Carter & Clay

5.25.2025 • Highlands, NC
2 Days To Go!

Carter & Clay

5.25.2025 • Highlands, NC
2 Days To Go!

We are so excited that you are here to celebrate with us! Below are a few of our favorite things to do on the way to Highlands, in Highlands, and in Cashiers, NC areas. We have also added a few of our favorite places to eat by location.

Highlands, NC

Highlands Restaurants

Breakfast, Brunch, & Lunch

Calders Coffee Cafe

Picture of Calders Coffee Cafe
384 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 200-9308

Great coffee, espresso drinks, baked goods, and grab-and-go eats offered in a comfy space.


Monday - Sunday: 7am - 5pm

Website

Mountain Fresh Grocery

Picture of Mountain Fresh Grocery
521 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-2400

One of the best places in town to enjoy a made to order egg breakfast or a midday hamburger. The coffee frappes are great too!


Saturday 7am-8pm, Sunday 8am-6pm, Monday 7am-8pm.

(Breakfast served from opening until 11am every day)

Madison's Restaurant

Picture of Madison's Restaurant
445 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 787-2525

Call to reserve Lunch or Dinner reservations


For Old Edwards Inn & 200 Main Guests Only - breakfast is served from 7am - 10am on Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Blue Bike Cafe

Picture of Blue Bike Cafe
423 N 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-9922

Serves Breakfast All Day

Saturday 7am - 3pm, Sunday CLOSED, Monday 7am - 3pm


Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern

Picture of Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern
270 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-2590

Thursday-Saturday Lunch 11:30am-3pm, Dinner 5:30-9pm

Sunday Brunch 10-3pm (Live bluegrass music 10:30am-12:30pm)

The Wine Garden

Picture of The Wine Garden
420 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 787-2525

Outside Seating

Open everyday for Lunch & Dinner 11:30am-9pm


Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar

Picture of Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar
465 Main St Box 2130, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 787-2990

Great place to get pizza and a salad. No reservations needed.

Open Daily 11am-9pm

Wild Thyme Gourmet

Picture of Wild Thyme Gourmet
343-D Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-4035

Wild Thyme is open for either lunch or dinner and the food is delicious! If the weather is nice, recommend sitting on the patio for lunch.

Lunch Saturday, Sunday, Monday 11am-3:30pm

Dinner 5:30pm-Close

Highlands Burrito

Picture of Highlands Burrito
226 S 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-9313

Open Monday - Thursday 11am-3pm, Friday - Saturday 11-8pm

Outpost Inn Highlands

Picture of Outpost Inn Highlands
790 N 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 482-7736

Coffee Shop and Wine Bar

Saturday & Sunday 8am-4pm, Monday 8am-1pm

Highlands Smokehouse

Picture of Highlands Smokehouse
595 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-3554

Open Daily Monday - Saturday 11am-8pm

Open Sunday 11am-7pm

*Closed Tuesday

Rooftop Terrace at Old Edwards Inn

Picture of Rooftop Terrace at Old Edwards Inn
445 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 787-2525

The Rooftop Terrace offers one of the best views at Old Edwards Inn and Spa. Limited seating.

Join us for live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 6 - 8 pm.

Thursday - Saturday | Bar 4 - 9 pm | Light Fare 4 - 9 pm(Walk-in Service, Weather Permitting)

Dinner

Highlands Supper Club

Picture of Highlands Supper Club
130 Log Cabin Ln, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 271-9620

Dinner Wednesday - Saturday 5-9pm

Brunch Sunday 10am-2pm

Lakeside Restaurant

Picture of Lakeside Restaurant
531 Smallwood Ave, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-9419

One of the Ehlers' favorite dining spots. Excellent food and wonderful ambience. Call for reservations.

Open Thursday through Saturday Dinner Only 5:30-8:30pm

On the Verandah

Picture of On the Verandah
1536 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-2338

One of Carter's favorite dinner places to eat in Highlands. The Spicy Thai Coconut Shrimp and the Maine Lobster Piccata are divine! Recommend making a reservation in advance via Resy - ask to sit on the porch.


Open Daily for Dinner Only 5:30-9pm

Oak Steakhouse

Picture of Oak Steakhouse
470 Skyline Lodge Rd, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 482-4720

A great place to get a drink and enjoy the beautiful setting. You might even see a black bear! Excellent food and service. Located in Skyline Lodge which is a 10-12 minute drive from downtown Highlands (4.1 miles).


Open Daily for Dinner Only 5-9pm

Highlands Tavern

Picture of Highlands Tavern
205 S 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-9002

Light fare food option - Beer, Wine & Cider

Open Friday through Tuesday from 5-11pm

The Stubborn Bull at Mill Creek

Picture of The Stubborn Bull at Mill Creek
445 N 4th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 200-0813

Open for Dinner Only Wednesday thru Saturday 5pm - 10pm, CLOSED Sunday & Monday

Shopping in Downtown Highlands NC

Picture of Shopping in Downtown Highlands NC
Highlands Downtown

Downtown Highlands has so many great shops - recommend just spending the day enjoying shopping downtown!

Whiteside Mountain Trail

Picture of Whiteside Mountain Trail
Parking lot, 91-170 Deville Dr, Highlands, NC 28741, USA

One of Carter's family's favorite hiking spots. Amazing views that are so worth the hike!

Trailhead for Yellow Mountain Trail

Picture of Trailhead for Yellow Mountain Trail
Highlands, NC 28741, USA

Another great hiking trail with amazing summit views. Total hike is 11 miles long, but there are places where you can hike just a few miles in and still get a great view!

The Spa at Old Edwards Inn

Picture of The Spa at Old Edwards Inn
16 Church St Box 2130, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
(828) 526-9887

Book spa services in advance.

Community Bible Church

Picture of Community Bible Church
3645 Cashiers Road Highlands NC 28741

Carter's family has been going to this wonderful church over the years. Highly recommend this church for Sunday service. Service starts at 10:45am EST. It is about an 8 minute drive from downtown Highlands (3.3 miles).

Scaly Mountain, NC

The Vineyard at High Holly

Picture of The Vineyard at High Holly
37 High Holly Rd, Scaly Mountain, NC 28775, USA
(828) 482-5573

Great place to grab a glass of wine and enjoy the view on the way up to Highlands from GA area.

Cashiers, NC

Whiteside Brewing Company

Picture of Whiteside Brewing Company
128 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717, USA
(828) 743-6000

One of Carter and Clay's favorite breweries located in Cashiers, NC. Fun outdoor space with great food (recommend the grilled chicken sandwich and tomato soup).

Cashiers Farmers Market

Picture of Cashiers Farmers Market
78 US-64, Cashiers, NC 28717, USA
(828) 743-4334

Check out this local family owned farmers market. Great place to get fresh local produce and speciality items.

Shopping in Cashiers, NC

Picture of Shopping in Cashiers, NC
Cashiers, NC

Cashiers has so many great shops! Recommend hopping into TJ Bailey's or Highland Hiker.

Canyon Kitchen

Picture of Canyon Kitchen
150 Lonesome Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774, USA
(828) 743-7967

Great place for dinner and cocktails! Excellent views. Make sure you book reservations in advance. Canyon Kitchen is outside of downtown Cashiers which is a 28 minute drive from downtown Highlands.

Clayton, Tiger, & Dillard, GA

If coming up from the Atlanta area, here are a few of our favorite places around Tiger, Clayton, & Dillard, Georgia.

Rabun Bald from Beegum Gap Trailhead

Picture of Rabun Bald from Beegum Gap Trailhead
Kelsey Mountain Rd, Dillard, GA 30537, USA

One of our favorite hikes - it is the second highest mountain in Georgia and gives an unobstructed 360° view. At almost 4,700 feet, Rabun Bald offers hikers one of the best views in the state atop an observation tower that takes you above the surrounding trees.

Julep Kitchen

Picture of Julep Kitchen
500 GA-246, Dillard, GA 30537, USA
(706) 960-9600

Great place to stop on the way to Highlands if you are coming up from the Atlanta area. Great food, shopping, and friendly farm animals to visit.

Currahee Brewing Company

Picture of Currahee Brewing Company
93 W Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
(706) 782-2306

One of our favorite breweries in Clayton, GA if you are coming up from the Atlanta area. You can call ahead and grab a pizza to go from Fortify Pi (around the corner), sit outside, and enjoy the brewery.

Fortify Pi

Picture of Fortify Pi
69 N Main St Suite A, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
(706) 782-0079

If you are coming from the Atlanta area, call ahead and get a pizza to go. They offer Gluten-Free personal pizza options and you can take it to go to a brewery.

The Rusty bike Cafe

Picture of The Rusty bike Cafe
677 Hwy 441, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
(706) 212-2020

Best breakfast in Clayton, GA on the way up to Highlands from Atlanta. There is usually a bit of a wait, but its so worth it.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards

Picture of Tiger Mountain Vineyards
2592 Old 441 S, Tiger, GA 30576, USA
(706) 782-4777

If you are coming up from the Atlanta area, this is one of our favorite wineries in Tiger, which is just outside of Clayton, GA. Great Georgia wine tastings, outside music, and vineyard views.

Stekoa Creek Restaurant

Picture of Stekoa Creek Restaurant
48 N Main St, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
(706) 484-8215

New restaurant in Clayton, GA that we recommend if you are looking for a cozy dinner.