600-label wine cellar and a genuinely unusual way to eat dinner: inside a heated gondola cabin looking out at Haystack Mountain. For a night out during a Mount Snow stay, it’s the most polished table in the valley.
The Hermitage Inn: A Restored 1800s Estate in West Dover
Built in the early 1800s as a summer retreat, the Hermitage Inn has been completely refurbished into a 14-room luxury inn in the foothills between Haystack Mountain and Mount Snow. Executive Chef Peter Robinson leads the kitchen, partnering with local farms and producers on menus the inn describes as rustic and refined — haute-cuisine technique built around Vermont ingredients. It’s about a 5.3-mile, 13-minute drive from Valley View Villa, close enough for an easy special-occasion dinner during a West Dover stay.
The Birches Dining Room and The Tavern
Two different rooms handle the everyday dining. The Birches Dining Room is the fine dining side — a relaxed but elegant space with a wood-burning fireplace and views over the gardens and woods, built around the kitchen’s seasonal menus. The Tavern next door is the casual counterpart, serving classic dishes and cocktails, with outdoor seating on the Orchard Terrace in warm weather and live music on some summer weekends.
Dinner Inside a Heated Gondola
The inn’s most distinctive offering is dining inside one of its private, heated gondola cabins, set up with alpine-inspired menus — artisanal cheeses, wild mushrooms, and game among them — while you look out over Haystack Mountain and the inn’s grounds. Two seatings run most days: an après-ski slot around 2:45 or 3:00 PM, and dinner around 6:00 or 6:15 PM. Reservations for the gondolas go through OpenTable, and they’re worth booking well ahead, especially on a ski weekend.
A Wine Cellar Built for Serious Collectors
The Hermitage Inn’s wine program has earned Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for multiple years running, and the cellar itself holds more than 600 labels and roughly 6,700 bottles. Groups of ten or more can book the Wine Cellar directly for a private, prix-fixe dinner paired with selections from the collection — a good option for an anniversary, a small wedding party, or any group that wants the full experience without sharing the room.
When It’s Worth the Splurge
Most nights around Mount Snow call for pizza, burgers, or après-ski tacos, and that is exactly right after a hard day on the hill. The Hermitage Inn is the other kind of night. It is the table to book when the trip has a reason behind it — an anniversary, a Valentine’s dinner, a milestone birthday, or the one nice evening a group wants to carve out of a long ski week. The heated-gondola seating in particular turns dinner into the event rather than a stop before it, which is why those cabins fill first on holiday weekends. If you only plan one dinner out during a West Dover stay, this is the one worth dressing up for.
Planning a Visit
Reservations are recommended at every venue, especially on weekends and during ski season. The fastest way to check current hours and book a table is through the Hermitage Inn’s OpenTable listing or by calling the inn directly at (802) 618-0051, since hours shift with the season. If you’re staying at Valley View Villa, the Hermitage Inn is one of the few dinner options inside West Dover itself that doesn’t mean a drive into Wilmington.
🍷 More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Honora Winery & Vineyard – Wine Tasting in the Deerfield Valley — another spot for a slower, wine-focused evening nearby
- Valley View Saloon – Burgers, Beers & Local Vibes in West Dover — the casual end of the West Dover dining spectrum
- Tony’s Pizza & Deli – Hand-Tossed Pies & Grinders in West Dover — a quick, easy option most nights of the week
- Romantic Things to Do Near Mount Snow, Vermont — more ideas for a date night in the area
- February at Mount Snow — planning a Valentine’s or Presidents’ Week trip
- Two Tannery Road — Historic fine dining with a Waldorf-Astoria bar
- Fine Dining Near Mount Snow — Six restaurants worth a reservation
- Sawmill Bar and Table in West Dover — Farm-to-table dinners in the old Inn at Sawmill Farm
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hermitage Inn require reservations?
Yes. Reservations are strongly recommended for the Tavern and the Birches Dining Room, and required for the gondola dinners, which have limited seatings each night. Book through OpenTable or call the inn directly at (802) 618-0051.
How far is the Hermitage Inn from Mount Snow?
About 3 miles, roughly a 5-minute drive, which makes it an easy dinner stop after a day on the mountain.
What is gondola dining at the Hermitage Inn?
The inn seats guests inside private, heated gondola cabins on its grounds for an alpine-inspired meal with views of Haystack Mountain. Seatings run in the afternoon, around 2:45 or 3:00 PM, and evening, around 6:00 or 6:15 PM. Reservations are required and go through OpenTable.
Is the Hermitage Inn open for lunch?
Hours vary by day and by season, so it’s best to check the inn’s OpenTable listing or call ahead before planning a daytime visit.
Does the Hermitage Inn have a dress code?
There’s no published formal dress code, but the Birches Dining Room and the gondola dinners lean smart-casual to elegant given the fine-dining setting. Collared shirts and nice layers are a safe bet in cooler months.
