Snack and sip your way through PA at these women-owned eateries, breweries, and distilleries. Celebrate Women’s History Month by exploring and supporting these talented brewers, distillers, and restauranteurs across the Keystone State.
Restaurants
1. Cottage Crêperie
Gettysburg
Do you like your crêpes savory or sweet? Have them either — or both! — ways at the newest addition to historic downtown Gettysburg, the Cottage Creperie. Owned by Lori Mitchell, this crêperie serves up delicious sweet and savory crêpes such as the Blueberry Blast and Veggie Delight. While there, try their gourmet coffee, baked goods, and ice cream. If you plan to stay in town a while, be sure to check out Lori’s other local business, Savor Gettysburg Food Tours.
2. Dobbin House Tavern
Gettysburg
Jacqueline White is the proud owner and operator of four of the most historical destinations in Gettysburg including the town’s oldest home, the Dobbin House Tavern. Built in 1776, you can dine in their Springhouse Tavern or elevate your dinner experience with a candlelight dinner in the Alexander Dobbin Dining Room. Sip on Dobbin’s Favorite House Spirits while enjoying some of their most popular dishes such as the Baked King’s Onion soup. Save room for dessert and try their delicious, homemade sweets.
3. Elizabeth’s An American Bistro
Lewisburg
Representing chef and owner Elizabeth Long-Furia’s dream made reality more than 25 years ago, Elizabeth’s An American Bistro brings upscale American Bistro cuisine to Lewisburg. While traveling through central Europe at a young age, Liz grew passionate about seasonal, regional food. Today, the dishes served at Elizabeth’s are inspired by this passion and made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Their pastas, hearty artisan breads, and desserts are made daily in-house. Since becoming a dining destination in central PA, Elizabeth’s has expanded to include a bakery and catering services.
4. Siam Restaurant and Bar
Lewisburg
Chefs Poy and Noi serve authentic, tasty Thai cuisine made from fresh, healthy ingredients and indigenous herbs and spices at Siam Restaurant & Bar in downtown Lewisburg. Both chefs are from northern Thailand and fell in love with cooking by watching their mothers and grandmothers make family recipes. Since 2011, they have been serving up signature dishes such as pad thai, red curry, and crab fried rice. Pair your meal with one of their delicious bubble teas or Thai coffees.
5. The Downtown Lounge
Lebanon
The Downtown Lounge has been a beloved bar and restaurant in downtown Lebanon for more than 40 years. Established in 1979 and proudly owned and operated by Nanette Wright, this sports bar has all the favorite classic appetizers for you to snack on when watching the big game, such as potato skins with melted cheddar cheese and sour cream and their customizable mac and cheese bowls.
Local Libations
6. Forgiven Wine Co.
Philadelphia & Lancaster
As Pennsylvania’s only Black, women-owned winery, Forgiven Wine Co. is making industry history with their CBD-infused wines. Launched in fall 2020, owners Paige Hughes and Aliesha Clark set out to answer the call for locally made, sweet-blended wines — both with and without CBD — delivered right to your door.
7. Christian W. Klay Winery
Chalkhill
Sharon Klay’s award-winning Christian W. Klay Winery offers not only a full slate of amazing wines, but also an endless lineup of entertaining events, educational tours, and, of course, wine tastings. Located on a gorgeous 215-acre farm in Chalk Hill, you can take in the breathtaking views while sipping on a delicious glass of their “farm to bottle” wines.
8. Franklin Hill Vineyards
Bangor
For 40 years, Franklin Hill Vineyards has been influencing the PA wine scene. The Lehigh Valley staple is women-owned and operated with owner Elaine Pivinski at the helm and head winemaker Bonnie Pyshe behind the scenes, who has been part of the journey since day one. Their award-winning collection of reds, whites, and dessert wines provide the perfect libation for whatever season or mood.
9. Silverback Distillery
East Stroudsburg
Distilling duo Christine and Lauren Riggleman are the innovators behind Silverback Distillery. This mother-daughter team is the first of its kind in the nation, crafting distinct, flavorful spirits from a unique mix of local grains, mountain water, and “good ol' American craft(woman)ship” that are certain to take your tastebuds for a spin!
10. Cart/Horse Distilling
Edinboro
Co-owner Jessica Lemmon’s Cart/Horse Distilling is a first-generation, women-owned distillery pioneering the craft in PA’s Great Lakes region. As the first (legal) distillery in Erie County since Prohibition, Cart/Horse is well known throughout the industry for its award-winning spirits. Forming their product from locally sourced ingredients, they strive to support growers in the region to further their mission of keeping agricultural traditions alive.
11. Triple Bottom Brewing
Philadelphia
Tess Hart is “captain at the helm” as co-owner and co-founder of Triple Bottom Brewing. Not only are Tess and her team dedicated to producing great craft beer, but they’re also committed to maintaining a fair-chance staff that is more than 50 percent BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and 50 percent women. Tess is also the driving force behind the Triple Bottom Womxn’s Collective, comprised of a series of salons and pop-ups of amazing women-owned and led businesses throughout Philly.
12. McCall Collective Brewing
Allentown and Breinigsville
After a career in the corporate marketing world, Kaitlin McCall and her team bravely opened Allentown’s first women-owned brewery, McCall Collective Brewing, in the summer of 2020. Now with a second location in the Lehigh Valley, this family operation serves a variety of delicious beers with unique flavor profiles and punny names, such as For The Birds IPA. The McCall Collective also offers an extended wine and cocktail list featuring libations from local makers.
13. Black Rock Brewing Company
Pottsville and Linglestown
Abby Weaver’s Black Rock Brewing is one of the latest women-owned breweries to enter upstate PA’s craft brewery scene. Their first location opened in spring 2021, transforming the historic Pottsville YMCA building that had been empty for a decade and playing a major part in the town’s revitalization. In addition to serving tasty craft brews on tap, this microbrewery and winery serves delicious bar bites such as their signature pretzel logs and must-try handhelds including the Mother Clucker Fried Chicken Sandwich.
14. Old Republic Distillery
Thomasville and York
Co-owned by Denise Mathias, Old Republic Distillery is the first limited distillery in South Central PA, making small batch, handcrafted spirits. As York County’s first distillery since Prohibition, Old Republic takes pride in and celebrates the art of making high quality spirits with real ingredients. Visit their original location in Thomasville or stop by their newest location in York to try samples and purchase bottles of their best products, such as their Battlefield Vodka and Gates House Rum.
To discover more women-owned businesses in PA, check out the VISIT PA website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on even more great ideas and places to visit around our state. Don’t forget to never miss an update and sign up for our monthly PA travel e-newsletter.