The Sun Inn, opened in 1760, has welcomed guests like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams, to name a few. It closed in the early 1960s, but is now reopened as an operating tavern and soon-to-be microdistillery called the Tavern at the Sun Inn.
The established Sun Inn Preservation Association took it upon itself to restore the building on Main Street around the 1970s, adding a few more stories and rooms to fulfill the renovation.
Thanks to the association, the structure’s main entrance now gives way to the historic museum. The restaurant and future microdistillery are the work of six friends under their newly formed company, Christmas City Spirits LLC.
The building might not look like a restaurant from the outside or even from the main floor. But once upstairs, two dining rooms are adorned with square tables that host blue tablecloths and rustic centerpieces. It’s quaint—a perfect intimate setting.
Chef Billy Gruenewald and his team are the creators behind the tavern’s menu. Although limited, it allows Gruenewald to take extra time with each dish to make sure it’s perfect.
Try the mini Chicken Pot Pie, a staple of the restaurant, which includes six little handmade pies. Or start off with the daily chef selection of meats and cheeses that change weekly.