Fireside Inn 163 Wright Square, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-3636, Featuring a towering stone fireplace and majestic Hayes-Mayer murals, this restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and serves wonderful omelets, chargrilled salmon trout, steaks, burgers, and daily specials. Catering is available. 

Hilltop Grill Corner of Fourth and Spring Streets, 828-526-5916, An old-fashioned grill that is open daily for lunch and serves a wide variety of sandwiches, as well as burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, and soft served and hand dipped ice cream.

Lakeside Restaurant 531 Smallwood Avenue, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-9419, This casual dining restaurant overlooks scenic Harris Lake and offers generous portions of fresh seafood, beef, veal, lamb, chicken, and pasta dishes, complemented by a lovely wine list. They are open April through November 15th for dinner and reservations are strongly suggested. 

Wild Thyme Gourmet 490 Carolina Way, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-4035, Open for lunch and dinner, Wild Thyme Gourmet not only sells some of the best sandwiches in Highlands but they also have a very nice selection of wines and gourmet foods for you to buy.

Buck's Coffee Cafe 384 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-0020, Buck's is a favorite stop for gourmet coffee, sandwiches, and tasty pastries.

On the Verandah 1536 Franklin Road, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-2338, This rustic, contemporary restaurant and winebar overlooks Lake Sequoyah and features a menu full of contemporary American cuisine influenced by the flavors of the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia. The menu is complemented by an award-winning wine list. They are open nightly for dinner plus serve a champagne brunch on Sundays. more...

Log Cabin Restaurant 130 Log Cabin Lane, Highlands, NC 28741, Off Highway 106 Above the Hampton Inn, 828-526-3380, Specializing in delicious, thick steaks, this steakhouse is located in an authentic, historic Joe Webb cabin and also serves Mexican fare and Highlands own "Cabin Onion." They are open daily for dinner and reservations are suggested. 

Wolfgang's Restaurant & Wine Bistro 474 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-3807, Owned and operated by internationally recognized Chef Wolfgang, former Executive Chef of the Brennan's Family of Commander's Palace, this fine dining restaurant is open nightly for dinner and serves an eclectic menu of New Orleans specialties, Bavarian food, delicious steaks, veal, and pastas. An award-winning wine list is available to complement your meal. more... 

Cafe of the Arts 332 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-5166, Chef owned restaurant that offers classically elegant French cuisine complemented by a very fine, select wine list. They are open daily for lunch and dinner. 

Cyprus Restaurant 470 Dillard Road, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-4429, Not only does Cyprus have nightly menus which include traditional international cuisines but they also feature a menu consisting of regional favorites, with all selections being handmade.

Ristorante Paoletti 440 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-4906, An intimate, fine dining restaurant that has been serving delicious provincial Italian cuisine such as prime veal scaloppi, homemade pastas, and fresh daily coastal fish since 1953. The wine list consists of over 800 selections of rare and hard-to-find wines. They are open nightly for dinner and are closed in January and February. more... 

Pescado's Highland Burrito 103 North Fourth Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828-526-9313, Open daily for lunch and dinner, this restaurant serves an array of fresh and healthy Mexican cuisine including huge California style burritos, tacos, homemade guacamole, fresh salsas, and quesadillas.